At an Ordinary Council meeting held 14 December 2022, the final Lcoal Heritage Survey was adopted, in addition to a Local Planning Policy – Heritage to support Council’s decision making in relation to places of heritage significance.

The Local Heritage Survey (LHS) replaces the former Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places (last reviewed in 1996) to identify and prioritise places of local heritage significance and includes a Heritage List that provides some protections and management guidance under the Local Planning Scheme.

Laura Gray of Heritage Intelligence (WA) has been contracted to prepare the new LHS and undertake assessments to determine levels of significance for each place in consideration of the overall context of the Shire’s towns and district. The levels of significance are consistent with the required categories under the Heritage Act 2018, including aesthetic, historic, research and social value and considers rarity and representativeness (see pages 3-4 of the Draft LHS for definitions).

Places considered for the Heritage List are split into categories of significance. Category 1 places are those which are considered to have exceptional cultural heritage significance to the Shire of Mingenew and the State of Western Australia, with all development applications to be referred to the Heritage Council before any works commence. Any places proposed for the Heritage List that are considered Category 2 places, will have protection and recognition through the Shire of Mingenew’s Local Planning Scheme and will require a development application to be submitted prior to any works being undertaken. Category 3 and 4 places have no constraints on development however minor requirements may apply if a planning application is submitted.

Members of the public, including landowners and community interest groups are invited to review the draft LHS and provide comment to assist in informing the final LHS which will be presented at the 15 June 2022 Council meeting.

More Information

To access a copy of the draft Local Heritage Survey, please visit the Shire’s website at www.mingenew.wa.gov.au/resources/ or request a copy at the Shire Administration or email governance@mingenew.wa.gov.au.

Consultant Laura Gray may be contacted on 0408 105 784 or emailed at laura.gray@bigpond.com.

Submissions

Submissions may be made by email to governance@mingenew.wa.gov.au or complete the submission form available at the Shire Office or on the Shire’s website.

Submissions close 9am Monday, 23 May 2022.

To improve our public communication the Shire is currently in the process of updating people’s contact details on our SMS Servicing line and email services. We are aware that people prefer to receive SMS updates and/or emails for certain Shire activities. As such we would appreciate if you could tick those activities for which you would like to receive SMS updates and/or emails for in the form below. To ensure our database is accurate, please complete this even if you already receive SMS or email messaging.

Did you know that the Shire has a range of resources and facilities which are available to our local community to rent and utilise? These include:

• Recreation Centre and Turf Bar
• Autumn Centre
• Community Bus
• Tables and Chairs
• Mobile Coolroom
• Private Works Requests

You can view fees and charges for these items here. Should you wish to make a booking for any of these items, please contact the Shire Office on 08 9928 1102, or drop by the office and speak to someone at Reception to complete an Application Form. Alternatively, you can download a Form right here.

We have introduced these forms to ensure that all requests go through a central point of contact and are properly captured in our booking system. This will help to ensure that requested items or facilities are ready when needed and allow us to keep better track of how our resources are used.

If you want to book something, or simply have a question about the booking process, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 08 9928 1102 or come and see us on 21 Victoria Street. Thank you.

To better manage our natural environment, reduce unauthorised dumping of waste and improve our regulatory compliance, the Shire of Mingenew is moving from its current Landfill approach towards a Transfer Station model. This will  mean some changes in the way our tip operates.

When will it start?

It commenced on 8 June 2021.

How does it operate?

The site will be staffed by Cleanaway, who manage local rubbish collection. Upon entry, you are required to visit the site shed and the staff member will provide you with directions for the disposal of your rubbish. There will be signage on site to assist.

What does this mean for opening hours?

As the site will be manned, opening hours will be restricted. Based on feedback from previous community surveys, the Shire will be adopting the following hours initially:

Monday:           Closed

Tuesday:          8am – 12pm

Wednesday:      1pm – 5pm

Thursday:          Closed

Friday:              8am – 12pm

Saturday:          9am – 12pm

Sunday:            9am – 12pm

As this is a new arrangement, we will monitor these hours and they may be reviewed in the future.

