CONTROVERSIAL state government-appointed panels that have the power to approve multi-million dollar developments in local communities are the subject of a parliamentary inquiry. The uniform legislation and statutes review committee, chaired by Labor MLC Kate Doust, is leading an “inquiry into the operation and effectiveness of development assessment panels”. The first public inquiry meeting was…

BILLY HUGHES was prepared to sacrifice an entire generation of young Australian men to help his imperial masters in Britain win the first world war, a local historian has discovered. Associate professor Deborah Gare, who heads Notre Dame University’s history program, made the dramatic discovery while researching another wartime prime minister, John Curtin—an active campaigner…

CURIOUS little heads are poking over the fence down at Braithwaite Park with the massive half-million-dollar nature playground well under construction. There’s a fair chunk of play equipment aimed at the little-uns around Vincent, but this one’s being built for older kids, aged 10 to 14. The nature play ethos gets kids away from the…

CYCLISTS might soon be able to ride on the footpath under new state government legislation, but until then many newbie cyclists remain fearful of riding on the road. Westcycle and the RAC are holding adult bike skill sessions for folks who never learned the basic laws of helmets, bells and lights, road rules, or how…

RESEARCHING beer sounds like a dream job: one which, according to my wife, I undertake every evening with vigour. ECU lecturer Nevil Alexander is living the dream and is taking on the heady task of researching the rise in popularity of sophisticated home-brewing. He says the days of men in sweaty blue singlets concocting nasty…

THE Mary Street Piazza plan is full steam ahead, with Vincent council choosing a final plan for the open relaxation area on the Beaufort Street strip. Dean Cracknell from the Beaufort Street Network said it was just what the area needed: the place has plenty of good bars, restaurants and shops, but scant few public…

INGLEWOOD ON BEAUFORT is continuing its funky makeover of the suburb by installing a pop-up garden. Hot off the back of running the inaugural Inglewood night markets, community group IOB is now turning its attentions to a community garden in the area. It will start with a more humble pop-up garden—basically a shipping crate filled…

THE new $9.3 million Seventh Avenue bridge opened this week. It replaces the rickety 1913 timber bridge, which had an eight-tonne limit and carried around 3500 vehicles a day. The new bridge spans more than 80 metres and include footpaths, accommodation for four rail lines, bridge guard rails and increased capacity. The old eight-tonne load…