It was a unique Council Meeting yesterday with a midday start … all part of a trial to give members of the public who are unable to make the usual 5pm start the opportunity to attend.
City of Perth Events Strategy and Signature Events Plan
Council has endorsed the City's Events Strategy and Signature Events Plan. The highlight of the calendar is the return of Australia Day Skyworks after a year off due to COVID.
We want Perth to be known as an events city and it makes sense to bring back Australia Day Skyworks … the biggest event of its kind in the county.
But as with everything this new Council does, we're going to put our own stamp on the event making it different and ultimately better.
Our Events Plan though is more than just Skyworks. The City oversees more events than any other West Australian local government area and this strategy will see Perth become the events heart of WA.
Safe Night Space Shelter
Yesterday, Council has approved a two-month trial for a Safe Shelter at the Citiplace Community Centre commencing in July.
The Shelter will provide a safe warm place at night for men sleeping rough in the city during winter and compliment our facility for women that is due to open in East Perth next week.
While I have said many times, homelessness is a State Government issue, our City faces immediate challenges to meet the expectations of our businesses and residents while maintaining a duty of care to people experiencing homelessness.
This Safe Shelter will be a space where vulnerable people can go in winter to rest in a safe, warm environment at night. It will not be an alternative to accommodation services but rather a short-term crisis intervention.
It's another example of real action from the City of Perth for the most vulnerable in our community.
Police Parking
Council endorsed my proposal to allocate 90 free car parking bays for WA Police who are working night shifts in our City.
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson personally raised this with me, and as a Council we are happy to support this trial.
We want a larger, highly visible permanent police presence in our City at all times and this initiative will make it easier for the police to deliver on this and in the process make our City safer.
Free Parking
And while still on parking … great news for shoppers … Council has endorsed the continuation of the free parking trial for the first three hours on weekends at three of Perth's most prominent inner-city carparks … so there's no excuse not to see you in the city!
