Sky's Vic Park Newsletter #17: Extreme Heat, Community Grants, and the Motorplex
This Tuesday we'll discuss development and short-term rental accommodation approvals, community grants, green energy, and opposition to the proposed motorplex.
Kaya!
I hope that you’re all well. With council getting back into the swing of things I’m working out the new rhythms of the year and how to balance my university work, parenting, and council. It’s a juggle!
With the State election fast approaching, I’m also paying attention to what different parties are promising (or hinting at). I hope that you’ll take the time to examine the choices you have carefully. Voting isn’t the start and end of democracy, but it’s one important step to building the future we want.
This newsletter covers:
Behind the scenes at council;
How to get involved;
Items on the agenda for the Tuesday 18th February Ordinary Council Meeting;
Inspiration from elsewhere.
Behind the scenes
I still have one Concept Forum queued up, addressing ways of minimising the impact of cats on our local environment and wildlife. Concept Forums are an opportunity for us to look at policy options in detail and work through different approaches we might take, and I’ve been trying to restrain myself to one request at a time as I consider the long list of things we might do to build a more sustainable and resilient future.
However, on Extreme Heat Awareness Day I did put in a second request, for a Concept Forum looking at how we can deal with extreme heat more systematically. With State and Federal politicians lagging behind on climate action (and still subsidising and approving new fossil fuel projects) we’re going to have to make more changes at a local level to deal with hotter days, and more of them.
I’ve also been asking questions about The Adaptation Game, Miyawaki Forests, and Swimmable Cities as I learn more about some of the work our staff are doing behind the scenes.
Get involved
There are several consultations up on Your Thoughts at the moment, gathering feedback on the 2025/2026 budget; a planning policy for more sustainable building in the Town; and speed humps on Rutland Ave. This feedback does have an impact on council decisions, so please take the time to let us know what you think.
If you don’t like the idea of a motorplex at Burswood Park, there are two petitions currently circulating: one on Change and one set up by the Greens.
Did you struggle to keep your home or business cool through the recent hot weather? You can get a free assessment to find cost-effective ways to use energy or water more efficiently.
Would you like to spend two hours on Tuesday 4th March admiring everyone’s beautiful bicycles (and also helping to better understand cycle traffic)? Join the annual national Bike Count!
If you love counting, why not count cockies too?
There’s a bunch on around the Town, so if you want to connect to the community check out the Vic Park Community Centre; library; Centre for the Arts; and more!
February 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting
As always, these notes are just my perspective and I encourage you to read the agenda. You can also read the minutes of last fortnight’s Agenda Briefing Forum, or watch the recording (I’m currently investigating whether we can get quick links to each agenda item on recordings).
Item 1.2 2025 Ordinary Local Government Elections
The next local elections will be held on 18 October 2025, with postal voting. There will be four vacancies, and if you’re considering running I strongly recommend starting to think about your campaign by about July.
2.1 Application for Development Approval - Proposed Carpark - Nos. 318, 320 & 322 Shepperton Road, East Victoria Park
This is for a carpark attached to the Coptic Church on Shepperton Road, to alleviate issues with parking on nearby residential streets. Quite a few questions were asked at the Agenda Briefing Forum (see page 35 or 18min50s).
Item 12.2 Application for Development Approval for a Change of Use from Grouped Dwelling to Unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation at 63 Mackie Street Victoria Park
The officer recommendation is to refuse this application for the house to become a Short Term Rental Accommodation.
Item 12.3 Community Funding Program, Art, Community, Sport Equipment and Urban Forest Grants
At the ABF, most questions about this item focused on the use of Community Grants for Urban Forest plantings on private land, and on the tree species to be planted (see page 67 or 48min). You can see the Urban Forest Grant summaries at attachment 12.3.4.
Item 12.4 Operating Subsidies 2025 - 2027 - Round One
This relates to an ongoing subsidy for the operations of the Harold Hawthorne Senior Citizen’s Centre.
Item 2.9 Notice of Motion - Options for permitting play equipment on verges
The recommendation is for our policy on play equipment on verges to go to the February Concept Forum for discussion.
Item 13.1 Strategic Waste Management Plan
The recommendation here (despite the slightly confusing phrasing) is that the Strategic Waste Management Plan is requires further work before being adopted.
Item 13.2 Western Australian Local Government Association Sustainable Energy Project
This relates to buying renewable energy in bulk with a group of other local councils, which is likely to lead to significantly lower prices than the cost without buying as a group. Some questions on this item at the ABF related to the price of the power (see page 122 or 1hr7min), which are hard to compare as the scale of the discount from group buying will depend on how many local councils join; and energy prices will continue to change.
Item 3.3 Lathlain Precinct Redevelopment Project Zone 1 - Stage 2 Advocacy and Contractual Updates
This notes that “to date, the Town has not received any response from external stakeholders on securing additional
funding to address the project shortfall” for the buildings used by the Perth Football Club.
Item 4.1 Post Year-End Budget Review - 2023/24 final carry forward projects and surplus funds allocation
This item notes that “after confirming the final carry forward projects and adjusting the estimated surplus, the Town has $6,596,421 surplus funds to be allocated in the 2024/25 Annual Budget”, with recommendations for funds to go to various costs, services, projects, and reserves.
Item 17.1 Mayor Karen Vernon - Opposition to motorsport street circuit at Burswood Park
If passed, this motion notes that Council does not support the construction of a motorsport street circuit (motorplex) at Burswood Park.
Inspiration from elsewhere
Melbourne’s Heat Safe City plan is helping the community to become more resilient through practical support, improved greening, and maps of local hot spots.
Yarra’s Climate Safe Rooms are helping low-income residents to stay safe and cut energy costs.
In Bologna, lower speed limits have cut accidents and led to the first year on record of no pedestrians killed by cars.
We are all connected
As always, I hope that you’ll do what you can to help others, near and far. A better future relies on our willingness to find connection with each other, and to push back against the idea that borders and division will keep anyone safe. If you have time, consider spending some time working for justice with APAN. If you have money to spare, please consider donating. “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” - Arthur Ashe
That's all folks!
Thanks for reading! As always, I encourage you to get in touch if there's anything you want to ask about or discuss.
best wishes,
sky.
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