To better understand what is means to be ‘a local’ our suburb profile seeks to understand the local stories Koora (past) Boordawan (future) and respond to Ngalang Maya (our place) This snapshot identifies the unique character of Balcatta’s neighbourhood and helps the City rethink how we deliver services with a local focus was predominantly used for market gardening until the '60s and '70s when industries moved into the area and blue-collar workers began to establish homes Join our mailing list First recorded by Alexander Forrest in 1877 Balcatta is the Aboriginal name for the northern portion of Careniup Swamp derived from the words "bal" (meaning "his") and "katta" (meaning "hill") a grant of 780 acres was granted to Samuel Moore in an area now covered by Balcatta the land was sold to John Charles Mews for £300 and the first trace of the name Balcatta can be found on the offer for sale by Mews in 1888 Another section of Balcatta was also once part of an extensive grant given to T Significant Balcatta landmarks include the limestone pinnacles on the grounds of Balcatta Senior High School which were unearthed in the 1930s and 1940s as surrounding sand was excavated The Balcatta industrial area occupies the northern portion of Balcatta and the site is a significant employment centre for the region offering a range of services including retail These are the top local priorities you've told us about what's important for Balcatta:  The City has created Locally-led Stirling to drive deeper connection at a local suburb level to listen and respond with a local focus  At the heart of this Locally-led approach is an understanding that local people know what they need and a vision for everyone to get involved in shaping what it means to be “a local” We want to bring neighbours together, invest in local stories and inspire opportunities to work together. To find out more about Locally-led Stirling, visit Shaping our City. If you're looking for ways to get involved in your local area, please contact one of the City’s Community Engagement Officers by emailing getinvolved@stirling.wa.gov.au. Balcatta has a total of 52ha of public open space which includes 32 local open spaces and six district open spaces that offer a range of facilities, including: Four primary schools are located in the area and Balcatta Senior High School provides secondary education for local students. The industrial area to the north of Balcatta is home to numerous businesses, including the offices of the Water Corporation and Western Power. City of Stirling kaadatj Nyoongar moort Nyoongar boodja-k Wadjak boodja-k. Ngalak kaadatj Nyoongar nedingar wer birdiya koora koora wer yeyi. Baalabang koondarm, malayin wer nakolak baalap yang ngalany-al. Ngalak dandjoo barn wer kaaratj bandang boodja-k. The City of Stirling acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Wadjak people of the Nyoongar Nation, and pays respect to the Elders both past and present for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal Australia. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) officials and spectators will roll through Balcatta this week for the 2024 BMX Racing National Championships the racers will compete across 76 championship event categories with 1600 riders aged between 2 and 76 years old It’s the sports final event of the year in the country “We know that BMX is a very popular sport and pastime for Western Australians so we’re expecting this to be a really fantastic week for our local sporting community and the people who have made the trip over,” said Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman The championships come off the back of the Paris Olympics where Australia scored its first ever gold medal in the sport thanks to the Gold Coast’s Saya Sakakibara This event is an opportunity for riders to win the right to wear the national championship jersey in 2025 “It’s so great to have another sporting event of this calibre hosted here in our northern suburbs of Perth and I know Westside BMX Club has been a hive of activity and excitement as they’ve prepared to host this year’s championships,” said Balcatta MLA David Michael “Events like these are so important in creating vibrancy and atmosphere and bringing the community together so I certainly encourage all our local Balcatta residents to get along and support this fantastic event this week.” WA’s stance in the cycling community only continues to grow with the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Masters World Championships in Dwellingup last year the Australian Road Cycling National Championships here in January next year and Collie’s continued emergence as an international mountain biking destination Find out more about the 2024 BMX Racing National Championships at auscycling.org.au The City of Stirling’s Recycling Centre Balcatta (RCB) offers services for disposing of recyclables This page provides information on the location Proper disposal of hazardous waste is crucial for safety and the environment Learn how to dispose of hazardous waste and find alternative drop-off locations The City of Stirling has a dedicated recycling centre where you can dispose of recyclables and reusable items Find out about Recycling Centre Balcatta (RCB)'s location Monday - Saturday 7.30am to 4.00pmSunday 8.00am to 4.00pmChristmas Day Get directions View the map of Recycling Centre Balcatta to help you plan your journey Waste drop-off informationFees may be payable dependent on the type of waste you wish to dispose of The following items can be dropped off at the recycling centre free of charge: Vehicles are required to drive across the Weighbridge on entry and exit Charges are calculated based on the difference between the weight on entering and the weight on exiting The following items go over the weighbridge and fees will apply: Please note that super six sheeting or plastic buckets containing dried cement are for mixed waste disposal only Asbestos is not accepted at the Recycling Centre Balcatta - call Tamala Park Red Hill Landfill or Western Metropolitan Regional Council for disposal arrangements Residents are eligible for free waste collection via our on-demand waste collection services City of Stirling ratepayers can use their tip passes to dispose of certain items for free at the weighbridge each visit is a minimum of one tip pass allocation you can use multiple allocations in a single visit super six sheeting or plastic buckets containing dried cement will be not accepted as construction waste material this material is for general waste disposal only bring your rates notice with tip passes attached and a utility bill that confirms your address to the RCB Due to the demand of this service and to prevent delays we ask all residents to have their tip passes ready to show the attendant You can only use your tip pass if you show the barcode You can download a copy of your rates notice, which includes your tip passes, from the Rates Portal you can call the Customer Contact Centre at (08) 9205 8555 for help if you live in a rental property in the City of Stirling the property owner or managing agent can give you their tip passes You need to bring the following with you to the Recycling Centre Balcatta: Tip passes are attached