Community safety, infrastructure, parks, sporting amenities and active open space top the list of key projects in the City of Wanneroo’s 2015-16 Budget adopted at last night’s special council meeting.

Mayor Tracey Roberts said Council was confident residents would welcome new and continued funding for the Quinns/Mindarie, Pearsall/Hocking and Koondoola Community Centres and Yanchep Surf Life Saving Club totalling more than $6million.

“Community infrastructure is vital to provide connections and social opportunities between residents, clubs and organisations,” she said.

Another highlight of the City’s Budget is the development of the Yanchep Active Open Space/ovals Master Plan which includes two senior size sporting fields, car park, amenities building, basketball/netball courts, play area, internal path network and floodlighting at a cost of more than $3.5million.

Works are scheduled to start in June/July with the ovals available for use from about mid-2017.

The City is also committing new funds to the Butler North District Open Space Master Plan ($220,000) which includes district level active playing fields, hard courts, sports amenities building and supporting infrastructure.

The Yanchep and Butler projects make up part of the $9million allocated to sport facilities in the City.

“More than $700,000 of funding for sport facilities will go towards floodlighting and an extension to the oval at Warradale Park in Landsdale and more than $400,000 to sports floodlighting, baseball back nets, cricket net upgrade and playgrounds at Hudson Park in Girrawheen,” Mayor Roberts said.

Gumblossom Reserve (Quinns Rocks), Ridgewood Reserve, Wanneroo Showgrounds, Alexander Heights Park and Lake Joondalup Park will also share in $1,194,000 for various projects.

The City of Wanneroo Youth Service are working to improve access to local sexual health services and are encouraging people aged 15 to 24 to take part in a survey.

Community Development Director Fiona Hodges said the survey results would form the basis of a pilot project focused on improving young people’s sexual health and increasing access to sexual health related information and support within the City.

“The City’s Youth Service has been working with the North Metropolitan Health Service on ways to improve the availability of local sexual health services in the area,” she said.

“We are currently in the process of consulting with young people aged 15 to 24 who live in the City of Wanneroo to establish their needs in relation to sexual health support.

“We are keen to ensure that the research is as representative of local young people as possible.”

The City of Wanneroo, Health Department, Youth Affairs Council of WA, Western Australian Aids Council and other government and non-government agencies were invited to be part of a working group to increase accessibility to STI testing for young people in the North Metro region.

“As the pilot area for this project, the City can act as a positive role model for other local governments in terms of pro-actively meeting the health and wellbeing needs of young people,” Mrs Hodges said.

“The survey aims to gather a picture of where young people would feel most comfortable accessing information, support and services so we can best support them now and in the future.

“If this project is a success, it is hoped that something similar will be rolled out in other local government areas.”

The survey does not ask about individuals personal sexual experiences or encourage young people to engage in any such practice.

The survey is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/7Y6F9LC and takes a couple of minutes to complete.

Entrants go in the running to win a $50 JB Hi-Fi gift voucher. Survey closes 31 July.

May 27 2014

MICHAEL Le has spoken publicly for the first time since TRG officers stormed his family's Carabooda property earlier this month as part of a multi-agency, interstate and international investigation police described as the biggest of its kind in WA.

Mr Le, who asked that his full photograph not be taken, faces a money laundering charge along with his brother Canh, who has also been charged with harbouring 27 unlawful citizens.

The State’s biggest tomato producer says he and his brother will defend charges laid against them and fight to restore their family and business reputation.

He was speaking a day after City of Wanneroo and WA Building Commission staff, accompanied by Organised Crime officers, inspected the property and issued 33 work orders.

The initial raid, charges and their reporting, along with a report on last week's council-commission inspection, have angered the businessman and “ruined the family's reputation”.

“It’s taken us 16 years to build up this company and the media (coverage) in two days has pretty much shut us down,” Mr Le said.

“The supermarkets are scared, our customers are scared.”

