newsletters

To: mnegus@bigpond.com
CC: dalkeith@nedlands.wa.gov.au
Subject: DALKEITH REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:31:26 +0000
Dear Matt

I am a paid up member of PADD and have been out of Perth for a few days returning last night.
Consequently I was not at the meeting on Monday night but obviously it was well attended.

I do not have a great understanding of Local Government acts or Town Planning Schemes although many years ago when I lived in Subiaco I attended council meetings there for two years and listened to myself being referred to as 'a selfish ratepayer' because I dared to oppose a block of fifteen units being erected next to our house - four units backed onto our side fence. In those days I had three preschoolers, a husband studying medicine full time and working part time, and absolutely no energy for fighting officialdom. I might add that the developers who were in cahoots with the town planning committee in Subiaco at that time actually built extra units not approved by Council and got away with it.

My husband and I did not grow up in this area. We have had no financial help in any way whatsoever. We lived within our means and, something quite strange to your generation, we went without, so we could save and eventually live in this beautiful area. Our children didn't go to private schools and we had no accoutrements of financial privilege. It is only in the last ten years that we have indulged our love of overseas travel and every time we return to our home we are so very grateful that we live in THIS suburb in this wonderful city of Perth. Along with a lot of others we don't intend to stand by and watched it ruined.

Having read the emails between Joe Porter and yourself it is obvious that you took a seat on Council to look after you own interests and that is perfectly understandable - I would do the same. However you are also elected to protect the interests and wishes of the people in your electorate. When you choose to opt out of supporting your electors in what THEY want for the area they live in so you can have what only YOU want, that my friend is pure unadulterated selfishness and is most certainly corruption of the mandate which you have taken up by being on Council.

Matt, I know that you are acting totally within the law. It is the spirit of the law that you are ignoring. No doubt you have grown up with financial privilege and money is indeed a necessary evil. However, unless you are a complete sociopath (ie absolutely no conscience at all) then in not supporting the wishes of PADD you will not only lose our respect but you will corrupt your own spirit. Believe me, even if you get what you want in this matter there will come a time in life that you will remember and know that you are a lesser man for doing it.

Remember you are our spokesperson on Council. We should be able to trust that you will support our interests. If you do not wish to support the majority of residents then you really have no right to remain on Council.

Sincerely,

Faye Blythe