Perth Voice Interactive

SINGLE-use plastic bags could be a thing of the past in Vincent after councillors voted “in principle” to ban them.

City staff will now prepare a report on the costs and ramifications of a ban and write to the state government, requesting that it considers a state-wide fatwa.

East Freo town and Fremantle councils have already submitted bag-ban proposals to the state government, and Vincent council staff said it would keep an eye on their progress so they weren’t reinventing the wheel.

Vincent previously tried to ban-the-bag when Alannah MacTiernan was mayor, but the state government knocked back the proposal.

Ms Cole said the damage to the environment from plastic bags was incontrovertible: up to 50 million wind up in the environment as litter every year, and CSIRO found the south west coastline of WA has one of the highest concentrations of plastic debris in Australia, likely due to winds and ocean currents blowing them here.

When Ms Cole went down to Banks Reserve for a shoot with our photographer, it wasn’t long before they spotted plastic bags in the river.

Cr Josh Topelberg said, “the way this has been progressing in this state, I find a little bit ridiculous”.

He said the state government should handle the ban, instead of “shifting the burden” onto councils, which may have difficulty in policing it.

“It’s something the state should be taking leadership on…it would be much simpler if it became a state law.”

Ms Cole said she’d heard encouraging words from new WA environment minister Stephen Dawson, who’s seeking advice on a possible state-wide ban.

At Tuesday night’s Vincent council meeting, Cr Matt Buckels baffled everyone with strange analogies.

“Banning plastic bags is a bit like saving the panda,” he said, explaining that the ban makes you think more broadly about the environment and it’s not just about the bag/panda.

He said there was a great event coming up called “Plastic Free July,” which is “a bit like the refugee challenge, but it’s a plastic free challenge”. Perth council is also reconsidering its policy on plastic bags, see story on page 6.

by DAVID BELL

SWATHES of traders and city residents are responding to John Carey’s call for ideas to revitalise East and West Perth.

The newly elected Perth Labor MP says locals’ suggestions will be brainstormed at the first ever “Perth City Summit”.

“The idea has exploded, we’ve had a lot of local interest,” he says.

Mr Carey says he decided to hold a summit after door-knocking during the election campaign and meeting lots of people concerned about vacant shops and empty streets.

“There was an overwhelming message in East Perth and West Perth, where a lot of the complaints and concerns were about the number of small shops closing down, people feeling unsafe, and a lack of vibrancy…and the experience of a resident or tourist at the street level,” he says.

He’s holding workshops to ask people what they love about the area and what needs to be improved.

“I don’t know what ideas will flow out of this, but you can’t wait for bureaucracy to take action: this has to be driven by the residents themselves,” he says.

“The best ideas aren’t imposed by government, the best ideas come from the people that live, work, and operate small businesses there.

“Already people are raising ideas about the need to cut red tape for alfresco dining, wanting to see more amenity for pedestrians, and creating amenity in East and West Perth rather than just in the city.”

While Vincent mayor, Mr Carey pushed to revitalise precinct groups like Leederville Connect and Beaufort Street Network, and wants similar groups to represent residents living closer to the CBD.

Cut red tape

The East Perth Community Safety Group is already getting involved, and Mr Carey says; “I’ve helped set up the new West Perth Local group, which had 45 people turn up to the first meeting on a cold evening.”

Ideas submitted by locals include:

• “We definitely need a free bike use program. From Hyde Park through to the River and across the city grid. And clean, free public toilets for city shoppers.”

Kate, Proprietor, 

William Topp,

• “We only have two 15- minute free parking bays out the front. Some of our customers can’t get in and out in that time. Thirty minutes or an hour, and 10 bays for the Royal Street strip would be ideal.”

Jass, East Perth IGA

• “Central Park is about the only grass in the city. If a person with a guide dog is at a city meeting or shopping, they would have to walk a few blocks to find it. Some allocated water spots would be helpful too.”

Justine, volunteer guide dog trainer

• “We have a fascinating shared history, but we don’t tend to tell our our local stories very well. I’d like to see more interpretation of our stories celebrated in the public realm, in particular stories that reveal Whadjuk Noongar katitjin.”

Helen, curator

• “I love coming in to the city after work but my boys won’t come with me because there is not much of interest for them. Something active like a skate park, bungee ropes or go-carting would do it for them.” –

Sandra, office manager and mum

There are area-specific meetings ahead of the big Perth City Summit on August 19.

The West Perth forum is June 15, the East Perth forum is June 22, and the city and Northbridge forum is June 29.

Register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/perthcitysummit or call Mr Carey’s office on 9227 8040.

VINCENT will become the “Art Capital of WA” under a new council plan that will banish stuffy old policies and red tape.

The plan aims to make “art a part of the day-to-day operations of the city’s administration across all functions” and will include more affordable artist spaces and studios through the town, more funding for artists, and a better representation of Aboriginal art (particularly the local Wadjuk people) in public murals.

Vincent mayor Emma Cole says a key part of the new plan is they’ll “turn to creative people themselves”, asking artists for direction.

Cr Jimmy Murphy sits on the arts advisory committee, which drove the new plan, and told this week’s meeting “even though this council has traditionally lifted above its weight when it comes to the arts, I believe we can do even better in regards to our support and encouragement of the arts, not only in the public realm but in the day-to-day operations of the city.”

Cr Murphy, a music man in his spare time when not organising festivals, said “I have a strong belief that any investment in art is an investment in ourselves that has many short and long term benefits…beyond the simple economic advantages the arts brings to a city such as increased visitors, improved desirability and subsequent land values, art brings so much more.

“Art can inspire, art can contribute to culture, art can bring people together…art can heal and art can develop community pride.”