Will it cost anything?

Initially, no. The intent is to keep the use of the facility free for Mingenew residents and ratepayers. There may be charges introduced for non-resident and ratepayers to dump their rubbish in Mingenew.

Will all waste be accepted?

No. Due to the cost involved with disposal of asbestos and tyres, these items will no longer be permitted to be dumped.

More Information

You can find out more, including viewing a copy of the site Environmental Management Plan, below. You can also contact the Shire directly for more information on 08 9928 1102 or by emailing enquiries@mingenew.wa.gov.au.

Public Interest Disclosure Act  2003 (PID Act)

The PID Act enables people to make disclosures about wrongdoing within the state public sector, local government and public universities without fear of reprisal. The Act aims to ensure openness and accountability in government by encouraging people to make disclosures by maintaining confidentiality and providing immunity from detrimental action.

What is a public interest disclosure?

A disclosure must relate to a matter of public interest and tend to show wrongdoing by a public body.

What is a public body?

• A public authority (State Government, local government, public university etc);
• A public officer (Employee of a public authority, a minister, a member of parliament, a judicial officer, a police officer, a holder of office under the State);
• A public sector contractor (a person or organisation engaged by a public authority).

What is a wrongdoing?

• Improper conduct;
• Offence under State Law;
• Substantial misuse of public resources;
• Substantial mismanagement of public resources;
• Substantial risk to public health, safety or the environment;
• Matter of administration that can be investigated by the State Ombudsman.

Who can make a disclosure?

Anyone who believes on reasonable grounds that the information they have is or may be true can make a disclosure, including an employee of a public authority and a member of the public.

How do I make a disclosure?

Your disclosure must be made to a proper authority.

Who is a proper authority?

• The PID Officer within the public authority where the wrongdoing occurred;
• A Police Officer;
• Corruption and Crime Commission;
• WA Ombudsman;
• Auditor General.

Useful contacts?

• PID Officer, Shire of Mingenew: Nils Hay (08) 9928 1102
• For further information about public interest disclosures click here
• The Public Sector Commission’s Guide for Disclosers can be accessed here

Alternatively call the PID Advice and Referral Line: 1800 355 835

Applications have closed the Shire’s Community Assistance Scheme for 2021/22. A new round will commence early in the 2022/23 financial year, so start thinking about your projects!

For more information on the Scheme, contact Community Development Officer Margaret Rowe on 9928 1102 or email cdo@mingenew.wa.gov.au.

Background

A community meeting was held on Friday, 10 June 2022 at the Mingenew Recreation Centre to discuss the future of the Mingenew supermarket and to share the issues faced by the community and stakeholders. The meeting was attended by approximately 50 people and there was clear feedback the community was strongly behind finding a solution that would see such an important service maintained in Mingenew, and a willingness for this to be community-led.

Consultant Report

As such, Council engaged a consultant, Sue Middleton of AgDots to research community ownership models to inform the community in potentially acquiring the supermarket building and/or business. The report, ‘Structural Options for Owning Community Assets’ has been finalised and can be downloaded from the Shire’s website at www.mingenew.wa.gov.au/resources/.

The report identifies and compares community models that have been established for similar circumstances, including Coorow, Bruce Rock, Wongan Hills, Mt Barker, Beacon and Gnowangerup. There are also various structures explored and compared that could be considered for Mingenew:

1. Incorporated Association
2. Company Limited by Guarantee
3. Cooperative
4. Community Foundation

The report highlights the pros and cons of each model and indicates where further research or legal advice may be required.

Next Steps

The Shire is coordinating the establishment of a Working Group / Advisory Group to assist in determining a preferred option, guiding research requirements for operational and legal implications and sharing the information with the broader community.

In the meantime, should you wish to provide any comments or feedback on the AgDots Report please send these to Erin Greaves, Governance and Community Manager email governance@mingenew.wa.gov.au.

Gary Cosgrove

Shire President

13 July 2022