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By
The Friends of Robin Rd Green
Contact:
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What's it all about?
With the Roleystone Primary School moving from Robin road to Raeburn Road, the old school site is set to be redeveloped.
On the site is what we call the "The Robin Rd Green". Its located on the west side of the site and includes old Jarrah trees and a grassed area. Together with the whole of the site, it has been earmarked for redevelopment - and if the community does not comment, we will potentially lose it forever.
Why do we need it?
Being in the Roleystone Town Centre, the Robin Road Green has been used in the past for small community events. We need this oval to continue to nurture these small community events.
It's the small events that make our town what it is. Small events can be organised by anyone in our community.
The Robin Rd Green is unique. Surrounded by old Jarrah trees, it has a natural amphitheatre feel to it. Gatherings from as little as 200 people can feel at home here.
The Robin Rd Green is currently used for Markets, Music Events and Fundraising events - and with the change of ownership, could be used for local Weddings and Funerals.
Sporting Ovals such as Cross Park and Springdale are too large for small community events. These high maintenance ovals need attendances close to 1000 to fill. Small community events at these sites seem empty. Springdale is also far outside of the Roleystone Town Centre.
What will it cost to keep it?
Maintenance of the Green is negligible when compared to other town running costs and sporting ovals. Unlike the nearby sporting ovals, this green does not need regular fertiliser and water.
But to put things into perspective, the City of Armadale "rule of thumb" for a high maintenance sporting oval is $17,000 per hectare per year.
The grassed area of the Robin Rd Green is 0.27 of a hectare at its current size. The grassed area could be reduced in size to 1,200m2, further reducing maintenance costs.
For a reduced size, the grassed area would only cost $3,000 per year.
There are 2300 homes in Roleystone alone, so $1.50 per home per year would cover the cost of keeping the oval - which is a negligable cost when compared with the average Roleystone council rate of $1,193.
Water Consumption?
The Green is currently connected to scheme water which will shortly consist of approximately 30% desalination plants, 30% ground water and 30% catchment dams. [REF: Water Corp - Water forever plan]
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The water required for the grassed area is small. If the grassed area is reduced to half its size (1,300m2) the water consumption would be 624 kilolitres, or $1073 per year*1. The grass may look dry over the peak summer period for a two day watering week.
To put this into perspective, the average Roleystone house water consumption 2010/2011 was 335 kilolitres*2. The water required for the grassed area will be less than two average Roleystone households.
[*1 REF: 1300m2 x 10mm per day x 2 days per week x 4 weeks per month x 6 months per year x $1.72 per kilolitre / 1000]
[*2 REF: As shown on the Water Corporation Water Use Account to Roleystone users, issued 12th April 2011 and 13th October 2010. 108kl + 227kl]
The Values of the Green Bushland
In November 2011 we carried out a survey of the trees surrounding the Green. There are at least 90 trees surrounding the Green that are in excess of 100 years old. Several of these trees are over 200 years old, and at least one is over 300 years old.
(REF:  Tree Attributes and Ages - Whitford )
A summary of the tree age around the Green is shown below...
In September 2011 we carried out a native flora species survey. 72 unique Roleystone species were found, 8 of which were considered rare. (REF: Roley Primary bush species list.pdf)
The Old Trunks
Toilet Blocks?
There are existing toilet blocks adjacent (south) to the Oval. If required, these could be made available to users of the Green.
What about the Senior Accommodation?
There is already one retirement village in Roleystone with 36 units. They had one vacancy beginning of this year (2010). Nobody on the waiting list was ready for it, so it went to public tender. One person applied.
With careful planning, it is quite possible to build an additional 44 retirement units and still retain the Green. (REF: CAD model below).
At the Retirement Living Project public meeting (30th October 2010), Dale Cottages stated that 25 to 32 units would be viable.
However without public comment, the whole site will be sold to the highest bidder without conditions.
This is what we hope to achieve...
Combined Seniors and Robin Rd Green Proposal (by the Friends of Robin Rd Green)
It is now clear that our former Cr Pat Hart has been against saving the Green. In her letter to residents during a letter drop on 22th Nov 2011, she urges people to submit public comments against keeping the Oval. (REF: letter by Pat Hart).
What to do?
If we wish to keep the Robin Road Green, we need to write to our State Member Tony Simpson, State MP John Day, and to the City of Armadale asking for it to be saved for future generations.
At present (Nov 2011), the State has asked the City of Armadale to rezone the site. The Council has put a document out for comment - but it does not protect the Green.
(Click here to see the proposed rezoning documents)
Please continue writing to our State and Local governments now. All emails send to City will be brought to the attention of the Council and included as part of the public comment.
If you are writing, we hope you make your correspondance positive and supportive of the whole project. We otherwise risk loosing the whole project moving forward to community conflict.
What can be achieved?
First of all, your comments do count. With enough public support, the Local and State Governments will be encouraged to find the best solution.
One of two things is possible...
- The State can gift the green to the City of Armadale, and then tender the remaining land to the developers. The City of Armadale would then be charged with maintain the green.
- Or - special conditions can be placed on the rezoning of the land to protect the Green and Surrounding bushland.
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Take Action...
Write a message to the City of Armadale, MP Tony Simpson and MP John Day..
>>> Click Here to write a letter Online <<<
Or send a letter via the Post...
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MP Tony Simpson
State Member of Parliament
(08) 9525 4822
PO Box 56
Byford WA 6122 |
MP John Day
State Member of Parliament
(08) 9213-6600
13th Floor, Dumas House
2 Havelock Street
WEST PERTH
WA 6005
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Henry Zelones
City of Armadale Mayor
(08) 9399 0111
Locked Bag 2
Armadale
WA 6992
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