The issues
It has always been a priority for me to keep our community informed about what Council is doing, to proactively listen to what people feel is important, and to find ways to act on those issues.
Homelessness
The number of people sleeping rough on our streets has increased by nearly 70% in just this past year.
We can no longer point fingers and say this is someone else’s ‘complex problem’ to deal with.
As a city we should lead the way with proven solutions that have worked in other parts of the world.
With the right leadership we could partner with our caring community and/or service providers to create ‘tiny house villages’*, rest centres with secure storage facilities, or any other compassionate approach to help those in our city doing it the hardest while also insisting on some mutual respect for our shared spaces.
*LIHI Tiny Houses 2025
Practical support for artists
We urgently need to provide more practical support for artists, musos, and other creative endeavours.
As a start, our city should lead by example and open vacant city-owned buildings for creative uses so artists have more affordable places to practice and hone their crafts. This would cost ratepayers almost nothing and breathe life into areas of our city that need it most.
Photo credit Peter Zuvela Photography
Upcoming bridge closure
With a looming 12-month bridge closure beginning in January 2026, we know there are going to be challenges moving people and freight through our city.
We need to get on top of this NOW.
As Mayor, to help ease traffic congestion caused by people in cars, I will immediately advocate for solutions such as re-instating (and possibly expanding) CAT bus services, or establish a free transit zone within Fremantle.
I will also call on both the Port, and State Government, to reduce freight truck movements in our city by implementing the Clean Freight for Freo initiative.
Both of these solutions need to be implemented ASAP so people and local businesses have time to adapt before the bridge closes for an entire year from January.
Freo’s Town Planning Scheme
Our Planning Scheme was adopted in 2007 - it should be a priority for our city to adopt a new one.
Car washes approved in residential mixed-use areas, ‘convenience’ shops selling machetes or other questionable goods, and - thanks to State Government ‘reforms’ - every major development decision is now bypassing our local Council and decided by folks in Perth’s CBD based almost entirely on the words contained in our Planning Scheme and (to a lesser extent) policies.
Our planning scheme should prioritise protection of our built heritage, encourage affordable housing through a diversity of options, and clearly articulate where (and how) our community wants to see growth in housing density, along with what is considered acceptable commercial, retail, and other land uses in the city we love to call our home.