Latest news with #KarenVernon
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Vic Park proceed in move to lower city speed limit to 40km/h
The Town of Victoria Park will be proceeding to the next stage to cut speeds on local roads, joining a growing number of councils taking part in a 40km/h road project. City staff recommended the council approve proceeding to the third stage of the 40km/h Safer Speeds Project based on engagements, information gathering and research studies. At the council meeting on Tuesday night, Councillor Jesse Hamer spoke in opposition of the implementation, stating he read a lot of opposition in community submissions regarding the implementation of speed reductions in any parts of the town. Mayor Karen Vernon referred to how the City of Vincent implemented their speed reductions, siting that once it got underway it mitigated a lot of the communities concerns. Only Cr Hamer voted against the item, and it was carried. In April last year, the town engaged in project planning, began funding applications for signage and the preliminary stages of design, and in October held a concept forum where it assessed the City of Vincent's implementation of a lower speed limit. Between August 2024 and July this year, the town held council briefings, community engagement and analysis. Overall, 439 people responded, with most saying their choice of transport in the area was by car. Although there was overall support for safer roads, some respondents shared doubts around the effectiveness of speed reductions and called for local evidence to support the need for the speed change, as well as requesting incorporating other road safety measures, while sharing additional concerns regarding congestion and longer travel times. There was support for speed reductions on streets around schools, parks and shopping areas, rather than on high-volume roads, with fears a speed reduction could cause excessive delays to commute times. The town considered that a 20 per cent reduction in speed limits results in a 200 per cent increase in likelihood of surviving a collision. Credit: Victoria Park The third stage includes preparation of an evaluation framework, data collection on local roads and community engagement, confirmation of a Perth Inner City Group funding application to the Road Safety Commission, implementation of communication plan and branding, signage design, and approval application with Main Roads WA. 'Staff have confidence the project offers significant benefit to community safety, satisfactory community support, with strong community engagement at this early stage.' the report said. According to the report, the town has an 'endorsed position to support' further reductions, which would slow motorists down to 30km/h in activity centres, however 'area-wide reductions to 30km/h are not within the scope of this project'. It said it would be more financially efficient to reduce speeds at the same time as other PICG councils, costing around $600,000, but if it was delayed it would cost about $950,000.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Councils waiting to hear how tree pest will be managed
Perth councils are waiting to hear from the State Government on how it will manage the spread of the polyphagous shot-hole borer, with one claiming it had not been told before the government announced it was changing tack. The government announced last week it would be moving to a management strategy to control PSHB as it was 'no longer technically feasible' to eradicate the pest. The tiny beetle, which burrows into trees and infects them, was first detected in 2021 and since then has infected around 4800 trees in the metropolitan area. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development deputy director general Mia Carbon said the National Management Group had determined eradication could no longer be achieved due to a number of factors. GEN Press conference update on the bio-security response to an invasive beetle pest (Polyphagous shot-hole borer) at Hyde Park. Mia Carbon of DPIRB and minister John Carey. Credit: Iain Gillespie / The West Australian 'Determining factors included the difficulty in detecting and controlling new borer infestations at an early stage before the pest can reproduce, and the current lack of effective chemical treatments available for killing the borer,' Dr Carbon said. 'Ongoing eradication efforts would require the removal of a significant number of trees from Perth's urban canopy and, given the biology and behaviour of the pest in the WA environment, are unlikely to be successful long term.' Town of Victoria Park mayor Karen Vernon said the town was disheartened by the news the government had given up pursuing eradication of PSHB and was not informed of the plan to transition to the management phase prior to the announcement. 'However, throughout this crisis we have maintained that the response should be evidence-based and led by experts, whilst actively and transparently engaging community stakeholders, including local government,' she said. 'The town has a 20 per cent canopy target in line with its Urban Forest Strategy and is diligently pursuing this goal in the face of coinciding challenges, including a drying climate, hotter summers and continued loss of canopy. 'Adding the continued presence of PSHB to this mix poses yet another serious threat to our urban canopy and ecology. 'The decision to move from eradication to management raises significant concern over the funding and resources required by the town to take on this additional responsibility whilst also achieving our own greening targets.' Victoria Park Mayor Karen Vernon said Credit: supplied / RegionalHUB Ms Vernon said the town was 'eagerly waiting' more details on the transition plan. 'It's disappointing that over a week after DPIRD announced the transition, DPIRD staff are not ready to engage with and mobilise the community in the next stage of the response,' she said. The town had to remove three green fig trees and prune another at Read Park on Albany Highway thanks to the invasive pest. Ms Vernon also said the DPIRD had cancelled its attendance at the town's upcoming community planting event, saying that they need more time to be ready to 'field community questions on the new direction'. The City of Vincent recently had to remove at least 300 trees affected by the borer from Hyde Park. Works at Hyde Park to remove trees infested with the polyphagous shot-hole borer. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian Mayor Alison Xamon said the city would like to work with the State Government in developing the new management strategy. 'Losing trees is a last resort and we need to ensure that we keep as many trees as possible,' she said. 'We will continue to work with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State Government to ensure our polyphagous shot-hole borer-infested trees in our parks are managed appropriately and treated where appropriate. 'We encourage the State and Federal governments to provide extra funding for local governments to effectively manage the borer and replant lost trees in response to this national biosecurity crisis.' A City of Perth spokesperson told PerthNow the city was waiting on advice from the DPIRD about how the proposed management phase will be implemented. In May last year the city committed more than $1 million to fight the pest, with parks currently under treatment including the Supreme Court Gardens, Council House Gardens, Stirling Gardens, Totterdell Park and John Oldham Park. 'In the meantime, we'll continue to action our tree-first approach which prioritises tree preservation through early intervention to minimise the impact of PSHB and protect our urban forest,' the spokesperson said. 'As a result of our proactive approach to date, less than 40 city trees have been removed due to PSHB since the outbreak began in November 2022.'
