BAYSWATER council’s trying to get better public art in the city by introducing a more flexible per cent for art scheme. Previously, owners of developments costing more than $1 million had to set aside 1 per cent of the cost to pay an artist to incorporate an artwork on site. Critics argue this has led…

ONE of Perth’s only CBD gallery spaces for emerging artists is facing homelessness, with its landlord reportedly seeking a more lucrative tenant. Moana Project Space has been giving edgy artists and curators a rare outing since taking out a sub-lease on Moana Chambers in the Hay Street Mall in 2012. But a cafe which operated…

BAYSWATER councillors have voted against giving themselves a pay cut. Cr Brent Fleeton says in tough economic times councillors should look at cutting their own pay packets, but not reduce it to the pre-1995 era when they hardly got any allowances. “With the budget as it is, with rate increases as they are, and council…

FOR 40 years Perth community radio station RTRFM has helped local artists and songwriters get their music out into the world. Some musos have hit it big after being played on the station, and they’re getting a bunch of them back together for a 40th anniversary shindig. Caitlin Nienaber has presented the breakfast show at…

IT’S a big “yes” from Perth—with 71 per cent of voters in the federal Perth electorate in favour of marriage equality. The highest “yes” vote in the country was Melbourne and Sydney, both with 84 per cent, while some parts of New South Wales were as low as 26 per cent. The next hurdle is…

NEW Bayswater mayor Dan Bull has lambasted the WA Planning Commission for ignoring the community’s wishes in supporting a new developer-friendly structure plan for Meltham. The proposed plan was submitted by consultants WA Planning Solutions, on behalf of developer Pindan and land owners with substantial holdings in the area, and permits six-storey buildings. Bayswater council…

BAYSWATER council will look at creating a greener city using a design strategy described by one councillor as “a bunch of waffle”. At Tuesday’s monthly meeting, Cr Catherine Ehrhardt successfully tabled a motion calling on officers to prepare a report on biophilic design and start working on appropriate policies. Cr Ehrhardt says biophilic design responds…

ONE HUNDRED Bayswater residents will assist Australia’s leading universities and scientists tackle climate change next summer. Bayswater council has accepted an invitation from RMIT University to be involved in a project which puts scientists and communities together to try and improve urban microclimates. Deputy mayor Chris Cornish’s motion to participate in the project was passed…

A PASTOR and a mental health worker protesting in a makeshift tent suspended four storeys above Julie Bishop’s Subiaco office on Wednesday were arrested and have been charged with trespass. Jarrod McKenna and Delroy Bergsma want the Australian foreign affairs minister to immediately evacuate about 600 men on Manus Island who have been without food,…

VINCENT council is set to allow Manna Inc to keep running its homeless meal service at Weld Park, despite complaints from local Perth residents. Manna’s approval to operate there runs out this month, and while some neighbours would like to see an end to the food service—which draws homeless to the area—Vincent council staff have…