newsletters

Sent: Monday, 4 February 2008 1:55 PM
To: pa.densitydalkeith@yahoo.com
Subject: Dalkeith Redevelopment

I am forwarding herewith my views on the Redevelopment of Dalkeith for your necessary action. I have earlier sent a letter direct to Nedlands City Council on the same subject. Please refer to the attachment.

What I would like to see in Dalkeith

The 2nd PADD organised walk is indeed a success. My heartiest congratulations to all those who assisted in one way or another to organise the "Long March -Walk"..

But then, from the turn out that day, I feel there are still lots to be done to send an unequivocal message to the Nedlands City Council: Dalkeith residents are against too drastic a change. Of an approximate 1,600 households only 45 showed up, this represented a mere 2.8% of Dalkeith residents.

As I said at the Q &A session, we should not only tell the City Council what we do not want but also what we really want. Needless to say, it is difficult, if not impossible, to gather a consensus of opinions in a short time frame. I suggest a questionnaire should be sent out to all Dalkeith residents to seek their views. Collate the returns and compile all the relevant viewpoints for submission to relevant authorities.

As far as I am concerned, I would like to list below what I like to see and to have in Dalkeith. I am no town planner. Please do not ask me 'how' to do so, but this is what I visualise what Dalkeith should have in the next 15 to 20 years.

Dalkeith should be so designed to be a unique city this side of the Perth; Subiaco included.
Dalkeith should be designed as a garden city, unlike the garden city south of the river which is too commercialised, too cold and impersonal.
What I like to see in Dalkeith is not only big trees - green, they say, but also flowers of all descriptions. Incidentally, planting trees, flowers and erecting signage's and roadside furniture apparently is not a strong point of Nedlands City Council. They impose conditions for residents to grow /remove trees. They themselves have been slow to beautify the road-scape as promised years ago.. I envisaged a tree-lined boulevard, complete with chairs/benches for people to sit, chat and relax.

As with the majority, I object to hotel, motel and tavern, but I propose an alternative solution below: why not convert the present Dalkeith Hall into a two-storied Club House complete with facilities such as a small boutique bar, mini-gymnasium, squash court, small library, food hall, a 25 metre indoor pool and a decent sized hall for performing arts and other activities. Only Dalkeith residents can be members of the club. They can invite guests for a drink or food and only they will be held responsible for their own or guests' behaviour.

I would like to see water fountains in the city area. A decent-sized water fountain will have some cooling effect on the surrounding and produce pleasant tinkling sounds. The palm tree planted in the small roundabout preceding the town centre is rather commonplace. You can see such a roundabout decors in roundabouts in suburbs from Innaloo to Balcatta. By the way, please do not build a modern art piece similar to that at the Broadway and The Avenue roundabout - so prosaic and mechanical, to say the least!

There should be a pedestrian mall somewhere for residents to saunter about.

Car parking spaces should be increased. Roadside parking should be eliminated on main roads. Back lanes should be paved and wide enough for roadside parking.

Road pavement should be widened especially on Warratah Avenue.

Aged care for the old and day care for the young.

No smoking in shops, café, shopping centres and any public places.

I hope the above will be of some use to Dalkeith Redevelopment and Planning Project.

I shall appreciate if you will kindly forward this email to "Dalkeith Redevelopment, City of Nedlands, PO Box 9, Nedlands, WA 6909".

Please acknowledge receipt.