News

Additional news items can be found in the Town's Newsletter Bassendean Briefings.

CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP

5 August 2008

Recently I announced the resignation of our CEO, Mr Gary Evershed, after 12 years of dedicated service including 7 as the CEO of the Town.

Mr Evershed has always led the Town’s administration with integrity and a high level of professionalism and he leaves the Town with a record of achievements of which he can be truly proud. Projects such as the new library and community centre, partnering with the State Government on the new train station and the opening of Old Perth Road, the Town Centre Area Strategy, the Vision 2030 Community Plan, environmental initiatives, the new logo and website, the sale of the unviable hostels and the purchase of 35 Old Perth Road, to name a few. Mr Evershed has worked well with successive Mayors and councillors and is well respected by his staff. He has an excellent reputation in the industry and an excellent standing in the community. I am sure that when I say, as we appreciate Mr Evershed’s desire for a career change, his departure is a great loss to the community.

On behalf of the Councillors, staff and the community, we wish him well in his new endeavours with a big thanks for all of his efforts.

Cr Tina Klein JP, Mayor, Town of Bassendean

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

14 July 2008

The Town of Bassendean is calling for nominations from residents to be appointed to the newly established Children and Families Services Committee. "Council intends appointing up to six community representatives on the new Committee and I encourage all residents wishing contribute to the Committee to express an interest" said Mayor Tina Klein. "The Town of Bassendean has exciting plans for the future and the Committee is yet another way for Council to preserve, and indeed enhance, the strongly held value of the town as a terrific place to raise families" she added.

The Committees objectives include advising Council on current trends and issues relating to services for children and their families and recommend associated strategies, policies and program to meet the needs of current and future residents and visitors to the Town of Bassendean. The Committee will make recommendations to Council on issues to be considered for inclusion within the Town's strategic plans.

Council has already appointed Mayor Klein and Councillors Stubbs and Butler to the Committee. One of the six Community Representatives is to represent Indigenous residents.

State Government Departments are also being invited to have representatives. Council is requesting the Department for Communities, Department for Health and the Department for Education and Training nominate representatives.

Nominations close on Tuesday 12 August and the first of the quarterly meetings of the Committee is likely to be held in October at a day and time suitable to members.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to make a genuine difference to your community both from a short term perspective and in the future" said Cr Klein.

Nomination Forms can be downloaded or will be posted on request.

For further information contact Graeme Haggart on 9377 8016.

BASSENDEAN COUNCIL TOPS SAFETY STATISTICS

27 June 2008

The Town of Bassendean has topped the safety statistics for 15 participating Councils in a local government benchmarking scheme. So far this year the Town has not lost one hour through injury and is the best performing Council in this category. In the category of Workers Compensation claim frequency rates the Town is ranked second for the year. It is also the best performing Council in both categories for the six Councils in Perth’s Eastern Region.

“These are extremely pleasing results and congratulations need to go to the staff for achieving the outstanding results,” said Mayor Klein. “The CEO has made it a priority and the Director Operational Services Mr Simon Stewert-Dawkins has been the team leader in putting in place a comprehensive suite of Occupational Health & Safety procedures and innovative programs in conjunction with supervisors and safety representatives to improve our statistics”.

“The commitment of the safety team representatives from across the organisation to identified potential work place risks and find solutions has significantly contributed to the success achieved”.

“Innovative programs to achieve a safe working environment go well beyond workplace safety and foster the well being of the whole employee”, said CEO Mr Gary Evershed. “Programs including diabetes awareness, weight loss, lunchtime pilates classes, quit smoking campaigns and ride to work days are examples of how the Town cares for its employees to bring the best out of them in serving our community.”

For further information contact Gary Evershed on 9377 8000.

NEW PLANNING SCHEME TO DRIVE REDEVELOPMENT

19 June 2008

“The Town of Bassendean’s new Local Planning Scheme will cut red tape and streamline the development application process,” said Mayor Tina Klein. “The previous scheme had 17 zones whilst the new scheme will only have 5 zones which are Residential, Town Centre, Local Shopping, General Industry and Light Industry. This will make the scheme easier to understand and easier for staff to determine permitted land uses in the five zones.”

“The scheme which will come into force on 24 June and will drive the redevelopment of the Bassendean Town Centre,” said Mayor Klein. “The Town Centre Zone will see land in Old Perth Road immediately upcoded to R 60 and a further amendment is likely to see the land further upcoded to R Inner City (RIC) or the equivalent of R 100.”

“This will be a powerful incentive for property owners to redevelop and will foster transit oriented development (TOD) close to the train station,” said Mayor Klein. “The emphasis will be on mixed use development with shops on the ground floor and residential apartments above to create greater vibrancy.”

“Congratulations need to go to the Manager Development Services Mr Brian Reed for his professional stewardship of the new Scheme over several years,” said Mayor Klein. “The Scheme has required several iterations as successive Councils had initially tried to reduce density which was neither supported by the WA Planning Commission nor at the end of the day by local residents who wanted the ability to redevelop their own properties to maximise the savings invested in their own land. More recent Council’s have been pro-development and have embraced the State Government’s Network City Planning Policy.”

