Local and Statewide Public Notices

ROLL CLOSE: 5:00 PM Wednesday, 28 January 2026
 
You may be eligible to be enrolled to vote in the local government election on 26 March 2026 if you live in or are an owner or occupier of rateable property in the City of Melville.
 
Residents
You are automatically enrolled to vote if you are on the State Electoral Roll as at 5.00pm Wednesday, 28 January 2026. If you are not already on the State Electoral Roll and meet the eligibility criteria, or if you have changed address recently, you must complete an enrolment form.
 
Enrolment Forms
You can enrol or update your details online, or download an enrolment form, via the Western Australian Electoral Commission website www.elections.wa.gov.au/enrol. Forms are also available from the Australian Electoral Commission www.aec.gov.au. Enrolments and updates must be completed and received by 5.00pm Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
 
Non-Resident Owners and Occupiers
If you are a non-resident owner or occupier of rateable property in the City of Melville and are on the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll, you are eligible to enrol to vote. Owners of land who were on the last Local Government roll continue to retain that status until they cease to own the rateable property to which the enrolment relates. Occupiers do not have continuous enrolment and should contact the City of Melville to confirm their enrolment status. To be eligible to enrol as an occupier, you will need to have a right of continuous occupation under a lease, tenancy agreement or other legal instrument for at least the next three months following the date of the application to enrol and have paid rent for at least the prescribed amount.
 
Joint Owners and Occupiers
If a rateable property is owned or occupied by more than two people, a majority of the owners/occupiers may nominate two persons from amongst themselves who are on either the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll, to enrol as owner/occupier electors.
 
Corporations
A body corporate that owns or occupies rateable property may nominate two people who are officers of the body corporate that are on either the State or Commonwealth Electoral Roll to enrol as owner/occupier electors.
 
Enrolment Forms – Non-Resident Owners and Occupiers
Only Enrolment forms can be obtained from local governments and must be lodged with the Chief Executive Officer by 5.00pm Wednesday, 28 January 2026. Further information can be obtained from the City of Melville.

View the Western Australian Electoral Comission public notice:
WAEC - Close of Enrolments Notice
 

Notice to all owners and / or occupiers of land situated in the City of Melville
 
Term: Authorised Officer
Definition: A person appointed by the City of Melville Chief Executive Officer as an authorised person/officer to exercise the powers and duties set out in the Local Government Act 1995, Bush Fires Act 1954 and Local Law(s).
 
Term: Flammable Material
Definition: Any dead or dry grass, vegetation, substance, object, thing or material (except living flora including live and/ or habitat standing trees) that may or is likely to catch fire and burn or any other thing deemed by an Authorised Officer(s) to be capable of combustion.
 
Term: Firebreak Time
Definition: The time of each year where fire hazard reduction works must be maintained as specified in this Fire Break and Hazard Reduction Notice. This time is 15 November of each year until and including 30 April of the following year.
 
Pursuant to Section 33 of the Bush Fires Act 1954, you are hereby required on or before the Firebreak Time, or within 14 days of the date of you becoming the owner or occupier of land situated in the City of Melville should this be after the 15 November each year until 30 April of the following year, to comply with the following fire abatement requirements:
 
Properties 1,500 square meters or smaller, or land zoned “Residential”:
A. Clear and remove all flammable material from the whole of the land except living trees, shrubs and plants under cultivation and lawns;
B. Ensure the roofs, gutters, and walls of all buildings on the land are free of flammable material(s); and
C. Living lawns must be trimmed to a height of 50mm or less during the Firebreak Time. 

Properties above 1,500 square metres and all other zoned land;
The owner or occupier shall: -
Clear firebreaks of a minimum width of three (3) meters and height of four (4) meters inside all external boundaries of the land;
Clear firebreaks of a minimum width of five (5) meters and height of three (3) meters around all buildings situated on the land;
Where that area of land exceeds ten (10) hectares, clear firebreaks of a minimum width of five (5) meters so as to ensure that no area of land within the firebreak exceeds ten (10) hectares.
A. In any event, clear the firebreaks to the satisfaction of the City’s Authorised Officer(s); and
B. Ensure the roofs, gutters, and walls of all buildings on the land are free of flammable materials. 

Additional Works
Regardless of land size and location, the City of Melville or its Authorised Officer(s) may require you to undertake additional work(s) on your property to improve access and/or undertake further works where in the opinion of that Authorised Officer(s), these works would be conducive to preventing the outbreak and/or the spread or extension of a fire.
 
Fire Break and Hazard Reduction Notice Variation
If for any reason an owner or occupier considers it to be impractical to clear firebreaks or comply with other fire protection measures in accordance with these requirements, the owner or occupier may apply in writing to the City’s Authorised Officer(s), no later than 31 October 2025 for an exemption or partial exemption from compliance with the requirements of this Notice.
 
Failure to Comply
Failure to comply with this Notice may result in the issue of an infringement notice or prosecution with a penalty of up to $5,000. The City may also arrange for the required works to be completed, with all costs charged to the owner or occupier.
 
Any owner and/or occupier who engages a contractor to undertake works on their behalf is responsible for ensuring that the work completed meets the requirements of this Fire Break and Hazard Reduction Notice.
 
 
Gail Bowman
Chief Executive Officer

The City of Melville Annual Report 2024-2025 was adopted at the Special Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 16 December, and is available for members of the public via the City of Melville website or limited hardcopies will be available at the City of Melville Civic Centre, and Libraries soon. 
 
The City of Melville Annual Report 2024-2025 includes the Community Annual Report and Annual Financial Statements.
 
With the adoption of this report, the Annual General Meeting of Electors will be held on from 6.00pm on Monday, 2 February 2026 at the City of Melville Civic Centre.
 
More information on this will be available via the City of Melville website soon.   
 
To read the City of Melville Annual Report 2024-2025, visit our Annual Reports webpage.

At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, the City of Melville Council adopted the following changes to the fees and charges relating to hire of Forbes Residence Space, to apply from Sunday, 1 February 2026.

 Hire of Forbes Residence Space:

Fee Description	Unit of Cost/%	New Year Rate 25-26	GST	Narration/Ref
Commercial Rate	Per hour	$24.00	GST Inc	Section 6.16 of the Local Government Act 1995
Community Rate	Per hour	$16.00	GST Inc	Section 6.16 of the Local Government Act 1995

*The commercial rate applies to bookings used for the purpose of profit making activities or promotion of the same.
**Opportunity for 50% discount for a one month trial for those looking at longer term bookings.
 
Gail Bowman
Chief Executive Officer