A DELAY in working out how much electricity it uses has contributed to a $1.6 million blowout in Perth council’s power bills. Following the end of a deal with state government-owned Synergy in June 1 last year, the council has been paying “non-competitive rates” to the energy provider which saw its power costs balloon out…

TOUGH negotiators from the state’s sports and recreation department have left Vincent council with a $3 million hole in a long-term investment. The council built 246 Vincent Street in 2004 on the back of a 25-year loan, agreeing to a state government condition that the building could only be used for administering WA’s sport and…

THERE’S still some Jesus in this year’s Christmas festivities among the city’s baubles, reindeer and lights, with the City of Perth Christmas Nativity running December 20 and 21. The Christmas story will be brought to the stage with 100 performers and animals, plus traditional Christmas carols (and some new) in the Supreme Court Gardens. Santa…

THE State Administrative Tribunal has overturned Perth council’s refusal of a luxury doggy daycare in West Perth. In April commissioners refused Marian Gorman’s 60-dog daycare centre over fears the animals would be too noisy, and after hearing complaints from neighbours of the old scout hall in Murray Street, who said it was a bad fit…

NON-STOP karaoke for “connection”, “consent” and “catharsis” will run across January 4 and 5 at the new Pig Melon project space on Lord Street. Karaoke healer and Chicken Treat showgirl Consensual Connie is holding the protest singalong and “joyful resistance” for those wearied by the federal government’s “actions and lack of actions” on just about…

FORMER chair of the WA Planning Commission Eric Lumsden died Monday after a long illness. After retiring from the WAPC he was Perth chair commissioner from March 2018 to August 2019 when he stepped down on his doctor’s advice after being on sick leave for most of 2019. However he revealed at his final meeting…

COMMISSIONERS at the City of Perth made a big call setting a goal of 90,000 people within their borders by 2050, so we invited former Perth council planning director Max Hipkins to take a look over the new Strategic Community Plan. Mr Hipkins was director of planning at Perth from 2000 to 2005, and mayor…

AFTER our first pass of the SCP last week we got back in touch with Perth council to ask how it arrived at a figure of 90,000 residents. We’ve now learned the target was “approved by the commissioners using advice from the administration”.  Chair commissioner Andrew Hammond elaborated: “Based on a ‘moderate’ growth rate of…

POVERTY can sneak up on any family at Christmas – just ask Catherine and Dean and their four kids. While Dean worked steady hours, Catherine stayed at home raising their children.  They were good budgeters and had everything they valued in life; most importantly a home full of love. Then everything started to unravel: the…

A NATIONAL Indigenous “massacres” map will be reviewed after the Voice spotted errors in sites listed around Perth. A fortnight ago the University of Newcastle launched stage three of its Colonial Frontier Massacres in Australia 1788-1930, adding 41 sites in Western Australia to the online map for the first time. But of three sites listed…