Nedlands mayor in hot water over controversial billboard as State Government investigates ‘potential breach’

Local government officials are investigating a controversial billboard display on Stirling Highway after it emerged the signage was arranged and donated personally by the mayor of Nedlands, not by the organisation she leads. The signage — which includes the official City of Nedlands logo — was erected last week in a further retaliation to the State Government wanting to use more of an A-class reserve in Swanbourne near a planned children’s hospice to create a park. It shows a picture of an upset young girl and proclaims: “Class ‘A’ reserves are for future generations. HANDS OFF”, with the city logo underneath. On social media, a Facebook post by the City of Nedlands announcing the signage was later changed to remove any reference to the mayor’s involvement. The picture post’s original caption had stated the sign was “arranged and donated by Fiona Argyle at no cost to the city”. “Absolutely appalling and unbelievably insensitive!”, one user commented on the post. “It is deeply repulsive that Ms Argyle thinks it’s appropriate to use the image of a child to protest the use of Crown land for a palliative care children’s hospice playground,” another user added. The City of Nedlands did not respond to questions from PerthNow but Nedlands councillor Fergus Bennett was among the people to comment on the social media post, saying: “I had no involvement in this and it was not a decision of Nedlands council”. Speaking to PerthNow on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) said it was “currently reviewing the matter”. “Now the matter has come to the attention of the DLGSC, we will be examining the issue,” they said. “Under the Local Government Act 1995, the mayor is designated as the principal spokesperson for the local government and must ensure that they act at all times consistently with council decisions. “Should any potential breach of the LG Act or code of conduct be identified, appropriate action will be taken.” The sign is a direct response to a decision made during Nedlands’ most recent council meeting, where the council unanimously voted to reject Planning Minister John Carey’s proposed excision of about 4000sqm of Allen Park. “This is land for future generations and it’s about to be snapped up,” Ms Argyle said during Tuesday’s meeting. Melon Hill Bushland Group president Lesley Shaw said at the meeting the A-class reserve was a “precious finite resource that belongs to all of us”. Excising the land would allow Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation to create a landscaped park and play area for terminally ill children to use while staying at the hospice which is going to be built in Allen Park. According to PCHF chief executive Carrick Robinson, the organisation would fund the upgrade and the park would be open for public use. “The common myth being rolled out by the friends of Allen Park and people on the council is that somehow by upgrading the land it is going to be cut off for public access,” he said. ”Well, that’s absolutely untrue. “The land we’re hoping to transform is currently a dust bowl that has been sitting vacant for years. “The upgrade wouldn’t just give ratepayers an improved asset to enjoy, but it would also give the families staying at then hospital a much improved outlook, because for many of them that may be the last view they ever see.” The park upgrade would include extra canopy trees and native vegetation.