Lower speed limit to stay despite failed national bid
But Perth councils will continue to implement the lower speed limit on their streets.
Vincent mayor Alison Xamon presented a motion for the lower limit at the National General Assembly for Local Government in Canberra last month.
Her argument included the number of road crash deaths in Australia and that 45 per cent of crashes were in urban areas.
Ms Xamon said there was only a brief discussion which lasted about only five minutes.
'From what we could observe, there seemed to be a difference in views between regional and metropolitan councils, with some regional councils voting against the motion,' she said.
'While it was disappointing to see our motion not being widely supported by other councils who attended the conference, we think the case to drop speeds in residential areas is stronger than ever.' Vincent mayor Alison Xamon's call for a lower speed limit nationwide has been unsuccessful. Credit: Daniel Wilkins / The West Australian
Ms Xamon said the assembly's decision would not affect the existing permanent 40km/h speed limit in Vincent.
'We'll continue to advocate for safer and slower streets in metropolitan residential areas across the country,' she said.
The City of Vincent received an honourable mention in the National Awards for Local Government in the same week as the NGA in Canberra for the initiative.
Ms Xamon said Town of Victoria Park mayor Karen Vernon, who also attended the NGA, supported the motion.
Victoria Park is also looking at implementing a 40km/h speed limit on its local roads. It is scheduled to be discussed at this month's council meeting.
'Although it is disappointing that the motion was not carried at the NGA, the town is not deterred from its commitment to pursuing a 40km/h speed limit on local roads,' Ms Vernon said.
Ms Vernon said lowering the speed limit to 40km/h was an evidence-based, outcomes-driven solution to improving road safety for all road users, saving lives, reducing injury, encouraging active transport and creating more inclusive communities.
'It is simple, effective and can be applied to all local roads across the country,' she said.
'Implementing changes to long-established speed limits in local areas can be challenging, as evidenced by the NGA decision.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
The 55-minute lunch, the ‘brazen signal' and the council in chaos
Among the matters under examination are councillor conduct, the council's handling of its finances, and state government grants for infrastructure, property purchases and staff employment – including its revolving door of 10 acting or permanent chief executive officers in eight years. On Friday, the inquiry heard Jackson – who lived in Northern Ireland through The Troubles and was once chief executive of the Belfast Local Strategy Partnership – started work at the council in 2014. He had replaced the council's former boss Kiersten Fishburn, who is the current secretary of the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, as chief executive in November 2020. By the time of his lunch with Mannoun in late 2021, the inquiry heard Jackson was one year into his five-year contract and fresh from a positive performance review. He had steered more than 800 staff through the departure of a 'highly popular' former chief executive, a restructure, and the pandemic. Loading 'The organisation was exhausted, we didn't need further upheaval,' he had told Mannoun. When he had quizzed Mannoun about what he meant by his remarks about the chief executive role, Mannoun had not responded, but instead asked Jackson about the process required to terminate his contract. Jackson said he had phoned Mannoun when he secured the mayoralty on December 20. 'I congratulated him on his success and he immediately said, 'Have you thought about my proposition to you about leaving the organisation?' 'I said, 'I think you're making a mistake, but if you've got the numbers, we know how it plays out.'' Mannoun said that 'his group' had agreed to a settlement of 50 weeks' pay, which Jackson understood was a reference to Liberal councillors, of which there were five on the council. He had also expressed a desire to Jackson that they keep his 'transition' out of the role professional, to agree on core messaging to staff, and for the matter to remain confidential. At a meeting on January 10, before the first meeting of the new council, Mannoun had said: 'Eddie, the people of Liverpool have elected their mayor and new CEO.' Jackson said: 'That, to me, was a very brazen signal of his intent to take a direct role, contrary to the [Local Government] Act, in the appointment of directors and day-to-day operations of staff, and he had no qualms about seeking to direct or influence members of staff, or directors in particular. 'I was very concerned about that.' Jackson said Mannoun had reiterated his dissatisfaction with the council directors' recent performance, which Jackson thought was 'unfair, 'very dismissive' and 'an arrogant approach'. Loading 'I'm speaking in the context of living through Belfast in the worst of times – COVID tested everyone in a way that was unprecedented.' Councillors voted 6-5 to terminate Jackson's contract and replace him with acting chief executive Peter Diplas at a council meeting on February 2. Jackson met Mannoun a few days later to discuss his settlement, which was reached months later. 'The meeting concluded, I shook his hand at the door, and that was the last contact I had with Mr Mannoun,' Jackson said. Jackson will be cross-examined next week, and Mannoun is yet to provide evidence. The inquiry continues. It is being heard over five weeks in front of Commissioner Ross Glover.
