THE kingly clothing reimbursement for Perth councillors is again in the crosshairs with councillors Reece Harley and Jemma Green calling for it to be dumped. The council’s gag on elected members prevents them speaking publicly, but they oppose councillors being allowed to spend up to $13,360 on clothes, hair, shoes and the like. So it…

FRIENDS of the wetlands are set to march on parliament at noon October 11 to save Perth’s remnant wetlands from development. It’s an issue across the whole city from Bayswater to Beeliar but the rally was sparked by the housing development near the Eric Singleton bird sanctuary, which saw a big chunk of neighbouring privately-owned…

MILLIONS have been spent on bike lanes through the Perth CBD to help cyclists get around but long stretches of them are often being hogged by taxis waiting for a fare. Often parked in the Barrack Street bike lane they put cyclists at risk to lycra-clad limb as they are forced to veer onto the…

CLINTON PRYOR is a 26-year-old Aboriginal man on a seven-month journey through central Australia, via Uluru – in summer – to meet prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra. A key figure in the Matagarup/Heirisson Island fight with Perth council, Mr Pryor took leave from his job at Perth Tafe and plans to confront the PM about…

THE KING’S Park duck pond, usually a haven for feathery floaters, briefly became a “death trap for ducklings” when heartless vandals threw three ramps on the water’s edge into the middle of the pond. For the little quackers, this casual act of vandalism turned the overhang into an insurmountable barrier – so ducklings got stranded…

FRUSTRATED at being unable to speak her mind on council matters publicly Perth councillor Jemma Green is calling for an investigation in to whether the city’s rules gagging councillors could be overridden by higher laws. The WA local government act dictates that the mayor is the only elected member who can speak on “behalf” of…

THE WA planning commission has defended its “thorough process” which saw it approve clearing of privately-owned wetlands in Bayswater. The WAPC gave the go ahead for the D’Orazio family application to subdivide and clear what it calls a “small section” of the neighbouring Lot 14 block. But the environmental report the WAPC relied on only…

JUST metres from the clearing of a privately owned wetland which was approved by the WA planning commission, Bayswater council’s restoration work at the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary has been nominated for a premier’s award. The bird sanctuary is separated from the proposed housing development spot by a small path, but underground pipes connect the…

THE endangered carnaby’s cockatoo is amongst scores of birds made homeless with the stroke of a pen when the WA planning commission approved the clearing of a privately owned Bayswater wetlands. More than 20 bird species, seven types of frogs, a dozen types of reptiles and multiple fish have been recorded at the small wetland. The…

FORMER Perth councillor and ex-Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan slammed Perth council and its “beleaguered” lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi and her close allies on radio this week. Incohesive and “bizarre” decision making had become routine at Perth council, she said on 6PR. “There is evidence that the council is becoming increasingly dysfunctional and very strange decisions…