Sabrina Hahn: WA State Government's new Tree Recovery Program and Treebate in response to PSHB
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West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Sabrina Hahn: WA State Government's new Tree Recovery Program and Treebate in response to PSHB
Sabrina Hahn: WA State Government's new Tree Recovery Program and Treebate in response to PSHB
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Melville not sitting on the fence
The City of Melville believes it has found a peace solution for — or at least a way to keep itself out of — one of the most common causes of disputes between neighbours. It had adopted new laws which dictate where fences can be built, what they can be built from and how tall they can be. Its current fence laws have not been reviewed for eight years and were due to be automatically repealed next December. The new laws were tweaked after being advertised for public comment and adopted unanimously by the council at its July 15 meeting. They have increased the height limit for dividing fences that do not need council approval from 1.8 metres to 2.3m. Property owners will still need to agree on the height of a fence, irrespective of the height set in the local law. Disputes will be resolved under the Dividing Fences Act. Cr Tomas Fitzgerald said fencing was a 'perennial' challenge faced by local governments and although he didn't think it would go away, he hoped the new laws would make the issue clearer. 'One of the things I think that is significant and beneficial about this law is that it's much clearer about the lines of demarcation between the city's responsibility and the State's responsibility,' he said. 'We've seen situations where we have gotten dragged into what are essentially private disputes mediated by the State Government. 'That has been I don't think a good use of the resources of the city and it has not necessarily been to the benefit of the residents involved in those disputes.' Development approvals manager Kate Bainbridge said at a briefing on July 8 fencing had been a source of contention at almost every local government she had worked at. 'Those disputes will likely still continue in terms of who pays for what and what material that they use, but the city would no longer be involved in as many disputes,' she said. 'If the neighbours can't agree on a material or the height or anything like that and what they're proposing is complying with our local law, then the city would have no intervention. 'It would be entirely a civil matter between the two landowners which they can resolve through I believe the State Administrative Tribunal or local magistrates court.' Fences taller than 2.3m would be a 'lot more challenging' to support unless there was a really good reason and ideally support from both landowners. 'What we're seeing with a lot of applications is they're usually from a reasonable perspective,' Ms Bainbridge said. 'They're to provide a level of safety to their swimming pool, additional privacy to deal with level difference. '(The current laws) are an administrative burden which owners can often be confused by.' The new law will not affect existing fences. It had been suggested the city audit existing fencing but Ms Bainbridge said it did not have the resources. It also does not require fences to be built on property boundaries. 'It's not necessarily within everyone's means to determine accurately in all circumstances and there may be a physical feature which blocks it,' Ms Bainbridge said. 'There's also provisions within the Dividing Fences Act which allow for it to be considered adjacent to the boundary, and there's also avenues through the local magistrates court if there's a dispute.' Electric fences are still not allowed in residential zones. Barbed wire and broken glass are considered inappropriate materials for fencing. Pre-used materials can be used but they must be painted or treated. Ms Bainbridge said the city wanted to encourage people to use recycled materials but only if they were in good condition, which would be determined by city officers' 'professional judgment'. 'We struggled with this one because we wanted to provide a pathway where people could use recycled materials that were in good condition,' she said. 'Do we just look at recycled brick or do we look at recycled wood pallets? There's so many materials that could be recycled which still could be a really good fence. 'And so we felt that the approvals pathway would would provide a really good middle ground where we could still ensure that people can do these things, but we can make sure that they're in a good condition.' The new law will come into effect 14 days after it is published in the Government Gazette.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Eyesore Perth housing tower makes way for ‘lifestyle' build
Construction has started on a new four-storey build-to-rent project in Perth's inner-north, replacing the abandoned Stirling Towers public housing block. The 12-storey Stirling Towers was built in Highgate in 1971 and was a constant source of tension in the area, until major plumbing problems contributed to the decision to vacate the high-rise block, which was finally demolished in July. Housing Minister John Carey said that he was confident the 109 units set to replace it would not suffer from the same social issues. 'It's about the design, this was one large tower,' he said on Monday. 'We've been able to create lower stories but two wings, there's really greater integration with green space, outdoor space. 'But the other critical part is the community housing provider. 'Where we have larger style precincts then we are using community housing providers and the reason is simple, they can have greater tenancy support and services at that larger scale, and on site tenant support if required.' The design for the new Smith Street build-to-rent project in Highgate. Credit: Tetris Capital Premier Roger Cook, Mr Carey and Federal Minister Matt Keogh inspected progress at the site, with the State Government chipping in $30 million and the Federal Social Housing Accelerator Payment funding a further $46 million. The first tenants are expected to move in late 2027, with a total of 109 one and two-bedroom units set to include 78 social housing homes, affordable housing and NDIS acccommodation. Mr Carey, who recently accused some local councils of blocking high or medium-density development, said it was an example of what was needed to cope with rapid population growth. 'We've made it very clear that we have to integrate social housing and community housing across all suburbs and, in my own electorate, I'm not a hypocrite,' he said. 'I have three major social and affordable projects. This project, Pier Street and, of course, Fraser Suites. And, yes, you always get a mixed reaction but, ultimately, with 22,000 people on my waiting list, I have to do everything I can to get these types of projects off the ground.' Housing and Works Minister John Carey and Premier Roger Cook. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian Tetris Capital director Brent De Jong said the Smith Street development had been designed with neighbours and amenity in mind, even retaining a lemon-scented gum tree the local community wanted to keep. 'Providing a much better spatial and visual fit within the context of the broader Highgate landscape,' he said. 'It's delivering a rooftop garden with barbeque area, it's delivering a residence lounge. There's a communal courtyard with a kids play area. 'These are all things that we can build a community around.'