to your rates notice and are for residential use only Passes can be combined with cash or EFTPOS payments if the delivered weight of the item/s exceeds the tip pass value you can download a copy of your rates notice from the Rates Portal Household hazardous waste can pose serious environmental and health risks if not disposed of properly they can leach toxic chemicals into the soil and potentially contaminate the groundwater Most hazardous waste can be dropped off at the Recycling Centre Balcatta (RCB) free of charge for recycling or proper disposal Please note that commercial quantities will not be accepted The following hazardous waste can be brought to the RCB per day Please note that the Recycling Centre Balcatta does not accept asbestos Residents can dispose of asbestos at Tamala Park and Redhill landfill sites and Western Metropolitan Regional Council. For further information on their opening hours and disposal requirements, please visit the Mindarie Regional Council, East Metropolitan Regional Council and Western Metropolitan Regional Council websites If you have concerns about an asbestos risk in our community, please complete a health hazard request form. For further information about asbestos, please visit the Asbestos, unauthorised works and building safety page E-waste disposal to landfill now bannedStarting 1 July 2024, the State Government of Western Australia banned e-waste from landfills to support the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030. You can help by disposing of e-waste correctly using the Recycle Right website and app For more information, please visit the State Government of Western Australia website It’s easy to keep your 10c containers out of general waste so they can be recycled and pouches between 150ml and 3L are accepted To find a location near you, visit the Containers for Change website The City of Stirling encourages the community to separate batteries fluorescent light globes and ink cartridges from their everyday waste and drop them off at one of the collection points below for recycling Westfield Innaloo Shopping Centre Ellen Stirling Boulevard reception@totalgreenrecycling.com.au Gas&gear.malaga@boc.com info@abccopiersolutions.com.au Over 90% of the materials in mobile phones can be recycled You can recycle your mobile phone by dropping it off at one of the locations listed above in the section named "External drop off points" Most mobile phone retailers also provide a recycling service The Recycling ShopThe Recycling Centre Balcatta (RCB) is also home to the Recycling Shop where you can purchase a range of previously loved items at a discounted price All items are in great condition and reselling them means that they won't end up in landfill an organisation that promotes employment for people with disability All proceeds are used to fund the costs of running the shop and help with the ongoing employment of Workpower staff members Visit the website City of Stirling kaadatj Nyoongar moort Nyoongar boodja-k Wadjak boodja-k Ngalak kaadatj Nyoongar nedingar wer birdiya koora koora wer yeyi malayin wer nakolak baalap yang ngalany-al Ngalak dandjoo barn wer kaaratj bandang boodja-k The City of Stirling acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land and pays respect to the Elders both past and present for they hold the memories the culture and hopes of Aboriginal Australia With the Olympics done and dusted for another four years it’s time to get around some new sporting heroes Four dads from Balcatta will be heading to Geelong next week for the 12th annual X-League Championship by X-Golf representing Western Australia while vying for a chance at golfing glory Hurley Waterson and Hamish Boyce’s dedication to a weekly hit has paid off as they vie for the title of the Pacific’s best after qualifying as finalists among 48 other WA teams at 60 there aren’t many national competitions we get to play in so we really intend to make the best of this whole experience and above all “We’ve gone from never playing to finalists in the Championships so we’re very excited and glad to be a part of it.” They’ll be competing against teams from Queensland Victoria and New Zealand at the championship over the weekend of August 24-25 with the winners scoring a major prize that includes a golf trip to Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania The Balcatta blokes go by the team name Carpark Warriors taking on the likes Dude Where’s My Par (Tasmania) The Three Stooges (NSW) and Chunky Monkeys from New Zealand They’ll also be following in the footsteps of last year’s champions Over 3.5 million Aussies played some form of golf last year, and indoor golf’s popularity continues to rise, including the most recent opening of an X-Golf on Stirling Highway in Nedlands Australia’s eSports market is expected to reach a value of $294 billion this year Get all the latest at xgolf.com.au/x-league/national-championships. Image Credit: L-R Dave Ritchie, John Keery, Hurley Waterson (we assume Hamish took the photo!) The City is developing the next stage of improvements at the Recycling Centre Balcatta. The need to redevelop the Recycling Centre Balcatta (RCB) has been discussed by the City for many years. During this time, a number of significant issues have advanced to the point where many parts of the existing facility are now beyond the end of their useful life and have deteriorated to the point where the facility can only just operate efficiently and safely. The next stage involves design and preparation works for the replacement of the ageing Waste Transfer Station at 238 Balcatta Road with a view to construction in mid-2024.  The proposed renewal will include 3 key service areas:  This is where the community can drop off materials, for recycling or reuse, at no charge. This is where the community can use their tip passes or pay for disposal of waste. This is the commercial and bulk waste area of the recycling centre. 3D Visualisation3D VisualisationFAQs The renewal of the Recycling Centre Balcatta (RCB) will achieve the City’s desire for the site to be a modern sustainable integrated recycling and waste management facility maximising the separation of clean waste streams and minimising the amount of material sent to landfill The design will incorporate principles of best practice to satisfy the requirements of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and meet long term legislative requirements for waste minimisation The current facility fails to provide a satisfactory standard of service to the community with limited opportunities and education for the re-use This is where the community can drop off materials This area includes the following facilities: This is where the community can use their tip passes or pay for disposal of waste This area includes the following facilities:- This is the commercial and bulk waste area of the Recycling Centre and includes: The renewal of the existing recycling facility will consider the following key design elements: For more information, or to receive this information in an alternate format, please contact the City on (08) 9205 8555 or visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/enquiry Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time An 