He said the new policy, “will be re-setting our course for the arts to be able to sail higher in this city, sailing towards a new goal, for us to become the arts capital of Perth”.

Cr Josh Topelberg, who’s also on the arts committee, says the area’s arty nature “is a big part of the reason why I choose to live in this part of the world. It’s a critical part of what makes Vincent tick in terms of our community, in terms of our business, we are absolutely the centre of creative industries here, not just in terms of art output but in the way people make it into a business and make a living as well, and this is creating a framework for that being able to thrive.”

The policy will go out for comment for 21 days before councillors have a final vote on it.

by DAVID BELL

PERTH councillors may finally be able to give their opinions on council matters, with CEO Martin Mileham supporting a push to let them speak their minds.

For at least two years Cr Reece Harley has fought to loosen city guidelines that restrict councillors from speaking to the media, only allowing the lord mayor and CEO to talk to the press.

Under the new leadership of Mr Mileham, city staff have recommended that councillors are allowed to talk to the media if it’s clear it’s their opinion, they’re not purporting to represent the city, and if their comments don’t “reflect adversely” on other councillors.

The proposal has to go to full council for the vote—getting past lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi’s majority faction which previously opposed such changes—but at this week’s committee meeting Cr Harley applauded Mr Mileham on the change in direction, saying the new rules will allow them to communicate better with electors.

Cr Harley noted that the current rules are ignored anyway: “breached time and again by councillors who voted to retain the policy” last year.

Cr James Limnios, who stated last year he would ignore the restrictive rules and continue to speak his mind, said the current situation was silly: “I’d like to congratulate the administration on getting up to speed on what we’re doing as elected members, and that’s representing our constituents”.

Verbal warnings

Cr Limnios said it was laughable that under the current policy they’d be issued “breach notices on a Monday morning” for speaking up: “Enough’s enough and the silliness has to stop”.

Cr Harley says he’s “received many written and verbal warnings” from other councillors warning him not to speak out, notably when he opposed the council’s generous clothing allowance before the last local government election.

He claims councillors sent him a letter citing the policy and demanding an apology.

“The current policy has been designed to control councillors, and to not allow differences of opinion to be expressed in public,” Cr Harley says.

“It means that the role of a councillor is made more difficult.

“If we vote a particular way, the policy doesn’t allow us to explain the way we vote, so people are left in the dark.

“You can’t call every single resident to explain things, so media is an efficient and effective way to communicate with the constituents.”

Two years ago when he was trying to get the policy changed he was the sole voice on council calling for reform, but now, “the premier, the department [of local government], the CEO…and the majority of the sector are now very much of the view that we should be able to speak to the media”.

City staff confirmed the new policy had been given the thumbs up by the local government department, which said the new rules were in line with local government law.

Cr Janet Davidson—who often votes en bloc with the lord mayor on contentious issues—was the only committee member to vote against the change.

She didn’t explain why, but if the upcoming vote goes along the usual factual lines on controversial motions, then the change may be blocked en masse by Mrs Scaffidi’s allies.

by DAVID BELL

VINCENT ratepayers are looking at a 2.7 per cent increase in rates.

The draft figure is still to be approved by council.

The proposed increase is higher than CPI (1.5 per cent), but mayor Emma Cole said, “I think the rate increase is a very modest increase and it is about striking a balance.

“It is tough economic times and some community members would say why would you consider rating above CPI?

“It needs to be balanced against the City of Vincent maintaining that basic but really good level of service delivery that we must do, in terms of road resurfacing, waste removal, all of the basics that we have to consider.”

She said the city was facing financial pressures from declining parking revenue, fewer customers using Beatty Park, big costs to maintain ageing infrastructure and equipment, and the city’s decision to no longer charge businesses for setting up alfresco areas.

“What was an important initiative, but has cost the city a significant amount of money, was the removal of alfresco fees,” Ms Cole said.

“No regrets there, but ultimately it did cost the city money to get that vibrancy on our streets.

“It was worth it, but it’s had that impact on revenue.”

“We also need to plan for the future needs of our community, so one of our budget priorities for next year is to provide more inviting green and open spaces.”

Cr Josh Topelberg says ratepayers can mitigate the increase: the city has a new system allowing people to volunteer to have a smaller bin, and that gets you a $40 cashback on your rates.

For a person with an average rates bill of $1500, taking a smaller bin and saving $40 wipes out that 2.7 per cent increase.

“I think broadly speaking we rate properties very fairly for the service we’re providing,” he said.

The draft rates will be advertised for 21 days before councillors make a final vote.

Meanwhile, Perth property owners are looking at a modest rate rise this year with the city aiming to keep the average rise within the CPI increase of 1.5 per cent.

While that seems low, a small number of landowners could be in for a shock as their personal rates end up rising much higher than 1.5 per cent if Landgate decides their property is still worth a lot.

Every three years properties get valued by Landgate, which guestimates how much you could earn if you rented your property out for a year (“Gross Rental Value”).

Rates are based on that GRV, with councils taking a few cents in the dollar (so if your council’s rate in the dollar is 0.05c and your property could earn $20,000 in rent, your rates will wind up at $1,000).

This is the year that properties get revalued, and the overall GRV of residential properties has plummeted by an average of eight per cent.

by DAVID BELL

 

The 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum to recognise Aboriginal people in the census was marked with the launch of Vincent council’s new Reconciliation Action Plan last Saturday.

SINGLE-USE plastic bags could be regulated in Perth, with Cr Jemma Green tabling a motion at Tuesday’s committee meeting to look into their use.

Her motion asked staff to prepare a report on how to regulate use of plastic bags, while also examining the “impact on traders’ economic turnover”.

Cr Reece Harley supported the motion, while the third member of the committee, Cr Janet Davidson, voted against it without explaining why.