Protect our school spaces & STOP the unnecessary land grab of our precious public asset. We believe there is a much better plan for Subi East which is healthy, sustainable and will preserve a priceless inner city reserve for all. Our plan aligns with the community and council plans and decisions as per the council approved North Subiaco Structure Plan and the Kitchener Common Master Plan and will
support ALL INFILL required by the Minister. The 1903 petition to have the reserve recognised as ‘A’ class was supported by hundreds of residents from Leederville, Subiaco, West Perth and Perth. Under the three points listed as rationale for the preservation of the Reserve it states:
“That the Reserve referred to is not secured to the people by a fixed tenure, and may possibly be diverted to other uses. That we earnestly desire to have the Reserve placed in Class A for the health and recreation of the people for ever. It virtually adjoins the three Municipalities of Perth City, Subiaco, and Leederville, and would prove priceless boon in the future to the large population settling around it. We therefore beg your earnest and favourable consideration for the prayer of your petitioners”
(Refer S211 Cons6196 1902-11699-1R Reserves - park reserve 9337 City of Subiaco)
This petitioning was favourably received and 14.4 hectares of Reserve 9337 (including the Subi Oval area) was upgraded and gazetted as an ‘A’ class reserve for the benefit of the community in 1904. In 2021 huge chunks of what should be a 'priceless forever' reserve are up for sale to the highest bidder. This should not occur and is against council and community plans and decisions. The City already is severely undersupplied in active green playing fields by more than 30% at 2016 population levels. The Subi East redevelopment under delivers on active playing fields and fails to meet government guidelines and recommendation for infill denser developments as per the Dept of Local Govt, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI) prepared for Perth & Peel @3.5M. Given predicted minimum new dwelling numbers we believe there is a shortfall of active fields of more than 50%. This number relies on the community having full community access to the oval, which is not the case. It is highly likely only very limited community access will be gained to the school/WAFC/Subi oval given the needs of the two identified dominant users. The unnecessary reserve land grab will only exacerbate a shortfall where children are already turned away from their chosen sport at a FULL Rosalie Park. Another controversial part of the reverse land grab means high rise flats, bars, transient accommodation, shops & restaurants will be on the edge of a school oval for the first time in WA (confirmed by the Education Minister). It is unnecessary to achieve infill density numbers in Subi East and there has been no distinct consultation with P & Cs and others about a precedent that could be repeated at any school across the state. Like us WACSSO (organisation who represent P & Cs across the state) are also concerned. It is controversial and many believe it will compromise staff and student safety, security, privacy and wellbeing. A better plan would remove overlooking of school ovals and school buildings in Subi East. Overlooking schools is not a necessary element to meet the Minister's infill requirements. Overlooking can be eliminated and the reserve preserved for the benefit of all including the local schools and the current and future Subi East residents. Regretfully the state government and their developer have also ignored and failed to take into account the high percentage of submissions which supported the council and community plans and decisions. These submissions supported preserving at least 1.73 hectares of the reserve, in addition to Subiaco Oval. The government also ignored over 92% of respondents in a survey which rejected a vision for Subi East which did not preserve the reserve. Many former esteemed people including former WA Premiers Sir Walter James (5th premier 1902-1904), Henry Daglish (1st Labor Premier 1904-1905) and Lord Forrest (1st premier 1890 to 1901) supported this area being set aside as a reserve for the benefit of the people. We sincerely hope the government will consider a much healthier and sustainable plan which delivers for the current and future residents who do or will call this area home. Authorised by Paul Clements, Convenor, Subi East Campaign Group, Barker Road, Subiaco.
