Name: Electors' Special Meeting
Start: 2025-08-25T18:00:00+08:00
Location: South Perth Community Centre

In accordance with Sections 5.28 and 5.29 of the Local Government Act 1995 and the Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996 an Electors’ Special Meeting will be held for the purpose of considering:
That the Electors of the City of South Perth (‘the City’):
1. Express a lack of confidence in the Council for their decision on Cr Coveney’s Notice of Motion Item 12.1 (Resolution 0725/140) “Removal of the Six Trees Planted on the South Side of Lake Douglas During Winter 2024’ of the July 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting agenda, for the following reasons:
(a) The decision to remove six trees from public land in order to protect the outlook of the adjourning private landowners (‘the decision’) is not in the best interests of the general community of the City, and is inconsistent with the conservation and enhancement of a functional, healthy river and foreshore environment which is the aim of the City’s South Perth Foreshore Strategy and Management Plan.
(b) The decision is inconsistent with and disrespectful of the consensus of the community as expressed in research undertaken for and feedback to the Urban Greening Strategy, as endorsed by Council.
(c) The decision undermines the goals of the Urban Greening Strategy to: protect the City’s ecologically sensitive riverside environment as a community asset; protect the City’s vegetation, tree canopy and green spaces and existing trees; and expand existing urban greening for the benefit of the City’s environment and community wellbeing.
(d) The proposal to hold a Councillor workshop to develop a policy on planting trees on public land is inconsistent with the requirements of the Urban Greening Strategy, the South Perth Foreshore Strategy and Management Plan and the Environment (Built and Natural) elements of the Strategic Community Plan. This could affect potential Federal and State Government funding by suggesting to higher levels of government that funding might not align with a thoroughly researched, community supported plan.
(e) The decision establishes a concerning precedent by permitting the interests of a limited group of individuals to take precedence over those of the broader community. As such, it does not fulfil the Strategic Community Plan’s requirements (at 4.3.1) to foster effective governance with quality decision making to deliver community priorities.
2. In accordance with the above, we call upon Council to rescind or change Resolution 0725/140 resulting from Item 12.1, in its entirety or as possible under the Standing Orders, at its earliest opportunity.