COPWR EVENT - JULY 2024

City of Perth Library Tour - 19 July 2024

Jane Boxall, Committee member - Events

An enthusiastic group of COPWR members enjoyed a visit to the City of Perth community library, learning about its history and architecture and exploring the extensive collection.

Led by the Community Engagement Librarian, it started with a brief information session in the auditorium, followed by taking the lifts to Level 5 and moving down through the library floors exploring the collection and spaces. We then returned to the auditorium to have a hot drink and mingle among fellow members.

A big thank you the City of Perth library staff for hosting us!

View the website - City of Perth Library - 573 Hay Street, Perth

Mon to Fri: 8am to 6pm, Sat: 10am to 4pm Sun: 12pm to 4pm
Public holidays: closed

PLANNING INFORMATION SESSION - JUNE 2024

Attendance Report - Kate Chaney Good Infill Forum - 19 June 2024

Sue Graham-Taylor, Committee member

On Wednesday evening I attended a Good Infill Forum offered by Curtin’s Federal Independent MP, Kate Chaney. It was a brilliant example of just how a MP can interact with the community on an important issue. No politics – no, pro or anti-development ideas pushed - rather information provided that will help build community understanding and then hopefully broaden the conversation and contribute to better planning decisions.

A full house of Curtin residents heard three speakers on different aspects of the topic. How can infill be done well? Professor Peter Newman spoke on the climate, environmental and community need for good infill, landscape designer Professor Josh Byrne addressed medium density and nature can co-exist while architect Kellie McGivern from Hesperia looked at the features of good infill visible around Curtin.

Sustainable infill will include a diversity of housing options, involve the community in the planning process and respect neighbourhood character, be located near public transport routes, especially train stations, be designed for easy walking and cycling, protect tree canopy, increase overall green space and have good local amenities such as shops, schools and parks.

Talks were followed by keen questioning and a short online survey as to what people see as the most important issues in good urban planning. It appeared that the top issue for those present was ‘good public and active transport,’ followed by ‘protection of our urban spaces.’ An important point to bear in mind for our area as we respond to the decision to transfer planning responsibility for our precinct to the state.

Event details here: Good Infill Forum — Kate Chaney

Presentations : Good Infill Forum - Kate Chaney Introduction - 19 June 2024 — Kate Chaney, Navigate right for Guest speaker videos

TREE MONTH - MAY 2024

Tree Talk and Tour - Council House - 24 May 2024

Sue Graham-Taylor, Committee member

Polyphagous shot-hole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus)

As part of recent Tree Month, I attended the City of Perth’s public information session on the Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB). This minute beetle is having a devastating impact across Perth, threatening our tree canopy, including heritage trees in Supreme Court Gardens and Stirling Gardens.

The presentation by the City’s head Arborist, Martin Weaver, showed us how to identify the beetle and the symptoms of infection to look for. It was followed by a tour of the intensive work being done to save a massive Moreton Bay Fig Tree behind Council House - a tree planted in the 1870s.

These borers, first detected in Fremantle in 2021, were brought to Perth from Taiwan, possibly in wood products. The tiny borer, the size of a sesame seed, tunnels into a tree and plants a fungus which blocks the transportation of water and nutrients within the tree, slowly killing it. There is no known treatment, so trees must be removed and chipped, or pruned.

The federal Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has launched a huge response, inspecting over 1.5 million trees on more than 50,0000 properties across Perth.

The City of Perth’s investment of more than $1 million includes hiring specialised staff, GIS mapping of high value and susceptible trees and 3D mapping of trees to help monitor and detect infestations. It is also undertaking and monitoring a range of promising measures that might protect trees, make them less vulnerable and avoid having to remove them.

Although I am still worried about the impact the borer is having, I was both impressed and heartened by the City of Perth’s commitment to the battle! COPWR will remain involved, support and follow the progress of the City’s work and lobby all levels of government for ongoing resources.

As residents we can assist by looking out for signs of the borer and reporting finds with photos, using a pen or a ruler for scale, to the MyPestGuide Reporter app.

Download the free pest reporting app:

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/apps/mypestguide-reporter.

And refer to signs of PSHB presence displayed on this page.

More details on responses can be found here:

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development - Polyphagous shot-hole borer | Agriculture and Food

City of Perth - Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) | City of Perth

TREE MONTH - MAY 2024

Community Planting Day - J H Abrhams Reserve

4 May 2024

Rob John, Committee member, Crawley South rep

It was a fine and pleasant day when we joined City of Perth staff to plant some new trees. A big thank you to all who organised and attended the event on Saturday morning.

Over 15 people came and we were delighted to see City of Perth CEO Michelle Reynolds and Deputy Lord Mayor Clyde Bevan in attendance. It was a great start to Tree Month!