Tip Charges

Congratulations to the previous Mayor and Councilors for their efforts, putting up their hands for the benefit of our great City. 

But the new Mayor and Councilors should prepare themselves for abuse from ratepayers on the newly introduced rubbish tip charges.

Please, new Mayor and Councilors, be brain smart, The Aquarena and Library are community assets, but run as a loss. The rubbish Tip is an essential asset that needs to be used. Go back 30 years when charges were introduced, the bush surrounding Geraldton became unsightly with rubbish dumped everywhere. As ratepayers, we have been hit hard in the past. Maybe this is why we have so many changes at Council elections.

Please, think about this important issue as we need to promote this Great City and not be the Dirtiest City in the West.

Kim Parker,
Geraldton Ratepayer

An Open Letter to Cyclists Riding on Heavy Haulage Routes

THIS IS AN OPEN LETTER TO CYCLISTS RIDING ON HEAVY HAULAGE ROUTES DURING PEAK PERIODS.

I am an open minded wife of a farmer who is currently carting canola to Geraldton.
I love physical activity, slow down to pass cyclists safely and value humanity.

The emotion I observed in my husband whilst listening to the ABC Rural Report this morning was overwhelming. Truck drivers and farmers are very connected to land and life. They have families and they feel profound responsibility. They quite simply do not want to kill someone.
We all have a right to use the roads. We are all happy to share. We all have a responsibility to ourselves and our fellow human beings.

I would like to invite cyclists to come ride with us. The passenger seat in our road train is empty and you are welcome to sit in it and experience being part of 79t moving down a tired road without sealed verges at 90km/hr. Passing another truck with 1m between you is something to behold. Heaven forbid doing so over a bridge. Seeing a cyclist evokes the kind of stress that few would admit to but I can tell you that it is very real.

I would like to encourage other farmers and truck drivers to make the same offer. This is not an opportunity to berate each other. This is an opportunity to practice radical honesty. This is jumping in the passenger seat to connect with another human being who is having a different experience to you whilst using the same piece of infrastructure. Another human being who has just as much right to be there as you. Another human being who is genuinely concerned for your welfare. Another human being who has a family. Another human being who doesn’t want to end up broken after taking someone’s life whilst trying to make a living.

We all have rights. We also have responsibilities to each other.

A suggestion has been made that reducing the speed limit by 30km/hr would make our roads safer. Assuming this suggestion is limited only to heavy haulage vehicles, I would argue that it may make them more dangerous. The roads in question are well worn and do not have large sealed verges. Slower moving heavy vehicles would encourage smaller vehicles to overtake in less than desirable locations on a road that is precarious at best. “The braking distance of a loaded road train is about 70 metres if the vehicle is travelling at 60 kilometres per hour. That distance increases to 170 metres when the speed is 90 Kph.”http://bit.ly/1kxQpiC. Yes – that is a significant difference but I’m not sure if 70 meters is really enough time to stop on these roads and I would question the accuracy of these figures. I have attended a defensive driving school and stood on the side of a road whilst an ex-policeman/paramedic drove a car at 110km/hr and braked to a stop. None of us guessed the distance it would take accurately. We are literally talking about the difference between dead and deader.

Agriculture and farmers are the reason why Chapman Valley Road and Morrell Road exist. The licence fees paid by small vehicle users or land rates of those residing on rural residential blocks in Chapman Valley could not possibly cover the cost of maintaining such infrastructure.
It costs $12 314.10 to licence our roadtrain (prime mover with two trailors) which carts grain to Geraldton.

Last financial year, our farming enterprise outlayed $21 401.37 to the Department of Transport for annual licences.

The typical family with two 4WD vehicles and a trailor pays $1636.35 annually to licence these vehicles. Bicycles incur no licence fees.

This is not an open letter written to antagonise or point the finger at anyone. I am appealing to all road users to walk a mile in each other’s shoes and seriously consider whether riding bicycles on Heavy Haulage routes during the harvest period is an absolutely necessary activity. It is only 10 weeks of the year.

Please think about your comments - lets find a balance together through mutual respect.
Come ride with us – I’m about to jump in right now!

Renaye Stokes

Opinion Piece - Mental Health Needs Geraldton and the Mid-West

Darren West MLC

At a time when the pressures on families are high and services in regional communities are stretched, more than ever we need the facilities promised by the Liberal National Government here in Geraldton. In particular the dedicated acute mental health facility that was promised to enable people to be treated locally rather than have to transfer to Perth.

The effects of mental health are far reaching and is an Australia-wide problem that impacts on all of us.

As reported in a recent article1- delays, indecision and a lack of political will is part of the crisis Australia faces dealing with mental health. The article also lists 10 telling facts that were tabled to the Senate Select Health committee including:

• Mental health is not a small problem - each year, it is estimated that more than 3.6 million people (aged 16 to 85 years) experience mental ill-health problems—representing about 20 per cent of adults.

