Perth’s Autumn Festival
Perth’s Autumn Festival (PAF) was celebrated across the eastern region from 27 March to 3 May.
The Town’s main contribution to the PAF was an outdoor Sculpture Park Exhibition held at Sandy Beach Reserve from 27th to 31st March. The Exhibition included nine fascinating sculptural works from experienced and emerging Western Australian artists, including artists from the Town of Bassendean.
Over the five-day duration of the Exhibition, patrons had the opportunity to undertake self-guided walks to view the sculptures. Information guides were made available that provided descriptions for each of the sculptures. The Exhibition also involved a special creative performance called ‘Dancing Amongst the Sculptures’ by students from the Hampton Senior High School Gifted and Talented Dance Program.
This year the Town was invited by the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council to use its Sculpture Park Exhibition to launch the PAF, which comprised a number of events celebrated across the region.
Other events and activities held within the Town during the PAF period included:
- Mexican Photographic Exhibition held inside the Bassendean Memorial Library by local artist, Carol Seidel, displaying some of her photographic images taken in Mexico over the past 14 years;
- Mexican Fiesta held inside the Bassendean Seniors and Community Centre with free Mexican food and entertainment put on by the Friends of Mexico;
- Art workshops that included the opportunity for the public to make ephemeral sculptures, cast objects and piñatas; and
- Children’s story-telling.
Supporting sponsors of the Town’s PAF events included the EMRC, Healthway (Go for 2 and 5), Synergy, Hawaiian’s Bassendean Shopping Village and Friends of Mexico.
Too many nutrients
The Swan and Canning Rivers and many wetlands are suffering from the effects of high nutrient levels, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, which leads to regular, sometimes toxic, algal blooms in the warmer months. High nutrient levels in the rivers are a result of overuse of nutrients in the catchment.
Phosphorus and nitrogen are plant nutrients that are naturally present in our waterways and soils in very low concentrations. The problem is that nutrients accumulate as a result of human activity. We are using too much nutrients in our daily lives.
The Phosphorus Awareness Project is a community education campaign aiming to reduce the nutrient loads in the Swan-Canning catchment. The campaign educates the community, schools, Local Government and high nutrient-use industries about the impact of too many nutrients in the rivers and wetlands and how to reduce those levels.
The project is managed by the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare, supported by the Swan River Trust and assisted by a group of volunteers, the Phosphorus Action Group (PAG).
The project seeks to promote:
- appropriate fertiliser practices for the soils of the region – Fertilise Wise;
- the growing of local native plants;
- the use of phosphorus-free detergents, especially in unsewered areas; and
- awareness of the high level of nutrients contained in dog poo, grass clippings, deciduous leaves and in bread fed to water birds.
It also seeks to make people aware of the connection between their backyards, the stormwater and groundwater systems and the rivers and wetlands.
For further information go to www.sercul.org.au/pag.html or phone the Phosphorus Awareness Project Coordinator on 9458 5664.
Green waste collection
You may have noticed some of the streets throughout the Town have been putting out greenwaste on their verges—this is for the scheduled mixed green waste collection held annually throughout May and June.
The Town is broken up into 12 zones which are then serviced over a 6 week period. This is the only time during the year that green waste can be placed on your verge; however, green waste should not be placed on the verge until after you have received notification in your letterbox of the upcoming collection in your area. The pamphlets are generally delivered 2 weeks prior to the start of the pick up date. It is important that you read the stipulations and conditions carefully, as anything which doesn’t comply will be left behind and left for you to arrange disposal.
This event is only held once a year. Passes to the Red Hill tip, however, are available from the Customer Services Centre or Library should you wish to dispose of additional waste throughout the year. A maximum of 4 passes are available and each pass entitles you to dispose of waste to a maximum of half tonne (6 x 4 trailer or ute). Only valid tip passes will be accepted at Red Hill. Expired passes will no longer be accepted and a fee will be applicable.
