Not all council’s fault

While it is convenient to do so, the dumbing-down of the issues and pressures confronting Subiaco cannot be written off as a simple failing of the council.

The council no longer has direct control over the approval of major developments within the City.

That responsibility lies with the State Government’s Development Assessment Panels process.

All the council can hope to do is to comment on those proposals ” and, from time to time, it has success in putting community and council concerns forward.

Similarly, the opinion piece’s enthusiasm for the approval of garages on cottage-sized lots that were never subdivided with the motor vehicle in mind, demonstrates a poor understanding of that which makes Subiaco so very different from other suburbs.

Simple expediency should not be allowed to prevail over the heritage and streetscape values that make Subiaco what it is.