newsletters

To: dalkeith@nedlands.wa.gov.au

We wish to express outrage at the concept plan for the proposed redevelopment of Dalkeith.
We moved to Dalkeith just over 12 months ago as we valued the community atmosphere which holds many features so valuable in raising our two children (Lachlan age 13 and Shona 10 years). We love the quiet residential streets with abundant greenery, large blocks, proximity to the city, river and the children's schools, yet all the amenities we could desire in terms of friendly family restaurants, cafes, independent supermarket, post office, doctors, pharmacists, garden centre and wonderful galleries. We love the parks, established trees, and the feel of a suburb which provides an enriching and safe environment for our children. We love the hubbub of the shopping strip not far from our home, and although we live on a fairly busy street, the traffic is predominantly local and rarely intrusive.

We believe the whole plan is fatally flawed and poorly researched with regard to the needs of the current residents and the supposed new residents.

We object to the concept plan in which much of the community we have treasured will be altered to make Dalkeith yet another high-rise soleless ghetto, displacing residents in favour of commercial interests and property developers. High density shopping and commercial centres are already close to Dalkeith in Nedlands, Claremont and Cottesloe, and the needs of the residents are well serviced by the current low-rise strip along Waratah Avenue. Although the Dalkeith Village is a little tired, and in need of refurbishment, we do not believe the residents of Dalkeith want to have high rise development. Five storey buildings are completely out of place in the middle of an established residential suburb. Development of this nature is unwarranted and beyond the needs of the local residents. Hotels are already present on Stirling Highway from Nedlands and Claremont through Cottesloe as well as the Nedlands foreshore, and there are already adequate licenced premises in restaurants and yacht clubs which permit families to enjoy the lifestyle currently offered. We are unaware of any feasibility study which has demonstrated a need for hotel development in Dalkeith, especially as the proposed area lacks views and public transport infrastructure. The plan necessitates increased vehicular traffic, further disrupting the residential nature of the suburb. The proposed density of the commercial zones will necessitate the removal of most of the existing established trees, and 3-5 storey development will cast constant overshadowing and intrusion into the residents properties.

While some rezoning for smaller premises is appropriate, we believe it is a fallacy that people want to live in small apartments on third floor buildings, and it is ridiculous to have mandatory requirements for the 70 square metre cocoons proposed. Elderly people need ground floor access to their properties, and the likely heavy rating of these properties is unlikely to attract them. Families are unlikely to want to live in high-rise apartments, and the proposed development opposite the Dalkeith Primary promotes an urban jungle with increased traffic, rather than the safe and secure family centred environment we value so much. Laneways have a poor record with respect to crime (attracting dumping, graffiti, and increased burglary and compromising personal safety). Many councils have sought to remove laneways , yet this polan promotes their development. Underground parking shares many of the same problems, and is less convenient than on ground parking. Balconies in other high-density areas seem to be rarely used by the occupants, which is not surprising as the outlook is unlikely to be attractive, and the occupants are exposed to all.

We are concerned that the development will occur over the next 20 plus years in a piecemeal fashion, with no architectural cohesion and the area will remain a construction site over that timespan. The place for such development is in areas close to established transport routes (highways and railways), where entire areas can be reclaimed at the same time, or as a development of a new area. Such dense areas have their place and already exist in Subiaco, East Perth and North Fremantle, amonst others. Dalkeith has an established residential base, and certainly the future housing needs of the elderly and families need to be considered, but we believe the scope of the proposed concept plan fails to consider the needs of both current and future residents. This plan will impact very heavily on our family as will live opposite precincts 9 and 10 proposed for highest-rise. We are outraged that the home and attractive lifestyle we chose so recently will be devalued by a redevelopment thrust upon us.

We trust the Council will seek to undertake the listen to its constituents and oppose this ill-conceived plan.

Robert Coops, Helen Mead, Lachlan Coops and Shona Coops
Edna Rd,
DALKEITH WA