THE Mary Street mural is gone. The mural was painted on the Soto Espresso building by local artists Konfucius, Destroy and Idol, who donated their time and materials. Vincent city council kicked in $1000. But Soto closed early this year and Cantina 663 owners Alex Cuccovia and Michael Forde along with Paul Aron and John…

A LOCAL heritage group is crossing its fingers that Stirling city council keeps the suburb of Mt Lawley in the looming council amalgamations. The Mt Lawley Society says Stirling’s head and shoulders above surrounding councils when it comes to preserving heritage, and is backing the city’s call for its boundaries to stay the same. Intact…

BEAUFORT STREET is losing another independent business. Allure Furniture in Highgate will close on July 25, with co-owner Russell Butler saying “we’ve had a great innings” but it was time to move on. Mr Butler says high rents were a factor, as was declining pedestrian traffic caused partly by more night-oriented venues in the area…

BAYSWATER mayor Terry Kenyon says he has been given an assurance from the Barnett government Bassendean and Bayswater won’t be forced into a merger. WA mayors met with local government minister Tony Simpson last week to discuss the amalgamations, which are due to be announced within months. “I asked the minister for his view regarding…

RESIDENTS in Perth city council’s demesne can expect their rates to go up about 6 per cent this year. PCC says employee costs are up due to council staff winning a 5 per cent enterprise bargaining agreement, and  additional staff being recruited. Consultants have also gobbled up the cash, the $633,000 allocated this year an…

RATES are set to rise about 3.5 per cent in Stirling this year, according to a council insider. Council staff reportedly wanted to slug ratepayers a few extra per cent, but  councillors took out the red pens and whittled it down. Waste fees are set to remain the same and security fees will increase by…

Leaf our trees alone WE all know the saying ‘better late than never’. So, congratulations to the Perth city council for taking action to reduce ecocide by recognising the social, environmental and economic value of trees and giving this a monetary value (“Big fines for tree killers”, Voice, May 25). Hopefully other local governments… take…

ALEX JONES is a long-term member of the Save Our Trees network. In this week’s SPEAKER’S CORNER she congratulates the Perth city council for taking action against tree killers, but says a lot more needs to be done to preserve WA’s precious greenery. CONGRATULATIONS to the Perth city council for taking the initiative and imposing…

WA BALLET has won a $20,000 exemption on its annual rates following a fiery clash at Bayswater city council. Troupe directors pirouetted in panic when they received a $35,000 rates bills—a near 800 per cent increase on their budget—for their new HQ in Maylands. The bill was due to the value of the old Senses…

SKINNY lattes are helping fight crime at Riverside Gardens. Ever since the Cool Breeze Cafe van started flogging flat whites from the Milne Street car park in January, Bayswater city council rangers have reported a drop in car break-ins. “The mobile kiosk is considered to be a deterrent to anti-social behaviour in the area,” a…