Perth, Western Australia (Old Edition) Home News Time Out Letters Write a Letter Special Coverage Walsham Classifieds Search Real Estate Trades & Services Submit About Contact Us Advertising Legal	Keep carpark out of park, Cambridge told Big tress were cut down along Jersey Street, Wembley, this week as part of Cambridge council's plan to subdivide land, including a carpark. The "border war" between Cambridge and Subiaco councils flared this week when Cambridge started work on a Jersey Street project despite pleas from Subiaco for more talks. Cambridge has decided to clear and subdivide land on the east side of Jersey Street into 19 blocks and sell them for a total of about $2 million. This will remove a carpark, so Cambridge aims to compensate by extending another carpark, across the road on Jolimont Terrace, next to Henderson Park. But people living on Jolimont Terrace and nearby want that plan spoiled. They have asked Subiaco council to rebuild the Jolimont Terrace carpark and place bollards across the western end of the street. Those two moves could jam the Cambridge plan. At the same time, residents hope the WA Planning Commission will rule that Cambridge has not got the final approval needed to build the new carpark. They hope this would give them and Subiaco council a chance to tell the commission about their concerns. Subiaco and the residents say a new carpark would be better placed in the north-west corner of Henderson Park, or along Salvado Road on the north side of Henderson Park, or on a strip of the old council nursery. Murray Mayberry, who lives on Jolimont Terrace, said there were many objections to the Cambridge proposal. He said Cambridge had managed to persuade the WAPC to approve the subdivision without the usual setting aside of 10% of land for public open space. Cambridge had argued that would be unnecessary because there was a big recreational area, Henderson Park, straight across the road, on the other side of Jersey Street. But, Mr Mayberry said, Cambridge also proposed to use some of that same Henderson Park as a carpark. He said: "I'm sure private developers would love to have the 10% open space requirement waived and then be allowed to build a carpark on a public recreation park." "The proposed carpark will run to within 60 metres of the lake in the adjoining Mabel Talbot Park, a protected wetland area. "The carpark will be built around established Moreton Bay fig trees and will divide the bird life (approximately 200 in summer) off from one of their major sources of food (figs). "It will also impact on the breeding of long-necked tortoises. "To our knowledge, Cambridge has not assessed the environmental impact of the carpark in any way, nor do they intend to adopt current best-practice in relation to draining from the carpark into the wetland area. "Cambridge council has not invited public comments on their plans for this carpark, nor have they advised or consulted nearby residents. "Some residents live within 30 metres of the planned carpark, and have been complaining to Cambridge about late-night noise from existing parking for over a decade. Subiaco councillor Mark Tonti said it was unfortunate Cambridge appeared prepared to push ahead with a scheme that would place a carpark in a popular park and affect nearby residents. BACK TO TOP < PREVIOUS - HOME - NEXT> Copyright © 1999 - 2006 Post Newspapers Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.