KATRINA MONTAUT has expressed doubt about running for council again, despite being first runner-up in October. Ms Montaut, who worked for ex-Perth MP John Hyde, says she’s been approached to run again but isn’t keen as she isn’t part of the inner-circle on council: “I don’t know how easy it would be to effect much…

A NEIGHBOUR came close to tears when she stood to oppose a new development mooted for the corner of Shakespeare and Hobart Streets. Vincent councillors knocked back the 18-unit project on Tuesday night but the decision will be appealed to the powerful but unelected state administrative tribunal. The Mount Hawthorn project attracted the ire of…

IF you find it hard to hail a cab at night over the festive season, you can thank the federal immigration department. It turns out that a crackdown on international students working illegally has had a significant impact on the number of people available to drive taxis late at night. Veteran cabbie Stephen Satchell says…

A NORTH PERTH woman who courageously shared her experience of post-natal depression and anxiety on YouTube has been congratulated by the national mental health commission. Judi Barrett-Lennard bore all in a video for the commission’s 2013 report on mental health and suicide prevention. “I gave birth to my son in 1984 and became overwhelmed and…

A NEW heritage lobby group “Save the Horseshoe” has sprung up to oppose plans to demolish some of its balustrading in order to allow pedestrians to move more freely between it and a new plaza and the station. Local artist Andrew Nicholls started the Facebook group, which has prompted some confusion since the 110-year-old bridge…

THE days of Bayswater councillors being farewelled with a ratepayer-funded cocktail bash and $1000 could soon be over. Bayswater Residents’ Association president Tony Green tabled a motion at last week’s AGM of electors for the tradition to end. The motion will go before council in January. Mr Green says the largesse is no longer relevant…

A LOOMING Australia-wide ban soon to be introduced on wireless microphones could ruin small businesses and non-profit clubs and cost the WA education department millions. The owner of a local PA hire company says the ban will cost his firm $40,000 to replace or retune just 30 items of equipment. The powerful Australian Communications and…

A RARE heritage-listed cottage on Brookman Street must be rebuilt after an engineer’s report found “very little of the original building… can be practically retained”. Brookman Street and nearby Moir Street are a one-of-a-kind precinct of affordable housing from the late 19th century. Because of the rarity of an intact clump together, a blanket state…

A MOVE by Stirling city council to cut red tape for developers and fast-track building applications has split council staff and councillors. The council voted that development applications should no longer be required for single houses that comply with the council’s planning scheme and are outside heritage zones. The onus will now be on the…

THE Leederville carnival organisers have turned to crowd-funding to help pay their bills. Director Jimmy Murphy took to pozible.com to ask the public to chip in, with local businesses pitching in free meals for generous donors. Despite the wild success of the event—40,000 compared to last year’s 24,000—“we are down about $4000,” Mr Murphy wrote.…