IT’S D-Day for a contentious five-storey Highgate development. The metro central JDAP was  due to decide the fate of the 40-unit complex on Thursday December 15 (“Too high for Highgate Folk”, Voice, November 5). At the Vincent council meeting on Tuesday, a spokesman for residents opposed to the development presented councillors with a 145-signature petition…

A GEOTECHNICAL report has thrown a spanner in the works for a planned housing development adjacent to the Eric Singleton bird sanctuary. The Galt Geotechnical report, released by Bayswater council this week, says the ground underneath a block owned by the D’Orazio family is riddled with debris from constructions and demolitions; all sitting on four…

A LAST-DITCH attempt by deputy-mayor James Limnios to entice Christmas shoppers into Perth’s CBD with free parking has been stymied. The council will instead offer free parking during two weekends in January, a compromise suggested by lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi at last month’s council meeting when she sent Cr Limnios’s suggestion back to committee. The…

TRINITY Uniting Church director of music Jangoo Chapkhana promises a mix of contemporary and traditional music and readings to provide a Christmas service with a difference. Trinity will host a Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday 18 December at 10am, as well as Christmas Day celebrations including an Afrikaans service at 8.30am. Mr Chapkhana…

STIRLING council is on track to meet the objectives of its reconciliation plan says a local elder, although there are still grumbles more could be done to help young people facing racism. Council officers recently met with indigenous leaders to gather feedback on the plan, which received national recognition earlier this year as the most…

BAYSWATER council will open the ailing Maylands Waterland earlier in an attempt to boost patronage. After pressure from families who want to bring the younguns out before it gets too warm, Waterland will now open at 9am during the school holidays and on weekends. A council report cited research that young children love a mid-morning…

A LANEWAY in Perth has been named after the Pilpel family of stationers, who have spent years trying to get their contribution to business in the city recognised. Although the Pilpel’s iconic blue and white print shop on Beaufort Street was sold earlier this year, the three generations of the family who tillered the company…

“LIKE termites in blocks of flats” is Subiaco councillor and independent state candidate Julie Matheson’s description of apartment dwellers. Ms Matheson made the comment during a tit-for-tat debate on the Voice’s Facebook page with Perth councillor Reece Harley over new plans for a seven-storey apartment block on the Inglewood section of Beaufort Street. “Looks good.…