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Bruce Reynolds has announced that he will be supporting to revoke his own motion which called for an urgent workplace culture review to avoid ‘open warfare’ between council and administration.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTPremiumLord mayor to go back on his motion for a workplace inquiry

Bruce Reynolds has announced that he will be supporting to revoke his own motion which called for an urgent workplace culture review to avoid ‘open warfare’ between council and administration.

Sophie Gannon

Shire of Brookton councillors Gary Crouch, Beryl Copping, president Rod Wallis, Peta Harben, deputy president Lachlan McCabe, Kerry Toop and Tamara de Lange.

REPAIRING RAILWAY RIFTPremiumNew Brookton council keen to mend community rift

A new-look Brookton council has drawn a wave of community support as it works to restitch a relationship torn by a long-running dispute over the town’s historic railway station.

Hannah Whitehead

Locals and dignitaries welcomed the construction of the Katanning Early Childhood Hub.

Early learningPremiumChildhood hub construction gathers pace as minister drops in

The shovels were out in force as construction of Katanning’s Early Childhood Hub gathered pace last week. 

Claire Middleton

Middleton Beach's swimming enclosure has been a fixture of the coastline since 2016.

TO NET OR NOT TO NETSurvey opens on future of Albany swimming enclosure

The future of Ellen Cove’s swimming enclosure is up for debate, with the City of Albany opening a survey to ask the community whether it values the net or not. 

Melissa Sheil

A complaint has been made about the Shire of Menzies local government election in October.

Election concerns PremiumMenzies election result challenged

An Aboriginal corporation has raised concerns with a recent Goldfields local government election, claiming people were prevented from casting their ballot at a remote polling station.

Tegan Guthrie

The plans to connect Scarborough and Trigg beaches have got the community split on the project.

Boardwalk battleCommentsPremiumCommunity split as city approve controversial $25m boardwalk

It’s not even a kilometre long, but plans for a coastal boardwalk connecting two of the city’s most popular beaches has split Perth’s largest council area amid accusations of overspending on a passion project.

Liam Murphy

Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley says she is ‘very concerned’ about the details she has received regarding the City of Perth.

Local governmentCommentsPremiumBeazley ‘very concerned’ about turmoil at City of Perth

Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley is seeking advice about the turmoil unfolding at the City of Perth as residents call on her to take action.

Sophie Gannon

Concept plans for the $18.5 million Scarborough-to-Trigg boardwalk.

Controversial boardwalk CommentsCouncil makes major call on $18.5m Scarbs-Trigg boardwalk

A major decision has been made on the future of the controversial boardwalk.

Liam Murphy

A revocation motion by councillor Catherine Lezer will be considered at their meeting on December 9.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumUrgent review into Perth workplace culture backfires

City of Perth administration says the decision to establish a new workplace culture committee and commission a $125,000 external review is unlawful, procedurally flawed and inconsistent with good governance.

Sophie Gannon

City of Melville councillors Scott Green and Clive Ross.

Local governmentCommentsPremiumPerth councillor’s bid to slash legal representation fails

A City of Melville councillor who is suing a fellow councillor has failed in a bid to have a city policy of paying for legal representation reviewed.

Michael Palmer

Development costs in the City of Cockburn could increase substantially.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumDevelopers face big cost hikes in one Perth suburb

One Perth council will on Thursday consider ramping up how much developers have to pay to build in the area.

Michael Palmer

Joondalup councillor Nige Jones has quit

opinion
opinion
EditorialCommentsPremium
opinion
Commonsense in short supply on councils

Nige Jones campaigned for mayor of Joondalup under the slogan: “The people’s voice for commonsense”. If only he had exercised a little more of the stuff himself.

City of Perth new council recently elected in October.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumPerth councillors rush over last-minute revocation motion

City of Perth Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds has made a second last-minute push for a workplace culture review to go through.

Sophie Gannon

The Joondalup councillor has been busted over his visit to the adult club.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumCouncillor billed for strip club beer after SAS claim probed

A Joondalup councillor has been busted for billing ratepayers for a drink at a strip club is facing further scrutiny after questions were raised about his military service.

Ben Harvey

WA’s surging rental market is poised to trigger a fresh hip pocket calamity, with council rates set to jump.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumRental surge to spark massive rates shock for WA families

WA’s surging rental market is poised to trigger a fresh hip pocket calamity, with council rates set to jump for homeowners.

Ben Harvey

Rita Saffioti has accused the Town of Victoria Park of lying to its ratepayers about the Burswood racetrack and entertainment precinct, as Mayor Karen Vernon doubled down on claims the plans will turn the park into asphalt.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumRita accuses council of spreading Burswood precinct ‘lies’

The Deputy Premier has accused Victoria Park of lying to ratepayers about the Burswood racetrack and entertainment precinct, as the Mayor doubled down on her claims the plans would turn the park into asphalt. 

Claire Sadler

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder council.

Meeting changesPremiumCouncil meetings move forward an hour for 2026

Next year’s City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder council meetings will be held an hour earlier following a split decision by councillors.

Tegan Guthrie

Illustration: Don Lindsay

opinion
opinion
OpinionComments
opinion
State’s big density mistake against against local Government

Anyone who cares about better planning and a more compact Perth should welcome more housing and greater density near train stations.

Brad Pettitt

Joondalup councillors have approved a 3.95% rate increase and formally adopted the 2025/26 Budget.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumCouncil eyes rate hikes as pressure mounts amid $20m deficit

As it looks to balance its books, the City is proposing a financial reset that could see some of its services scaled back and rates rise faster than inflation over the next three years.

Liam Murphy

Concept designs of the City of Joondalup’s proposed Sorrento beachfront café/restaurant.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumCity seeks approval for $1.96m beachfront restaurant

Construction of the new beachfront venue is expected to cost the City $1.96 million.

Liam Murphy

Bayswater deputy mayor Elli Petersen-Pik says the increase in construction cost has not been mentioned by the State Government following its recent announcement to side line councils in planning for 35,000 new homes around train stations.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumDeputy claps back after housing crisis blamed on councils

Bayswater Deputy mayor has said the increase in constructions cost is also to blame.

Sophie Gannon

The City of Perth will undergo a workplace culture review.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumLord mayor calls for urgent inquiry into workplace culture

Newly elected Lord mayor Bruce Reynolds has called for an independent workplace culture review at last night’s council meeting.

Sophie Gannon

Ms Beazley said she was considering four-year, full-spill elections and even mandatory voting if participation continued to decline.

ElectionCommentsPremiumWestern suburbs council launches bold bid to fill empty seat

Peppermint Grove will head to the polls in March after failing to attract a single candidate for a vacant council seat — the only metro council in Perth to fall short.

Harriet Flinn

Danger Asbestos in this Area sign at Wittenoom.

opinion
opinion
Alison XamonComments
opinion
Ratepayers shouldn’t be stung with asbestos costs

Local governments are tasked with supporting the delivery of risk-based, prioritised removal of asbestos products in publicly-owned and controlled properties but removal costs shouldn’t end up on the ratepayer.

Alison Xamon