No motions presented at electors meeting in a Bassendean Council first

HISTORY was made at Bassendean Council’s general meeting of electors last night, where no motions were presented from a gallery of about 80 residents.

It was the first time that no motions were made at an electors meeting.

Mayor Renee McLennan opened the meeting by detailing the council’s main projects from the 2017-18 financial year and its goals for 2019.

Cr McLennan said a tender for Bassendean Men’s Shed’s new home would soon be advertised and the new Mary Crescent Reserve playground was set to open next week.

She said in 2019, the Town would continue working on short-term initiatives as part of its Old Perth Road Vibrancy Project, developing town teams, employing an urban forest officer and the construction of a new child health clinic.

Another focus was to improve community engagement through a partnership with consultants Creating Communities Australia.

Chief executive Peta Mabbs also addressed the gallery about refining the administration model, reviewing corporate strategies and developing staff toolbox to ensure community consultation was done prior to any decisions made.

In the biggest announcement at the meeting, Ms Mabbs revealed corporate services director Michael Costarella had resigned after 11 years of service.

Mr Costarella was absent from the meeting, with corporate services manager Ken Lapham acting in his role.

Residents then questioned about a rat problem in the Town, the renovation of the Pensioner Guard Cottage residence to a child health clinic and community space and amendments to local planning scheme 4A.

Cr McLennan responded to concerns over the lack of consultation for the child health clinic project, by informing the Town was “running out of time” to submit plans to Lotterywest, which granted $375,000 to reactivate the cottage.

Responding to Bassendean resident Bruce Keay’s concerns about local planning scheme 4A, Cr McLennan said she was disappointed with the delay in progressing the scheme, with the Town stating in 2016 that it would be completed in three years time.

She said the Town needed to buy six properties as part of the scheme amendment but there was no agreements made in this financial year.