THE old Witch’s Hat hostel on Palmerston Street has been turned into the state’s first medical respite centre with 20 beds for homeless people recovering after being in hospital. The current system has been identified by UWA researchers as leading to ‘revolving door’ hospitals where homeless people are discharged back to the poor living conditions…

FIRE burnt down Future Bayswater’s shedquarters on Beechboro Road last week, but the group’s been flooded by a quick response from locals and businesses offering help. Future Bayswater, made up of locals and businesses keen on getting development happening in the city’s town centre, leases the shed to store events gear and house a food…

BAYSWATER council has decided against a formal relationship with a Philippine city notorious for its vigilante death squad, but could the unexpected approach from Davao have been part of a gambit to create a new dynasty centred around controversial president Rodrigo Duterte? Davao’s death squad allegedly had local government backing in its 10-year campaign of…

Push to protect ‘non-trees’ falters A PALM is not a tree, according to Bayswater council, and so can be removed with impunity. The quibble came up in a motion raised by councillor Sally Palmer for the city to look at placing a ban on removing palms from public spaces unless it was approved by the…

THE average electric car isn’t yet up to the job of patrolling Stirling’s suburbs, the council’s security staffers reckon. They want to stick with their beefier partly-petrol powered hybrid vehicles as the rest of the fleet goes electric. Councillor David Lagan recently proposed a motion to investigate switching the city’s parking and security vehicles to…

STIRLING council is still refusing to provide more details on how ratepayer money is spent, but staff have promised they’ll stop reporting payments inaccurately after yet another purchase of new cars was recorded as “parts and repairs”. Resident Roland Hadley from the Ewen Street Community Group has been on a mission to shed light on…

STIRLING council’s longest-serving councillor David Boothman has retired after 27 years, effective August 6. Cr Boothman and his wife have been pondering a move south and their Mirrabooka home has been on the market. He told the August 3 meeting it’s now sold. Councillors must have a property in the council area they serve in.  “Under the…