Despite those fears, his multi-interest company was still operating even though police seized phones and computers in the raid.

“The company has done nothing wrong, and also my family members have done nothing wrong. We’ve got children going to school being discriminated against,” he said.

Mr Le said he and his family – who had established the Carabooda business in 1997 – had concerns about the way the police raid was conducted and the impact it might have had on his mother and a teenage nephew living in a house on the property.

“I will at a later stage be taking this to the next level, on the way the raids were done, and the way my family members were treated on that day,” Mr Le said.

“We’ll fight every allegation against us; we’re not moving anywhere, we’re not leaving.”

WA Police media liaison officer Samuel Dinnison said tactical resources were used in situations deemed “high-risk” .

“Should any person involved in the execution of a search warrant believe they were treated unfairly, they have the option of making a complaint to the Police Complaints Centre,” he said.

Michael and Canh Le are due to appear in the Perth Magistrates court today.I'm a news story. I'm a great place for you to let your users know what's new with your company. You can choose what news stories appear on your page. Double click me to change me and your own content. To customize me and change my font click on the Design tab in the property panel.

July 29 2014

THE Russell Road fig trees in Madeley have won a reprieve.

Residents rallied last week to save them when they heard the 13 planted by late garden nursery king Barry Waldeck were destined for the chop yesterday.

Led by Brian Williams, whose property fronts seven of the 40-year-old figs, the residents collected enough signatures to call for a City of Wanneroo electors’ meeting to put the case to halt their demise.

It follows a council decision last month to act on a petition calling for their removal because of the fruit they dropped and perceived hazards to pedestrians.

Residents learnt of the trees’ fate through the Times’ coverage, followed up last week by TV and radio crews.

Cr Brett Treby, who moved the original motion to remove the trees, told the Times on Thursday night “we formally advise we intend to lead, sign and support a revocation motion in regard to the fig trees” at the August 19 council meeting.

“We firmly believe that it is in the best interests of community harmony within the Madeley area around Russell Road as well as the interests of the residents of the wider City of Wanneroo,” he said.

He said a revocation motion would provide “procedural certainty for the trees” and “legal direction to cease tree removal and enable the council to consider other emerging options”, including retaining the trees, addressing risk matters and maintenance.

“It is critical that immediate and concurrent action be taken to secure the risk previously identified,” he said.

April 22, 2014

JOHN Stuart looked over a wreath of yellow flowers and remembered his 300 mates and their faithful horses who called Wanneroo home during World War II.

The retired flight sergeant, Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts, Cr Norm Hewer, two Bunbury 10th Light Horse re-enactment troop members and 30 residents attended a trail walk this week to commemorate 70 years since the disbandment of the 10th Light Horse Regiment – Australia’s last mounted cavalry unit.

Mrs Roberts opened the walk with a brief history of the regiment before laying a wreath at the site memorial and commencing the one minute silence.

Wanneroo history librarian Carol Leigh then led the participants on the 1.3km walk through history. Although nothing remains of the original campsite, plaques locate where the administration area, cookhouse, ammunition dump and stores, the horse lines, latrine and farriers tent would have been in 1944.

Walking the heritage trail in 31C heat, it was not hard to imagine what it would have been like in the bush more than 70 years ago.

The dry hot breeze, the flies buzzing in your face, the sound of animals rustling nearby and the trotting of the horses together with the Wanneroo Museum’s archival photos helped set the scene.

Mr Stuart, who was a corporal in the 10th Light Horse at the age of 17, requested transfer to the air force when the regiment disbanded and retired from service after WWII.

The Merriwa resident also located uniforms, saddlery and equipment from all over WA to restore full gear for 20 mounted men and horses.

The sets were sold to WA museums, WWI and WWII collectors, and given to sons of 10th Light Horse servicemen.

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the regiment’s establishment after the outbreak of WWI.

There will be another opportunity to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the disbandment at an open day at Cockman House on Sunday, May 4.