Darlington Sports and Recreation Association (WA) Inc.

A while ago DaSRA supported a Youth Engagement Grant, funded by the Shire of Mundaring to promote the Students of Darlington Primary and Treetops Montessori schools participation in a series of workshops and design sessions to develop ideas and plans for a Containers for Cash receiving “Bin". This became known as the NOISEBIN.

A big THANK YOU to the students involved and the team of volunteers who supported the students in coming up with a stylised Boab tree that is designed to respond with lights and sounds to any container that is deposited into the bin. The Lighting and sound technology was initiated by the students and the technology is ready for installation once the Bin is built.

Technical drawings are being done pro bono by a local architect (and volunteers are working on building a prototype to show how it works) for discussion in the community and for submission to the Shire so that final details and an appropriate location can be agreed and approved.

However some additional support is needed to make sure the students Noisebin gets built. Help with some extra $$$s for a new concrete slab, an electrician and some labour will be needed.

So if you can help make this student project reach completion please contact Geoff Barker 0418 953 176.

belonging and wellbeing - the Darlington Community.

DaSRA, along with the Darlington Ratepayers and Residents Association and Darlington History Group, is supporting the production of a film. The theme being, Darlington has, and offers, something special; treasured by those who live here, and to which others aspire.

Many local residents mention that their lives have been enriched by being involved and that their involvement has generated many benefits including a sense of wellbeing, security, belonging and a healthy mental state. These aspects of Community are so important these days that it was considered worthy of promoting them in a format that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere. So it was proposed to produce a film about, and for, Darlington that documents resident experiences and stories; exploring, portraying, and gaining insight into the special aspects of the community we share and the benefits that being involved can deliver to an individual as well as a broader community, no matter where they are.

$8,000, of an initial Budget of $40,000+, has been raised so far. But an additional $7,000 is needed to get to a “Pilot” film stage where a first set of interviews can be recorded, edited and compiled for an initial public showing. If you have old footage of Darlington and its events and activities that you can loan to the project or you can help financially or you can contribute as a Technician please contact Geoff 0418 953 176.

Reforms to Western Australia's mentally impaired accused laws are set to significantly improve the treatment and management of persons with mental impairment in the justice system. The Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Bill 2022, introduced into the Western Australian Parliament just before the summer recess, repeals and replaces the existing Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996 (CLMIA Act). The Bill has been subject to extensive consultation with more than 40 stakeholders both within and outside Government.

Reform of the unfair and outdated mental impairment framework is now at hand with the introduction of this particularly important and complex Bill. The existing CLMIA Act has been in operation for more than 25 years without significant amendment and has been subject to justifiable criticism since its inception. Regrettably, as it currently stands, people who would likely be found either unfit to stand trial or found not guilty on account of unsoundness of mind choose to instead go through the justice system without raising their mental impairment, for fear of coming under the CLMIA Act and never being released. It is crucial that people with mental impairment, who are found to have committed offences, are fairly and appropriately managed in the justice system.

The proposed reforms will play a significant role in protecting the human rights of persons with mental impairment in the justice system, ensure procedural fairness, and bring WA into line with best practice in other States, including through:

• expanding the disposition options available to the judiciary so that community supervision orders are available for both those acquitted on account of mental impairment and those found unfit to stand trial;

• limiting the terms of custody orders to ensure they align with the likely sentence the court would have imposed if they were sentencing the person in the ordinary course, having found them guilty of the offence;

• introducing procedural fairness provisions to provide for the rights to appear, appeal and seek review of decisions of the courts and the new Mental Impairment Review Tribunal; and

• ensuring determinations about the release of persons with mental impairment from custody, and the conditions to be attached to such release (if any), are made by the new Mental Impairment Review Tribunal.

The Government remains committed to ensuring the safety of the community. The paramount consideration for any person performing a function under the Bill is the protection of the community, including when a person is a member of a court or tribunal.

The introduction of community supervision orders for unfit accused persons as an alternative to custody is a first for WA and a significant improvement on the current situation, where community-based orders are only available to persons found not guilty on account of unsoundness of mind. The community-based orders that are currently available are not fit-for-purpose, which has resulted in them rarely being used. The community supervision orders proposed by the Bill will be able to be tailored to the needs of the individual.

There are currently approximately 50 individuals under the CLMIA Act subject to indefinite custody orders. The Bill contains transitional provisions which require these individuals to be brought before the court for a limiting term to be placed on their custody order, as soon as practicable after commencement of the new Act.

The proposed Mental Impairment Review Tribunal will be presided over by a retired judge of the Supreme or District Court and comprise a specialist membership of experts including psychiatrists and psychologists, and community members with knowledge of Aboriginal cultural considerations, victims' interests and forensic mental health and disability. The Tribunal will be well placed to manage supervised persons, both in custody and in the community.

