Council Update July 2020

Message from the Shire President
The ongoing rain has been helping both our crops and wildflower come up, which is a great sign for both our farmers and our local tourism businesses. Let’s hope it continues!

You may have noticed that the Shire’s marketing for wildflower season is back underway. With folks unable to holiday over east or abroad this year, we are hopeful that we will get plenty of visitation – in spite of the challenges and limitations COVID-19 has created. I note that the current social distancing restrictions have made it difficult for our visitor centre to open this year, but that the volunteers have put together a range of information and materials for visitors to access all the same. It’s also great to see the museum open for visitation too – my thanks go out to everyone who volunteers their time and efforts to deliver these services.

July is always a busy month at Council as well, with the annual review of our Corporate Business Plan and adoption of the budget. These milestones completed, our staff are in a position to deliver another year of services and an array of great projects to the community that we serve.

Having adopted the budget, we will also see rates notices going out. Ratepayers will notice that the cents-in-the-dollar that Council uses to calculate rates has remained frozen at last year’s level. Despite advocacy from our Shire – and others – the Valuer General still undertook a revaluation of rural properties across the state. As a result, rural properties (UV Rates) whose valuations have changed will see a proportionate increase or decrease in the amount due on their rates notice. Properties in the townsites (GRV Rates) will be unchanged. Likewise we have frozen – and in some cases reduced – our fees and charges for the year. These were decisions taken earlier in the year to assist anyone who may be struggling as a result of COVID-19.

– Cr Gary Cosgrove, Shire President

Roads

With the adoption of the budget we are now putting our efforts into our FY20-21 Program. This includes:

  • Resheeting and widening the Shire of Mingenew section of Milo Road
  • 3km of resealing an widening works on Mingenew-Mullewa Road
  • The realignment of the Yandanooka North East / Mingenew-Morawa Road Intersection
  • The repair and resealing of Phillip Street and several town carparks
  • The replacement of the Coalseam Road bridge is scheduled to commence around April 2021
  • Assorted re-sheeting works and ongoing maintenance grading around the Shire

COVID-19

As restrictions continue to ease, Shire facilities are continuing to open up in support of the growing range of permitted activities.

All playgrounds and the skate park are now open

We have developed COVID Safety Plans for the Rec Centre, Turf Bar, Autumn Centre and other public buildings; we ask that clubs and organisations contact the Shire to book and confirm use of any of these facilities so that we can ensure our cleaning regime is being kept up

For further details on Council’s response to the COVID-19 situation, please check our website.

2020-21 Budget

For the 2020/21 Financial Year the Shire of Mingenew has budgeted for a Total Comprehensive Income of $7.07m, comprising operating and capital grants (60%), Rates (28%), Transport Licencing (8% – offset by Transport Licencing Expenditure), Fees and Charges (3%) and Other Sundry Income (1%). Depending on the level of grant funding for any particular year, these percentages may vary significantly.

All of the Shire’s revenue is spent providing infrastructure and services to enhance the everyday lives for ratepayers and visitors. The Shire builds roads, maintains roads, does rubbish collection, maintains parks and gardens, provides leisure services, and community development projects. The Shire dedicates all of its resources into areas that aim to improve the quality of life for its residents and visitors.

Some of these areas include:

  • Transport – $5.65m is budgeted for the maintenance, renewal and upgrade of roads, bridges, culverts, pavements and footpaths
  • Recreation & Culture – $1.52m is budgeted for the provision and maintenance of recreational infrastructure
  • Economic Services – $0.38m is budgeted for the provision of services to the community and for tourism and area promotion
  • Community Amenities – $0.28m is budgeted for infrastructure, waste and other services
  • Governance – $0.34m is budgeted to meet Shire’s regulatory and compliance requirements
  • Other – $0.82m is budgeted for bush fire management & animal control, health, education & welfare, housing and other property and services

As a local government we also have significant compliance and governance responsibilities that we must carry out. This includes the development of various strategic and operational plans, providing reports and information to the State Government and other external agencies, and ensuring we have systems and processes in place for the sound management of public resources.

Rates Notices

With the adoption of the Budget, rates notices have been released. Rates are to be paid in full by making payment by 4pm on Friday 4 September 2020. Alternatively, if you wish to pay your rates by quarterly instalment (a service fee applies) you must pay your first instalment by Friday 4 September 2020.

For more details, please see your Rates Notice (they will be sent out in the last week of July) or contact the Shire.

Ward and Representation Review

Council is embarking on consultation around a review of its ward system. It is a process we are required to carry out at least every 8 years, and we want to hear from you. You can download the discussion paper from the Shire website or pick a copy up from the Shire Office.

Our discussion paper examines three potential options:

  1. Adjust ward boundaries to capture more of the townsite in the Town Ward
  2. Remove the wards altogether
  3. Make no changes

You can make your submissions to us in writing, or by email to governance@mingenew.wa.gov.au. Submissions are due by 10 August 2020.

Road Condition Reports

As the wet weather comes in, the Shire will update the status of its roads on its website 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 here.

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.

Mosquito Activity
Shire officers have been testing and treating standing water for mosquito larvae and fogging. 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.

Council Meeting Review – July 2020

Council held both an Ordinary and a Special meeting in June to consider a number of items:

  • Adoption of a range of policies in support of our Disability Action and Inclusion Plan
  • Annual review of its 3-year Internal Audit Plan
  • Annual review of its 5-year Road Plan
  • Annual review of the Corporate Business Plan 2019-23
  • Endorsement of projects for Local Roads and Community Infrastructure funding
  • Adoption of the 2020-21 Budget

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

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