Council Update December 2021
Message from the Shire President
What a year it has been – COVID restrictions, a cyclone, a busy tourist season, widespread labour shortages and a (so far) bumper harvest to cap it all off!
I would like to once again commend our community, who pulled together during this year’s challenges – and continue to support each other as the rebuilding process continues. I also want to recognise my fellow Councillors and the Shire staff for their various roles in supporting the community over the last twelve months.
The last year has seen some challenges and changes at Council as well. We farewelled Helen and Robert Newton, and welcomed Gavin Pearse and Jon Holmes into the Chambers. We have also had significant insurance claims – and challenges put upon us – as a result of the cyclone. Like everyone, the Shire has struggled to secure builders and contractors, and this has delayed or increased the cost of a number of projects.
It has also been a year of change – and proposed change – regarding the rules which govern us. New Occupational Safety and Health legislation is shaping up to have far-reaching implications for local governments – especially in the area of our critical Bush Fire Brigade volunteers. There has also been a recent Local Government Reform package announced by our Minister. Whilst we argue for sensible change which reduces the compliance burden on small local governments like ours, the reality often goes the other way, which forces Council to have to choose between simply meeting our legal obligations or delivering projects and services.
For now, we continue to meet our obligations – with another set of unqualified audit results to attest to this. We are also seeking to deliver as best we can, and we have had funding success across numerous road and community infrastructure projects in the last year. I want to commend the Shire staff for their efforts in trying to leverage our relatively small rates income with external funding wherever they are able. The challenge for the coming period will be seeing those projects delivered. Over the past couple of months Council has awarded around $5m worth of road and building tenders, and we look forward to seeing these delivered in the New Year.
We also look forward to continuing to work for you, our community, in 2022. In closing, I would like to wish you all a very merry and safe Christmas, and a prosperous New Year.
– Cr Gary Cosgrove, Shire President
Shire Christmas Closure
The Shire will close at midday on Wednesday 22 December 2021 and reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2022. During this time a small maintenance crew will be operating, but our office and depot will be closed. For urgent matters you can call 08 9928 1102 and pass a message through our after hours service.
Waste Services Over Christmas
Collection of bins and front-lift skips by Cleanaway will continue as normal through the holiday period.
The transfer station will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. It will be open according to the regular schedule (below) at all other times.
Hours are:
| Monday: | Closed |
| Tuesday: | 8am – 12pm |
| Wednesday: | 1pm – 5pm |
| Thursday: | Closed |
| Friday: | 8am – 12pm |
| Saturday: | 9am – 12pm |
| Sunday: | 9am – 12pm |
Community Assistance Scheme Grants – Round 2
The Community Assistance Scheme grant program will be reopening shortly for applications. If you have a community project and required up to $5,000 in funding to assist, keep an eye on this webpage – or contact Margaret Rowe on cdo@mingenew.wa.gov.au or 08 9928 1102 for more information.
Phillip Street Parking Update
As you would likely be aware, we have concreted the parking area along Phillip Street out the front of the Silver Chain and Sister Cameron House buildings and added a concrete parking area around the corner on Shenton Street.
One of Council’s aims, and the reason for the additional parking on the Shenton Street corner, is to reduce the number of people parking on the opposite (north) side of Phillip Street (particularly to reduce the number of small children and Silver Chain patients crossing the road).
As such, we are asking that – where possible – please use the parking on the north side of Phillip Street and Shenton Street wherever possible.
In the new year, the section at the front of the Autumn Centre will be resealed and kerbing reinstated.
Bushfire Brigade Volunteer Requirements
With the introduction of new Occupational Safety and Health legislation in March 2022, and a recent State Government COVID-19 vaccination direction, some of the requirements for Bush Fire Brigade volunteers are changing. The Shire is advocating for simple and practical methods to manage these new requirements, but will ultimately be bound by the laws the State Government adopts.
One of the new requirements is for Brigade volunteers to provide proof of COVID vaccination (single vaccination by 31/12/21; double vaccination by 31/1/22). This can be done through the DFES Volunteer Hub (https://volunteerhub.dfes.wa.gov.au) – and all existing Brigade members are encouraged to register if they have not already. If you are unsure of your Volunteer # or other details, your Brigade Captain, or the Shire, can assist.
