Crawley, Daglish, Dalkeith, Jolimont, Karrakatta, Nedlands, Shenton Park, Subiaco and parts of Claremont, Floreat, Mt Claremont, Wembley and West Leederville

If you are a new WA Seniors Card holder or have had a card for many years, you may not be aware of the full range of benefits you are entitled to. As a WA Seniors Card holder, you can access up to $1,200 worth of benefits and concessions a year. Click on the attached brochure for more details.

Seniors Card Benefits flyer 2011 1.2Mb PDF

Seniors Security Rebate

Recently the State Government announced the start of the anticipated Security Rebate for Western Australian Seniors Card holders. The security rebate is part of an overall package to help seniors. Other measures include the Cost of Living Rebate, Free Transport for seniors and the Country Fuel Card.

From 1 July 2009 Senior Card holders will be eligible to claim a security rebate of up to $200 per household towards buying or installing home security devices, such as deadlocks, door and window security screens, security sensor lights and alarms.

This is a $10m investment into improving the wellbeing of our seniors. Seniors have until 31 March 2012 to make a claim for the rebate which is payable from October 2009. Receipts for purchases or installations made after 1 July 2009 need to be kept and lodged as part of the claim process for the rebate. Seniors Card holders can only apply to receive one rebate per household during the life of the scheme.

Claim forms will be available from Australia Post outlets from mid-July 2009 or by telephoning the Seniors Card Centre on 6217 8855 (metropolitan callers) or 1800 671 233 (country callers).  Forms are also available from http://www.seniorscard.wa.gov.au

New recreational fishing licences, greater restrictions to protect stocks, boost research

The State Government has announced significant new rules to protect Western Australia’s most popular recreational fisheries, including new licences and further restrictions.

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said more restrictions on popular demersal (bottom dwelling) scalefish and some nearshore species as well as changes to the recreational licence system were needed to ensure the sustainability of WA’s fish stocks.

Mr Moore said there was wide recognition in Government and the community that significant parts of WA’s fisheries were at risk of collapse and needed greater protection. He said revenue raised from the new licensing system would be quarantined in a recreational fishing trust and only spent on matters related to recreational fishing.

“The Government will not reduce its current level of funding for recreational fishing to offset the rise in funding from the new fishing licenses,” the Minister said. “We want greater protection for our fish stocks. This new management regime is crucial to ensure WA maintains a high quality and sustainable recreational fishery.

“Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that our fisheries are at risk unless immediate action is taken. The commercial sector has already addressed this issue and now it is time for the recreational fishing sector to do its part.”

Mr Moore said that in the past decade, population growth and the greater use of equipment such as global positioning systems and echo sounders had made a huge impact on fish stocks.  He said experts agreed that the Department of Fisheries had to provide more rigorous compliance, greater research and better management measures to help maintain the sustainability of the fisheries.

Independent management and science reviews of West Coast demersal scalefish had led to the State Government’s latest decision.  “The independent reviews that I commissioned on becoming Minister for Fisheries have confirmed departmental advice that stocks of popular demersal species, such as dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper, are over-fished,” he said.

“The experts agree that a demersal scalefish catch reduction of at least 50 per cent is required by the recreational fishing sector.

“Management changes to take effect from mid-October this year see the introduction of two new recreational licences.

“From mid-October, people fishing from a boat anywhere in the State (including those fishing from charter boats) will need a $30 licence and people targeting demersal scalefish will need an additional, specific, demersal licence.

“Therefore, anyone fishing for demersal scalefish from a boat in the West Coast bioregion will need both a boat fishing licence and a demersal licence.

“This new West Coast demersal licence will cost $20 for one day, $60 for a fortnight or $150 annually to fish for any of the listed species.

“The current 50 per cent discount on all licences for pensioners and children under 16 will continue to apply.”
The Minister said that a two-month ban on recreational fishing for species on the West Coast bioregion demersal scalefish list would also apply from October 15 to December 15 each year.

“Information obtained from licence holders will help the Department of Fisheries improve its capacity to monitor and manage the fisheries,” he said.

“However, to make it clear, the licences only apply to individuals fishing from boats. People fishing from beaches or jetties and shore-based crab fishers will not need a licence except where existing licences already apply.”