18-year-old who ran over and killed a woman during a late night joyride in his brother’s car has had a charge of murder changed to manslaughter who due to being only 17 at the time of the offence last year was due to go on trial today at Perth Children’s Court over the Balcatta incident He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter Rebecca Collard died in Balcatta on October 4 after she was run over by a 17-year-old boy.Credit: Police Media The court hearing confronting details about how the teen was travelling through Perth late at night on October 3 The court was then told how the teen and his friend spotted Rebecca Collard on the pedestrian walkway along Wanneroo Road while he attempted to perform a U-turn manoeuvre Toxicology reports later revealed that Collard was drunk and high on meth when she ran towards the teenager’s vehicle with a brick in her hand “motioning to throw it” “What the f*** is she trying to do?” the teenager told his passenger The teen then stopped the car and rolled down the window before continuing with his U-turn that mounted the curb and struck Collard who was about a metre away Instead of stopping to render assistance or call for help driving over Collard and dragging her for about 100-150 metres along Wanneroo Road Footage of Collard being flung from under the car captured on CCTV cameras was shown to the court on Monday It also showed Collard’s friends who happened to be walking along the street from a friend’s house finding her unconscious in the street and flagging down police to assist A post mortem showed Collard suffered severe head and spinal injuries as well as injuries to her legs and body as a result of being hit by the car and then dragged The teen was only arrested a few days later when police tracked the vehicle to his Balga home Originally he was charged with Collard’s murder but on Monday prosecutors told the court an agreement had been reached between the parties that he would plead guilty to manslaughter as well as two lesser charges relating to failing to stop and assist and failing to report the incident to police The court was told that while he knowingly struck and drove over Collard he did not know she was pinned underneath the car and that he was dragging her prosecutors said the teen not stopping to assist or get help made his actions “callous” “A significant number of the deceased’s injuries were caused by being trapped under the car “Any ordinary caring person would have stopped.” Peacock spiders dance for their lives as Perth sprawl threat looms More WA families are opting to home-school their kids. Here’s why An 18-year-old who ran over and killed a woman during a late night joyride in his brother\\u2019s car has had a charge of murder changed to manslaughter. The boy, who due to being only 17 at the time of the offence last year, cannot be identified, was due to go on trial today at Perth Children\\u2019s Court over the Balcatta incident. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. The court hearing confronting details about how the teen was travelling through Perth late at night on October 3, 2023 with a 16-year-old female friend, despite only having a learner\\u2019s permit. The court was then told how the teen and his friend spotted Rebecca Collard on the pedestrian walkway along Wanneroo Road while he attempted to perform a U-turn manoeuvre. Toxicology reports later revealed that Collard, 48, was drunk and high on meth when she ran towards the teenager\\u2019s vehicle with a brick in her hand \\u201Cmotioning to throw it\\u201D. \\u201CWhat the f*** is she trying to do?\\u201D the teenager told his passenger, the court heard, who warned him to watch out for the woman. The teen then stopped the car and rolled down the window before continuing with his U-turn that mounted the curb and struck Collard who was about a metre away. Instead of stopping to render assistance or call for help, the boy then continued forward, driving over Collard and dragging her for about 100-150 metres along Wanneroo Road. Footage of Collard being flung from under the car, captured on CCTV cameras was shown to the court on Monday. It also showed Collard\\u2019s friends who happened to be walking along the street from a friend\\u2019s house, finding her unconscious in the street and flagging down police to assist. A post mortem showed Collard suffered severe head and spinal injuries, as well as injuries to her legs and body as a result of being hit by the car and then dragged. The teen was only arrested a few days later when police tracked the vehicle to his Balga home. Originally he was charged with Collard\\u2019s murder but on Monday prosecutors told the court an agreement had been reached between the parties that he would plead guilty to manslaughter, as well as two lesser charges relating to failing to stop and assist and failing to report the incident to police. The court was told that while he knowingly struck and drove over Collard, he did not know she was pinned underneath the car and that he was dragging her. Despite that, prosecutors said the teen not stopping to assist or get help made his actions \\u201Ccallous\\u201D. \\u201CAfter knowingly striking the victim, he drove off,\\u201D they said. \\u201CA significant number of the deceased\\u2019s injuries were caused by being trapped under the car. \\u201CAny ordinary caring person would have stopped.\\u201D This page provides information about residential bin collections including how to find out when your next bin day is how to request new bins or upgrade your residential waste service and how to report damaged or missing bins Please note that due to supply chain issues there is an estimated 4 week delay in requesting new This matter is beyond the City’s control however we apologise for the inconvenience caused Once replacement bins and parts are received we will be working hard to deliver these as soon as possible Good Friday No bin collections will take place All collections will occur the following day (Saturday) Easter Monday and ANZAC Day Bin collections will proceed as usual Recycling Centre Balcatta Closed on Good Friday If a collection is scheduled for any of these days please enter your residential address below you must use a full address or you can select an address from the drop down field below This data updates annually based off of property records if your address is a new home or a sub division please contact the City where we can assist you in locating your bin day/verge pick up information To view your bin days in a different format Week 1 calendar Week 2 calendar Bin collection checklistTo make sure your bin gets emptied  This matter is beyond the City’s control however we apologise for the inconvenience caused  Once replacement bins and parts are received The City of Stirling operates a three-bin system where households have access to three different bins: By working together to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill we can ensure a more sustainable future for our community When reporting a bin that has not been emptied Please check your bin to see if there is a non-collection sticker present please rectify the issue before completing the form Please ensure both sides of the street has been