Kaya!

I hope that you’re well and enjoying the warmth that Birak brings…or finding good shade and cool spaces.

If you celebrate Christmas (or any other kind of present-giving), I hope that you’ll consider the many local businesses around Town. As well as buying local, you could get beloved objects repaired for someone you care about, give an experience, a subscription to the Collective Shed, or give the gift of one of the decluttering and organising services based locally.

There are also many local groups helping people who are having a tough time, so please do consider donating to the Vic Park Christmas Appeal; the Haven; or others working to provide support.

This newsletter includes:

• Getting involved;

• Coming up in December: more support for Water Sensitive Urban Design; a skateboarding partnership; short-term rental accommodation policy; extension of the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan; traffic issues on Hubert St and Butler Lane; accessible pathways for Kensington Bushland; the Rutland Ave shared path project; and Lathlain Park negotiations with the State.

• Decisions made in November: hockey, Burswood Park, the Aqualife Cafe, Charles Paterson Park, and a report on trees cut down at Elizabeth Baillie park.

• Inspiration from elsewhere: biciminga; Indigenous housing; expanding our moral imaginations; and cargo bikes during catastrophes.

Get involved

• Would you like to help celebrate a Day of Significance? The Town is taking expressions of interest for groups to support.

• Consider applying for a Community Grant or an Urban Forest Grant.

• Share your performance skills!

• Share your thoughts on our Events Strategy, an extension of the stadium’s venue approval, and current development applications.

• Let the Town know what you thought about the Street Party.

• Looking for Christmas activity? There’s a bunch on!

Coming up in December

The Agenda Briefing Forum, which allows elected members and the community to ask questions about upcoming decisions, was held on 25th November. My notes below highlight some key items, but I encourage you to read the full minutes or watch the recording.

The Ordinary Council Meeting (where we make decisions) will be held on 9th December at 6:30pm at 99 Shepperton Rd - community members are welcome to attend, ask questions, and make statements. You can also email elected members. The full agenda will be available soon.

Item 11.2 - Policy Review

This includes amendments to Policy 203 – Stormwater Runoff Containment, with changes related to encouraging the use of Water Sensitive Urban Design.

Item 11.3 The Rumble Skateboard Olympic Pro Tour 2026 – Partnership Proposal and Funding

This (p. 18) is a recommendation for a $40,000 one-year sponsorship of the BMD Rumble Skateboard Pro Tour 2026 at McCallum Park Active Zone, with the possibility of a four-year extension.

My questions at the ABF (see 31min on) related to gender equity and how we might help to support it through a partnership.

Item 12.1 Adoption of revised Local Planning Policy 31 'Unhosted Short Term Rental Accommodation and Residential Buildings'

This draft policy "aims to support well-located unhosted short-term rental accommodation and residential buildings, which are appropriately managed to minimise impact to surrounding properties." It includes restrictions on where short-stay accommodation can be located, and requirements for how they will be managed.

This item notes that, “In March 2025, there were 172 Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) registered properties in the Town on the State STRA Register. In October 2025, there are now 193 registered properties. The Town has a total of 16,349 residential properties, meaning that short term rental accommodation currently equates to 1.2% of the total housing stock” (p. 29).

Questions on this item (see p. 36 or 46 min on) focused on monitoring of STRAs; rates charged for STRAs; management of STRAs; locations; and managing the number or percentage of STRAs in the Town.

12.2 Extension of the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

An extension would allow the Town to continue working towards the goals set out in the plan. Point 29 (p. 45) notes that, "Feedback from the Mindeera Advisory Group has questioned the resourcing of the Innovate RAP and requested the Town review opportunities to provide increased resourcing which would facilitate the progression of actions".

Item 12.3 Hubert Street - Outline of Engagement Outcomes

After residents raised safety concerns, the Town proposed changes to the street to slow traffic. Residents voiced opposition to these changes, and after a council motion a consultation process started. Survey responses noted that the most important consideration for residents was to, "Maintain street conditions as they presently are", followed by, "Retention of as many parking bays as possible", and "Retention of parking space directly outside my house".

The Town notes that the next steps will be to “identify in the Integrated Transport Program the capacity, priority and timing for a project on Hubert Street”; consider a design; consult with residents; and present a future costed proposal to council for approval.

Questions on this item (p. 53 and 1hr 15min on) focused on the community engagement process; timelines; funding for any changes to the street; traffic monitoring; and prioritisation of road safety against other concerns.

Item 12.4 Response to petition relating to traffic impact of approved Child Care Premises at No. 184A Shepperton Road, East Victoria Park

This provides a response to the petition presented in November calling on the Town to restrict access to Butler Lane to residents.

The officer recommendation is to direct staff and patrons of the childcare currently under construction not to use Butler Lane, and to carry out a traffic count and bring a report back to council before taking further action.

Questions (see p. 62 and 1hr 28 on) focused on traffic data; upgrading of the Miller/Shepperton Rd intersection; and costs and details for signage and mirrors. I was particularly interested in learning more about the conditions where residents can be granted support for the street where they live to be marked ‘residents only’, as I know many people would like their street to be quieter and safer! (Of course, at the same time most residents need to use other streets.)

Item 13.1 Feasibility Report to Resurface the Kensington Bushland Pathways

Resurfacing these pathways would be a significant step towards creating a more accessible bushland. This item recommends the installation of a remediated limestone path.

Item 13.2 Rutland Avenue Advocacy & Project Update - December 2025

This item recommends continued advocacy and design work on the two-way approach to completing a separated shared path on Rutland Ave, completing the missing section of the Armadale line Principal Shared Path.

