Author: Matt Fanning

End of Financial Year is fast approaching, as we are reminded what rain looks like. It’s been another big month here at the Shire.

Message from the Shire President

After one of the driest possible starts to a year, finally we have had some rain! Whether you are growing grain or livestock, waiting for wildflowers or simply sick of watching your garden go brown, I’m sure you’ll feel that this is a very welcome development for our region.

It has been a busy month in our community, and I was fortunate to attend two fantastic events – the Biggest Morning Tea and the 90^th Birthday of the Mingenew Branch of the Country Women’s Association. The CWA 90^th Birthday was well attended, and a great reminder of the generations of community volunteers who have come before us and continue to contribute to our community in so many ways. Through my family, I have had quite a close relationship with the CWA, and the pride that our local group displayed in reaching this impressive milestone is deserved.

I must also congratulate the volunteers behind the Biggest Morning Tea, who amassed a great turn-out, put on an exception spread, and raised over $2,000 for the Cancer Council – a terrific effort for a very worthy cause. The attendance and fundraising success is another example of our small community achieving big things.

Speaking of such things, I must also acknowledge the efforts of our Shire CEO Nils Hay and his team, who have successfully secured almost $900,000 in funding from the WA Government to assist with the ongoing upgrade of the Coalseam Road. Only 14 Shires in WA were successful in obtaining funding through the Commodity Freight Route Fund, and this financial boost is very welcome as Council prepares to consider the 2019/20 Budget.

This week I was also invited to meet with the Minister for Local Government, along with other Shire Presidents and CEOs from the region. The forum focused on the ongoing reform of the Local Government Act, as well as some of the challenges the sector is currently facing; some of which are of its own making, others which are a result of external pressures. It was a reminder that Local Government – like all industries – must continue to evolve and adapt if we are to thrive.

– Cr Helen Newton, Shire President.

 

Extraordinary Election

The result for the Town Ward election is in! Congratulations to Anthony Smyth (30 votes) and commiserations to Carol Farr (26 votes) on what was a very close outcome.

Our next election will be taking place on 19 October, and will see two Town Ward and two Rural Ward seats available for nomination. For more information, click here.

Corporate Planning and Budget

Following the adoption of our new Strategic Community Plan 2019-2029 on 1 May (click  here for all the details) we are now working on our internal 4-year Corporate Business Plan (CBP). The CBP seeks to break down the goals of the Strategic Community Plan into projects and initiatives that Council can plan, fund, deliver and maintain.

At the same time, Council is developing its budget for the 2019-20 Financial Year, to ensure that we can resource these programs and initiatives. This process always involves a balancing act, as we resource the things we must do (legal compliance, regulatory requirements, acquitting funded projects) whilst also making room for new initiatives and programs to improve our infrastructure and make our community a better place.

You can expect to hear more about both the CBP and budget in the coming months as they are further developed and adopted.

Roads

The past few weeks has seen the completion of 1.5km of widening and reseal work on Yandanooka North East Road, as well as a Road Safety Audit conducted upon that road as well. The Audit helps to identify areas requiring work from a safety perspective, and is a pre-requisite for applying for Black Spot funding to help improve unsafe sections. As many road users will be aware, there are areas of Yandanooka North East Road which could use that kind of upgrade attention, and we will be seeking Black Spot funding to help us to do so.

Our final remaining road project for the financial year is currently well underway on Mingenew-Mullewa Road, where we are widening, reconstructing and resealing another 3 kilometer section. During this period, we will have automatic traffic lights set up on the road. For your safety, and the safety of our staff, please obey these signals. We apologies for any inconvenience.

Through our budget process we are finalizing our 2019-20 road program also. We are planning for a less intense construction program for the coming year, which should free up additional resources for maintenance on both our rural and town roads. That said, it has just been announced that we were successful in our application for $894,000 of funding to widen a further 9.51km of Coalseam Road. As such, we are one of only 14 Shires in WA to successfully receive funding through the Commodity Freight Route Fund. Naturally, this is a welcome boost to our budget, and will help to accelerate our ongoing upgrade plans for that road.

Bridge Update

We have received an update from Main Roads regarding the ongoing review and replacement of the Coalseam and Yarragadee Bridges:

Coalseam:

• Structural Engineering review was completed in Mid April 2019.
• Feasibility Study needs to be continued for bridge types and alignment options.
• Once the bridge type and the alignment option is finalised, environmental and heritage approvals need to be reviewed.
• Engagement of a Consultant for Waterway assessment and survey is happening now. Anticipated completion is Sept 2019.
• Next Steps are to undertake geotechnical investigation, developing options and move into 15% Design Stage.

