Andrew Toulalan for City of Perth | Public figure
Andrew Toulalan for City of Perth
Phone: +61 414 406 942
Reviews
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21.01.2022 MY PASSION PROJECT - 2029 I'm excited to share this article published today. An opinion editorial I wrote this week for WA Business News about a passion project of mine, to reconnect Perth and the West End, with an exciting new civic space for the people. (Article free to view / no paywall) https://www.businessnews.com.au/art/Bring-back-the-barracks
20.01.2022 CLEAN THE STREETS Simply put, there aren't enough rubbish bins to service the requirements. This is one of only two bins on this side of Milligan St and there should be at least 2 more. Rubbish is visible in the areas they're missing from. I'm calling for an immediate audit of the bin layout strategy in each city district with a view to doubling the number of serviced bins. I'd also like to see more signs erected thanking people for not littering.... Little things can go a long way. We need to increase the number of street cleaners and the schedule they operate on. Rubbish and litter on the street should be treated with zero tolerance. There should be no place for noticeably odoured street areas from urine and a "see it, remove it immediately" approach to all graffiti. Rangers and parking inspectors can report it to the council team who can send out a "squad" right away and this goes for areas of significant rubbish spills as well. Think of it like a Covid 19 response, when you act quickly, contain it and eradicate it, you will get less of it in future. A clean city is a livable city, a clean city has pride, a clean city has respect, a clean city is loved. We can perform better in this space, and we will. Vote TOULALAN, Andrew For a council that gets the basics right.
18.01.2022 A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS A great (also freezing cold! ) evening on Friday, discussing all things Perth. It was exciting to meet other candidates and residents in such an historic setting. Thanks to West Perth Local for their effort. Such a good ideasfest, and it is clear that whoever is honoured enough to represent our city, good changes are coming, with intelligent and positive people at the helm. ... Vote TOULALAN, Andrew For a council that gets the basics right.
11.01.2022 BETTER PUBLIC ART Like it, or loathe it? The green "Cactus" in Forrest Place has been contentious ever since it was commissioned and installed in 2011 at a cost of $1 million (thankfully not from the city ratepayers, but the state government of the time). Art is always subjective, they say that good art creates conversation, but personally I think this artwork isn't befitting of the city centre, misses the mark and seems it would be more suited to a McDonalds playground tha...n the city's main meeting space. We need to do better. When the court of public opinion turns (or in this case, never warmed to start with), we should correct the mistakes. I'll campaign for better art, by local artists (although this was at least designed by a local Perth artist James Angus). I'll also seek to determine the public mood and desire to move this artwork. It's become an eyesore, is covered in seagull excrement and is now nothing more than a glorified bird perch that blocks views of the vista between the public square and central railway station. We could move it to the Perth Children's Hospital, Synergy Playground in Kings Park or Wellington Gardens where it can be more in snyc with the surroundings. A new competition could be held to replace it, or, simply let the space speak for itself with enough going on here. To me, the Railway Station building is the hero of the scene, we can trim or better yet remove the trees (offset with new plantings) in front of the main entrance and open up this view so the historic architecture can be appreciated in tandem with the nearby Post Office and Commonwealth Bank buildings. New lighting could be added to the station facade to make it a real feature. Vote TOULALAN, Andrew For a council that gets the basics right.
07.01.2022 MORE CITY CENTRE PARKS The City of Perth is blessed with parkland along almost the entirety of the banks of the Swan River, it's what makes Perth unique and we enjoy one of the finest botanical gardens in the world on our very doorstep. However, have you noticed how devoid of green space the very heart of our city centre is? We have Central Park, which is actually private property and as such the city has no control over activation, landscaping or maintenance. It is the singl...e piece of open greenery in the whole district. The next pocket park is at Wellington Gardens at Kings Square, the only new green space we've added in over 10 years since the Northbridge Piazza was created. You need to travel all the way down to the Supreme Court Gardens, Wellington Square in East Perth or Russell Square in Northbridge to find any other green respite zones. I'd like to conduct a feasibility study into sites for acquisition for new, vested, public parks within the city core. Just like the city did with the Northbridge Piazza, we can find underused, non heritage buildings to acquire, demolish, replace and vest new parks for office and retail workers to enjoy and to attract new residents to the city centre. New development will occur in the vicinity of these new green spaces as land around them becomes a new premium. We can create a parklet policy to add green spaces to car parking zones and identify which areas can be permanently replaced with road parks instead of parked cars, a literal car park. We need to reclaim the streets with nature and we need to green the city centre. The balance must be struck between green space, asphalt and pavement. Vote TOULALAN, Andrew For a council that gets the basics right.
04.01.2022 SMARTER CITY MARKETING What's wrong with this scene? There's no one right answer, because there's a lot. Friday night is shopping night in the city, uniquely, but what's missing here? Lights! People! Atmosphere! Entertainment! Specials! Police! Friday is the one night of the week that the city centre has an advantage over its suburban counterparts and we aren't capitalising on this. We need a strong marketing campaign specifically to bring retail to life on Friday nights. Cit...y retailers should be able to bank on a bumper Friday night taking, all Summer. In the malls we can put bud/fairy lights in all the trees to create atmosphere, it's such a simple addition but done the world over because it creates a safe, pleasant scene that people want to be in and feel safe around. We can add cast lighting onto buildings with interesting pictures and animations. There are so many beautiful heritage buildings in the malls to bring to life in this way, we've done it sparingly before, we should make this a weekly event that people know is there, a permanent attraction - to gain traction. The city can directly employ buskers and entertainers every Friday night to create a festival atmosphere that people are drawn to. The city can ensure that pop up stalls throughout the malls add further interest. Retailers can be encouraged to offer special Friday night only city deals. The City of Perth carparks can be made free from 5pm to 11pm every Friday night to bring people in. We can fill vacant shop fronts with artwork, lights and flowers to ensure no space seems forgotten. We can ensure enough police are in force so that families feel safe. I will advocate for additional, modern parking facilities with adequate security to be built so that people know when they come into the city they can always find a safe, convenient spot, just like they can at their local shopping centre. This whole program can be marketed on social media, TV and radio with signs, flags and banners throughout the city centre promoting "Your Friday Night Shopping Experience - Only in the City". I've spent a 20 year career promoting Perth and Western Australia and this has given me the instinct, intuition and experience to know what works and to know what we need. Vote TOULALAN, Andrew For a council that gets the basics right.
03.01.2022 VOTING IN PERSON If you have not yet voted, it is now too late to post your ballot paper - so please don't waste your valued voice! You can vote in person at Council House, cnr Barrack St and St Georges Tce any day this week 830am to 5pm and up to 6pm on Saturday, polling day. It's actually a great opportunity to visit this wonderful heritage listed building and the blooming wildflower gardens at the main entrance. While there, take a look around Cathedral Square across the r...oad to appreciate the relatively new and iconic City of Perth library building and admire the historic architecture and opulence of the Treasury Buildings, or take a stroll into the Supreme Court Gardens. Elizabeth Quay and Riverside Drive walkways by the river are also just down the road, so make a morning, or afternoon of it with coffee and even a cheeky ice cream from Gusto Gelato. If shopping is your thing, walk up Barrack St, have a look at Perth Town Hall with its lovely clock tower and head into the Hay St and Murray St Malls and wander up and down the many arcades that link them together. Our city retailers and cafes need your support and it's a nice opportunity to appreciate how beautiful this area of our city really is and what we can improve on. When there, have a think, if you were a councillor for a day, what would be your best ideas? Vote TOULALAN, Andrew For a council that gets the basics right.