For further information contact Gary Evershed on 9377 8000.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE MAYOR – COUNCIL MEETING

JUNE 2008

As this is the final meeting of the 2007-08 financial year I would like to reflect on some of the outstanding achievements which have been made which will move the Town forward and position us well for the future. Our successes demonstrate the partnership between the Council and the CEO and staff in progressing the Vision 2030 Community Plan.

The Town of Bassendean’s new Local Planning Scheme gazetted today will cut red tape and streamline the development application process. The previous scheme TPS 3 had 17 zones whilst the new scheme will only have 5 zones which are Residential, Town Centre, Local Shopping, General Industry and Light Industry. This will make the scheme easier to understand for the community and for Council and staff to administer in determining permitted land uses in the five zones. The Town Centre Zone will see land in Old Perth Road immediately up coded to R 60 and a further amendment is likely to see the land further up coded to R Inner City (RIC) or the equivalent of R 100.

more >>>

2008 WOOD HEATER REBATE PROGRAM

May 2008

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has recently launched the 2008 Wood Heater Rebate Program aiming to reduce the amount of harmful particles produced from domestic wood heating and its impact on human health and the environment.

Through the program, the DEC is offering a $150 rebate to eligible residents to recycle old wood heaters. The rebate encourages Bassendean residents to remove unused and unwanted wood heaters and to take them to designated waste disposal facilities. Be quick, as the program will only run until the 31 August 2008 or when allocations are exhausted.

The brochure outlining rebate procedures and the application form can be downloaded here >>>

Should you require further information, please call 1300 886 162 or visit http://airquality.environment.wa.gov.au

WATCH OUT FOR YOUR NEW WASTE & RECYCLING GUIDE

Keep your new 2008–2009 Guide on the fridge or in a handy location as your annual reference to waste and recycling in the Town of Bassendean.

See the rest of Bassendean Briefings Issue 62 >>>

MAYORAL COLUMN, MAY 2008 - COUNCIL WORKING TO FORCE REDEVELOPMENT OF EDEN HILL SHOPPING CENTRE

As Mayor, I can assure residents that the Council has been actively encouraging the redevelopment of the unsightly Eden Hill Shopping Centre.

DRAFT 5-YEAR BUSHLAND MANAGEMENT MANUAL

March 2008

The Town of Bassendean is seeking feedback from the community on a draft 5-Year Bushland Management Manual.

The Bushland Management Manual is intended to provide the Town's staff with back ground information on each bushland reserve and guidance on the processes necessary to manage and maintain bush reserves.

At the February 2008 Council meeting, it was resolved that the Management Manual be advertised for a period of two months to seek community feedback.

view the draft 5-year Bushland Management Manual and feedback form >>>

MAYORAL COLUMN MARCH 2008 - SAFER BASSENDEAN FORUM

March 2008

Town residents are invited to offer suggestions on ways of making Bassendean, Ashfield and Eden Hill even safer places compared to other suburbs. A Safer Bassendean Forum will be held this Saturday 15 March in the Bassendean Seniors and Community Centre in Old Perth Road from 12.30 to 4.00pm for residents to discuss community safety issues in the Town.

CONCEPT PLAN FOR THE TOWN CENTRE

March 2008

The Town of Bassendean has adopted a Concept Plan for the Town Centre as part of the development of the Town Centre Area Strategy. Key components of the concept plan include:

A retail 'Hot Spot' will be fostered at the western end of Old Perth Road possibly incorporating existing buildings.
The BIC Reserve component remains unchanged but the need to ensure quality building design and traffic calming near the St Michael's School has been reinforced.
A small seasonal wetland is to be included on the BIC in recognition of the former wetland known as Hay's Swamp.
Steel Blue Oval Bassendean will be realigned and upgraded, with any new residential development limited in height.

As Part of the Maylands to Guildford Transport Orientated Development Study, a feasibility study will soon be carried out on the Concept Plan. Subject to the feasibility study, it is intended to incorporate the proposals into the Local Planning Scheme No 10 through the amendment process. Council's Planning Consultants are currently working with Council to develop guidelines and policies in readiness to implement the proposals.

see the concept plans >>>

CLUBS CONNECT

February 2008

The Town of Bassendean's Clubs Development program "Clubs Connect" is a new initiative of the Town that will assist local clubs to be more sustainable.

GENERAL MEETING OF ELECTORS

January 2008

Notice is hereby given that a General Meeting of Electors of the Municipality of the Town of Bassendean will be held in the Bassendean Community Hall, 48 Old Perth Road, Bassendean, at 7.00pm on Tuesday 5 February 2008.

SPORTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

January 2008 Briefings No.60

Nominations are open for the Town of Bassendean 2008 Sports Achievement Awards.

OUTSTANDING YEAR NEARS COMPLETION

Mayoral Column – 18 December 2007

As 2007 draws to a close, the Town of Bassendean can look back with pride over the many outstanding achievements made during the year.

For more information on the upcoming events, contact the Town’s Customer Service Centre on 9377 8000.