collected before reporting It may take up to 3 working days for the bin to be emptied If you have forgotten to present your bin on time on multiple occasions or you have reported it outside of the 24-hour time-frame there may be a fee of $75 to empty your bin a separate form will need to be completed for each bin If your bin isn’t emptied as scheduled, please lodge a residential bin request Report a missed bin If your current bin is missing, you can report a missing bin by lodging a residential bin request Report a missing bin you can request the City to repair or replace your bin for free Please place your bin on the verge for a successful collection and the second truck will repair or replace it you can continue using it while waiting for repairs or replacement Report a damaged bin All properties within the City will be provided the standard package of bins:  If you live in a multi-unit complex of 6 or more units a request for residential bins must be made by your strata manager If you are a Homeswest tenant, please arrange for a written request to be submitted by the Department of Housing via the general enquiry and feedback form. please ensure that you have upgraded your bins first Cost of additional bins will be added to your rates notice Please note that all new and additional bins will be delivered to the verge within 10 working days Request a new bin Request an additional bin One red lid (general waste) bin - 140 litre One yellow lid (recycling) bin - 240 litre One optional lime green (garden organics) bin - 240 litre If your current bin isn’t meeting your househould needs you can request an upgrade of the existing service for an additional fee While upgrading a green waste bin isn't currently available Request a bin upgrade For all other bin requests and enquiries, please contact us via the general enquiry and feedback form If you are looking for on-demand waste collections, you can learn more about on-demand through our video playlist, or please visit our page here for more information Lodge other bin request Sorting your waste correctly means that you’re diverting waste from landfill and creating a more sustainable future for our community When our three bin system was rolled out in July 2015, garden organics (GO) bins were only delivered to properties of 400sqm or more. If you do not have a garden organics waste bin and wish to apply for one, please phone our Customer Contact Centre The City can provide assistance for residents who cannot physically put their bins out on the verge or do not have anyone else to assist them Use our bin day search function above to check we might not have reached your area yet due to varying truck rounds If your bin was out on time and it was missed you may need to arrange a paid return collection or wait until your next bin day If you forgot to place your bin out on your bin day or missed the reporting window you can still arrange a paid return collection For more information, please submit a general enquiry and feedback form The Stirling Community Men’s Shed enables members to take part in woodwork projects, socialise with others and raise awareness of men’s health issues in a safe, friendly environment. Members craft various items from recycled or donated timber, using woodworking machines, power and hand tools. Funds raised through the sale of these items are invested back into the Shed to ensure that the facility remains a vibrant and valuable space for its members. Members also have the opportunity to participate in gardening, handcrafts including our unique Men in Stitches program, seminars, outings and fundraising. The Shed focuses on men's social and emotional health and wellbeing and targets residents aged 55 years and over who are semi or fully retired. The Shed’s membership is currently open to new member applications. Becoming a memberIf you are interested in becoming a member of the shed you must be over 55 years of age, live in the City of Stirling and be retired or semi-retired. Please contact the Men’s Shed Coordinator on (08) 9205 7625 for further information. Looking for a handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift? The Men's Shed Shop has something for everyone. The Men's Shed Shop is now open 8.30am - 3.00pm, Monday to Friday. We’re bringing our live blog to a close for today Here’s a recap of some of the headlines we covered today: A WA security guard was among 17 people to be recognised for their bravery by Governor-General Sam Mostyn receiving a commendation for brave conduct Mineral Resources has suspended its iron ore road train operations in Onslow after being issued a notice from Worksafe relating to the risks the private road posed WA’s top cop says a children’s court decision to allow a teenager who assaulted a police officer to walk free last week was “extremely upsetting” to his officers We’ll see you again tomorrow for more news you need to know Crown Perth patrons will soon be forced to set their own spend and time limits for the casino’s poker and electronic gaming machines as part of a push to tackle problem gambling The casino giant will begin advising the new rules from next month with the changes to officially come into effect from December 1 Crown Perth is preparing to introduce poker machine spend and time limits The move was a key recommendation of the Perth Casino Royal Commission report The report found patrons should be able to set their own spend and time limits for electronic gaming machine use to reduce their risk of gambling-related harm “As Perth Casino is a monopoly supplier of electronic gaming machines in Western Australia the scheme does not face many of the barriers to its implementation that exist in other Australian states and territories,” the report foreward read “We consider that every effort should be made to implement the scheme as soon as possible.” Crown Perth patrons will soon be required to be a member of the casino to play on the machines and will receive player activity statements each month Crown Casino Melbourne introduced similar restrictions in 2022 following their own Royal Commission A West Australian mother whose twin seven-year-old daughters died when the car she was driving crashed into a tree has been jailed over the tragedy which left her “drowning in emptiness” Macey and Riley were travelling with their mother from Kalgoorlie to Perth in February 2024 when the family’s Toyota Camry sedan veered off the road on Great Eastern Highway in Carrabin and later wrote that she held her two daughters helplessly in her arms as they “grew wings” and died Van Oyen was later charged with two counts of careless driving causing death She pleaded guilty to those charges in Northam Magistrates Court in December and was sentenced in that same court this afternoon The magistrate sentenced her to eight months behind bars suspending the sentence for six months – meaning van Oyen will serve an immediate prison sentence of two months The court was told she was charged with careless driving because she closed her eyes briefly while behind the wheel she had drifted and overcorrected the car into the path of a tree Sticking with the Everybody’s Home’s forum now and Member for Curtin Kate Chaney has revealed her constituents have not emerged unscathed when it comes to the nation’s housing crisis and addressed the electorate’s “anti-infill” reputation The teal independent told the debate that housing was still the number one issue raised with her even in her “relatively wealthy electorate” Curtin MP Kate Chaney.