Council Update February 2020

Message from the Shire President

The year is off to a very good start, we have received some welcome soaking rain and – almost counter-intuitively – $500,000 of Federal funding through the Drought Communities Program. Over the coming weeks and months Council will be deliberating on the best way to utilise that funding to drive the aims of our Strategic Community Plan and provide positive outcomes for the Shire.

Potential projects were among the topics for discussion at a recent half-day strategic planning session held by Councillors and senior staff. With both population and economic growth key aims, and significant challenges, identified by last year’s Strategic Community Plan it was helpful to devote some time to examining our current project pipeline and service delivery with a view to ensuring it helps to support our aspirations for the community.

Our local businesses are a key part of the long-term wellbeing of Mingenew, and I know that our CEO and CDO have been holding some workshops with local business-owners to discuss how our business community, and the Shire, can work more collaboratively for the common benefit. This conversation was happening at the same time that Starick Tyres – a long-running Mingenew business – changed hands. On behalf of the Council, I want to thank Rick and Linley Starick for the contribution they have made to Mingenew over their many years of operation. I also want to welcome Fred and Lisa, the new owners of Mingenew Tyre Services, to Mingenew and wish them the success and support that the Staricks enjoyed.

– Cr Gary Cosgrove, Shire President

Roads

Sealing crews have completed works on the Yandanooka North East and two sections of Coalseam Road. Further construction works on Coalseam road are planned for completion during mid-late March, followed by the completion of construction and sealing works on Mingenew-Mullewa Road in late March-early April (barring any further significant rain events).

Mingenew Skate Park

The working group for the Mingenew Skate Park met recently. The next step in the project is that some draft ‘mud map’ style designs will be created and disseminated for public feedback.

Electors’ Annual General Meeting

Council held its Annual General Meeting of electors on 10 February 2020. We would like to thank those who attended and participated in the meeting. You can view the minutes for the meeting online here.

Small Business Meetings

The Shire’s CEO and Community Development Officer recently held a series of meetings with local small business owners. “Making Business Easy in Mingenew” is one of the five pillars of the Shire’s Strategic Community Plan 2019-2029 and we were keen to find out about the barriers to growth local businesses are experiencing and how the Shire can assist. It was also an opportunity to discuss the impact of the Shire’s ongoing marketing, as well as the possibility of reviving Mingenew’s Business Alliance.

Surveys have been sent to business owners who were unable to attend (if you haven’t received one please contact Margaret Rowe – click here) and a summary of the meeting and survey outcomes will be distributed once the surveying process is complete.

Fire Season Reminder

Please be aware that we are no in a Restricted Burning period (until 15 March 2020). As such, permits are required for all burning up to this point. After that, we ask everyone to exercise due caution when conducting burning off activities. To arrange a permit, contact the Shire’s Chief Bushfire Control Officer, Murray Thomas, on 9928 1122 or 0428 281 157. Please click here for more information.

Mosquito Activity

Following recent rain, Shire officers will be testing and treating standing water for mosquito larvae. If you are have issues with mosquitos at your property, please let the Shire know (visit the office, call 9928 1102 or email enquiries@mingenew.wa.gov.au) so that we can investigate and treat the issue. If required, we will issue public notices and conduct a program of fogging.

Scrap Metal Clean-up

The Shire is arranging for the free pick-up and disposal of any unwanted or abandoned vehicles, machinery or scrap metal. They don’t just look untidy, they also make great homes for vermin and breeding sites for mosquitoes. If you have some at your place, contact our CDO Margaret Rowe (9928 1102 or cdo@mingenew.wa.gov.au) for more information and to arrange a pick-up.  (And if your neighbours have some, make sure they know about this service!)

Free Stargazing Event

The Shire, in conjunction with Astrotourism WA, will be holding a free stargazing event at Yandanooka Hall starting at 6.30 in the evening of 28 March 2020. The event will include presentations on astronomy and there will be telescopes set up to view a whole range of celestial objects. If you have a telescope or binoculars bring them along, if not just bring along some picnic gear! You can find all the details on the Shire website here.

Mingenew Races

The Mingenew Races are taking place on Saturday 14 March 2020. The day will include Fashions on the Field, children’s entertainment, evening entertainment, TAB, food and drink and – of course – some great thoroughbred racing! Head over to the Turf Club’s Facebook page for more details.

CheckMate Men’s Health

CheckMate will be holding “A Night with the Blokes” in Mingenew on 17 March 2020. This workshop, facilitated by Tomorrow Man aims to get men talking and explore ways they can look after themselves, their mates and their families. You can find out more on the Checkmate website.

Land and Housing Audit

Council is conducting an audit of available (for sale or rent) housing and land in and around Mingenew. If you own a house or land which is vacant, your input would be incredibly valuable. You can complete the survey online here or pick one up at our front counter.

Town Planning Scheme

After many months of development, consultation and review, the Shire of Mingenew’s Local Planning Scheme No. 4 has now been completed and received Ministerial endorsement. You can find out more about the Scheme, as well as download a range of planning and development forms and documents from the Shire website. A hard copy is also available for viewing at the Shire office.

Road Condition Reports

As the wet weather comes in, the Shire will update the status of its roads on its website (click here) and Facebook page. You can also subscribe to be added to our text message service by completing the registration form at the Shire Office or downloading it from this webpage.

We ask that – when it is wet – motorists avoid non-essential travel on our unsealed roads, as this can cause damage to our road network, and diverts resources away from our ongoing road improvement efforts.

Marketing Report

As you will have likely noticed, the Shire has spent significant resources and effort on the marketing of the Shire. To give an idea of the impact that is having, we have prepared a report which can be downloaded from the Shire website (click here) or obtained from the Shire administration office.

Service Outages

The recent weather brought with it some power, telephone/internet and TV service outages. Unfortunately, these are not services that the Local Government has any control over. Should you experience these at any stage, please report it directly to the service providers:

Western Power:         13 13 51 or visit https://westernpower.com.au/faqs/outages/

Telstra:                        13 22 03 or visit https://outages.telstra.com.au/

COVID-19

Council is keeping a close eye on developments as COVID-19 spreads. At this stage, we have not chosen to make any changes to our current operations or scheduled events, but we continue to monitor this ever-evolving process and take advice from government and health care professionals.

During this time, we urge people to remain alert – but calm – and to seek their advice and information from reputable sources, such as:

• The HealthyWA website – this site has regularly updated information on COVID clinics and current advice.
• Commonwealth Department of Health – contains a number of fact sheets to answer the many questions that are currently being asked by the broader community and different industries including advice for employers,
• WA State Government Coronavirus Page – includes the WA Government Pandemic Plan

Council Meeting Review

The first Council Meeting of the year took place on 19 February 2020.

In addition to a number of procedural items, including the adoption of the Shire’s Freedom of Information Statement and review of the WA Local Government Association’s State Council Agenda, Council also considered several land-related matters:

• A proposal from a land-owner to purchase several blocks in the Mingenew townsite was declined
• Council will be commencing formal negotiations with a rural land-holder to purchase some land in order to complete the realignment of the Yandanooka North East-Mingenew Morawa Road intersection
• Council will formalise arrangements with the Mingenew P&C around the ‘cropping block’ behind the school that was bequeathed to the ‘children of Mingenew’ over 60 years ago. Among other things, the new arrangement will mean the P&C will no longer pay rates on the land.

For all the details, you can check the minutes on the Shire website right here.