Council Meeting (Ordinary and Special) - 15 Sep 2026 6:00 PM

Topics

• Mount Hawthorn residents seek Wilberforce Street cul-de-sac over traffic and safety fears
  A 25-signature petition asks Council to close the western end of Wilberforce Street and prepare a report.
  The proposal could change traffic movements, parking and pedestrian safety near Oxford Street.
• Future of Mount Hawthorn public parking remains unresolved as Council considers Lot 3 EOI
  Council debated how much public parking should remain if Lot 3 on Scarborough Beach Road is sold or redeveloped.
  The site could affect parking supply, development value and access to nearby shopping areas.
• Public EV charger trial targeted at residents without off-street parking
  The City is investigating shared chargers on streetlights and power poles for a proposed 2027 trial.
  Charging access, prices and parking rules could affect residents in denser and heritage areas who cannot charge at home.

Decisions

• Wilberforce Street petition received
  Council received a petition signed by 25 Mount Hawthorn residents seeking closure of the western end of Wilberforce Street and conversion to a cul-de-sac. A report is to be prepared.
  Residents raised concerns about traffic speeds, pedestrian safety, parking conflicts, visibility at Oxford Street and the street’s residential character.
• Expressions of interest for Lot 3, Scarborough Beach Road
  Council considered proposed Expressions of Interest No. 179 for Lot 3, Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn. The process does not commit Council to selling, leasing or redeveloping the land, and submissions are to return to Council for consideration. The recommendation was amended to address continued public parking in any future development; the extracted record does not clearly state the final substantive resolution.
  Any future outcome could affect public parking supply, development of the site and access to nearby businesses and services.
• Enhanced Environment Strategy annual review received
  Council received the 2025/26 Annual Review of the Enhanced Environment Strategy.
  The review records progress on the City’s environmental commitments, although the extracted material does not specify new targets or funding.
• July 2026 financial reports received
  Council received the July 2026 financial statements, investment statistics and expenditure records. Payments for July totalled $6,473,240.77.
  The reports provide public oversight of Council finances and expenditure.
• Leave of absence approved
  Council unanimously approved Cr Woolf’s leave of absence from 9 to 15 October 2026.
  No direct service change was identified.

Discussion

• Public parking and possible redevelopment at Coogee Street car park
  Discussion focused on uncertainty about the number of public parking bays that might remain, who could set parking fees and how parking demand is used. Councillors also questioned the quality of available usage data.
  The site’s future could change parking availability and the character of the surrounding shopping area.
• Public EV charging trial
  Preliminary investigations are under way for shared public EV chargers on streetlights and power poles, particularly in higher-density and heritage areas where residents may lack off-street parking. Pricing, parking controls, time limits and equitable access are still being developed before a proposed 2027 trial.
  Residents without private driveways may gain access to public charging, but locations, costs and use conditions are not yet settled.
• Beatty Park Reserve toilets and changerooms
  A question raised the apparent inconsistency between the 2017 decision to demolish the Albert Spencer Pavilion and later acknowledgement of a gap in public toilet and changeroom facilities. Administration’s response is due at the 20 October 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting.
  Future decisions may affect facilities for people using Beatty Park Reserve and local sporting areas.
• Council member ICT allowances
  Questions challenged how ICT allowances are justified, whether unused amounts are repaid and why equipment is transferred to departing council members. The comments may be considered before the allowance policy is adopted following consultation.
  The issue concerns accountability for public funds and the treatment of council-owned technology.
• Parking ticket machine procurement
  The agenda included RFT IE571/2026 for the supply and maintenance of parking ticket machines, but the extracted material does not state the resolution or supplier outcome.
  The procurement may affect paid-parking operations and maintenance, but no confirmed change is available from the extract.

Impacts

• A report will be prepared on proposed traffic and pedestrian-safety changes at the western end of Wilberforce Street.
• The future of public parking at Lot 3, Scarborough Beach Road, remains subject to further consideration and any future development proposal.
• A shared public EV-charging trial is being investigated for 2027, with pricing and access rules yet to be determined.
• Further information on toilets and changerooms at Beatty Park Reserve is expected at the 20 October 2026 Council meeting.
• July expenditure of $6.47 million was reported to Council.

Places

• Lot 3, Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn (development site and car park)
  Subject of an Expressions of Interest process and debate about retaining public parking.
• Coogee Street car park (public car park)
  Referenced in discussion about the current car park, redevelopment and future public parking.
• Wilberforce Street, Mount Hawthorn (residential street)
  Subject of a 25-signature petition seeking a cul-de-sac treatment at its western end.
• Oxford Street intersection (road intersection)
  Residents cited visibility and safety concerns at the intersection with Wilberforce Street.
• Beatty Park Reserve (reserve and recreation area)
  Subject of questions about public toilets and changeroom facilities.
• Higher-density and heritage areas (service area)
  Potential locations for the proposed shared public EV-charging trial.

Next

• Administration to prepare a report on the Wilberforce Street petition.
  Future Council meeting; date not specified.
• Submissions from the Lot 3 Expressions of Interest process are to be presented to Council for consideration.
  After the EOI process; date not specified.
• Administration to continue investigating locations, pricing, parking controls, time limits and equitable access for the public EV-charging trial.
  Before a proposed 2027 trial.
• Administration to respond to the question about Beatty Park Reserve toilet and changeroom needs.
  20 October 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting.
• Comments on ICT allowances may be considered before adoption of the policy following consultation.
  Before final policy adoption; date not specified.

Extract

MINUTES Ordinary Council Meeting 15 September 2026 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 Table of Contents 1 Declaration of Opening / Acknowledgement of Country .................................................................... 3 2 Apologies / Members on Leave of Absence ........................................................................................ 3 3 (A) Public Question Time and Receiving of Public Statements ........................................................ 4 (B) Response to Previous Public Questions Taken On Notice .......................................................... 7 4 Applications for Leave of Absence ................................................