A pretty seismic change has occurred on a very important topic – Planning. It illustrates a real effort by the City to better engage and consult with the residents and ratepayers, and in turn better represent their views when planning for the City. Continue reading Building Bayswater – Local Planning Strategy
Please, let me share a story which illustrates a failing in our State planning & environmental systems. Continue reading The System is Broken
For the first time I have a guest blogger. From here on, the words are from Cr Dan Bull.
For quite some time now many, many members of the public, along with numerous local Councils and Councillors have been protesting against the undemocratic State Government Development Assessment Panels and State Administrative Tribunal. Continue reading Structure Plan Regulations
Most State legislation dictates that any required advertising by a local government needs to be in the local newspaper and/or The West Australian. No doubt everyone’s come across these little adverts buried in the middle of a newspaper. Other than the cost, and the fact that readership of newspapers is ever declining, the big problem is that often that the people who happen across the advert, aren’t the ones who are being advertised to. Continue reading Advertising & Consulting – Planning Development Applications
At a special council meeting on the 28th of November 2016, council approved $1.5 million to be contributed towards the purchase of Lot 14 next to the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary. This is subject to the State government funding the balance. The Metropolitan Region Improvement Tax (MRIT) is one way the State government can fund ‘their’ portion. Continue reading What is the Metropolitan Region Improvement Tax?
Green space is important. And, as the picture shows, also in short supply within the Morley city centre. The Water Corporation own the green spaces you can see in the aerial picture of Morley and it has been fenced off from the public (the ultimate owners) for far too long. Fortunately that is soon to change. Continue reading Morley Compensating Basin
Due to the destruction of the wetlands around the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, I submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Planning on the 27th of July. I have now received the documents I sought. Continue reading Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary – Part 3
After a long six year fight, recent news signals that the proposed concrete batching plant, in close proximity to Bayswater houses, will become a reality. The people who live and/or work in the vicinity have been severely let down by numerous State government departments. And I for one am out of ideas. Continue reading Bayswater Concrete Batching Plant
We have an issue in Western Australia. It’s not one that can be fixed by simply changing political parties; it is one which is entrenched. The Department of Main Roads, Department of Education and Department of Planning have shown that the environment is not something they are concerned about. Continue reading Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary – Part 2
The City of Bayswater contains a few environmental gems. Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary is one of them, and courtesy of a $3 million investment over the last few years, it will remain so. However, the public is just learning that right next door is private land. Continue reading Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary
As a Councillor, one of the things we can do is table a motion at a council meeting. This is a tremendously powerful opportunity, but with it comes a certain level of responsibility. So, prior to any motions I have moved, I generally run it by the relevant Director at the City to check that my objective is actually achievable. There are a few benefits of doing this, including not making staff needlessly prepare a 4 or 5 page report on the merits, or otherwise, of a motion. Continue reading Percent for Public Art?
There has been an interesting development in relation to the proposed concrete batching plant which could potentially save the residents from having this noxious industry on their doorstep. It relates to the customary 2 year approval period granted to most developments. Continue reading Clock is Ticking for Batching Plant
(Picture used for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the proposed plant)
Further to my earlier blog post requesting people to make a submission to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), unfortunately the EPA have decided that whilst the proposed concrete batching plant “raises a number of environmental issues … the overall environmental impact … is not so significant as to require an assessment by the EPA”. This is a poor decision in the eyes of the community who will have to live near the proposed noxious industry. There is still hope though. Continue reading Concrete Batching Plant – Bayswater
A proposed 7-storey development in the middle of historic Bayswater has divided the community. Some people are desperate to see any development occur in an area which has been starved of development, others want a more controlled development, others want the Jacaranda tree preserved and others want the heritage buildings preserved in their entirety. As such, no matter what happens, there will most certainly be an aggrieved or disappointed party. Continue reading 9-11 King William Street
Unfortunately the City of Bayswater has copped some bad publicity in WAToday and 6PR this week. I say unfortunately not because of bad publicity, this is after all often the instigator for positive change, no, I say unfortunately because the facts presented were fundamentally wrong. Continue reading Media Beat Up on Airbnb in Bayswater
