Japonica15
Reviews
"Could be so much more, maybe in time..."
We lived in Beeliar, in Meve, for eighteen months. What originally drew us to the area was the location (proximity to employment and the CBD). We also liked the leafy appearance to the Meve estate, the lake, and all.
The positives of living in the area were the location (close to Coogee Beach, short 15 minute drive to Freo) and the shops (the IGA opened while we were living there). When the cafe subsequently opened, it was a lovely addition as well. And it was convenient to be just a 10 minute drive from Cockburn Gateway.
The negatives, however, were enough for us to decide to make our permanent home elsewhere. We noticed that there were a high number of rentals, with six that I know of on our small street alone. Then a half dozen Homeswest houses were built starting about three blocks from us. We experienced a vehicle break-in within the first two months of living there (goods stolen), and smaller thefts from around our property over the next year. Neighbours were aware of the problem and reported similar occurrences on their properties: houses and cars broken into.
The area never really felt completely safe for me, especially at night. We'd hear hoons going up and down the Grange. Going to the IGA some mornings meant seeing it or the liquor store boarded up again because of yet another break-in. New public exercise equipment was installed by the lake only to be vandalized almost immediately. There were teens riding off-road motorbikes around the oval and we'd have to pull our little kids out of their path. A few dog owners also let their dogs run free and my two year-old son was knocked over on multiple occasions by large dogs running loose.
There wasn't much for the kids to do. School playground equipment was fenced off and not for public use outside of school hours. There was a small, older slide and climbing frame near our house, but the brand new, nicer playground was a 20 minute walk from us up Black Swan Rise. There was nothing for the kids to play with down at the oval or by the lake either.
We had problems with the dust from Cockburn Cement coming into the house through the evap a/c during the summer. And the odour was quite noticeable some days.
I think the part of the problem is that there is a mix of residents in Meve: ones of a certain means who have moved there in recent years and other families who do not contribute much to the community or their surrounds. I haven't seen dead rusting cars, aluminum-foiled windows, or punching bags in the front entranceway since I moved from Beeliar. And I think that until this gets addressed, the neighbourhood will never live up to its marketing. The area does seem to have an active residents association and it has put on great community events in the past like the Christmas concerts and kids' movie nights. But a few events can't make up for all of the negatives of the area.
Great for
- Location
Not great for
- Crime, vandalism
- Hoons
- Cockburn cement
We purchased a block in Meve and we were given the old sales speel about the demographic of people who are moving to the area, manager of this, director of that company etc, we were also told that there were only a few houses that belonged to state housing and that there wasn't too many rentals up in the newer part of Meve.
We purchased the block for $320,000 12 months ago, we built a beautiful home for $430,000 with the intention of living in Meve fror a long while.
We had a change of heart almost immediately after moving in because we started to experience the bad smell and really bad grey dust coming from Cockburn Cement.
We had also experienced our poor neighbours house and work ute being broken into at least twice, there are 2 streets full of state housing very near by and a heap of rentals in the newer part, even though we were told that there was going to be just a few state houses and not many rentals.
Why would Meve decide to put so many State houses in the beautiful estate is beyond me and why the council allows Cockburn Cement to continuously pump that that stuff out is another story!
Anyways we sold our house, losing $30,000 and I strongly recommend that anyone moving to the area, think twice or negotiate just as strong as the people who purchased our house.
Good Luck.....
Ouch. It hurts to hear this...this was almost us as well...we had a block on hold (we were renting in Meve, just new to the country) and we let it go. We also got the big sales spiel, but even then (we were just a few months into living there), we went with instinct to wait and see. I'm glad we did. I'm sorry for your troubles and all that you went through. It's tough when the place you're living doesn't turn out to be what you thought it was. I recall when we first lived in Meve and all the cement dust was coming into the house and I was thinking, "Why didn't anyone tell us about this?"
I hope you found somewhere better. We're really content where we are now: closer to husband's work, the kids have four playgrounds within a ten minute walk, lovely feel to the place. It makes such a difference. Perth has some great neighborhoods. Unfortunately, based on my experience there, I don't feel that Meve is one of them.