At this stage works are still some time off. The existing bridge and traffic controls will remain in place through the 2019 Harvest at least.

Yarragadee:

• Waterway Assessment for Bridge Replacement is happening now. It is anticipated that it will be completed mid July.
• Project Brief for Feasibility study for Bridge Replacement versus any strengthening was received on 16th May.  At this stage Geotechnical Investigations are being organised and Structural Engineering review is continuing.
• Next step – Undertake the Feasibility Study for Replacement verses strengthening.

Council Meeting Review

Following the Special Meeting and Audit and Risk Committee Meeting on May 1, our May Ordinary Council Meeting was quite procedural. One key issue that did come up for discussion was the tidiness and fire risk of blocks in the townsite. The Shire Ranger has since taken this area as a focus; even though we are out of the restricted burning period, our current dry spell means that the risk is still present.

As always, minutes can be found on the Shire website, right here.

Tourism Update

With the annual tourist season approaching (some would say already under way, with plenty of caravans on the road), the Shire is preparing for another wildflower season. Over the coming months hopefully we will see some great rains, beautiful wildflowers and ongoing promotion of the ‘See You In Mingenew’ campaign, as well as some new wildflower-focused marketing for this year.

To support these efforts, the Shire CEO – who is also the Chair of WA’s Wildflower Country, a regional tourism-focused grouping of Shires – has been busy engaging with various bodies to promote our region’s superb natural assets. Over the course of June he was invited to present to industry representatives at FACET’s ‘Capitalising on Western Australia’s Unique Flora’ Perth forum, as well as meeting with the Tourism WA board in Geraldton to talk about the role of Wildflower Country and raise awareness of not just our wildflowers, but also the potential for astrotourism, trails and farm-based tourism which exists here in the Mid West.

Community Assistance Grants

Our Selection Panel met in May to assess the applications for our Community Assistance Grants. We are happy to announce that the following projects were selected for assistance:

• Checkmate Men’s Health – Mingenew CRC
• Community Care Senior’s Activities – Mingenew CRC
• Historic Walk Trail – Mingenew Historical Society and Mingenew Tourism & Promotions Committee
• Sister Cameron House Outdoor Renovations – Mingenew Playgroup
• Static Cattle Drove – Mingenew Tourism & Promotions Committee
• Through the Farm Gate Tours – Mingenew Irwin Group

Thanks to all who applied. There is some CAS funding remaining, so expect to see Round 2 released in the new Financial Year. We are also looking into holding some further grant writing workshops in the area ahead of the next round to assist any prospective applicants.

Thank A Volunteer

Our volunteers do a tremendous for this community, and volunteer burnout was a hot topic during the consultation around our Strategic Community Plan. Whilst it can never fully repay the great work that they do, we will be holding a Thank a Volunteer Day Ceremony and BBQ on Thursday 27 June from 3.30pm at the Turf Bar. Please contact the Shire on 9928 1102 or email csa@mingenew.wa.gov.au to RSVP.

Website and Communications

We have been updating our contact lists for our email and text message database. We have finalized our new lists, so if feel you are missing out on important text messages with Shire updates, please complete the ‘Community Register’ form here, or simply come into the Shire office for a form.

Likewise, if you haven’t already, click here to follow the Shire on Facebook for a range of regular updates.

If you want to download this newsletter as  PDF, you can. Just click here.

With the rain starting to fall and our plants starting to grow the Shire needs your help to ensure that our town blocks are tidy and not providing habitats for mosquitos or vermin.

What is the Shire doing?

Our Environmental Health Officer and Ranger will be conducting inspections to identify any locations which may harbour vermin or provide habitat for mosquitos, or which are likely to become a future fire hazard.  These blocks typically:

• Contain debris or rubbish, including places where water collects and stagnates
• Are overgrown or untidy

Click here for more information on mosquito control, and here for information on discouraging rats.

We will contact property owners and request that they address any issues that are found. We can also help to discuss possible solutions. Council can assist with transportation of large items to the rubbish tip and with block slashing through private works arrangements (click here for a private works request form). We may also be able to assist with the treatment of standing water to eliminate mosquitos.

In general, we much prefer to help owners tidy up rather than issuing infringement notices.

What can you do?

• Store materials on your block in a tidy manner and tip out any standing water, reducing the places for vermin and mosquitos to live and breed
• Remove debris/rubbish from your block
• Keep the vegetation on your block trimmed so that it doesn’t become a home for vermin or, come the end of the rains, a potential fire hazard
• Contact Council if you have large items, like car bodies, that you need help to remove

What is the outcome?