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen She said home owners had expressed concern about how difficult it would be for their children and grandchildren to enter the property market considering the gulf between the growth in property prices when compared with wages Chaney said increasing supply was essential in improving housing affordability and she acknowledged the role of density in making that happen – a topic that has caused much consternation in her electorate but a conversation she has been at pains to broaden but I think it’s about addressing how we can do that while retaining the existing tree canopy and ensuring we have walkable streets,” she told the forum While conceding there was “no silver bullet” on the issue of housing she called for all three tiers of government to work together to increase supply attract more workers to the residential construction industry and improve security of tenure and assistance for renters The federal seat of Curtin extends from Trigg down the coast to North Fremantle and takes in the city’s affluent western suburbs Cottesloe and Dalkeith – which each boast a median house price in excess of $3.5 million Chaney has held the seat since the 2022 federal election when she wrestled the formerly safe blue-ribbon electorate from the Liberal Party in a teal wave that swept the nation There is expected to be a tight contest in Curtin at the upcoming federal election with Chaney taking on Liberal candidate and former Uber executive Tom White Labor Member for Perth Patrick Gorman has called for an end to the “raids on super” lambasting the Coalition over a policy that would allow first-buyers to use up to $50,000 from their superannuation to enter the property market Gorman told a forum hosted by campaign group Everybody’s Home that housing affordability would worsen under the super-for-housing scheme pointing to industry analysis that found the move could drive up property prices across the nation’s capital cities by up to $75,000 Assistant Public Service Minister Patrick Gorman.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Gorman said he was disappointed by the policy which former prime minister Scott Morrison also took to the last election and which he did not believe stood up to scrutiny “You have a policy that is going to make the problem we face even worse .. and which the nation’s best economists have described as one of the worst policy decisions of the 21st century,” he told the forum “This robs people of their future rather than building it “There have been a lot of different ideas for superannuation including its use for housing and medical care but it is time for the raids on superannuation to stop The sentiments were echoed by fellow panelist and Member for Curtin Kate Chaney who claimed it would throw more “fuel on the fire” and exacerbate intergenerational inequity She also pointed out that the measly average superannuation balance of those aged 25-34 meant young people were unlikely to derive any material benefit which did not nominate a representative to participate in the forum have previously claimed that any impact on housing prices would be offset by its plans to increase supply including by investing $5 billion in an infrastructure fund to unlock 500,000 homes New data has revealed nearly three quarters of all parents who send their children to an independent school in WA would need to rethink their household budget if fees increased by a further 15 per cent And more than a quarter would be forced to cut back on essentials like groceries and transport just to keep their child in school Student Victoria Hill says her family sacrifices a lot to afford her education The new figures were revealed at a press conference at St Stephen’s School in Duncraig today, during the state launch of a new national campaign, School Choice Counts The campaign is aiming to stop funding cuts and end the “blame game” that “pits school sectors against each other” Independent Schools Australia chief-executive Graham Catt said the cost-of-living crisis was pushing many parents from all school sectors to the limit that leaves schools with no choice but to increase fees and it hurts our education system,” he said “The messaging that we’re hearing from politicians and others over the past few years has been really upsetting – to be labelled as privileged just simply doesn’t align with the facts.” St Stephen’s School principal Donella Beare said the narrative around independent education could be misleading and harmful to families we’re concerned about federal funding instability because it directly impacts our families some of whom have made major sacrifices to send their children to an independent school,” she said Student Victoria Hill said there was an assumption that all parents of students at private schools were wealthy “I don’t think it’s fair to vilify families like that and it’s just about choice and priorities,” she said Mineral Resources has suspended its iron ore road train operations in Onslow after being issued a notice from Worksafe yesterday relating to the risks the private road posed It comes after two rear trailers of a road train tipped onto their side on Monday sparking an internal investigation into what went wrong The incident was the sixth rollover on the 147-kilometre stretch of haulage road since August The plagued passage links MinRes’ mining operations to port; however the miner said haulage is continuing via contractor vehicles using alternative routes it said it expected to resume normal operations soon “MinRes has strengthened controls and traffic management on the haul road and currently expects to resume haul road operations without impacting FY25 Onslow Iron volume guidance,” it read WA Premier Roger Cook and his new ministry have just been sworn in during a ceremony at Government House this morning “We will never stop working towards ensuring every Western Australian has a home that we live in the healthiest state in Australia and that no matter where you live – in our suburbs in our regions and towns or rural communities – all West Australians have access to local job opportunities,” Cook said as he encouraged his cabinet to always listen and remain humble The new ministry included a significant reshuffle of portfolios WA Governor Chris Dawson with the state’s new ministry Police Commissioner Col Blanch told ABC Radio Perth that he had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the wake of Friday’s decision to not punish the 14-year-old “I think the community see an assault on a police officer “In my view I don’t see general deterrence from this outcome in that kids think they can assault police officers which I would say the whole community would be outraged against and I am too “I have written to the Director of Public Prosecutions and said I am not happy about this outcome and I would like you to review it to see if we have any avenues of appeal.” The teenager was one of four