Guildford Association Inc

16/10/2026

Dear Members and Friends, we want to thank the many members of the community who supported and assisted our call for a Special Electors Meeting where we hope to get a just and equitable outcome from the City of Swan's current Ward Boundary and Representation Review. I am pleased to say the request was formally presented to the Council meeting on 14 October 2026 with in excess of 400 elector signatures (300 was the minimum required under the LG Act). The City is required to call such a meeting within 35 days of validation that the signatories are entitled electors. That takes us very close to the closing date for submissions on the options currently on the table which excluding the generic no wards options, has NO option to maintain the Midland Guildford Ward having three representatives, despite the ward covering 14 suburbs. Cr. Johnson, supported by Cr. Howlett has drafted a status quo option which would enable all wards to keep their current level of representation but alter their composition in relatively minors ways. Ultimately this may be the option the Special Electors Meeting resolves to endorse but we would like to hear the views of others at that meeting before making a final call. We have urged the Mayor to take our call for this meeting seriously and I hope that she actively supports it being called as quickly as possible so that the community has a reasonable opportunity to consider alternatives outside what the City is currently proposing. Midland Guildford is the oldest ward, with an established community of interest across its 14 suburbs and carries both a sub regional centre and substantial industrialisation of the southern part of Hazelemere, together with the interface with two rivers. It needs three councillors. We will keep you updated once the City advises of the proposed date of the Special Electors meeting. Thank you again for the great support shown in getting this meeting. Christine Hughes Chairperson

03/10/2026

Thanks to all those this morning who came to sign the call for a special electors meeting over the botched City of Swan ward review discussion paper, currently on Swan Engage, which has been shown to be full of errors and, apart from a ‘no wards’ option, only contains options that lead to a reduction in Midland / Guildford councillors from 3 to 2.
Thanks to Cr Ian Johnson Midland Guildford Ward for stopping by and saying hello.
We need 300 signatures from residents who live anywhere in the City of Swan (on paper, not online). We have people throughout the CoS collecting signatures so, if you would like to sign, please send a PM and we will arrange.

02/10/2026

Dear Members and Friends, as some of you know we are seeking a Special Electors Meeting of Council to address the many issues which have arisen around the wards boundaries and representation review being undertaken by the City of Swan. I have been made aware that this morning the City has issued further corrections to the review discussion paper, and an amended document will be uploaded to SwanEngage to facilitate public consultation. That does not change our view that an Elector's Meeting is urgently needed to get answers to the whole debacle. We are currently circulating a formal letter of request and seeking the required number of signatures. These cannot be obtained through online petition, but are an in person signature. To assist collecting signatures, there will be a table outside the Guildford Town Hall tomorrow (Saturday) morning between 10 and 11 am where you can register your support.
We remain committed to getting an informed, fair and equitable outcome for the Midland Guildford ward, and all electors across the City.

Christine Hughes
Chairperson

27/09/2026

Members and Friends will be aware of recent notice the GA provided about proposed changes to ward boundaries and reduced representation for the Midland Guildford Ward from 3 to 2 councillors contained in a C of S discussion paper released in early August. At a Special Council meeting on 21 September, local residents raised numerous significant errors of fact in this paper. The City has purportedly "corrected" the errors and released it for public consultation. Despite the gravity of the original errors, we are appalled to discover the new document also contains errors. Option 3 of the paper removes Guildford, Sth Guildford and Perth Airport from the Midland Guildford ward and transfers them to the Whiteman ward with whom it shares no land boundaries (which it must do). Worse still is that the map which purports to reflect the proposed change is also wrong because it shows them remaining within the existing ward - in contradiction to the table and text which removes them!!!! What to believe?? Despite claimed review of an originally flawed document - this one is no better. At our general meeting on Tuesday, we will be seeking support to demand an elector's meeting to pull this whole review and go back to the drawing board. In part, what has contributed to this comedy of errors is the indecent haste to reduce our representation in time for the next round of elections. At the special meeting voting this flawed document to go forward, it received very enthusiastic endorsement from several councillors including Crs Bowman, Aringo, McCullough and Miles but it appears they had not read it thoroughly or spotted the significant errors. That is very troubling given their obligations to be informed. Please consider supporting us as we press for integrity, accuracy and transparency in any review. It should not be left to electors in the public gallery to raise these errors, and then be demonised for doing so. The cost to date is significant and the Administration needs to be held to account for the waste of ratepayers money getting to this unsatisfactory state of affairs.
The GA meeting is 7pm, at the Mechanics Institute next Tuesday 29 September 2026.
Christine Hughes, Chairperson

