RESIDENTS of Hovea, Stoneville and Parkerville will combine their efforts with the recent forming of the Hovea-Stoneville-Parkerville Residents and Ratepayers Association (HSPPR).

The incorporation last month of the new association sees the amalgamation of the Hovea Residents and Ratepayers Association (HRRA) and the Stoneville and Parkerville Progress Association (SPPA).

HSPPR chair Jo Sheil said it was recognised last year that the SPPA and HRRA, organisations with similar objectives and membership, could strengthen the support of the community by joining together to support members and gain strength in numbers.

“This perpetuates the support of the community by a residents and ratepayers association in the Stoneville area and surrounds continuously for more than 100 years,” she said.

“The HSPRR will combine the strong personalised community touch of the HRRA and the advocacy that has characterised the SPPA over recent years.”

Recent community issues have included the fight against the development of North Stoneville, support of community members who have been affected by multiple bushfires, the establishment of the Stoneville Community Garden and the installation of local community facilities.

“We are very excited to be moving forward with a strengthened executive and larger membership base,” Mrs Sheil said.

She said the objectives of the new association are to represent and advocate for the interests of residents and ratepayers of Hovea, Stoneville, and Parkerville, encourage community engagement, provide a forum for local discussion, and advocate for the community on matters affecting the area.

The group also aims to protect and enhance the environment, heritage and amenity of the area, support projects that improve local services, safety, connectedness, and quality of life and liaise with local, state and federal government bodies and other relevant authorities and community groups.

The Stoneville Community Garden will continue to operate as a project of the HSPRR and will celebrate its fifth birthday this year.

The previous Stoneville Progress Association has a huge local history being founded just over 100 years ago in August 1926.

By December 1927, they had advocated for and gained a local post office with PO boxes and regular mail deliveries, telephone services, the stopping of trains for passengers and the promise of a future rail siding, better roads including a new road bridge to Mt Helena/Mundaring crossing Jane Brook and improvements at the Mundaring School.

The group also secured the donation of land for a new hall site and tennis courts by WG Adams, a donation of a new bowling green and roller by WJ Kensitt, and the use of a meeting room in the local residence of EP Tamblyn at Tamblyn House.

In February 1950, after a major bushfire and with the help of the Mundaring Roads Board (now the Shire of Mundaring) SPA established the beginnings of a local volunteer bushfire brigade run by local residents until a volunteer bush fire brigade was formally established.

In 1995, SPA commenced campaigning against the North Stoneville and North Parkerville developments based upon environmental and extreme bushfire risk grounds.

In 2008, SPA became the Stoneville & Parkerville Progress Association Inc (SPPA) to also represent the local Parkerville residents while another separate community group was also formed to become Save Perth Hills Inc. (SPH).

Since 1996, many serious local issues have been supported by SPPA including opposition to inappropriate developments, providing full support for appropriate development and also providing much needed advocacy and support services to the many local residents impacted by the 2008 Parkerville/Stoneville Bushfire, the 2014 Parkerville/Stoneville/Mt Helena

Bushfire and the more recent 2023 Parkerville Bushfire.

The Hovea Residents and Ratepayers Association was formed in the late 80s following a council decision to allow the 2ha blocks on the plateau area of Hovea to be subdivided into 1ha blocks, which caused a number of householders to gather to discuss the decision.

The outcome was the formation of the HRRA to enable residents to become more aware of council’s role in the community.

The HSPPR meet every couple of months usually at the Parkerville Pavillion.

For further information on the new organisation or to get involved email villes.progress.assoc@gmail.com