Roller shutters banned in three City of Stirling suburbs

Roller shutters can no longer be installed in some City of Stirling suburbs after the council decided they had a negative impact on heritage values.

Council members voted 14-1 at their May meeting to change planning policies for three suburbs.

Roller shutters can no longer be installed in heritage-protected areas in Mt Lawley, Menora and Inglewood.

Where roller shutters are not visible from the street, they may still be considered through a development application.

People who already have roller shutters installed and approved by the city will not have to remove them.

Roll-down shutters are also discouraged for any non-residential development in residential and private community purpose zones throughout the city.

PVC materials on window frames have also been banned in Mt Lawley and Menora.

“PVC is not an appropriate material for use in the Mt Lawley and Menora heritage area, and removing reference to this material from the draft policy will ensure the architectural styles of traditional buildings and character of existing streetscapes remain intact,” a council report said.

According to city officers, roller shutters are not “characteristic of traditional housing forms” and can “detract from the visual cohesion and heritage appeal of the area”.

“In many cases, they obscure original windows and architectural detailing that contribute to the character significance of heritage dwellings and streets,” their report said.

“Additionally, the typical method of installation involves fixing into original masonry, which can result in permanent damage and be difficult to rectify if removed in the future.”

Community members argued that roller shutters provided security and helped reduce noise.

In 2023, local business Evolution Bikes in Vincent installed roller shutters on its shopfront after the business had been broken into five times in four years, but was later told by that council to remove them within 28 days.

Loading docks, overhead doors and other service entries are also prohibited on Beaufort Street frontages and the city wants them minimised on facades that face other streets.

The updated policy will take effect in the second half of the year.

The policy can be seen on the city’s website.