Plan turns Rosalie into battleground

Not sure if this will affect the rugby, but we'll see


One of Australia's most decorated lacrosse players has weighed in to the growing debate over plans to turn part of Rosalie Park into a carpark for nearby hospital staff, saying he was dismayed at the idea.

Brian Griffin, 69, a WA and Australian hall of fame inductee and former national team captain, said yesterday that ripping up the park for parking was ill conceived.

Mr Griffin, who is the patron of the Subiaco Lacrosse Club and was on the first team to play at Rosalie Park in 1963, said the ground had hosted national championships and this year was hosting the finals for several divisions. "For three years we'd be off the calendar," he said. "My concern is that it has become the recruiting ground and the hub for our club to exist."

It has emerged that the State Government had considered putting the carpark at Graylands Hospital, but later favoured creating 867 bays on one of Rosalie Park's fields while a new children's hospital and carpark are built.

Under the deal put to the City of Subiaco two weeks ago, the council would get $6 million in exchange for use of the field from October to December 31, 2012. "The State has now made it clear that its preferred option is Rosalie Park," a council report to be considered tomorrow by the corporate and technical services committee said.

Subiaco Junior Football Club vice-president Peter Tazewell said parking should have been considered before the State committed funds to the QEII Medical Centre hospital redevelopment. He questioned how use of the A-class reserve could be significantly changed without approval from both houses of Parliament.

State minister and Nedlands MLA Bill Marmion, who has been spearheading Government approaches to the council, did not answer questions yesterday.

Public health advocates and the Opposition say the proposal sets a dangerous precedent and reflects poor planning. But Health Minister Kim Hames said use of Rosalie Park would help meet construction time frames.

the rugby fields are towards the northern side of Rosalie & shoudn't be affected

Parking at Rosalie is hopeless. More parking is long overdue. (Pity they can't do something about the dual ground markings as well)

That power house WA sport of Lacrosse...

this all stems from the closing of PMH and the upgrade of Charlies. There isn't enough parking for either hospital, and with the merger, there is even less. They are also taking out parking temporarily for new construction.

I think the nurses are going to need the parking, how else are they supposed to work? (PS my girlfriend is a nurse at PMH). you have to remember that these people work shifts, so there is not alway public transport.

Just another way of showing how stuffed the infrastructure is in WA.

How much are the Polys getting paid?

I did notice in the States that every building had a multi storey car park behind it. There was never a single parking issue when we were there. That includes at the 90.000 seat sport stadium.

Not once did I get stuck in traffic. The roads just work. Now you can't even go out on a Saturday morning and not get stuck looking at the traffic lights in the distance.

AND I can gaurantee the nurses will pay for their parking at the new hospital whilst the Doctors won't.

Leave the ground alone.... It's not our fault you, your fellow politicians and town planners are inadequate.

town planning in general in perth is hopelessly poor... and the roads and parking infrastructure is the worst of all the issues.

i might be biased but if anyone has travelled on the roads in South Africa they'd understand what "building for the future" means
most of the highways in SA were built in the 60-70s and are constantly being upgraded... they built the roads before anything else... to steal a phrase from the Americans, Perth town planners needed to "have enough Gun!" when planning this town.

Great Eastern Highway between the city and the airport is supposed to be the gateway to Perth but instead its a crowded shemozzle that noone can do anything about because the roadside building has used up all possibility of expansion of the road. the same for roads like Beaufort, Canning, Guildford and numerous other arterial flowpoints. its a dogs breakfast! and im not surprised that various lobby groups are now having a go at each other over parkland.. as its the last remaining "free space" in the city

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-...car-park-plan/

"City of Subiaco councillors last night faced a hostile crowd angry over a proposal to put an 867-bay carpark on Rosalie Park as it emerged more than two sporting groups could be affected.

A packed public gallery used the council's committee meeting to lambast it over its handling of the matter, urging councillors to reject the State Government's proposal.

The State has offered the council $6 million in return for use of part of the A-class reserve for two years while it builds the new children's hospital and multi-storey carpark at the nearby QEII Medical Centre.

More than 2500 people have signed petitions against the move."

It may well affect the touch rugby played there though...

ANGRY Subiaco residents last night won a fight to stop the State Government turning part of Rosalie Park into a parking lot for QEII Medical Centre for two years.

A packed public gallery heard passionate submissions from sporting, residents and community groups urging councillors to reject the proposal.

One resident said they would "send a message to St Georges Terrace that you cannot come and take our land" to rapturous applause from the audience.

Former Subiaco mayor Tony Costa said residents had lost faith in most councillors and were still suspicious that the parking lot would go ahead.

“It looks like the park is safe for now,” Mr Costa said. “Unless they pull another stunt.”

“It is a beautiful, magnificent area, a great place for kids doing sporting activities.

“The hospital can grow but they have their own parking area and they can build it upwards or downwards.”

“There’s not a single voice in Subiaco that supports (the carpark).”

Comment is being sought from the Government as to what action will now be taken

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/west...-1225912740755