20/08/2026

Old Auction Tree site, 112B Helena St Guildford - a new proposal for the site has been posted and is open for comment until 26 August. You can view the proposal at https://swanengage.swan.wa.gov.au/da-12982025-dwelling-and-tree-retention
The Association has been waiting for over a week for details that had not been included in the current proposal and today the City of Swan confirmed they too are still seeking such details so our comments are necessarily constrained. The Association is committed to the Guildford Mandoon Conservation policy and only diverts from seeking compliance where a better conservation outcome can be achieved. In the current proposal, although contrary to policy, the Association supports a two storey dwelling to reduce the dwelling footprint to ensure retention of the Auction Tree. However the City has not received any written undertakings about management and protection of the tree and its root zones now or for the longer term. Our support for the dwelling plans will be conditional on an agreement to actively promote the well-being and protection of the tree through such written undertakings. Other elements of the policy - scale, materials and colour schedules, crossover width etc remain important considerations but have not been provided to the City so we have to reserve our overall assessment until they are made available. We are mindful that time is now short and would encourage you to register your views about the need to formalise a tree protection agreement which should form part of any development approval. The link for your comments again is https://swanengage.swan.wa.gov.au/da-12982025-dwelling-and-tree-retention
Thank you all for your passionately expressed support for this magnificent E.Rudis which God willing, will outlast us all.

Lot 15 (No.112B) Helena Street, GUILDFORD WA 6055

04/08/2026

The Auction Tree We are pleased to be able to share that the Development Application which included removal of the Auction Tree has been WITHDRAWN. We understand an amended application enabling retention of this outstanding E Rudis will be lodged shortly. Thank you to the many people who responded, encouraged, and lodged a submission. We also acknowledge the applicant's willingness to respond to the community and seek a better outcome. Well done everybody. Long Live the Auction Tree Christine Hughes

30/07/2026

There is an application with the City of Swan to remove the historic Old Auction Tree, a majestic flooded gum (Eucalyptus rudis) located at the corner of Helena and Stephen Streets, on the south-west boundary of 112B (Lot 15) Helena Street.

Standing approximately 22 metres tall with a girth of 6.77 metres, this tree is a significant landmark in our community.

The tree is believed to have been a Noongar gathering tree. Guildford is considered an important place for Noongar people containing many spiritual and camp sites. The Helena River was a moort bidi, being a main run for Noongar people going to and from Guildford where coroborrees were performed.

The tree is also believed to have been associated with the operations of the Guildford Sale Yards in the late 19th century, where well-known stock agent and auctioneer James Morrison conducted livestock auctions under its canopy, leading to its nickname, the “Old Auction Tree.”

Flooded gums provide essential habitats for many bird species including black cockatoos.

The deadline for comment is August 12.

https://swanengage.swan.wa.gov.au/da-12982025-single-house-and-removal-auction-tree

07/07/2026

The Guildford Association would like to convey our warm congratulations to Guildford Grammar School as it marks it's 130th birthday and highlights its many achievements over the years. In particular we acknowledge and thank the School for its contribution to the conservation of the heritage town of Guildford as it continues to maintain its own heritage buildings to a high standard and preserves its mature trees and open spaces. We are particularly touched by the creation of its 130th logo adopting the leaves of our precious Sugar Gums. They too have passed the 130th mark (in James St) and GGS's logo design helps keep their iconic significance front and centre. We wish the school the very best as they celebrate this milestone year. Christine Hughes

04/07/2026

22/06/2026

We have just become aware minutes ago that Cr Bowman has given notice of a motion to close the Guildford Library, at tonight's Council Budget meeting commencing at 6pm.
It could help if you could find time to email all councillors (many check their phones during meetings) and particularly the Mayor to express outrage at such a backwards step.

All councillors are contactable by email using their name, then .wa.gov.au
Examples: [email protected]
[email protected]

Tanya Richardson
Jennifer Catalano
Shaynon Dean
Nav Kaur.
Sarah Howlett
Ian Johnson
Rashelle Predovnik
Aaron Bowman
Maria Toquero
Cate McCullough
Evia Aringo.
Charlie Zannino
Rod Henderson
Mel Congerton
Haeden Miles

Thank you