TWO residents whose sit-in protest earlier this month prevented a 30-year-old tree in their strata complex being cut down, fear they’ve been the victim of an oddly macabre payback. While James Kozak and June Winsome-Smith’s appeal against the removal of the grevillea robusta grinds its way through the State Administrative Tribunal (“Tree warrior,” Voice, October…

A PILATES studio in Maylands has been one of the first small businesses to benefit from Bayswater council’s red tape war. Under Bayswater’s new rules, which are designed to tackle high shop vacancies, cafes, pop-up shops, galleries and even community markets can operate for up to six months without requiring planning approval.  Pilates with Bec…

AN innovative new podcast about Perth’s hidden history has been launched by Perth council. Untold Stories of Perth examines themes of identity, discrimination, and prejudice, with the three 10-minute episodes already uploaded looking at the Ugly Men’s Association which raised money for returned soldiers, a colourful snake charmer, Italian and Chinese communities and the segregation…

VOTING is open for the most popular photograph at this year’s Vincent’s local history awards. The awards attracted a record 205 photographic entries, with voting for the most popular open at http://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/library or in person at the library on Loftus Street until October 27 (the winning voter gets a framed copy of their favourite pic).…

A POCKET Park on Progress Street, Morley will get a $65,000 makeover. Bayswater council is collaborating with local group The Morley Momentum to turn the 130sqm block into an attractive public space with seating, decking, festoon lights, greenery and a footpath. It’s estimated the makeover will be finished later this year.

VINCENT voters have been sluggish in this year’s council elections. With the mayoral position and north ward vacancies filled without a contest, just 20 per cent of south ward voters have bothered to return their ballot papers. In the 2017 election 26.69 per cent voted. Although voters have been apathetic, sign stealers have been active.…

BAYSWATER council has added two electric bikes to its fleet. The new treadlies mean staff could nip up to Officeworks or Donut King and back without a grunt of carbon dioxide, let alone the nasties that spew from the exhaust of a stinky car. ”Our bikes are recharged using solar panels already in place at…

POLICE have charged a “ride-share” driver with the indecent assault of a female passenger. Police say on October 5 around 11pm, the driver told the woman, who is in her 20s, that the rear passenger doors were broken so she had to ride up front with him. During the trip from a southern Perth suburb…

“SERIOUS consequences” are in store for witnesses who forged documents, gave dishonest testimony or withheld information from the inquiry into the City of Perth.  After 40 days of evidence, 23 witnesses and 4000 pages of transcripts, inquiry lawyer Philip Urquhart wrapped up the public hearings last week warning those who’d tried to frustrate the inquiry…

“WE have been conflicted hundreds of times.” It finally dawned on Perth’s councillors in 2016 that they’d breached conflict of interest rules by accepting pricey VIP tickets and swank showbags for events propped up with ratepayers’ money. But the Voice had been banging on about the apparent conflict of interest for more than 10 years.…