charged over an incident at Optus Stadium in December where a motorcycle patrol officer was set upon by a group of four and bashed He was later hospitalised for his injuries The Perth Children’s Court magistrate – in deciding not to punish the teen after he pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a public officer – said she believed he was genuinely sorry and had learnt his lesson Staying with the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court and a Perth obstetrician due to front court over the western suburbs crash that killed a 24-year-old woman and left her ride-share driver seriously injured has had his matter adjourned including manslaughter and aggravated dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm after the Jaguar he was driving ploughed into an Uber in Dalkeith killing UWA student Elizabeth Pearce and leaving her driver with two broken legs and a broken arm Perth doctor Rhys Bellinge.Credit: Facebook The 45-year-old is also accused of being under the influence before the crash with prosecutors claiming he blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.183 at the scene Bellinge had been due to appear in court via video-link from Casuarina Prison this morning but the matter was adjourned to allow state prosecutors more time to gather evidence The appearance was set to be his first since being moved to prison from hospital where he was being treated for the spine fracture he sustained in the crash The obstetrician, who hails from a well-known family in Perth’s affluent western suburbs, had unsuccessfully fought to be released on bail and placed in home detention He is next due to appear in court on May 28 We\\u2019re bringing our live blog to a close for today Here\\u2019s a recap of some of the headlines we covered today: WA\\u2019s top cop says a children\\u2019s court decision to allow a teenager who assaulted a police officer to walk free last week was \\u201Cextremely upsetting\\u201D to his officers We\\u2019ll see you again tomorrow for more news you need to know Crown Perth patrons will soon be forced to set their own spend and time limits for the casino\\u2019s poker and electronic gaming machines as part of a push to tackle problem gambling \\u201CAs Perth Casino is a monopoly supplier of electronic gaming machines in Western Australia the scheme does not face many of the barriers to its implementation that exist in other Australian states and territories,\\u201D the report foreward read \\u201CWe consider that every effort should be made to implement the scheme as soon as possible.\\u201D A West Australian mother whose twin seven-year-old daughters died when the car she was driving crashed into a tree has been jailed over the tragedy which left her \\u201C\\u201D from Kalgoorlie to Perth in February 2024 when the family\\u2019s Toyota Camry sedan veered off the road on Great Eastern Highway in Carrabin and later wrote that she held her two daughters helplessly in her arms as they \\u201Cgrew wings\\u201D and died suspending the sentence for six months \\u2013 meaning van Oyen will serve an immediate prison sentence of two months Sticking with the Everybody\\u2019s Home\\u2019s forum now and Member for Curtin Kate Chaney has revealed her constituents have not emerged unscathed when it comes to the nation\\u2019s housing crisis and addressed the electorate\\u2019s \\u201Canti-infill\\u201D reputation even in her \\u201Crelatively wealthy electorate\\u201D and she acknowledged the role of density in making that happen \\u2013 a topic that has caused much consternation in her electorate \\u201CWe have a reputation as \\u2018anti-infill\\u2019 but I think it\\u2019s about addressing how we can do that while retaining the existing tree canopy and ensuring we have walkable streets,\\u201D she told the forum While conceding there was \\u201Cno silver bullet\\u201D on the issue of housing The federal seat of Curtin extends from Trigg down the coast to North Fremantle and takes in the city\\u2019s affluent western suburbs Cottesloe and Dalkeith \\u2013 which each boast a median house price in excess of $3.5 million Labor Member for Perth Patrick Gorman has called for an end to the \\u201Craids on super\\u201D Gorman told a forum hosted by campaign group Everybody\\u2019s Home that housing affordability would worsen under the super-for-housing scheme pointing to industry analysis that found the move could drive up property prices across the nation\\u2019s capital cities by up to $75,000 \\u201CYou have a policy that is going to make the problem we face even worse .. and which the nation\\u2019s best economists have described as one of the worst policy decisions of the 21st century,\\u201D he told the forum \\u201CThis robs people of their future rather than building it \\u201CThere have been a lot of different ideas for superannuation who claimed it would throw more \\u201Cfuel on the fire\\u201D and exacerbate intergenerational inequity The new figures were revealed at a press conference at St Stephen\\u2019s School in Duncraig today during the state launch of a new national campaign The campaign is aiming to stop funding cuts and end the \\u201Cblame game\\u201D that \\u201Cpits school sectors against each other\\u201D \\u201CGovernment policy that hurts schools and it hurts our education system,\\u201D he said \\u201CThe messaging that we\\u2019re hearing from politicians and others over the past few years has been really upsetting \\u2013 to be labelled as privileged just simply doesn\\u2019t align with the facts.\\u201D St Stephen\\u2019s School principal Donella Beare said the narrative around independent education could be misleading and harmful to families we\\u2019re concerned about federal funding instability because it directly impacts our families some of whom have made major sacrifices to send their children to an independent school,\\u201D she said \\u201CI don\\u2019t think it\\u2019s fair to vilify families like that and it\\u2019s just about choice and priorities,\\u201D she said The plagued passage links MinRes\\u2019 mining operations to port; however \\u201CMinRes has strengthened controls and traffic management on the haul road and currently expects to resume haul road operations without impacting FY25 Onslow Iron volume guidance,\\u201D it read \\u201CWe will never stop working towards ensuring every Western Australian has a home and that no matter where you live \\u2013 in our suburbs in our regions and towns or rural communities \\u2013 all West Australians have access to local job opportunities,\\u201D Cook said The included a significant reshuffle of portfolios Police Commissioner Col Blanch told ABC Radio Perth that he had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the wake of Friday\\u2019s decision to not punish the 14-year-old \\u201CI think the community see an assault on a police officer as an assault on our community,\\u201D he said \\u201CIn my view I don\\u2019t see general deterrence from this outcome in that kids think they can assault police officers \\u201CI have written to the Director of Public Prosecutions and said I am not happy about this outcome and I would like you to review it to see if we have any avenues of appeal.