Joondalup residents groups reveal top issues ahead of election

DESPITE voter turnout in the City of Joondalup currently among the worst across the State in the lead up to next week’s local government election, residents associations are keen to know what their candidates will do to address a range of top issues.

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When asked to list their top three issues ahead of the October 19 council election, the overwhelming response was infill.

This included protecting existing neighbourhood amenity from poor infill developments, developing planning policies to address infrastructure impacts of higher density living, and addressing the loss of green spaces and quality of housing on small blocks.

The next top issue was increasing rates, with residents groups calling on candidates to commit to “maintaining reasonable rate increases in relation to economic conditions while maintaining current services provided by the City” and to review the “necessity and effectiveness of council expenditure”.

The third top issue to address was how candidates will improve “effective consultation with residents and their associations”, with one resident group suggesting it would like to see “more face-to-face consultation from councillors and the City”.

Other issues raised included reviewing the use of glyphosate in public places and the Joondalup performing arts project, maintaining and improving parks and infrastructure particularly in the older suburbs, reviewing the introduction of prescribed burning in natural areas and enforcing compliance of the City’s verge guidelines.

On a more local level, the Edgewater Community Residents’ Association flagged development of the Edgewater Quarry, the Kingsley and Greenwood Residents’ Association requested a reduction in “large scale clearing” of vegetation as part of streetscape enhancement programs, highlighting the upcoming works on the Warwick Road median strips from Mitchell Freeway to Cockman Road, and the Burns Beach Residents’ Association said as a developing suburb, its issues were more specific and related to the delivery of proposed amenities and facilities.

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