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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 6345 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 11 August 2020 by Mr A. Krsticevic

Question Directed to the: Minister for Transport
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

I refer to the recent decision to erect a barbed-wire fence underneath the Lord Street overpass in Perth, and ask:
(a) how many complaints of antisocial behaviour had been made in the year preceding the decision:
(i) please provide details of the complaint including its nature and date of the incident;
(b) were you aware this location had been used frequently as a shelter for homeless people; and
(c) did you notify the Minister for Community Services, prior to the fence being erected:
(i) if yes to (c) on what date or dates was this matter discussed with the Minister for Community Services and what was the form of communication (i.e. phone, email, letter)?

Answered on 16 September 2020

(a)  The fence underneath the Lord Street overpass was installed in May 2020. The fencing of the rail reserve enhanced security for communication pits within the reserve and ensured safe access for Public Transport Authority (PTA) staff and contractors required to access and maintain those services. In addition, 6 external complaints were received by the PTA between 25 October 2019 and 30 April 2020.

(i) Please refer to the following table:

 

Date/ ID

Description of Complaint

25/10/19

The City of Perth forwarded a safety complaint about syringes in the Lord Street bridge underpass. 

25/11/19

 

A member of the public complained they did not feel safe walking from Lord Street to McIver Station, that there were people sleeping in bushes, the walkways smelt of urine, and there was litter and rubbish on Lord Street. 

17/12/19

 

The City of Perth forwarded a complaint about “squatters and homeless” near the Principal Shared Path under Lord Street Bridge, advising the area felt unsafe.

6/1/20

 

MRWA sent a complaint to the PTA regarding “squatters” on the relevant PTA Land.

20/2/20

 

A complaint from the City of Perth was received regarding “homeless people” gathering on the relevant PTA land.  The City sent the Ranger and advised the land was the PTA’s. The complaint advised that people were sleeping under trolleys; there were suitcases, a wheelchair, a cat chained to a post, food container litter, the area was dirty, not safe or suitable for vagrancy. 

30/4/20

 

A member of the public complained that McIver Station was unsafe and “scary” with homeless people wandering and yelling.

 

(b)  The PTA became aware people were sleeping and frequenting its land between Lord Street and McIver station as a result of internal reports and these external reports, and had attempted over several months to maintain the cleanliness and security of that part of the rail reserve in coordination with the City of Perth and Main Roads (who owned adjoining land) and with WA Police.

(c)   The PTA consulted with WA Police and the City of Perth and since erecting the fence, the PTA has had ongoing and formal engagement with the Department of Communities, WA Police, City of Perth, Main Roads and relevant non-government organisations to help manage the issue.

       (i)  Not applicable.