• There are less places for vermin and mosquitos to breed
• There are less overgrown lots and a smaller fire hazard come next fire season
• Our town looks tidier and more appealing
• Mingenew is a safer and more pleasant place to live and visit

We know that most of our residents work hard to keep their properties tidy, and we are confident that these are outcomes everyone would like to see. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at the Shire and we will do our best to help.

The Shire of Mingenew is in the process of reviewing its Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP).

It is a requirement of the Disability Services Act 1993 (the Act) that public authorities develop and implement a DAIP that outlines the ways in which the organisation will ensure that people with disability, their carers and families have equal access to its information, services and facilities. The Act identifies specific outcomes to be achieved by organisations in providing services to clients with disability. You can view the Shire’s current DAIP here.

The Shire of Mingenew is seeking feedback from the community on how to better provide for people with disabilities living in and visiting our community. We encourage both individual and community group submissions to gain a broad perspective of community needs and issues.

Your valuable feedback will be used to review the Shire’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) and formulate strategies and initiatives that align with the Strategic Community Plan strategy to “provide buildings, facilities and services to meet the community needs”.

A short online survey has been developed to coordinate responses, however you are welcome to make a submission via email to governance@mingenew.wa.gov.au or by post / hand delivery to 21 Victoria Street, Mingenew. Hard copies of the survey are also available at the Shire Office.

You can complete the online survey here.

Please contact us on 9928 1102 should you wish to discuss this survey and the DAIP, including requests for receiving information and making submissions in a different format.

The Shire of Mingenew currently has two fixed water standpipes located within the Shire for use by the Shire, for firefighting purposes and the community. The Water Corporation recently contacted rural Western Australian Local Government Authorities (LGA) and advised them that as of 1 July 2019, new water charges will apply to fixed standpipes based on the category of the standpipe and requested that all Local Governments in WA re-categorise their standpipes.

The Water Corporation presented options for LGAs to categorise their standpipes into, for the purpose of water usage billing. These options were discussed at Council’s 20 February 2019 meeting. To view those minutes, click here.

Summary

Due to the significant increase in the commercial service water charges being introduced by the Water Corporation, and a desire to better control commercial access to standpipes, the Shire of Mingenew has chosen to classify one of the two existing standpipes as Local Authority standpipes and padlock them as of 1 July 2019. This standpipe, located on the corner of Linthorne and George Streets (opposite the Shire Depot) can only be used by the Shire, during emergency fire events and declared times of drought. Water availability for a fire emergency will remain the same, with all Bush Fire Control Officers (BFCO’s) being issued with a key to unlock the fire control padlocks.

The need to have a standpipe to provide water to the community is important. The standpipe identified to provide this service is to be the one located on Victoria Road Mingenew, on the southern edge of town (past the Shenton Street Intersection). This standpipe will be classed as a commercial standpipe for the purchase of water and will attract a higher charge for water consumption than that of the Local Authority standpipe.

Customers wishing to purchase water from the commercial standpipe will need to visit the Shire Office to gain access, and fees will apply.

This standpipe will also be available for firefighting. There is no charge for water used during a fire event.

The proposed changes in water charges by the Water Corporation on rural fixed water standpipes have necessitated LGA to make changes on the way they manage their standpipe assets so as to:

• Recognise that water is a valuable, but scarce commodity;
• Provide a cost efficient standpipe service to the public and other users with a user pay system that can be effectively monitored;
• Provide water during fire emergencies; and
• Provide water to farmers in times of declared drought.

The changes to standpipes are planned to take effect from 1 July 2019 with the current arrangement for standpipes to remain in place until that time. Should you need further clarification or wish to comment then please direct your emails to enquiries@mingenew.wa.gov.au or call the office on 08 9928 1102.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 Why are the Standpipes being locked?

Due to the new charges being introduced by the Water Corporation on Local Government standpipes starting from 1 July 2019, Local Governments have been required to categorise their standpipes in order to manage their usage and cover costs. Water will be available for purchase from a commercial standpipe located on Victoria Road to the south of town.

Which standpipes can I use for firefighting?

All standpipes can be used for firefighting. BFCO’s will be issued a key to unlock the padlock during a fire incident.

Which standpipes can I use to purchase water?

There will be one standpipe where you can purchase water. The standpipe is located on Victoria Road to the south of town (past the Shenton Street intersection). You will need to contact the Shire to gain access and purchase water.

What happens in the event of a declared drought?

During a declared Water Deficiency Event (drought) made by the State Government, farmers are able to access the water at a concessional rate in accordance with the declaration from any standpipe.

