News in Wanneroo City Region & Suburbs

Local Radio 89.7Fm To Hold Car Rally

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Published on Thursday, 17 May 2012 23:14

Written by Editor in Chief

Local community radio station 89.7FM will be holding a car rally on May 20.

Find out more and register here.

Funds are to support the community radio station.

Commencing at Joondalup ECU at 9:30am drive around the City of Wanneroo & Joondalup seeking clues & answers, then return to ECU Joondalup for a lunch.

Start up for a great day.

Council Fails To Act On Scathing WAIRC Judgement

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Published on Friday, 11 May 2012 15:44

Written by Editor in Chief

Wanneroo City Councilors have chosen not to act, or ask questions, in the matter of the scathing Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission finding on the Council administration reported by us in April.

Despite two Council meeting since the damming WAIRC finding no mention of the case, or enquiries, at an official meeting have been made by Councilors.

With the matter costing local ratepayers $200,000 in an award to the plaintiff, and an unknown amount of legal costs, not one Councilor has raised the matter formally in a Council meeting.

When Councilors are elected to represent local taxpayers surely the onus is on them to find out why such behaviour occurred as is detailed in the case, and importantly, what measures have been taken to ensure it will not occur again.

Councilors endorsed a five year renewal of Fiona Bentley's contract as Direct of Community Services, and as the matter was one that occurred in her area surely the investigation and clarification of this matter should have occurred formally prior to any contract renewal.

With the bungling of the Yanchep Boardwalk and this matter surely it is encumbent on Councilors to do due diligence on Council Administration activities and have those published to ensure the trust of local voters and ratepayers.

Mobile Phone Tower in Jindalee

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Published on Friday, 11 May 2012 09:24

Written by The Bull

A proposed mobile phone tower at Jindalee Boulevard Jindalee has received more objections to its construction.

Should you have concerns over the building of the mobile phone tower the Wanneroo City Council should be contacted on 9405 5000.

Park Parking Poor Planning Highlighted

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Published on Friday, 11 May 2012 09:07

Written by The Bull

The poor planning of parking at parks and recreation areas by State and Local Government has been highlighted again.

At a recent Council meeting 15 parking infringements were requested to be withdrawn after the attendance by people at a memorial gathering at Anthony Waring park.

Anthony Waring has been a continual parking problem with the original design failing to cater for enough patrons, and Wanneroo City Council failing to address the matter adequately.

If you have issues with parking at a local Wanneroo City park or recreation reserve they should be addressed and sent to CEO This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Councillor Has Long Break

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Published on Friday, 11 May 2012 08:35

Written by The Bull

Coastal Ward Councillor Bob Smithson has sought to have leave from Council business for 2.5 months. No reason was identified in the Council minutes for the request.

WA Government Should Stop Endangering Wanneroo City Road Users

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Published on Monday, 23 April 2012 09:28

Written by The Bull

The Current WA State Government continues on the path of successive State Governments in failing necessary road safety for Wanneroo City residents traveling along Wanneroo Rd in the Neerabup region and Flynn Drive Entry point in a timely manner.

Wanneroo Rd is also a major arterial road used by many people commuting between Perth and Regional Areas in addition to local residents. For example it is a the major road leading to Ledge point, Lancelin and Guilderton.

This area on Wanneroo Rd is both a danger and a bottleneck for drivers getting to and from work. Traveling regularly in poor and inadequate roads is high risk for local residents.

Having a major arterial road a single highway for a small section whilst dual highway at either end has been simply clumsy, poor bureaucracy, and wasteful.

Read more: WA Government Should Stop Endangering Wanneroo City Road Users

What has Satterley Got To Hide

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Published on Sunday, 22 April 2012 16:25

Written by The Bull

A EPA notice about a development by Satterley Property in Jindalee is unable to found.

Despite the notice in a local newspaper saying that documents are on the Satterley website we have been unable to locate them. They are not on the front page, not in the development section of the website, and unable to be located anywhere else.

With such short periods for comments such behaviour of making documents hard to find, or actually not making them available in unacceptable.

Recent Wanneroo Road Crash in Neerabup Highlights Dangers

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Published on Sunday, 22 April 2012 14:37

Written by The Bull

Successive WA State Governments and Wanneroo Councils have failed to resolve the dangers of Wanneroo Road between Joondalup Drive and Hester Avenue.

The Neerabup area around Flynn Drive in Wanneroo City has been an ongoing WA road problem for considerable time.

An accident that closed the Road for several hours during morning work traffic again highlighted the need to have the area and Roads upgraded.

Flynn Road is now a major access way to the Industrial area and this alone has been responsible for considerable traffic growth.

The WA State Government has been a major land seller, and still is, in the Neerabup Industrial area and has failed to address the traffic danger issues before continuing on with making profitable sales.

In recent times a quarry was opened near the Flynn Drive entrance and this has added to the heavy vehicles using the Road. The additional heavy vehicles entering and leaving a single lane Road in this part of Wanneroo Road is adding to the serious dangers for drivers.

It is time that Politicians for the area MLC members Liz Behjat, Peter Collier, Ed Dermer, Michael Mischin, Ken Travers, Giz Watson and local MP John Quigley and Paul Miles along with Wanneroo Councillors addressed the issue in a timely manner to prevent any future serious avoidable accidents.

Wanneroo Bushfire Brigade Turn 50

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Published on Sunday, 22 April 2012 13:13

Written by Editor in Chief

The Bushfire Volunteer Brigade of Wanneroo turns 50.

To celebrate the Brigade held an open day on Saturday April 21 at their Ashby Operations Centre in Wanneroo.

