What's happening in Perth

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With 50 metres of coast washed away in a year, Lancelin residents are rallying in Perth on Thursday to demand state intervention before the ocean breaks through.

A secret recording at the heart of a defamation suit years in the making has been played in WA’s Supreme Court after a judge knocked back a bid to suppress it.

Christopher Saunders appeared in WA’s District Court on Wednesday for the second day of his trial over alleged sexual abuse offences dating back as far as 2008.

A 240-room hotel, sky bar, and restored heritage arcade are set to reactivate Perth’s CBD after a unanimously approved $240 million development.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his mother to death and seriously injuring his sister in Perth’s south-east.

Follow our live coverage of the day’s news here.

In Perth, Pauline Hanson declared her interest in the top job and backed it up with a surprising restrained performance.

A Perth gym that was locked out of its premises after its building was repossessed allegedly resorted to hosting unauthorised “pop-up” classes in local council halls.

A Perth property developer has taken the stand on the second day of a defamation trial more than seven years in the making.

Christopher Alan Saunders was one of Australia’s most senior Catholic clerics when he was charged with sex abuse offences dating back to 2008.

The alleged victim claims the British YouTube star bit, slapped, strangled and raped her in a Perth hotel two years ago.

The senator also dubbed Gina Rinehart “a wonderful West Australian” while defending the billionaire mining heiress’ support for One Nation during a business breakfast on Tuesday.

A girl under 15 was also found injured in nearby Cannington and taken to Perth Children’s Hospital.

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City of Melville residents say they are “floored” by a surprise backflip that could derail a decade of planning for public open space on prime land in a riverfront suburb.

Swedish chef Björn Frantzén is bringing Brasserie Astoria to Crown Perth, in a space inside Crown Towers that has never previously been open to the public. Crown announced the Perth venue today alongside a sister restaurant for Crown Sydney. Brasserie Astoria is expected to open next year.

Frantzén is the only chef in the world holding three Michelin stars at three restaurants simultaneously: Frantzén in Stockholm, Zén in Singapore, and FZN in Dubai. His cooking draws on Nordic heritage, Asian influence, and French technique.

Brasserie Astoria first opened in Stockholm in 2021, in a converted 1870s cinema, and has since expanded to Singapore, Marbella, and the Maldives. It offers an extensive à la carte menu, with several dishes served on carts and finished at the table. 

Crown Perth CEO Brian Pereira said, “Brasserie Astoria continues the strong investment in Crown Perth and expansion of our range of new offerings – from casual meals at the Urban Food District to elevated fine dining. We’re confident that sophisticated Perth and travelling diners will embrace one of the world’s best restaurants in one of the world’s leading hotels.”

Én by Björn Frantzén will open high in Crown Sydney with views across the Harbour, joining Nobu, Woodcut, a’Mare, and Golden Century. Crown says details on the concept and menu will follow in the coming months.

“Australia has long been on my radar for its incredible produce and vibrant food culture,” Frantzén said. “Crown Sydney and Crown Perth offer the perfect stage to bring our vision to life, and I’m excited to share our culinary philosophy with a new audience.”

Both restaurants will build their menus around seasonal Australian produce.

The post Björn Frantzén, The World’s Only Three-Time Three-Michelin-Star Chef, Is Opening A Restaurant At Crown Perth appeared first on So Perth

The high-profile MP was drawn into a defamation case that began in the WA Supreme Court today.

A young Perth woman claims she was bitten, slapped, strangled and raped by her celebrity crush after she was invited back to his hotel following a concert two years ago.

The City of Perth is planting more than 3,400 native plants on the northern side of Heirisson Island this Sunday, and it’s asking the public to turn up and help. The National Tree Day community planting runs from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, with the Lord Mayor, Councillors, City staff, and volunteers all on the tools.

It’s suitable for all ages, but you will need to register. Then, all you have to do is show up along with sturdy, clean shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a hat, and a water bottle. Light refreshments are available on site.

The planting sits inside the City’s Urban Forest Plan (2016–2036) and its target of 30% tree canopy cover by 2036. The State Government’s 2024 canopy data put average cover across the Perth and Peel regions at 22%, and Perth has long held the unwanted title of the least leafy capital city in the country. 

Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said National Tree Day was a chance for the community to make a lasting contribution to Perth’s future.

“Creating one of Australia’s greenest capital cities is one of the City of Perth’s highest priorities,” Reynolds said. “We’ve set an ambitious goal of achieving 30 per cent tree canopy by 2036, and we’ll only achieve that by working together with our community.”

The species being planted on Heirisson Island are all natives chosen to strengthen the local ecosystem and create habitat for native wildlife, in a spot where the Swan River ecology gives them a reasonable shot at survival.

Can’t make it? Plant something at home

Of course, to make our city greener, it takes more than the City of Perth planting in public spaces. Your front and back gardens are equally important. So if you can’t make it this Sunday to Heirisson Island, you are encouraged to plant some native plants in your gardens. Mid-winter is the right time to be doing it, too — native tubestock planted now gets a full wet season to establish roots before summer arrives.

Perth has plenty of specialist native nurseries. Zanthorrea in the hills carries over 600 varieties of Australian plants and sells tubestock from $5.95 each. Trillion Trees runs a community nursery at Hazelmere, where the money goes back into its restoration and education work. Native Plants WA, a not-for-profit in the southern suburbs, has been propagating WA seedlings since 1979. Or there are the many local nurseries and garden centres that you can drop into.

If you’re planting an actual tree rather than shrubs or groundcover, the Cook Government’s Treebate scheme will refund the purchase price up to $150.00. The tree needs to be an Australian native reaching at least three metres at maturity, bought from a WA retailer, and planted on your own property. Claims go through the ServiceWA app, and you’ll need the tax invoice and a photo of the plant label. There are 10,000 rebates available each year, and it’s one claim per person for the life of the program, which runs to 2029.

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