(For some background to this see my previous newsletter, Item 13.1.)

The officer recommendation is to approve further use of funds from our WA Bike Network grant to progress the revised two-way design, acknowledging that for this design, “reduced widths of the shared path compromise long-term network outcomes”, while continuing advocacy for further State funding.

It also recommends the immediate installation of wombat crossings at Victoria Park Train Station; Kitchener Pedestrian Bridge; and Great Eastern Highway Pedestrian Bridge - these are designed to fit future phases of the two-way design.

Point 14 notes that, "Advocacy has already occurred over an extended period (since October 2024) with no further commitment from the State, and the Minister’s office and DoT have confirmed no additional funding will be provided to progress with the Option previously preferred by Council."

Questions on this item (p. 88 and 2hrs on) focused on the impact of the reduced width of the path; how this would relate to our previous council motion (see p. 31 here) regarding installation of Watts crossings; potentially reducing the speed limit on Rutland Ave; and traffic counts.

I was particularly concerned to ensure that we had the previous results of the traffic counts during a trial of a protected cycle lane on Rutland Ave on record; whether further design of a two-way option could be done in house (it would be outsourced); the potential costs of further design work (which are not available); and what would happen if the WA Bike Network does not approve further use of the grant money for this design work.

Item 13.3 J.A. Lee Reserve - Authority to Grant Easement for Water Corporation Emergency Wastewater Storage

The Town would retain ownership of the reserve, but this would grant an easement, enabling the Water Corporation to install and operate underground emergency wastewater storage infrastructure.

Item 13.4 Lathlain Park Grandstand Redevelopment - Update on Negotiations with State Government

This (p. 98) notes ongoing negotiations with the State Government about the redevelopment plan. Point 3 of the recommendation is for council to note, "that the WA Government has requested the terms of the negotiation for a lease of land at Lathlain Park be kept confidential and affirms Council’s commitment to full transparency by requiring that the terms of any negotiations or subsequent lease will be made publicly available at future Council meetings."

Decisions made in November

As always, this is a summary where I’ve highlighted a few key points. You can read the full minutes here and watch the meeting recording here.

Item 12.1 - Victoria Park Xavier Hockey Club - Business Case and Transition to Australian Hockey Centre

Council voted unanimously (p. 35) to approve relocation of the Victoria Park Xavier Hockey Club within the new Australian Hockey Centre, subject to ongoing negotiations with Hockey WA to secure suitable access.

If negotiations with Hockey WA don’t provide a suitable solution for the club, the Town retains the option to develop a synthetic turf and grass pitch at Charles Paterson Reserve.

Item 12.2 - Request to sign MRS Form 1 - Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct (PESP)

Mayor Vernon put forward an alternative motion (p. 47) refusing to “consent to the signing of the MRS Form 1 Application for Development Approval for portions of the Victoria Park Drive … and Camfield Drive … to be developed and used as part of a multi-use track for motorsports events or other purposes within the Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct (PESP)”.

This motion also request the CEO to, “write to OMTID seeking further information regarding the track design, the nature and extent of modifications to Victoria Park Drive and Camfield Drive, the proposed asset management plans for both roads, the expected duration of public road closures (including lead-up and post-event periods) for the proposed works”.

This motion was passed unanimously.

You can see a video explanation of this motion here (Facebook link).

Item 13.1 - Aqualife Cafe - Request by tenant for early surrender of lease

Sadly the cafe at Aqualife has been operating at a loss, despite attempts by both the business and the Town to address issues. Council voted unanimously to allow them to end their lease early.

Item 13.2 - Charles Paterson Park - Authority to Invite Expressions of Interest for Sporting and Recreational Use

There was some debate about this item (see 1hr 47 min on the recording). The officer’s recommendation to open up for expressions of interest for “a sporting or recreational facility that activates [a section of Charles Paterson Park] and delivers community benefit” was approved, with a report to come back to council before any lease is granted.

For: Deputy Mayor Miles, Cr Ingram, Cr Melrosa, Cr Gordon-Manley, and Cr Croeser.

Against: Mayor Vernon, Cr Anderson, Cr Biondi, and Cr Minson.

Item 19.1 Mayor Karen Vernon - Report on outcome of investigation into tree removals at Elizabeth Baillie Park

Mayor Vernon brought forward a motion (p. 107) requesting the CEO “to conduct an investigation into the removal of trees at Elizabeth Baillie Park that were not authorised under the Tree Removal Plan approved by Council”, to be brought to council in February 2026. This was approved unanimously.

Inspiration from elsewhere

• I love this story about how a collective of volunteer cyclists are using the Chilean tradition of a minga, a “community effort in which friends and neighbours come together to do something that would be too difficult for one individual or family to accomplish”.

  

• As cities around the world face housing crises, Indigenous groups are drawing on their knowledge and values to build solutions.

• Storytelling and reflection can encourage decision-makers (which includes all of us!) to expand our moral imaginations and do more to consider the needs of future generations.

• When catastrophic floods created chaos in Valencia, cargo bikes played a key role in the recovery.

We are all connected

At this time of year I often reflect on the story of Christmas: of a family at risk, crossing borders to find safety, dependent on the kindness of strangers.

We know that around the world, many people are desperately seeking support and the kindness of strangers. If you have money to spare, consider donating, supporting advocacy efforts for those facing violence in Sudan, Palestine, or elsewhere, or finding community with others who are working for justice globally.

That's all folks!

Thanks for reading! As always, if you have questions, ideas, or concerns, please do feel free to get in touch. And if you’ve read this far and found it useful, please consider sharing with friends!

best wishes,

sky.