Kardinya roller shutters

One in five Kardinya residents (20.4%) was 65 or over at the 2021 Census, above the Greater Perth share of 15.8%. Mining employed 4.7% of working residents, below Greater Perth's 6.6%. The census does not record who works fly-in fly-out, so the mining share is only a proxy for fly-in fly-out work.

Before a long trip, run through the WA Police holiday checklist: lock every door and window, including the garage, shed and pet doors; give a trusted person your contact details and a spare key; and set timers on lights and electronics. Motorised roller shutters can sit alongside that list. They close with one press of a remote, can follow a daily timer while you are gone, and with a WiFi hub can be moved from your phone.

In the hottest weeks of summer, lowering the shutters on sun-facing windows also keeps heat out of a closed-up house. The WA Seniors Card guide makes a similar point, noting that window shutters bring benefits beyond security, including saving on energy costs and sunlight control.

Kardinya is in the City of Melville. A single house can take shutters without development approval where the state exemption applies, that is, where the R-Codes apply, the work is deemed-to-comply and the place is not heritage protected. Melville's additional exemptions policy, LPP 1.17, says much the same for residential work, unless heritage considerations affect the site.

The exception is a house on the City's local heritage list. Melville says planning approval is required for all development associated with listed properties, so check the list before you order.

For outdoor areas, the City's planning exemptions page says a pergola or shade sail in a residential zone needs no planning approval unless it is in a heritage property or area. That page says nothing about blinds, so ask the City if your plans go beyond a simple patio.

The WA Seniors Card Safety and Security Rebate counts window shutters as an eligible item, up to $400 per household. With 20.4% of residents aged 65 or over, it is worth checking if you hold a Seniors Card.