Herald Sun
8 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Anthony Albanese says Gaza crisis has gone ‘beyond the world's worst fears'
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News. Anthony Albanese has warned the situation in Gaza has gone 'beyond the world's worst fears' and accused Israel of denying aid to starving children in his strongest criticism to date. Just a week after describing the reported killings of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza as 'completely indefensible', Mr Albanese has issued a new statement on the crisis. 'The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears,' Mr Albanese said on Friday. 'The position of the Australian Government is clear: every innocent life matters. 'Every Israeli. Every conflict has stolen far too many innocent lives.' Mr Albanese's statement also accused Israel of denying aid to children in Gaza and killing civilians. 'Tens of thousands of civilians are dead, children are starving,'' Mr Albanese said. 'Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel's denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored. 'We call on Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law.' It follows British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warning the Palestinian people have an 'inalienable right' to a state of their own and French President Emmanuel Macron confirming he will support moves to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN general assembly, Just a week after describing the reported killings of Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza as 'completely indefensible', Mr Albanese has issued a new statement on the crisis. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Palestinians hold onto an aid truck returning to Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) 'Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned,'' Mr Albanese said. 'Australia condemns the terror and brutality of Hamas and we reiterate our call for the immediate release of the remaining hostages. 'We continue to support all international efforts to facilitate a ceasefire, recognising that an immediate and permanent ceasefire gives the best hope of bringing hostages home and easing the agony of their loved ones.' Mr Albanese said that the 'legitimate aspirations' for the Palestinian people to have a state of their own was a bipartisan proposition. 'Australia is proud to have strongly supported the creation of the modern state of Israel,' he said. 'Then, as now, the global community envisioned two states: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine. 'Recognising the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own has long been a bipartisan position in Australia. 'The reason a two state solution remains the goal of the international community is because a just and lasting peace depends upon it. 'Australia is committed to a future where both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples can live in peace and safety, within secure and internationally-recognised borders. 'Until that day, every effort must be made here and now to safeguard innocent life and end the suffering and starvation of the people of Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the 'unspeakable and indefensible' humanitarian conditions in Gaza after aid groups warned of mass starvation. In a statement this week, he warned that while the situation had been 'grave for some time' but it has 'reached new depths'. 'We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,' he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) 'I will hold an emergency call with E3 partners tomorrow, where we will discuss what we can do urgently to stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need while pulling together all the steps necessary to build a lasting peace. We all agree on the pressing need for Israel to change course and allow the aid that is desperately needed to enter Gaza without delay. 'It is hard to see a hopeful future in such dark times. But I must reiterate my call for all sides to engage in good faith, and at pace, to bring about an immediate ceasefire and for Hamas to unconditionally release all hostages. We strongly support the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to secure this. 'We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.' Israel-Gaza war Mr Albanese has described recent actions by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza as 'completely indefensible' confirming in the last week that he told Israeli President Isaac Herzog directly that Israel was losing support. Describing the blockade on aid into Gaza as 'completely unacceptable' he took issue with Israel's 'excuses and explanations'. 'We need to always engage in the world as it is, rather than as we would like it to be,' he said. 'Israel's actions, many of the actions of the Netanyahu government, including by its ministers, have led my government indeed to sanction ministers in the Netanyahu government. We would not have thought that was on the agenda in 2022, when I was elected. 