Council Dismissal Case Looks Like Sour Grapes

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Published on Monday, 02 April 2012 22:21

Written by The Bull

The recent report on the unfair dismissal case has unearthed an unhealthy situation at Wanneroo City Council.

As way of background to the current situation the following is a forerunner.

Daniel Simms leaves Wanneroo Council in 2007 and joins Gosnells Council as CEO.

Fiona Bentley becomes Acting CEO at Wanneroo in 2007.

Daniel Simms returns to Wanneroo in 2008 as CEO.

Fiona Bentley return to Director of Community Development role 2008 in Wanneroo under Simms.

In 2009 Simms as CEO of Wanneroo undertook a staff restructure process which was to take effect from July 2009.

In the Council publication Simms stated ' the new structure will ensure the City can continue to provide the community with a more responsive, efficient and customer focused service'.

Further Simms stated ' Although a small number of staff have been affected during the restructure process, these employees have been asked to consider new job opportunities at the City'.

Read more: Council Dismissal Case Looks Like Sour Grapes

Parents at Local School Need A Rethink

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Published on Sunday, 01 April 2012 19:06

Written by The Bull

The launch of ‘Towards a Future without Violence' campaign in WA's Northern Suburbs should be a timely reminder of the dangers or irresponsible alcohol consumption.

A few parents at the Wanneroo City Merriwa Primary School during the start of term 1 in 2012 have the attitude on a irregular basis that it acceptable to drive to school and pick up their children whilst consuming alcohol.

The parents have been observed driving whilst drinking, standing around in the public carpark drinking whilst waiting for their children to exit school, and then leaving with the children in their vehicle.

Ratepayers To Be Slugged $200,000 After Employee Wins Payout

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Published on Friday, 30 March 2012 21:40

Written by The Bull

Wanneroo City Council will need to find an additional $200,000 courtesy or ratepayers after a wrongfully dismissed employee received the award after a hearing in the Industrial Relations commission.

The previous employee who was under the direction Director of Community Development Fiona Bentley received a overwhelming judgement against the Council.

Given the background of the CEO Daniel Simms and previously being Director Governance and Strategy and Manager Strategy and Executive Services at Wanneroo City red flags should be raised at the Council administration given the Commissioner's decision.

Blenkinsopp Accused Appear in Court

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Published on Friday, 30 March 2012 16:59

Written by Editor in Chief

Accused murders of David Blenkinsopp have appeared in Perth Court.

Damien Paul Kosick 37 of Eden Hill, Kym Steven Foster 45 of Ridgewood and Tamara Kathleen Broadbent of Wanneroo.

All have been remanded in custody until May when next court appearance due.

The body of Blenkinsopp was found in bush at Pinjar in Wanneroo City.

Tavern Licence Sort at Quinns Beach

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Published on Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:34

Written by The Bull

Wanneroo City Council is seeking to have a tavern licence included in their property lease for Portofino's at Quinns Beach.

The matter is to be discussed at the next Council meeting in April.

Yanchep Boardwalk Fiasco Continues

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Published on Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:03

Written by The Bull

The long running saga over the Wanneroo City Yanchep Boardwalk continues in legal circles.

In what appears to be an administration under the guidance of Daniel Simms out of control sometimes they submitted a further application for review after the latest rejection Council received by the Western Australian Planning Commission.

The Council endorsed the application that had been made by Administration rather than discussing the matter at the Council meeting themselves and resolving the outcome required, after taking advice.

The elected members of Council are there to make the decisions, and important, significant and costly decisions such as this should be carried out by the members not affirmed after the fact.

In view that is was the inability of the Council administration to ensure the original approval guidelines were followed, blind acceptance of the CEO and his team cannot be allowed for this project.

The additional, and what should have been unnecessary costs, time and expense of this debacle will continue to be paid by the taxpayers of Wanneroo City.

Labor Continues To Use Council As Stepping Stone

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Published on Friday, 23 March 2012 08:46

Written by Editor in Chief

A continuation of Labor candidates using the Wanneroo City Council as a stepping stone to WA State politics has continued.

Wanneroo Councillor Brertt Treby has been selected to represent Labor in the Wanneroo seat at the next election due in 2013.

The Wanneroo seat is currently held by Liberal Paul Miles.

Police Make Stop and Search Near School

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Published on Friday, 16 March 2012 20:30

Written by The Bull

Police made a stop and search to a vehicle today, Friday March 16 in Merriwa.

An oval near the Merriwa Primary School was the scene of the Police search.

Two unmarked Police cars had pulled over a vehicle and undertook an examination at the site of the vehicle.

A young male was associated with the vehicle.

Close by to the location the vehicle was stopped is group housing located that is often associated with social problems, and often referred by locals as a drug availability location.

The oval was also the location of a violent attack on children a few years ago.

Locals Doing It Hard Get Slugged By Council

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Published on Thursday, 08 December 2011 09:35

Written by The Bull

Local residents of Wanneroo City that are doing it tough financially are getting penalised by the Wanneroo City Council.

Those not fortunate enough to be benefiting from the mining boom, or simply those people dedicated to social jobs that benefit the community are getting financially penalised by the Council.

Anyone that is having trouble balancing the budget and enters into a payment arrangement with the Council to pay their rates are slugged with a $25 administration fee.

In the current climate of banks being taken to court over excessive bank fees this fee has all the hallmarks of a similar punative fee.

The ratepayer is already paying a penalty interest for paying over an extended time frame and the $25 administration is a further fee.

Read more: Locals Doing It Hard Get Slugged By Council