The recreational boat fishing licence will apply State-wide for any form of fishing where a boat is used, including:

  • line fishing (handline, rod, squid jigging)
  • catching crabs
  • spearfishing
  • octopus trapping
  • dip netting for prawns
  • any wading, diving or angling to catch fish, crabs or shellfish are taken where a boat is used to access the fishing location.

The new West Coast demersal licence will apply in the West Coast bioregion which extends from Black Point, east of Augusta, to the Zuytdorp Cliffs north of Kalbarri.

Mr Moore said new precautionary measures were also needed to address the way changes to demersal scalefish arrangements would be likely to shift the recreational fishing focus onto nearshore fish species like herring and tailor.

“The new mixed bag limit for lower risk category three fish in the West Coast bioregion will drop from 40 per angler to 30 and for medium risk category two fish from 16 to 12,” he said.

“Increased research is vital in monitoring the sustainability of all species. Revenue raised by the new licences will help fund this research and support more compliance, enforcement and education programs.

“The State Government will continue to apply a fee to each of the following existing licences: rock lobster, abalone, marron, freshwater angling and recreational netting – but the fee will rise to a standard $45 for each type of fishing.

“This will provide consistency in fees between different recreational fishing activities following the removal of the existing ‘umbrella’ licence and provide for improved data collection for the purposes of additional research and management.”

Further detailed information is available at http://www.fish.wa.gov.au

Trading hours

The Government recently introduced legislation into the State parliament, which if passed, will give general retail shops in the metropolitan area the option of opening to 9pm on weeknights. Businesses will retain the right to determine when and if they wish to open.

This decision is consistent with the Liberal Party’s election commitment to examine extending weeknight trading, with community consultation. In recent months the Premier has met with at least 18 key industry and community groups to discuss the proposal. The majority supports the extension to weeknight trading hours.

The Government is conscious of the concerns of a number of small businesses, particularly retail tenants, about the effect of extending weeknight-trading hours.

The extension of retail trading will not affect the existing rights of businesses. Businesses will continue to have the right to decide when and if they wish to open. Retail tenants will also continue to be protected by Western Australia’s Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Act 1985 (the Act).

Under the Act, retail tenants cannot be forced to pay additional expenses if they choose not to open during extended hours, nor can a landlord refuse to renew a lease because a tenant chose not to open during extended hours.

Later this year the Government will introduce a bill into the parliament that will amend the Act to further strengthen the protections available to retail tenants.
The changes will assist in redressing the information imbalance that can occur between landlords and tenants and will ensure a fair and transparent framework in which landlords and retail tenants can carry out their business. The amendments will also bring Western Australia into line with retail tenancy legislation in other States and Territories.

The extension of weeknight trading hours is a moderate step that takes account of changes that have come about in the lifestyles and working hours in the metropolitan area, especially those for young families and working couples.

Winter sprinkler ban

Who is affected

A winter sprinkler will come into effect from Wednesday July 1 2009 to August 31 2009.  This ban will affect Perth, Mandurah and the whole of southern Western Australia.  The ban will apply to integrated scheme water and garden bore users and selected licensees.

Why there is a trial ban

The ban is a common sense initiative.  We live in a drying climate and currently consumption levels of water are too high.  Unfortunately inflows for the 2009 winter are as poor as those experienced in 2006.

Irrigation experts have consistently said that in many parts of southern Western Australia gardens do not need watering during winter.  This trial will identify if and how permanent bans should be applied in winter.

This is a considered approach to water usage by-law and regulation policy development designed to encourage behavioural change in this area.

Other Water Initiatives By The State Government

In addition to this Winter Sprinkler Ban the Barnett Government is implementing a number of other initiatives including:

  • The commissioning of a Southern Seawater Desalination Plant in 2011.
  • The allocation of $1.1b to the Water Corporation to spend in 2009-10 on asset investment across the State.
  • Continued construction of the Alkimos Waste Water Treatment Plant.
  • A $219m project to upgrade sludge treatment facilities at the wastewater treatment plant in the northern suburb of Beenyup.
  • A commitment to spend $54.6m in 2009-10 on similar critical sludge treatment upgrade works at Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant.
  • Increasing efforts to achieve 80 per cent coverage of the State’s water source protection areas by providing an additional 15 water source protection plans.
  • Continuation of the department’s program of installing, replacing and upgrading groundwater monitoring bores and river gauging stations throughout the State.