Providing Feedback
We welcome your feedback at the Shire, and have a purpose-built feedback form available on our website (click here), or at our office, if you have a comment, compliment, complaint, or request for service.
Using the form will ensure that your feedback makes it to the correct person in our organisation, and is properly captured in our records system.
Shire SMS Service
To improve our public communication the Shire sends out text messages for key fire, road and community-related matters. It’s easy and free to get on the list. If you would like to be added to the database, please fill in a form at the Shire office or complete one online here.
TC Seroja
The Shire is continuing to maintain its website resources for those impacted by the cyclone. You can view it here.
Financial Assistance:
The State and Federal Governments continue to offer a range of funding for primary producers, business owners and residential property owners, including those who have insurance. If you have suffered any damage or loss, we strongly encourage you to check and see what you may be eligible for. A full list can be found online here.
Assistance Hubs
A permanent hub has been established in Morawa by DFES, Department of Communities and the Red Cross to assist anyone impacted. Officers from this hub will be at the Mingenew CRC every Monday if you want to ask questions or get some help.
Insurance:
If you have questions or need help with insurance claims, contact the Insurance Council catastrophe hotline on 1800 734 621 or visit their website (click here). They can assist with any complaints or issues you may be having with your insurer.
More Information:
- DFES Emergency Recovery Site: click here
- ABC Radio in the Mid West and Wheatbelt: 828AM or 531AM
- Department of Communities Disaster Response Hotline: 1800 032 965
- SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
- In a life-threatening situation, always call 000
Fire Season
As the weather heats up, we want to remind everyone that we are in a Prohibited Burning period from 1 November 2021 to 31 January 2022 (with Restricted Burning to follow from 1 February 2022 to 15 March 2022).
We strongly advise that you prepare for bushfire season – particularly this year, as the wet weather and cyclone have added to fuel loads. You can find out more about bushfire planning here.
You can also keep track of WA’s bushfire warning and fire bans online here.
Mosquito Activity
If you are having issues with mosquitoes 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.
We can only do so much on our own though, so please help by:
- Emptying out standing water that they could breed in
- Tidying up any debris which might be serving as a breeding ground
- Consider treating your property residual sprays to control mosquitoes
- Let us know about issues in public areas. We can help treat standing water on or near your property which might be serving as a breeding ground that can’t be emptied out
You can find out more about controlling mosquitoes around your home through the Department of Health as well, click here.
Council Meeting Review – December 2021
The last meeting of the year had quite a hefty agenda:
- Council has decided to trial a new meeting schedule in 2022. This would see Ordinary Council Meetings take place only every second month, the intent is to try to reduce some administrative workload on staff and Councillors. Monthly Concept Forum meetings will still be held, with members of the public welcome to address Council at these Forums on the months where no Council meeting is scheduled. The new schedule will be formally reviewed in June 2022.
- Ordinary Council Meetings will take place a 5.00pm at the Mingenew Shire Chambers according the following schedule:
| Council Meeting Dates 2022 |
| January 2022 – Nil |
| 16 February 2022 |
| March 2022 – Nil |
| 20 April 2022 |
| May 2022 – Nil |
| 15 June 2022 |
| July 2022 – Nil |
| 17 August 2022 |
| September 2022 – Nil |
| 19 October 2022 |
| November 2022 – Nil |
| 14 December 2022 |
- Tenders were awarded for the Railway Station Renovation and post-Seroja Flood Damage Roadworks
- Council decided to extend the existing community cropping leases for the Mingenew Football Club, Mingenew Turf Club and Mingenew Sports Club
- The Mingenew CRC, in collaboration with the North Midlands Project, were awarded the lease at the Bank Building on Midlands Road
- Council endorsed a submission to the ongoing Local Government Reform process
- Council endorsed several projects, including the upgrade of the Mingenew Daycare Centre, reconstruction of the Mingenew Tennis Clubhouse, a repaint of the Post Office and Bank buildings and roadworks on Coalseam and Yandanooka North- East Road for funding
- Council adopted its Annual Financial Report, having received another unqualified audit result
- Council has set Monday 7th of February at 5:30pm as the date and time for its Annual Electors Meeting
Minutes for Council Meetings can be obtained on the Shire website here.