City of Perth council vote to investigate impact of vacant properties in CBD despite officers’ rejection

The City of Perth council has pushed ahead with an investigation into the effects of long-term vacant buildings in the CBD despite the city’s administration recommending against it. It stemmed from a motion put forward by one-time council candidate and social media business owner Amberlea Henriques at the city’s annual electors meeting in January that raised concerns about the number of vacant properties and the impact they were having. Ms Henriques’ motion was driven by her own experiences with anti-social behaviour at a vacant property near her home in West Perth where she described the daily reality her and her neighbours faced - involving attempted break-ins, open drug use and discarded needles scattered down the street. “If these people were charged slightly more, we’d have more money in the ratepayer kitty to be putting permanent CCTV in place,” she said. “The majority of the time, the owners don’t attend, they have no care of what activities are going on there, and it becomes a community problem.” “If this is what’s happening on my tiny street in West Perth . . . just imagine how problematic the bigger issue is citywide.” Despite city administration rejecting the investigation, the council voted it through with some amendments at their March 31 meeting. Cr Catherine Lezer had proposed the city advocate for a State legislative review of differential ratings and to investigate grants for property owners to improve security against antisocial behaviour at their unoccupied buildings, but this motion was lost. Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds then put forward his own alternative calling for a more “evidence-based” and “measured approach” by requesting the CEO to prepare a “comprehensive report” assessing the amount of long-term vacancies of buildings over 12 months, and the associated economic and safety impacts they have. Cr Chris Patton, who runs three businesses in the city and Northbridge, supported Mr Reynolds’ alternative, arguing business grants were already available and a deeper understanding of the problem was needed. Cr Raj Doshi voted against Mr Reynolds’ alternative. Ms Henriques said the outcome reflected both the concerns of the community and the willingness of the council to work collaboratively toward solutions. “This started as a community concern, and what we’ve seen through council is a willingness to listen, refine and move forward in a way that is both practical and responsible,” she said. “Vacant properties aren’t just an economic issue — they have a real impact on safety, perception and the day-to-day experience of people living and working in our city. “Seeing this motion evolve through collaboration, while still maintaining its core intent, is a strong example of how good governance should work.” Cr Viktor Ko said former councils had tried to impose differential rates on vacant buildings but was challenged twice at the State Administrative Tribunal and failed. The investigation will also explore how the city can better support properties directly impacted by vacancy, including measures to improve safety and security. Ms Henriques said the decision was an important first step. “This is not about rushing to implement a single solution — it’s about doing the work properly, understanding the scale of the issue, and identifying what can be done within the city’s remit while advocating for broader reform where needed,” she said. “As the capital city, there is an opportunity for Perth to lead on this — not just in recognising the problem, but in how we respond to it.” A report will be presented to the council once the investigation is complete.