Yesterday I posted an article on this blog about the paradisical area of ocean not far from where we live on the northern beach area of Perth, Western Australia. Today I want to show you how modern society can take a piece of west aussie paradise & totally wreck a whole bushland environment in one easy lesson. Below are a couple of photos I snapped of the natural bushland that USED to exist just a short walk from our home only a short time ago back in August 2006:

Author’s photo of beautiful bushland just a short walk from his home in August, 2006

Photo of the Author in the same bushland August 2006

Photo taken by the Author of native trees in full bloom same bushland August, 2006

You must agree that the above three photos show an area of natural bushland that is exquisite. My Wife & myself used to enjoy our walks through this spectacular countryside only five minutes from our home which is situated around 35 kilometres north of the center of Perth city. Just walking through this paradise provided relaxation of the mind, & the blossoms, trees & shrubs that covered the whole region provided the lungs with plenty of fresh air perfumed with a fragrance that only mother nature can provide.

Now I want you to prepare yourself for a shock at the next photo. I know we both received an awful shock ourselves when we discovered that the developers had moved in with great speed & left us with :

Author’s photo of same bushland region as in above photos, vandalised by developers enmasse in April/May 2008

this disastrous mess of dirt, mud & not a single tree or shrub for acres & acres in all directions. People will say tough, that’s the price of progress? Wrong, that’s the price of enmasse development without a thought for the future of our region, let alone the future of our  environment.

Yes, by all means scroll up the page & compare the photos again, & again, because I still do so as the total devastation is almost incomprehensible.

Now my friends, this act of enmasse degradation of our environment did not take place 10 or 20 years ago when the world was largely blind, &/or deliberately oblivious, to the environmental disaster looming just around the corner. This was  just a short few months ago in May 2008, as shown by the dates in the photo.

The developers  bulldozed every living thing in sight. They did leave one pathetic little stand of trees which I recently noticed is gradually withering & dying due to the pollution resulting from the mass clearance of all living vegetation. One would think that in this world that is trying to concoct environmental plans to combat global warming, rising sea levels, melting glaciers & icecaps that this wholesale vandalisation of outer city bushlands would have ceased by now, or at least huge tracts be left between cleared areas,  or something left for the future.

Tragically no…it’s all gone….forever!

This morning the news broke that the state government had brokered a deal between the idigineous owners of land some 60 kilometres north of Broome, way up in our remote north west. The deal is for a huge gas pipleline hub to be constructed in that region. Guys & Gals I sincerely trust your spectacular coastline fares better than our  destroyed bushlands! And therein lies the reason for my posting this article today!

So there you have it. Even in the backblocks of the most isolated city on the face of planet Earth, our councils, governments, & cash happy land developers continue to wreak havoc even in this lonely part of the world.

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I have resided in the coastal suburbs of Perth for most of my life…and that extends way back to the 1950’s! Back in the so called “good ol days”, yes, one could venture out for the day and leave the doors to the house unlocked & all the windows open! You could drive the car down the road to the shops and not worry about locking the doors! You could enjoy a few beers with your mates at the local pub without the fear of being bashed, or worse, killed by some drug crazed mob of thugs, out looking for a fight!

However, “no way Hosie”, would you dream of enjoying such relaxed security in the 21st century here in little old Perth! These days an unlocked door, or an open window, is a welcome sight to the seemingly ever increasing multitudes of “bad” folks out there. Drugs are alive and well all over the city and surrounding suburbs. Rarely does a day pass without further bad news reports of the latest muggings, murders and car smash related deaths caused by alcohol and drugs!

Out in the “burbs” hoons thrive with their high powered cars to harass once quiet and peaceful neighbourhoods and leave their tyre rubber on the roads to disfigure the environment. Then we have the “graffiti” crazies who get some weird kick out of disfiguring public property as well as the private residences the owners work hard to possess.

Ride the electric rail system at the risk of being harrassed by crazy teens, or be forced to witness their disfigurement of train windows by scratching their nutty signatures into the glass.

No I am sorry to report Perth is NOT the friendly, welcoming city of the pre 1990’s. Yes Perth does remain a very clean and tidy city built on the shores of the rapidly being polluted Swan River. So what went wrong?

For starters Perth’s population has tripled since I was a kid. The population increase in the 1990’s was probably almost exponential as myriads of workers from overseas and interstate flooded into Perth and the north west to capitalise in the mining and mineral boom…which, just quietly has now “unboomed”!

The boom in crime is related to the rapid boost in population. And I remain amazed as our government and business world continue to ramp up the supposed need for even bigger population. Hell, we cant sustain what we already have…water restrictions, huge increases in power costs, rampant traffic jams, second rate public transport systems in outlying suburbs…so why would we want to double our population. Someone is nuts!

Anyway,  I  needed to let potential visitors to Perth be prewarned that this aint the peacefull little backwater of the 1970’s. Far from it. There is plenty to see and enjoy in and around Perth, but be on your guard,because Perth has sadly joined most other cities in their downward spiral due to the numerous bad elements that always thrive amongst big sprawling populations!