Just adding this link...
http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/wa-company-news/cockburn-cement-charged-with-pollution-breaking-licence-conditions/story-e6frg2s3-1226144575987
Wow. Aluminium covered windows, punching bags in the driveway? You must have been clutching your pearls.
We rent in Beeliar because it's cheap, and the infrastructure is fantastic. We are working professionals, and travel a lot, with no children (which are the worst part of Beeliar, plus the concrete dust) and no desire to buy a house.
We have aluminium on our master bedroom window because I work night shift, as an assistant nurse, looking after your children, siblings, parents who are unwell.
I don't usually comment on things such as this, but the comments on this Page really rubbed me up the wrong way. Get your noses out of each other's asses and realise that there is usually an explanation for everything. And no, I don't care that my aluminium window upsets your Pleasantville snobbery. :)
Also, never been broken into, never had anything stolen, never had any problems whatsoever. But that might be because we are vigilant about our safety, and don't have our heads in the clouds.
Not much to add if someone wants to argue with a resident long gone from the area. I'm glad you love it there. Everyone deserves to live in an area that's a good fit for them personally.
Love your comments GemKelleher :)
Hopefully I am not speaking too soon, as I only moved to Beeliar 4 weeks ago but so far I am loving it. Having moved from regional SA, Beeliar is a place from a country girl to make a transition to the big city. I am renting (please don't judge, not everyone has the $$ to buy in Perth, plus I own a house back in SA) in an older part, adjacent the bushland and besides the odd motorbike, and sounds of wildlife, I have had no dramas. I am a 5 min walk from the IGA and Oval which I love, it has a great sense of community and I have met some lovely people and their dogs when walking my dog.
As for aluminimum windows, I am contemplating doing the same thing! There is the brightest street light in the world out the front of my house and I am used of sleeping with roller shutters.
Wow . What is wrong with people renting houses. Let's face it most if us started with a rental home unless we were born with a golden spoon in our mouth or lived a very long time with our parents to save enough money to be eligible for a home loan. You make it sound as if anybody rents a home is a low life. Don't get me wrong but I own a home in Beeliar and some of my neighbors are renters and the best neighbors I've ever had. Get over yourselves and get a life
"Good for young families, retirees..."
Baldivis definitely seems to really have a community spirit and friendly atmosphere. I like the semi-rural setting. It's also fairly quiet, clean, and has quite a few leafy parks.
There are many parks and play areas for the kids dotted throughout Settlers Hills/Tuart Ridge and a skate park for teens is going to be installed soon as well. From our house, the kids have a choice of five playgrounds within a ten minute walk. The schools seem pretty good. Our daughter loves her school and we're content with it as well. There's a public secondary school under construction near Rivergums. There's BBQ areas and walking trails.
There's the Stockland shops close by and anything that can't be found there can be picked up easily in Rockingham or Mandurah.
The only negatives I'd say is that some people might find it a bit of a commute to the CBD, but I know people who don't mind it. There's also occasionally hoons on the roads, but every neighborhood has them to some extent and they are not as prevalent here as in other places we've lived.
We really like it here. It's a lovely area. Well worth checking out...
Edited, December 2011:
I'm editing it to take one star off the "safe and sound" because a group of young people stole the solar Christmas decorations out of our front garden last night at 1 am. We could hear them making a ruckus outside, but by the time we got to the door, they were gone.
Petty crime aside, we still like it here. We've been in Baldivis for almost ten months and barring winning the lotto, we wouldn't live elsewhere. The kids really love this neighborhood and their school. I find it close enough to Rockingham for shops etc. and restaurants like Rustico and the Italian Job. Aside from small annoyances (like bored troublemakers thieving Christmas decorations), it is still somewhere we like living...even though we won't be putting anymore solar decorations in the front yard.
Great for
- Great for kids
- Good local shops
- Quiet and relatively safe
- Friendly neighbours
- Parks and atmosphere
Not great for
- Occasional hoons
- Bit of a commute to the CBD
- Theft
Who lives here?
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Very well said