Can I fill up my firefighter tanks free of charge from standpipes for preventing outbreak of fires on my property?

No. You should fill up your firefighter tanks with a local water source from your property and not utilise potable water for that purpose. In the event of a fire, you can use any standpipe to fill your unit.

When will these changes take effect from?

The changes to standpipes will take effect from 1 July 2019. The current arrangements for standpipe use will remain in place until that time.

How much will water cost from the Commercial Standpipe?

The Shire has not set a fee yet (this will happen as part of the budgeting process for 2019/20), however the rate will not be less than the rate to be charged by the Water Corporation. That is up to $8.353 per kilolitre.

 

Further information from the Water Corporation on Fixed Standpipes can be accessed on their website. See their FAQ document here.

You can also download a copy of this notice here and a map of standpipe locations here.

An Extraordinary Election is to be held on Friday 7 June 2019 to fill the following vacancy of the Mingenew Shire Council:
Town Ward:  Councillor term to expire on 16/10/2021.

The Election will be conducted as Voting in Person Election

Nominees
Anthony Smyth
Carol Farr

Polling Options

• On election day at the Shire of Mingenew Administration Office, 21 Victoria St Mingenew, between 8.00am to 6.00pm on Friday 07th June 2019.
• Early vote can be cast at the Shire of Mingenew Administration Office, 21 Victoria St Mingenew during office hours from Monday 13th May 2019 until 4.00pm 06 June 2019.
• Absent vote can be cast at any local government office in Western Australia during office hours from now until 4.00pm, Monday 03 June 2019.
• Postal vote application forms are available now from the Shire of Mingenew Administration Office, 21 Victoria St Mingenew. Forms must be received before 6.00pm on election day.

Who Can Vote
Only those listed on the electoral role under the Town Ward are eligible to vote in this election.

Vote Counting
Members of the public and candidates are welcome to attend the counting of the votes after 6.00pm on Friday 7th June 2019 at the Shire of Mingenew Council Chambers, 21 Victoria St Mingenew.

For full particulars, including arrangements for people with a disability, please enquire at the Shire office. For general election information click here.

Nils Hay
Returning Officer
Chief Executive Officer

As the weather cools down and the seeders kick into action we are looking to finish our current financial year projects and plan for FY19/20.

Message from the Shire President
The past month has seen the Shire engaging with both our State and Federal counterparts, as we hosted the Hon. Melissa Price MP, Minister for the Environment and Federal Member for Durack at our Anzac Day ceremony and the Hon. Darren West MLC who joined us to represent the Minister for Sport and Recreation to open our new Netball Courts.

These visits are a great opportunity for us to remind our State and Federal representatives of both the needs of our Shire, as well as the incredibly significant contribution that our region makes to the wider State and National economy. Whilst roads, particularly the funding of roads, are always topics for discussion, our conversation with Minister Price also included telecommunications – and the desire to see improved mobile telephone coverage for our Shire. We also sought support for improvements to digital connectivity, for both our farming community and our small (but growing) space industry.

We spoke with MLC West about a range of issues, including housing. Housing was raised as one of our key community issues through our Strategic Community Planning process, and we believe it will feature in the State Government’s upcoming policy framework. Naturally, we will be seeking to participate in this process as best we can to try to ensure some positive outcomes for Mingenew.

Beyond our visitors, I would also like to recognise and thank the organisers and participants of both of these events for their efforts. I felt that this year’s Anzac Day ceremony was a great tribute to those who have fought and sacrificed for this country. Likewise, it was heartening to stand on our fantastic new netball courts – they have certainly come a long way since I last played on them.

I also note that we have two nominees for our upcoming special election, and I want to thank them for their nominations. The role of Councillor can be both challenging and rewarding, and I want to commend anyone who puts their hand up to serve their community in this way.

– Cr Helen Newton, Shire President.

Extraordinary Election
We are holding an extraordinary election on Friday 7 June to fill a vacant seat in the Town Ward. Nominations have recently closed, and we have two candidates: Carol Farr and Anthony Smyth. We wish them both the best of luck. More information on the election process can be found on our Elections page.

In addition to this extraordinary election, there will be a regular biennial Local Government election on 19 October this year with two seats each in the Town and Rural wards coming up. Expect to see and hear more about this closer to the date.

Strategic Planning
Our Strategic Community Plan 2019-2029 was adopted by Council at a Special Meeting on May 1. You can click here to view and download the document.

The next step is for Council staff to operationalise the plan by distilling it into a four-year Corporate Business Plan, which will seek to capture and deliver upon some of the Strategic Community Plan’s ten-year goals.