Over a lifetime, nearly half of the Australian adult population will experience mental illness at some point—equating to nearly 7.3 million Australians aged 16 to 85. Less than half will access treatment.

• Plenty of ‘reviews’, not a lot of action - “Despite four national plans and two national policies, one road map, two report cards and one action plan, genuine mental health reform seems as far away as ever,” Sebastian Rosenberg, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre told the committee.

• So it’s time to act, not talk - National Mental Health Commissioner Professor Ian Hickie said, “we don’t need more reviews, we don’t need more consultation, we don’t need more discussion about discussion – we actually need the Prime Minister, the new Prime Minister, working in combination with the states, so that people get the services that they need no matter where they live.”

It is the ability to access local facilities that is at issue here. We need increased services to take the pressure from current providers and to enable people to be treated closer to their home.

Only recently this very news outlet was involved in a siege that took place in Geraldton – the lack of local support being one of the reasons cited.

The Ice Summit held in Geraldton in June enabled community members and service providers to relay how ice has impacted on people’s lives. What was made clear from their stories is that this is a complex problem that needs to be addressed at multiple levels. It is a social problem that impacts on community, legal, education and health systems.

When community services are lacking, the hospital system bears the brunt. Locally the emergency department is dealing with daily presentations from people with drug and alcohol related problems that consumes a disproportionate amount of services.

There were calls at the summit for local mental health services so that people can receive initial and ongoing treatment locally. And there have also been calls in the local media by the medical profession to establish a specialist mental unit in Geraldton as a matter of priority.

Back in August 30, 2013 the Minister for Mental Health told the community that Geraldton was her first priority for an acute mental health facility given that at that time, “the number of patients flown from Geraldton to Perth for treatment had increased by 80 per cent over the three years she had been Minister”. That commitment was reaffirmed in December 2013.

Then in March this year the Minister gave a watered down commitment that Geraldton would receive 21 hospital beds for mental health patients and 12 beds for alcohol and drug rehabilitation – subject to Cabinet approval.

Despite these commitments there is no funding in the 2015/16 Budget and it is doubtful that the community will ever see these vital services under the Liberal/Nationals’ watch.

But of course there are many contributing factors to mental health other than alcohol and drugs.

Earlier this year we saw the closure of the Mid-West Men’s Health following the withdrawal of State Government funding.

Men are traditionally not the best at accessing support services but Mid-West Men’s Health provided the help needed across the community. The location was also ideal and could be visited with a degree of anonymity.

We believe that the Government needs to fulfil its promise to the community, provide the funding and get on with it. The Mid-West can’t afford to wait any longer.

This needs to be made abundantly clear to the Premier and the Minister during their upcoming Cabinet meeting in Geraldton later this month. They should make good on their promises to the community to build a facility for acute and other mental health patients.

Our community deserves better than the hollow promises made so far. Trying to squeeze mental health services into the already under pressure health facilities will not do.

If this raises any issues for you or someone you know, call:

• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
• Kids Helpline 1800 551 800

Darren West MLC

Mental Health Services in Geraldton

I would like to raise awareness during mental health week of the failure of the current mental health systems in Geraldton. Recently I was diagnosed with bi polar and mild schizophrenia with anxiety and depression. This has so far taken professionals 2 years to find and have up until recently been prescribed a barrage of drugs and misdiagnosed by local GPs including many hrs in A & E at the hospital due to lack of sleep. Somehow I managed to hold a full time professional job until recently and I am now on 12 months leave without pay to "get well". My current treatment was kickstarted by a referral to a psychiatrist in Perth who referred me to my GP to receive care as a mental health patient at Mental Health. I attended on a set day and time and after assessment was told, "you're not suicidal or thinking of harming others so we can't help you but if it gets worse come back during office hrs or A&E after hrs". I contacted PHAMS and did get a case manager who saw me once in a month and was helpful and listened but the service is sporadic and apparently underfunded. Basically I feel, like a lot of others, that there is very little practical support on the ground for people with mental health issues and professionals have no idea how it can affect the individual and their families, financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It is draining and even more so when you feel like you have to go it alone, book weeks in advance to see someone or have complete lack of communication between so called professionals. WHERE IS THE HELP?

Where I can, and when it matters, I will speak up for children

In this most unusual job application I have been doing lately, in this running for Council, I am lucky enough to have an amazing support network. My friends have been a source of inspiration, chewing over ideas, suggesting what I should do next. My friends have been giving me ideas about the best way to write to the community of Geraldton, whom lets face it I only know 300 people. Anyhow, a couple of my friends suggested.....'when you explain who you are you don't really need to say your a mum'. I thought...' yeah I suppose I probably don't'. But there was something about that made me feel really uncomfortable. Why was I so attached to including 'being a mum' in the explanation about who I was. 