'Australia is a long-term supporter — and indeed played a role in the creation of the State of Israel. Mr Albanese has described recent actions by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza as 'completely indefensible'. (Photo by) 'But at that time it's important to remember that two states were envisaged and Australia and certainly my government, has continued to support two states in the Middle East: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine. 'We want Israel to continue to exist within secure borders and to be able to live without the threat of terrorists such as Hamas engaging in the sort of atrocities we saw on October 7. 'But Palestinians have a legitimate aspiration for a state of their own and to be able to achieve prosperity, and that is something that has been a bipartisan position as well going back to John Howard who said there could be no peace in the Middle East, without dealing with the Palestinian question.' Originally published as Anthony Albanese says Gaza crisis has gone 'beyond the world's worst fears'
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Perth Now
Stinky Perth sewage spills prompt calls for better drainage
Recent sewage spills in Spearwood, Beaconsfield and Caversham have raised alarm bells on the state of pipes in inner-city Perth. Burst pipes caused wastewater to encroach on parks, residential homes and into the Swan River. The State Government is responsible for upgrading sewerage, water and main drainage assets. City of Vincent mayor Alison Xamon wants it to work with inner-city local governments on addressing ageing pipes. Water Corporation, plumbers and earthmovers were at Westonia Park in Spearwood after sewerage flooded the park. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian 'We need to ensure essential infrastructure is able to accommodate increased density. 'It was concerning to see the significant health and amenity impacts that these spills had on residents and the Swan River and I am sure the State Government does not want to see a repeat. 'Together with other inner-city councils, we want to work with the State Government to create a forum to co-ordinate key State infrastructure delivery such as water, drainage and sewerage infrastructure works. 'Local government needs to understand the State Government's plan when it comes to infrastructure so we can better prepare for the servicing of our community needs and infrastructure.' There are 8000 drains and 122km of underground pipes in the City of Vincent. Some are more than 120 years old. Ms Xamon said while Vincent had continued to maintain its existing infrastructure, it needed to be upgraded to meet housing and population targets. City of Vincent mayor Alison Xamon. Credit: Iain Gillespie / The West Australian 'The State Government has set an infill target for Vincent of 11,500 dwellings by 2050, in addition to a population growth of an additional 25,000 people,' she said. 'We also continue to approve housing applications and the State-appointed Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel is giving the green light to medium to high-density developments. 'Unfortunately, the current state of pipes and drains does not support the predicted increase in homes and residents across our suburbs. 'The impact of climate change places further pressure on infrastructure to withstand major unprecedented events like we have experienced in recent years. 'So I encourage the State Government to look at redirecting funds earned by agencies such as the Water Corporation into upgrading critical infrastructure to ensure communities are prepared and resilient for years to come.' Water Minister Don Punch said due to significant challenges posed by climate change and rapid population growth, the State Government was ensuring it had 'strong investment' in existing water and wastewater infrastructures, with the addition of $35m in last month's State Budget. A massive sewerage spill affected a number of suburbs in Perth's south. Credit: AAP 'This is in addition to nearly $80m extra over two years allocated under the 2023-24 State Budget for network renewals,' he said. 'This funding supports a rolling program of work to replace or renew ageing water and wastewater infrastructure across Perth, with $39.5m to be spent relining wastewater pipes and $40.4m to replace ageing water mains.' A Water Corporation spokesperson said while isolated issues can occur, it invested significantly in both maintenance and renewal. 'We have an ongoing inspection program that helps us monitor the condition of our network and prioritise work,' the spokesperson said. 'From 2014 to 2024, Water Corporation invested more than $270 million renewing ageing wastewater infrastructure across Perth. 'This year alone, we expect to spend around $100 million on water and wastewater renewals in the metropolitan area — one of our largest ever annual investments. 'Although some sections of our network are older, it is the condition of a pipe, not its age, that best indicates its performance. 'Older pipes can remain in service for decades with appropriate inspection and maintenance, while newer pipes may be susceptible to early failure under certain environmental conditions.' The spokesperson said the Water Corporation worked closely with local governments during the planning and delivery of projects and would continue to collaborate with them to deliver critical infrastructure upgrades and renewals.
