VINCENT businesses are unlikely to get any more rates freezes from their council to compensate for the privatisation of commercial waste collection. The City of Vincent pulled out of commercial waste collection in June last year, but softened the blow by offering landowners a $520 rates rebate, with promises of a review of the “financial and services…

CHEAP unusable musical instruments are being thrown out by the truckload, but a touring project coming to Maylands is striving to reuse or recycle every plinky instrument and accessory to keep them out of landfill. Curate is a not-for-profit arts and music outfit, and founder Patricia Alessi started the “Recycle Instrument Project” in 2019. Ms…

• THE CBD bounceback looks to be underway with Perth having its biggest footfall count for a Friday night in months. Lord mayor Basil Zempilas reported at the May 3 AGM that “the Friday night just gone… figures showed an increase of 14.6 per cent in activity on the previous week,” the biggest number of…

THE City of Perth will trial extended free parking in West Perth in an effort to support local businesses and promote neighbourhood vibrancy.  “I hear continually that the cost of parking, and the time limits on street parking, is a barrier to people visiting our city,” councillor Sandy Anghie said when putting forward the motion. …

A WOMAN who believes she’s suffering from long Covid says the WA government has dropped the ball and isn’t ready for the inevitable emergence of the condition. Heike Motzek (55) contracted Covid four weeks ago and is still struggling with severe breathlessness, which makes even talking a challenge. Ms Motzek says she’s drawn a blank…

THE National Aboriginal Press Club held its fifth event at Optus stadium last Thursday, May 5, bringing together leaders from industry and government with native title holders to discuss the future of WA’s mining and energy sector. BHP’s head of Indigenous engagement Allan James told the crowd of about 150 people the relationship was “very…

THEY’RE sweet and tasty, kids love them, and they come in all different flavours and colours.  They’re not lollipops, scoops of ice-cream or soft drinks, but e-cigarette, which the Australian Council on Smoking and Health have warned are harmful, addictive and increasingly targeted at our youngsters. ACOSH says it has serious concerns about the rise…

WET WICKS vaping store sales employee Raymond Kelman says they don’t see a lot of youngsters trying to get into vaping, saying it’s mostly being picked up by an older generation.  Wet Wicks was established in 2018, selling reusable vaping products and accessories such as ‘rebuildables’, tanks, coils, and pods.  Mr Kelman told the Voice…

Mines and energy minister Bill Johnston announced a $14.6 million commitment to establish an Aboriginal Empowerment Unit within his department. Mr Johnston said the unit would ensure mining and resources projects and policies were developed in a culturally respectful way and improve information access for Aboriginal people related to activities on their lands. “It is…