WA Premier Roger Cook says he’s “appalled” by a western suburbs council’s plan to fight excision of public land for the new children’s hospice.
WA Premier Roger Cook says he’s “appalled” by a western suburbs council’s plan to fight excision of public land for the new children’s hospice.
The City of Nedlands council will tonight vote on a draft landscaping plan over a portion of Crown land between the WA Bridge Club and the children’s hospice.
The city’s chief executive Keri Shannon has recommended for the council to support the draft landscaping plan – despite the same land being earmarked for complementary parkland for the hospice.
Asked this morning what he thought of the city’s plan to vote on the draft landscaping plan, he said he was “appalled”.
“It’s extraordinary that the City of Nedlands would commit so much of ratepayer resources to opposing a hospice for sick and dying children,” he said.
“I’m appalled with this use of public funds to oppose something which has an absolute, undoubted provision of good for the community.
“It's an important facility which will allow sick and dying children an opportunity to sit in a place of peace, overlooking the ocean, providing great respite and comfort for their families, who are obviously hurting as a result of the very acute and life limiting diseases that these children have.
“It’s beggars’ belief that a council of any nature would oppose such a facility. And I implore, and I call on the city of Nedlands, stop your actions. They are out of step.”
The project is a venture between the Child and Adolescent Health Service and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and is set to be the state's first purpose-built paediatric hospice.
Lands Minister John Carey informed the city of the Child and Adolescent Health Service’s request to excise the lot from its Crown land classification.
Nedlands council has opposed the excision proposal, with mayor Fiona Argyle highlighting the Class-A reserve classification of the land.
Class-A refers to the highest level of protection available.
In the agenda, the city’s administration has recommended for council to vote in support of the landscaping plan at its upcoming meeting.
“As part of its submission objecting to the excision proposal, the city confirmed it was prepared to undertake landscaping and maintenance of the area which is already designated as parkland,” the agenda reads.
“The city noted it has approved the installation of the disability accessible Whadjuk Trail - Norn Bidi path which is the only disability accessible portion of the Whadjuk Trail - Norn Bidi path and which will ensure patients at the hospice will be able to make full use of the area that is officially part of the bush to beach trail.
“The Whadjuk Trail - Norn Bidi cannot be constructed until the hospice has ceased using the subject land as a laydown area for construction materials.”
Perth Children's Hospital Foundation chairman Ian Campbell has previously slammed the Nedlands council's move to oppose the excision of land, rebutting claims that the city had been helping to get the project done.
"They have done nothing but oppose this and slow it down," Mr Campbell told Business News.
According to the agenda, the city’s officers met with Mr Carey’s chief of staff, who asked for further clarification of the Whadjuk Trail – Norn Bidi plan.
The council also discussed the possibility of working with PCHF to fund the Whadjuk trail.
