City of Canning rolls out survey to Rossmoyne and Shelley residents about foreshore

BANNISTER ward councillors Ben Kunze and Patrick Hall have welcomed a City of Canning rollout of survey materials to Rossmoyne and Shelley residents set to assess whether there is demand for infrastructure at Shelley Beach foreshore.

The official mail drop comes after a series of residents reported anonymous flyers left in letterboxes throughout Shelley and Rossmoyne and a subsequent Facebook page titled Save Shelley Beach Park that incorrectly purports a cafe is proposed.

The flyers directs residents to contact the Riverton, Rossmoyne, Shelley Ratepayers Association (RRSRA); an unsolicited move according to RRSRA president Caroline Dunsire.

“The association is not associated to the flyers and does not have a position on the on the future of Shelley at this time,” Mrs Dunsire said.

Cr Kunze said he was concerned the group would muddy the survey and confuse residents.

He said while he supported people’s right to speak against any potential proposal, he reminded ratepayers there were no plans and it was a suburb-wide survey being conducted.

“At the Australia Day function, I listened to a gentleman telling visitors the City of Canning were going to knock down car buildings and concrete an entire section and trees,” he said.

“They said it was a done deal, which is of course not true.”

Cr Hall said he was concerned about the influence an anonymous campaign could have on residents and the successful execution of the survey.

“Every home and in Rossmoyne and Shelley received an anonymous flyer; it’s a carefully choreographed campaign, and it is splitting a close community,” he said.

“These anonymous people have come into a consultative process before it has even begun and created anger in the community by spreading mistruths and misinformation.

“The process only began last week when the letter was sent out by the council providing context to what is happening.”

The pair said they were concerned that council would eventually receive a petition that inaccurately gathered signatures.

“My greatest fear is that a petition will come to council based on mistruths and misinformation signed by people under false pretences,” Cr Hall said.

“That derails democracy, we want a balanced argument, we want different opinions but it must be a discussion based on fact.”

Cr Kunze said the survey would gauge community opinion about boosting amenities such as shaded areas, more trees, shaded playgrounds and an enterprise such as a cafe.

“As it stands the City has written to the residents about the master plan and how they can participate without false information being put to them,” he said.

“It’s not about a cafe, it’s about infrastructure like shading and what people want to see on the foreshore and including the whole community in (the decision making).

“This is driven by the community and the original motion put forward had no point of view put forward.”