Perth Councils Wage War on Rogue Shopping Trolleys

Western Australia's local governments are escalating their efforts to curb the nuisance of abandoned shopping trolleys, which are increasingly becoming a point of contention. The City of Swan has implemented updated local laws, allowing them to impound trolleys and charge retailers fees for their collection and disposal, with potential fines of $100 and additional daily charges for non-compliance. This follows a successful trial that saw an average of 77 trolleys collected weekly.

The City of Stirling's attempt to enforce a three-hour collection window for retailers faced a setback when a state committee moved to disallow its new law. Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin expressed disappointment, noting that under the proposed law, fines could reach up to $2,000, a significant increase from the current $200.

Meanwhile, the City of Canning is advocating through the WA Local Government Association for state-level legislative reforms. These reforms would empower councils with greater capacity to regulate trolleys, potentially mandating containment systems like wheel-lock technology. The State Government has acknowledged the concerns, with the Local Government Minister requesting the relevant department to investigate the matter. The motion to disallow Stirling's law is expected to be debated in parliament in October.