Former City of Canning councillor says better sites than Shelley foreshore available for cafe

Mr Gleeson said a better location for a cafe was on the corner of High Road and Riley Street in Riverton, where the Canning Arts Centre (CAG) was.

He called on the council to redevelop the arts centre to include other community groups and a cafe.

“I see more value in redevelopment of this area into a multi-use venue to house CAG, the Canning Men’s Shed and other groups that may require a venue. The art centre is probably more than 50 years old. It is crumbling down inside. The Men’s Shed in Shelley that I am a member of works under shade cloth,” he said.

“Money should be spent on something that will benefit the greater community.”

Mr Gleeson said the recent City survey results on whether locals supported a cafe in the Shelley Beach Park precinct showed residents wanted more than just a cafe, including better playground equipment for children, more trees and barbecues.

“If you go down to the foreshore now, all car bays are full and the Shelley beach area is full of families having fun. To plonk a restaurant like the one at Riverton Bridge that is overflowing with cars would be disastrous,” Mr Gleeson said.

“I think Shelley foreshore beach is too small. It is a unique piece of land. If you drive along the whole strip of Riverton Drive, there is very little area where people can have a picnic and it happens to be that beach.”

Mr Gleeson said if the cafe idea became a reality on the Shelley foreshore it would likely affect the off-lead dog exercise area.

“If a cafe/restaurant goes in, they will want to re-jig that dog exercise area which is pretty sacred to the dog owners,” he said.

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