A NEW “common sense” measure to reduce red tape in Bayswater allows green thumbs plant verge gardens without needing approval. Councillor Chris Cornish first floated the idea a year ago, hoping to encourage people to grow their own “edible verges” to cultivate herbs, veggies and small fruit trees. Previously homeowners needed approval to plant on…

THE Barnett government’s decision to relocate 1500 pubic servants from Perth to Fremantle has been welcomed as a new era of economic growth in the port city, but it’s less popular in the abandoned capital city as it grapples with even more vacant office space. Lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the announcement was “counter-intuitive”, and…

MOUNT HAWTHORN parents have banded together to take back the streets for their kids. From Sunday next week (November 27) Rae Street will be closed off for a couple of hours each weekend thanks to a bunch of mums who wanted to give their kids somewhere to play close to home. The group submitted their…

MARKING two years since Bayswater council cut down “dangerous” century-old trees in Halliday park, local agitator Greg Smith has been standing vigil every morning this week to remind passing motorists of the felling. Dressed as the Lorax and bearing a sign that reads “lest we forget,” he’s been chatting to every passerby about the trees.…

STIRLING council has strengthened its tree protection with new requirements for developers and more regulations on the horizon for tree retention on private land. The council’s goal is to reach 18 percent tree canopy cover by 2030, but it’s currently at 12.9 percent and 81 hectares of canopy have been cleared in the last four…

THE Australian Islamic College in Dianella and Methodist Ladies’ College in Claremont have fostered a friendship which holds the promise of lasting understanding between cultures. Once per term, a contingent from each school visits their Abrahamic counterpart to attend classes, exchange ideas, and form friendships. With a buddy system in place, the year 9 and…

THE Carter family has made another offer to sell a wetland at the centre of a development controversy to Bayswater council. The land on King William Street near the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary was partly cleared in July to give access to a block owned by the D’Orazio family which had been approved for sub-division.…

THE family of former mayor John D’Orazio has offered to compromise over a controversial development next to a Bayswater wetlands, giving up a 4.5m buffer and 30sqm of land by redesigning access roads. But the offer wasn’t enough for Bayswater councillors who rejected it 8/3 for a variety of reasons, including community opposition, the fact…

IT’S been 10 years since two buddies called Ryan started a walking tour business. Canadian immigrant Ryan Mossny was always asking local pal Ryan Zaknich questions about the city and its history, and the pair soon realised there was a niche market and Two Feet & A Heartbeat was born. Mr Zaknich said they knew…

ANOTHER large development in Vincent has been approved with discretionary heights by a state-controlled development assessment panel where local councillors were outvoted. The development at 330-334 Charles Street will include seven storeys, 47 units and four offices. Vincent council staffers had recommended the DAP reject the proposal because the council’s draft built form policy limits…