High wire fencing, chainsaws buzzing, bobcats rat-a-tat-tatting

What on earth was happening?

Well, late last week and during this week Freo residents on and near Ellen Street between Ord Street and East Street, over the road from John Curtin College of the Arts wondered just that, what on earth was happening?

Turns out a new music building is being constructed at JCCA in keeping with an electoral promise made by the McGowan Government at the 2021 general elections.

Admirable, though one might have been forgiven for thinking the brass and percussion sections of the student orchestra were giving an early plein air performance with power tools for the benefit of Ellen Street folk.

Then the locals saw red, well, green actually. They spotted at least one Norfolk Pine being felled and were ready to chain themselves to the trees that remained.

No one had told them this was going to happen.

While residents received an enigmatic warning letter telling them works were soon to be commenced over the road and demanding they have their homes assessed for damage in advance of the works, residents were not given any advance notice of the music building development, its approval, or indeed consulted in any way about what was proposed.

Wonder if they managed to inform the National Trust who look after the historic Samson House at the corner of Ord and Ellen Streets?

The Shipping News this week put a series of questions to the WA Department of Education. Rob Thomson, Executive Director, Infrastructure at the Department provided these responses.

Q. Advise just what works are being carried out.

A. As part of the 2021 State election, the State Government announced an upgrade of John Curtin College of the Arts. A new music building will provide learning areas for orchestra, bands and other ensembles, practice studios, a STEM makerspace and design laboratory, and staff studies. Fire services will also be upgraded with the installation of new water tanks and pumps.

Q. Who has approved the works?

A. The WA Planning Commission was the determining authority for the works and approved the development application. Referral to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for a clearing permit was not required.

Q. In particular is there a development approval?

A. As above: The WA Planning Commission was the determining authority for the works and approved the development application. Referral to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for a clearing permit was not required.

Q. Has approval been given to the felling of any trees?

A. No approvals were required as per the response above.

Q. Is there a tree canopy/landscape plan?

A. All new school projects and major redevelopments include a landscape plan. The Department has specifications for the number and types of trees to be planted on school sites.
For this project:
36 trees have been identified and tagged with tree protection zone requirements to safeguard their preservation during the construction period.
22 trees, well over 1000 tubestock and shrubs will be planted.
Tree species that will be planted are Callitiris Preissii (conifer), Melaleuca Lanceolata (paperbark), Eucalyptus Gomphocephala (tuart) and Pyrus Nivalis (snow pear).

Q. When will the current site preparation works be completed?

A. Site preparation works are currently anticipated to be completed in mid to late March.

So, there we are. At least there will be some trees saved, some planted and some tube stock and shrubs put in as well.

But why wouldn’t someone – the JCCA Principal, someone at the Department of Education – have consulted with local residents likely to be affected by the work well in advance to explain what was happening?

Probably another case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing.

By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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