Roads
While many are hoping for a soaking of rain, the dry weather is allowing us to press forward with our roadworks program unimpeded. We have two key funded projects we must complete by 30 June: a further 3km of widening and sealing on Mingenew-Mullewa Road and 1.5km of the same on Yandanooka North East Road.

We are also looking at our budget and program for next financial year, which will include further widening and reseal work on Coalseam Road as well as a range of smaller town and rural road maintenance projects. This process is being supported by the development of a Shire-wide Road Hierarchy (a document adopted by Council at our April Meeting) which will help to inform an (under development) 5-year road maintenance and construction plan.

Council Meeting Review
Our April Council Meeting took place on 17 April. This month saw the adoption of the Shire’s updated Asset Management Plan, part of our wider integrated planning framework, which helps us to better understand and guide future maintenance and investment in our infrastructure and assets. As noted above, council also formally adopted their Road Hierarchy, one of the key recommendations that came from the Asset Management Plan, and a first step to a better formalized 5-year road maintenance and construction program.

The meeting was quite planning-heavy, with decisions relating to a local planning application, the Geraldton Alternative Settlement Arrangement native title process and the adoption of the Shire new Local Planning Scheme (No.4). The new Scheme updates our local planning framework and bring it into line with current legislation and good practice guidelines. You can view a copy of the Scheme, and find more information about planning and development generally on the Shire website by clicking here.

As always, minutes can be found on the Shire website by clicking here.

Publicity
Mingenew is receiving some publicity at the moment; we recently had a visit from the West Australia newspaper, as part of their ‘Back to the Land’ travel lift-out (see their Saturday 4 May issue). On 8 May you may also encounter a film crew from the Our Town television show in the area, showcasing our attractions, lifestyle and people as part of an episode focused on our region which will air in the coming months.

Netball Courts
At the first round of the 2019 Winter Sports calendar on 27 April we were delighted to formally open our new netball courts. The project would not have been possible without significant contributions from the Department of Sport and Recreation and the Mingenew Netball Club (and additional support from Smyth Agri Services, Bayer, Geraldton Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank and the Mingenew Football Club).

Audit and Risk Committee
While it may not be one of the most exciting aspects of Local Government, governance and compliance forms large part of what we do. In fact, when the question “What do all those people in the office actually do?” is asked, a significant part of the answer lies in maintaining and delivering upon our legislative compliance requirements. Whilst the Local Government Act 1995 and (11) associated Regulations govern much of our activity, we administer somewhere in the order of 50 pieces of legislation; from Occupational Health and Safety, to Bush Fires to Animal Welfare, Roads, Recordkeeping, Waste and the list goes on. Whilst the administration and reporting that goes on is often unseen in the wider community, it still generates a significant workload for our team and – as a public organisation – we leave ourselves open to significant financial and reputational risk if we don’t take these aspects of our operations seriously.

The scrutiny that Local Government comes under from the State and associated regulators has been increasing year on year and from 1 July 2019 the WA Office of the Auditor General, who are taking responsibility for Local Government audit in the state, will assume control of the Shire of Mingenew’s external audit function. While this ostensibly means that we will be subject to a broader, more rigorous audit, it also means that we have an increased requirement to be able to demonstrate that our governance structures are sound and that we are meeting our legislative obligations.

1 May 2019 marked the first meeting of our Audit and Risk Committee under a new terms of reference, with an independent member. The meeting saw a review of the Shire’s updated Risk Management Framework, as well as the endorsement of a 3-year internal Audit Plan. The adoption and implementation this plan will assist the Shire to improve key governance items, while also investigating opportunities for improved operational efficiency and service delivery. Whilst these activities rarely attract much community interest, internally we are very proud of the improvements that we have made in this area as they represent significant modernization for the organisation and will help to ensure that we meet auditor expectations and our many legislative requirements.

Website and Communications
Another reminder: We are also in the process of updating our contact lists for our email and text message database, so if you want to receive (or continue to receive) emails and text messages with Shire updates, please complete the ‘Community Register’ form (click here) , or simply come into the Shire office for a form.

Likewise, if you haven’t already, be sure to follow the Shire on Facebook for a range of regular updates. Click here to do so.

 

 

 

To download this newsletter as a PDF, click this link:  May 2019 Monthly Council Update

The Shire of Mingenew Administration Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

• Good Friday (19 April)
• Easter Monday (22 April)
• Anzac Day (25 April)

We will be during regular business hours (8.30 am to 4.30 pm) on all other weekdays during the Easter period.