Mack McCormack reckons his seaplane business could be the next big thing for WA tourism—except the Swan River Trust is standing in his way. The Catalina Airlines boss says he’s “lost two years and millions of dollars in turnover” because of what he regards as petty environmental wrangling from the soon-to-be-disbanded agency. “The Trust asked…

Sally Palmer is no stranger to heartbreak. On the eve of migrating to Australia with her husband and two young boys in the 1980s, her husband died suddenly of a heart attack while playing cricket. The distraught widow decided to push ahead and continue with the fresh start in Australia with her then-seven and nine-year-old…

Axing the Swan River Trust could jeopardise funding for projects along the Maylands foreshore says Bayswater mayor Terry Kenyon and local Labor MP Lisa Baker. The mayor fears the cash-strapped state government will attempt to get councils to pick up the tab. Last week the Barnett government announced the SRT—formed in 1989 to protect the…

As expected, Perth city council has formally rejected a full merger with Vincent. It bolsters local government minister Tony Simpson’s preferred option of splitting Vincent between Perth and Stirling, however premier Colin Barnett this week said he was “disappointed” and would personally intervene to try and get a rethink. It also means the PCC is…

Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi rejects accusations from Alannah MacTiernan that her council is seeking to “cherry pick” lucrative assets currently in neighbouring councils’ borders. Ms Scaffidi says the PCC has “considered [borders] to the outermost point very solidly”. “When you look at the western boundary we have gone for some infrastructure items that are…

A disappointing community consultation experience with the local development assessment panel led Emma Cole to put up her hand for Vincent council. Ms Cole says she and her neighbours were disappointed not to have a say on a 22-unit development on Oxford Street, whose traffic will be routed through their laneway. “I came away from…

Adam Duncan (right) will have another attempt at Vincent council, running for north ward. A senate candidate last month for the Greens, Mr Duncan is a catering manager who lives in Mt Hawthorn and says bike paths, underground power and greening the streets are big priorities. On the issue of council mergers he says, “I’m…

Rachel Naisbitt (right) has been doing an old-fashioned whistlestop tour—on a bike. She’s been getting around town on her treadly campaigning for Vincent’s north ward, and says every day she hears new stories from residents, from those worried about how long planning permission takes for simple jobs like front garages, or local business owners who…

Community Vinnie Molina (left)is hoping to turn his people-rallying skills to council when he runs for Vincent’s south ward. The CFMEU organiser and Communist Party of Australia president supports “solidarity and a fair go for everybody”. He says he’s proud of his background and isn’t interested in playing it down: “I can’t try to be…

After coming within a whisker of picking up a seat at the last council election, Mark Rossi (right)is returning for another tilt at north ward. He came within 27 votes in 2011, and is hoping his grassroots doorknocking campaign will get him across the line next month. He says he’ll oppose any future plans for…