Another Plea about the Trees

Our recent posting of Hayley Parker O’Toole’s PLEA TO SAVE THE TREES has produced quite an outbreak of support on our Facebook page.
We now post another plea to save the trees from Jim Macbeth, which Jim has just submitted to Freo City Council.

1. DO NOT SACRIFICE MORE TREES: The bottom line is that no more trees should be removed. One large tree has already been sacrificed on the south west side of the intersection. I drove on Douro Rd both ways today (24.06.26) and driving east I felt I could see past all trees. In particular, I could not understand how the two so-called juvenile trees could be seen as a problem. Note a.

2. MY FREQUENT USE OF THE ROUNDABOUT: I have been through the intersection hundreds of times having lived just off Douro Rd for over 40 years I usually transit the intersection by car but occasionally by bicycle, usually across South Tce on the south side of the intersection.

3. PUT THE WOMBAT LINES ON THE EAST (or all four sides): No trees need be sacrificed if the main crossings are across Douro on the EAST side of the roundabout. The main ‘west-bound’ wombat across South Tce can be on the South side of the roundabout. People use both east and south now and will continue to use this route no matter where the wombats are. See point 4 below.

4. SOURCE OF THE WALKERS?: the main concentration of potential walkers is one the east side of South Tce from the two blocks from the bike shop past the pub and restaurants as far as Orient street. On the west side of South Tce there is an ’empty area’ from the pop-up food ‘vans’ (approx Commercial St) to Douro Rd. That area generates no pedestrians in the way the East side of South Tce does. This is not to ignore that residents walk west on Douro Rd to the round-about from Hampton Rd and beyond. Note b.

5. GET WALKERS INTO WILSON PARK USING THE SOUTH SIDE OF DOURO. Moving the wombats to cross Douro east of the round-about and to cross South Tce to the south of the round-about puts the pedestrians directly into the park. Sight lines seem ok and no need to sacrifice any trees.

6. DOURO RD SPEED LIMIT NOW 40kph. THE SIGNS WERE INSTALLED ON WEDNESDAY 24.6.26 (personal observation). This further reduces the risk to pedestrians and bike riders at the round-abouts.

7. SAVE THE TREES AND THE PARKING SPACES: I’m sure the businesses will miss the parking spaces but we’ll ALL miss the trees.

NOTES:

a. If you’ve ever walked or driven west on Douro from Hampton Rd when the sun sets directly up Douro Road you’ll see a most spectacular street scape. The sunset needs all the trees!

b. No pedestrians are generated by the backs of warehouses, especially the Sealanes’ buildings. I doubt if the South Tceblank walls generate many pedestrians on the west side in spite of the incredible artwork. Anyway, the artwork is better viewed from the east side of South Tce.

By Jim Macbeth, South Fremantle resident

~ If you’d like to COMMENT on this or any of our stories, don’t hesitate to email our Editor.

~ WHILE YOU’RE HERE –