There is a significant amount of work required across Government to prepare to implement the reforms provided by the Bill and it is anticipated that this implementation work will take approximately 12 months following its passage through the Western Australian Parliament.

Summer is upon us and it is a time of year where many of us in the Hills are acutely aware of the fire risk around us. I live in Mundaring and, having lost a house to fire once before, I know how stressful the summer bushfire season can be.

Living in the Perth Hills has made me passionate about reducing the risk we face from natural disasters both here in WA, and across Australia. You only need to look at the news to see the frequency at which we are now experiencing extreme weather events resulting in floods and fire storms. I fought hard to ensure the national Large Aerial Tanker is based in WA for this summer and will continue to advocate for greater aerial firefighting capability and investment.

I am proud too, to be part of the Albanese Government that accepts climate science and listened to business, industry, unions, farmers, community and conservation groups, all of whom asked the Parliament to put Australia on the path to netzero emissions. We have now enshrined into law an emissions reduction target of 43 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.

We have also announced a Disaster Ready Fund, which is currently open for applications. Up to $200 million will be available in the next financial year to state and territory governments in partnership with councils, with $1 billion available over the next five years. The funding will go towards a range of infrastructure, data, land use planning and social projects to reduce the risk and better prepare Australia for natural hazards.

Furthermore, I am in discussions with Ministers, indigenous organisations, and community groups about piloting traditional year-round Aboriginal fire management in areas that are currently subject to large-scale prescribed burning. If this is of interest to you, perhaps from an air quality, soil ecology, wildlife conservation perspective, or maybe just something you would like to trial on your own property, please let me know so I can keep you up to date on progress.

While Federal, State and Local governments are working to improve Australia’s resilience, and our incredible bushfire agencies and volunteers are ready to respond, preparedness starts at home.

Please ensure you’re familiar with the new Fire Danger Ratings, and have a plan for what you’ll do on those High, Extreme and Catastrophic Days. Visit mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au for more information, and to complete your 15 minute bushfire plan.

Councillor's Column South Ward | Cr Luke Ellery

A belated happy new year. Council normally breaks over January so to those families returning to school, know that your councillors are empathetic but enthusiastic to get back to business. Works will commence in February by Main Roads on the Scott Street bridge upgrade. This will involve steel and concrete reinforcement to one of the last timber road bridges in Perth. The bridge will be single lane during construction so please plan for delays in peak travel times.

Addition works to come this year include a changeroom upgrade at Bilgoman pool, a new BBQ and shelter at the Pines (with critical design input by the Darlington Club), renewing the footbridges at Glebe Road and Mofflin Ave, extension of the gravel path at Rycroft and a reconstruction of Glen Road (Maslin to Victor). We hope to consult with DRRA on the planned works though if community members have feedback or suggestions for other capital works, please feel free to email myself (luke.ellery@mundaring. wa.gov.au) or my fellow councillors, Trish and James, with your request.

In December, after extensive feedback from the community, Council resolved to install a small basketball pad and hoop with noise attenuation measures at the train park in Glen Forrest. The issue highlighted the delicate nature of making decisions for the common good whilst respecting the amenity of those closest.

I shared the experience with many of you in finding the Coppin Road Recycling Centre (the tip) closed due to fire risk numerous times over the summer period. I’m sorry for the frustration you may have felt returning home with a full vehicle/trailer of waste. The recycling centres are closed on days of Harvest and Vehicle movement bans (HVMB) and these are occurring more frequently due to the new fire danger rating system that finds Mundaring grouped with a more inland region (and warming temperatures). The system will be reviewed in March and Council is reviewing options to provide alternatives so the community can safely dispose of green waste on such days. You can check the Shire of Mundaring Facebook page, call the Shire office or check the DFES website to see if there is a HVMB.

The Darlington Review’s Rules of Association (2012) read: “To produce and publish a monthly journal with the intention of fostering good relationships within the Darlington community and keeping residents informed about community issues.” Our Guide for Scribes invites members to submit notes “ to inform members and the Darlington Community about past, ongoing and future activities…”. The Review accepts no liability for errors/omissions contained in articles, statements or advertisements published herein. The views expressed in Letters and Notes are not the views of the Darlington Review and we are not responsible for them. Members are requested to ensure their notes adhere to the magazine’s guiding spirit of fostering harmonious community relationships. The Darlington Review is available in digital format via Issu, the online website.

We are so lucky to have a great Bridge Club, right here in the hills. Bridge sessions are held at the Glen Forrest Sports Club, Mc Glew Road, Glen Forrest on Monday afternoon at 1.00pm5.00pm and Wednesday afternoons 12.30-4.30 pm.

If you have never played bridge, but have heard about what an interesting and challenging game it is and would like to learn, a