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View of Perth City from King’s Park

Where do you find great accommodation in Perth in Australia? I visit the travel forums every day. One question that I see on a regular basis is this:

“We plan to visit Perth later this year. Where should we stay and what hotel we should stay at for our holiday?”

A very fair and reasonable question. Particularly with the massive building expansion that Perth, especially western perth has experienced in the past five or so years. If you have not visited Perth in the past ten years then you are in for a huge shock! While Perth is still one of the most friendly and environmently safe cities on the planet, it really has turned into a very, very busy place, thanks to the mineral and industrial boom that shows no signs of diminishing.

Perth and it’s surrounding coastal regions have tremendous, first class, hotel and resort accommodation to suit every taste and pocket. The best way to answer the quesion is to review the key regions and the hotel accommodation that I have stayed at, and thoroughly recommend, during the past couple of years. Firstly, I must add that I was born and bred in Perth and totally love this place.

South Perth is one of the original suburbs of Perth in Australia and is full of history. Situated on the banks of the Swan River, this beautiful old suburb contains multi million dollar properties. The Perth Zoo which is fantastic is also in this tree lined, leafy old suburb. Plus the region of the town of South Perth contains many excellent cafes & restuarants as wella s the ferry terminal to catch a boat to Perth city.

West Perth is another very old suburb well worth a visit. This suburb is mainly an area of a mix of old historic buildings now used as office accommodation as well modern office buildings. West Perth also provides numerous, ecellent cafes & restauarants as well as the famous  Kings Park.

The Perth rental market is a nightmare situation in 2008 due to the ever increasing infux of people moving to Western Australia. Buying a house is no longer a problem due to a downturn in the demand for homes for sale Perth as prices rose very quickly from 2003 to 2006. Prices have fallen during 2007/2008.

1. Perth City

Without hesitation, if I was a visitor to gorgeous Perth, I would wish I had stayed at the Burswood Hotel Resort. The Burswood consists of a multi story, luxury hotel, casino, golf course, convention center, and is one of the most vibrant entertainment centers of Perth city. The Resort offers a number of cafes and restuarants ranging from low cost to premium, as well as a world class casino, and many rooms have exquisite views over the Swan River and Perth city.

I can assure you that providing you request a room with city and river views you will be delighted! The Resort is only 4 kilometres from central Perth city and the Resort has regular transport into Perth, King’s park, and favourite Perth attractions. Perth International Airport is only 15 minutes away by Taxi or Airport shuttle.

2. Perth Coast

If you wish to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city and prefer a pristine beach environment, then you cant go past the Rendezvous Resort Hotel situated at Scarborough Beach, just 10 kilometres west of Perth city. I have stayed at this resort numerous times over the past 20 years and have thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Scarborough Beach is one of Perth’s favourite swimming and surfing beaches. The multi story hotel resort is as close to the beach as is possible. Ensure that you request a room with ocean views and you will be delighted with endless vistas of a west aussie sunset from your balcony while enjoying a shiraz or a chardonnay.

The Resort has upgraded it’s rooms in recent years and they are comfy and spacious with most enjoying endless views from floor to ceiling windows of the coastal region either north or south, or directly out over the fantastic Indian ocean

The Rendezvous offers both very up market restaurants as well as the delightful “Pines Restaurant” which offers excellent value evening dinners, luncheons and buffet breakfasts. The hotel has an excellent swimming pool facility, tennis courts and under ground parking to secure your hire car in safety.

The Resort is surrounded by superb restaurants from Italian to Greek . Whatever your taste preference you will enoy just a short walk from the Rendezvous.

Enjoy a morning walk along the brilliant, pure white sands of Scarborough Beach while listening to the white tipped curling, green combers crashing onto the beach.

Devine!

3. South of Perth – Fremantle

No question about where to stay in vivacious, bustling Fremantle. The Esplanade Hotel offers superb quality accommodation close to all major cafe, restaurant and port facilites of the famous Western Australian Port City of Fremantle. The Esplanade still retains it’s old worldy style combined with exquisite 21st century comfort and design. The Esplanade is the place!!

You can easily walk to all the famous watering holes, restaurants, old Fremantle Prison to enjoy an excellent dinner and a gaol ghost walk, plus the exciting cafes, and fish and chip parlors at the fishing harbours. Fremantle nights are alive with activity and colour.

4. Most Important – Big Warning!!!

I already mentioned that Perth is in the grip of a major mineral and industrial boom. Accommodation anywhere in the state of Western Australia needs to be booked many months in advance. Take heed of this warning as I am not kidding you. Turn up without prior hotel bookings and you might be sleeping at Perth International Airport for your stay.

Revisit next week when a further article will be posted with tips as to where I stay at Mandurah, the South and South West, and other fantastic holiday spots in the great and exciting state of Western Australia.

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