\\u201D The Perth Children\\u2019s Court magistrate \\u2013 in deciding not to punish the teen after he pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a public officer \\u2013 said she believed he was genuinely sorry and had learnt his lesson who hails from a well-known family in Perth\\u2019s affluent western suburbs 24 September 2024Home to Balcatta ETNA Football Club the soccer clubrooms at Grindleford Reserve in Balcatta will commence refurbishment the soccer clubrooms at Grindleford Reserve in Balcatta will commence refurbishment from October 2024 to March 2025 The works are part funded from a State Election commitment from David Michael MLA The first part of the funding went to the floodlighting and path upgrades The remainder of the $1m commitment will go towards the building refurbishment The City has been working with the Club to help deliver these upgrades which will help improve the functionality of the building which was built in the mid-late 90's Works will be undertaken to improve kitchen facilities internally accessible toilet facilities and an external covered viewing area a shipping container will be located in the car park to provide temporary storage for the Club during the works The car park will be utilised for site deliveries and contractor parking There will be no public access permitted within the site during construction Both Labor and the Liberal parties have promised a $450 million upgrade of the state’s worst intersection for crashes as they fish for votes in Perth’s northern suburbs Premier Roger Cook pledged $225 million to grade separate the Reid Highway and Erindale Road intersection with the expectation the Commonwealth would fund the remaining half of the project’s cost Shortly after at a press conference in Lesmurdie Liberal leader Libby Mettam and opposition transport spokesman Tjorn Sibma said the Liberals would match the commitment if elected in March The grade separation was the centrepiece in a package of northern suburbs road upgrades Labor has committed to including an additional right-turn lane on Wanneroo Road leading into Warwick Road the Balcatta intersection is the worst in the state for crashes with 263 incidents over the past five years – 76 of which caused injuries It is also one of the most congested roads in the state with government figures estimating it costs the economy $21.3 million per year in lost productivity The state predicted daily traffic volumes would increase from 60,000 in 2025 to 111,000 by 2054 grade separate to make sure that there’s free-flowing traffic into the future,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said Sibma said the intersection had been allowed to get worse under Labor “What this is evidence of is Rita safiotti wrong priorities blowing out cycle bridges in the city has come at a cost and it’s come at a cost to Perth communities and to Perth businesses,” he said “We are going to focus on what actually matters to people in their day-to-day lives.” When asked why the government would not commit to the upgrade ahead of the election Saffioti said her government had spent billions on infrastructure already and this was the next key project We’re spending a record amount on transport infrastructure we’ve just completed a major transformation on the Mitchell Freeway the biggest investment on the Mitchell Freeway in the state’s history,” she said The WA Liberals have also identified this project as a potential vote-winner and former Liberal leader Zak Kirkup committed $30 million to it in 2021 Saffioti said the opposition had grossly underestimated the project’s price – costing it at $600 million Saffioti said the price had come down because further work had been done on scoping the project Saffioti said she was confident the project would be supported regardless of which party was in government Liberal candidate for Kinglsey Scott Edwardes and Moore candidate Vince Connelly visited the intersection last week “I’m committed to fighting for this intersection to be urgently upgraded The stakes are too high to wait any longer,” Edwardes said Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Both Labor and the Liberal parties have promised a $450 million upgrade of the state\\u2019s worst intersection for crashes as they fish for votes in Perth\\u2019s northern suburbs. Speaking in Balcatta on Tuesday, Premier Roger Cook pledged $225 million to grade separate the Reid Highway and Erindale Road intersection, with the expectation the Commonwealth would fund the remaining half of the project\\u2019s cost. Shortly after at a press conference in Lesmurdie Liberal leader Libby Mettam and opposition transport spokesman Tjorn Sibma said the Liberals would match the commitment if elected in March. The grade separation was the centrepiece in a package of northern suburbs road upgrades Labor has committed to, including an additional right-turn lane on Wanneroo Road leading into Warwick Road. According to Main Roads WA data, the Balcatta intersection is the worst in the state for crashes, with 263 incidents over the past five years \\u2013 76 of which caused injuries. It is also one of the most congested roads in the state, with government figures estimating it costs the economy $21.3 million per year in lost productivity. The state predicted daily traffic volumes would increase from 60,000 in 2025 to 111,000 by 2054. \\u201C[The upgrade] will have new ramps and ... grade separate to make sure that there\\u2019s free-flowing traffic into the future,\\u201D Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said. Sibma said the intersection had been allowed to get worse under Labor. \\u201CWhat this is evidence of is Rita safiotti wrong priorities. Blowing out Metronet by 400 per cent, blowing out cycle bridges in the city has come at a cost, and it\\u2019s come at a cost to Perth communities and to Perth businesses,\\u201D he said. \\u201CWe are going to focus on what actually matters to people in their day-to-day lives.\\u201D When asked why the government would not commit to the upgrade ahead of the election, Saffioti said her government had spent billions on infrastructure already and this was the next key project. \\u201CYou can\\u2019t do everything at the same time. We\\u2019re spending a record amount on transport infrastructure, a record amount on road infrastructure ... we\\u2019ve just completed a major transformation on the Mitchell Freeway, the biggest investment on the Mitchell Freeway in the state\\u2019s history,\\u201D she said. The WA Liberals have also identified this project as a potential vote-winner, and former Liberal leader Zak Kirkup committed $30 million to it in 2021. At the time, Saffioti said the opposition had grossly underestimated the project\\u2019s price \\u2013 costing it at $600 million. Saffioti said the price had come down because further work had been done on scoping the project. With the federal election looming, Saffioti said she was confident the project would be supported regardless of which party was in government. WA Liberal senator Dean Smith, Liberal candidate for Kinglsey Scott Edwardes and Moore candidate Vince Connelly visited the intersection last week. \\u201CI\\u2019m committed to fighting for this intersection to be urgently upgraded. The stakes are too high to wait any longer,\\u201D Edwardes said. Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. . The City of Stirling’s Animal Care Facility (ACF) provides a temporary home for lost and stray animals as well as an adoption service for unclaimed dogs If your dog is found within the City of Stirling wearing a registration tag and has a microchip our rangers will bring the dog to the Animal Care Facility (ACF) and we will attempt to contact you as soon as possible Dogs that are unclaimed for a period longer than 7 days may be put up for adoption Any dog that is available for adoption will be listed in the adopt a dog section below Please be aware that the City’s Animal Care Facility is a cashless environment If you are making arrangements to collect or adopt an animal only debit card and credit card facilities are available If you wish to pay cash you will need to do so by visiting Administration or Operations Centre before collecting your pet If you are collecting your pet on the weekend and can only pay cash you will need to find an alternate payment arrangement Stray and roaming dogs have the potential to cause a nuisance or attack members of the community if possible and safe please confine it to your backyard or garage and phone our Contact Centre with a description of the dog Please note that appointments are required before attending the Animal Care Facility Owners can contact the Animal Care Facility during opening hours to arrange collection poundage and sustenance fees apply before a dog is released If your dog is not registered or microchipped you will also have to pay registration and microchip fees Please only call regarding a 'to be claimed' animal if you are the animal's owner View current lost and found animals The City of Stirling’s Animal Care Facility provides an adoption service for unclaimed cats and dogs Members of the community who are interested in adopting a cat or dog can phone the animal care facility during opening hours for further information All our dogs come with a 1 year registration and a voucher for vaccination and sterilisation to be carried out at Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital Under the Dog Act 1976 all dogs three months and above must be registered with their local Council All cats over the age of six months are lawfully required to be sterilised microchipped and registered with a local government the below fees are inclusive of GST but do not include dog or cat microchipping fees View available animals for adoption By appointment onlyMonday to Friday 10.00am - 1.00pmWeekends and public holidays 12 noon to 1.00pmClosedChristmas Day Get directions Please contact the City to advise of your lost cat and we will attempt to reunite you with your pet cats are permitted to wander freely (except identified cat prohibited areas) if you have found a cat that you think is unowned or is not registered please contact the City and we will attempt to find the owner or re-home the cat on (08) 9205 8555 The City will not collect cats that are trapped on private property or accept unwanted or surrendered cats Fostering and adopting catsIf you would like to foster or adopt a cat the following organisations may be able to assist you: These organisations may also be able to assist if 06 February 2025We had a fantastic turnout at Bunnings Balcatta on Saturday 24 January for free anti-theft screw installation event 20 vehicles were fitted with anti-theft screws to help reduce registration plate theft The event featured positive interactions with the community raising awareness about our safety initiatives The event was a collaborative effort by City of Stirling Community Patrol Officers and WAPOL with screws generously donated by Bunnings Balcatta Thank you to everyone who came out and participated Your support helps make our community safer Stay tuned for more events and initiatives to keep our neighbourhoods secure team are no strangers to dietary requirements – and while there aren’t all that many of us an intolerance to gluten seems to run rampant amongst our ranks (And that’s without mentioning the practically countless spouses siblings and friends that are in the same boat!) Needless to say, when news reaches us about a new gluten free bakery in Perth… Well, it’s big news around these parts! When it has the cute vibes of Balcatta’s brand new Dough Street we jumped in our cars and scurried over the Balcatta to check it out The 100% gluten free bakery is owned by locals Mel (who’s gluten intolerant) and Nathan (who’s coeliac) The couple were inspired to open the bakery after a trip to Italy in 2022 which had them hopping from bakery to bakery enjoying a bounty of gluten free goodies – and after finessing their recipes and techniques they eventually packed up their solar power business to open Dough Street they’re serving up an impressive range of baked goods that will cure the cravings of any gluten-free friend – like gooey cinnamon buns decadent cookies and the viral croissant-cookie hybrid (It’s no surprise they’ve been absolutely slammed in the two weeks since opening increasing production each day and still managing to sell out regularly.) “When we started developing our products it was in the search for foods we had loved and missed These recipes were originally created for us and our loved ones using quality and real ingredients Our food not only tastes good but it is good on the inside and the out.” They’ll also sort you out with savouries including sausage rolls and fluffy focaccia sandwiches (And while they’ve got the gluten free offerings on lock plans are also in the works to cater for dairy free dietaries.) care of an exclusive roast from Northbridge Coffee Roasters Dough Street is located at 4/207 Jones Street, Balcatta. Jesse Roberts scored the only goal early in the first half Floreat Athena matchwinner Jesse Roberts shields the ball during their Australia Cup tie with Balcatta Etna Floreat now face Cockburn City for a place in both the Australia Cup national Round of 32 and a place in the State Cup final Cockburn won the State Cup last year while Floreat lifted the trophy on the previous two occasions it was held Full details will be posted once confirmed View the full Round 6 Results in WA here That changed this morning, with the opening of Balcatta’s first dedicated early learning facility, Discovery Kids Early Learning Centre Speaking with local news source Perth Now service owner Josephine Rodi-Germano said that despite ongoing challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic the staff were keen to welcome children and families to the service from today “This was a process that started a while ago the building just kept going and coronavirus came in the middle of that,” she said adding that she was confident that her team would provide the community with a good centre for children to come and start their early learning which caters for children from 2.5 to 4 years of age gives children “the opportunity to have that slow transition and a good basis to that early learning education before they enter formal schooling.”  Further information about the service is available here. To access the original coverage of this story, see here Web Design Gold Coast - THRIVE