Perth Now
29-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Three-bin FOGO system set for Perth suburb despite concerns
The three-bin food organics garden organics collection system will be coming to the Town of Victoria Park this year despite concerns from staff they may not be able to get the word out in time. All WA local governments were given until 2025 to transition to the FOGO system as part of the State Government's current waste strategy. Councillors voted in December 2020 to implement a garden organics collection, which would be followed by a FOGO collection. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Last month it proceeded with a tender for the supply of FOGO bins, lids, and associated materials and services. However, staff had recommended at the May 20 council meeting that the town hold off on rolling out FOGO bins until March 2026 at the latest so a report into processing capacities and capabilities could be prepared. The town's general waste is sent to Tamala Park, which does not have the capacity to process FOGO waste. A council report said there had been FOGO processing challenges, such as not enough sites that could process the waste, and a review of the Government's waste strategy could result in a less strict deadline. But the council unanimously backed mayor Karen Vernon's proposal that the town roll out the FOGO system by August and start an education campaign from June 1. Ms Vernon said the town could to enter into a short-term contract to start FOGO this year and there was no evidence FOGO material would end up in landfill. 'It is most optimal for the implementation of FOGO to commence well before the start of summer, and November is too late,' she said. 'The town has sufficient time to conduct a waste education campaign for the community and secure the delivery of those bins well before November 2025. 'Deferring implementation of FOGO this year and bringing only a status report back to council in March 2026 creates the risk that firstly the current FOGO service providers will reach their existing maximum capacity, leaving no options available to the town if no additional processing capacity develops in WA by 2026. 'Secondly, the town misses a valuable opportunity to assess the success of our community's adoption of FOGO and resolve any problems via a short-term contract before considering a longer-term arrangement.' If a bin contains hazardous waste or repeated high levels of contamination, the bin may be stickered shut and not collected. Chief operations officer Natalie Adams said there was a 'slight risk' the June 1 deadline set by the council meant the town could send out information that had not been confirmed. 'The communications team have advised they would need 10-12 weeks in preparation for a campaign on the rollout strategy,' she said. 'The waste calendar that needs to come out does require a date for us to put in. 'In order for them to roll out and say that caddies and bins are coming on a certain date, we do have to have some certainty around that.' Ms Adams said there was a correlation between the amount of education a community received before FOGO was rolled out and contamination rates. Town chief financial officer Duncan Olde said the deadline to print the town's waste calendar was getting close. 'I wouldn't say tomorrow but it's very soon we got to lock that in,' he said. Ms Vernon asked if the campaign could start with educating people about what to do with the FOGO system and then telling them the rollout date once it had been decided on. Town CEO Carl Askew said the short answer was 'no' but if the campaign was delivered in two phases — information about the delivery of bins and caddies, and then education — then 'anything is possible'. Part of the council's debate was closed to the public as it involved confidential items. City of Belmont CEO John Christie said more than 17,900 of its households had made the switch to FOGO since it was rolled out there in February 2024. 'Thanks to our community's efforts, over 4500 tonnes of organic waste have already been diverted from landfill, and we've seen an 11 per cent increase in recycling rates,' he said. 'It's a great example of what we can achieve when we work together.' Belmont staff have been checking residents' bins to ensure they are putting the right materials in their bins. Some bins have been stickered shut and residents must re-sort their rubbish out before arranging for a collection. Mr Christie said the city's preference was to work with residents to improve how they managed their household waste. 'When a bin is found to be contaminated, the city generally collects the bin and provides residents feedback on what material goes in which bin to help them sort their waste correctly in future,' he said. 'In some cases, if a bin contains hazardous waste or repeated high levels of contamination, the bin may be stickered shut and not collected. 'Before the bin can be emptied, the resident will need to remove the hazardous or contaminated materials or contact the city to discuss their options. 'This applies to all bin types and the process was in place prior to the FOGO rollout.'