And then it came to me; it means, I want to speak for the children in our community, who don't have their own voices. The children whose only hope of ensuring their needs are met is through the care and attention of their guardians. Having been blessed with this role of being a mum it means, I not only have the knowledge, but the responsibility, to ensure the little ones are not forgotten. I will support family friendly events, library's, beautiful recreation spaces, knowing thatchildren need to socialise, learn and play with their family and community. I will say I want clear footpaths, so kids feel safer walking to their friends house. I will, say I want dangerous dogs to be controlled so that children don't become the victims of dog attacks. I will say community safety needs to be increased so children don't have to worry about getting yelled at, abused or scared by random adults. I will say parks need to be maintained so children don't cut their feet open, or find needles in the sand.  And I am promising that where I can, and when it matters, I will speak up for children.

So I guess then, when I was left to consider what I really meant when I say 'I am a mum'; it is that, I advocate for children's and their family's needs, and speak up for children because they need someone to speak for them. Yes, I could say that, or I could simply say 'I am a mum' and trust that there would be plenty of other folks out there , who are also saying 'I am a mum' and 'I am a dad'  and we share the same idea about just what that means. 

Renee Ellis
Council Nominee for Willcock Geraldton

Mental Health Letter

Dear everything Geraldton,

As I'm sure a lot of people have been doing since your post on mental health, I would like to share my story with you.

Recently, my life got so bad that I decided that I want to take my own life. I got to a point where I talked myself out of taking my own life and I pushed myself to go to the Geraldton Regional hospital Emergency Department.

The struggle lone to get to the hospital was hard, actually talking myself to walk through the doors and tell someone that I had a problem. The sick feeling and butterflies of walking in, the feeling of your whole body being over whelmed by the anxiety of admitting you suffer with depression was horrible. Trying not to vomit as you speak, that was hard. But the hardest part of it all was, being judged, being made feel like I should go home and deal with my problems as there are more important things to be done.

I understand that ANY hospital or health workers job would be more stressful than your average one! BUT in saying that, I'm important too and what I feel and think that's real and I needed help. I was taken into hospital arid admitted .. For 2 whole days I had nurses come in and monitor me and make sure I wasn't going to do anything stupid( Thank you to the nurses who did that) But not once did a doctor or a counsellor or a psychiatrist come and see me, not once did anyone in that hospital ask me why I felt like I felt, My antidepressants where upped to the next higher dose and I was sent on my way and asked to see my GP in the next few days and ofcourse I was told if I felt like that again don't hesitate to come back.

I'm Sorry but, NO WAY! Haven for bid I feel like that again because that's the last place I want to be, alone in a room with nothing but my thoughts. Horribly enough I wouldn't want to tell anyone again.

Please don't get me wrong, I know funding is pore for mental health and the workers do what they can, but what I experienced was not enough. Depression is becoming more and more apart of peoples lives more then we know and its happening fast. More needs to be done, this isn't enough.

So I take my anti-depressants each day, dealing with my thoughts and how I feel. But I'm scared that when I hit that point again, I'm not sure where I will turn.

I hope that you can get the word to make a difference and save more lives.

Thank you,
Anonymous

Student research project

We are a group of students from the University of Western Australia conducting research on the effect of heat on community wellbeing in Geraldton. Our aim is to identify ways to increase livability by improving the urban climate.

We have set up a 5 minute survey to get an idea of the community's perception of urban heat as well as the methods to reduce it.

If you are a resident of Geraldton it would be greatly appreciated if you could complete the following survey: https://app.lamapoll.de/urban_heat-edited/

Kind regards,
Asja

Geraldton council election

I would like to extend my best wishes to Ron Ashplant in the coming council election. Ron was instrumental in bringing to light the wretched plight myself and other residents of Utakarra were subjected to , that being the faulty sewage system and pumping station in Clematis Crescent. Ron not only was the first person to investigate this issue , but over the next 2 years continued to keep in touch and give valuable advice on which avenues to follow next. During this time we were visited by numerous politicians and water corporation management, Including Darren West, Dave Kelly , Mia Davies, and even, MarkMcGowan leader of the ALP , but sadly not once did I have any contact with our councillors from the ward of willcock, even though one lives in the immediate area . SoRon thank you for your efforts and I hope you are successful in the coming election , for the sake of your ward. Hopefully we can find a candidate half as good to represent the people of willcock

Paul Mcconnon

Local Government Elections - Geraldton

I am really excited to see the strong field of candidates running for both Mayor and Councillor positions on our local Council in the October election. This is a very positive sign that there are people who are interested in our community, and prepared to step up and represent our ratepayers and residents.

However, as good as it is to have a competitive field that provides choice, what's just as important is for everyone in our community to step up and vote! 

At the last election, we saw voters rally and make a clean sweep of Council positions by installing a stable of new people to represent them. Since then we've seen two annual rate increases fall below what had previously been predicted. The City CEO and staff have responded well to this new direction of the Council with a good start to the process of reigning in costs. This is a process that needs to continue, and in my opinion, it may take up to another two years to get us to a position where we can say we have successfully streamlined City operations and we're running at peak performance for minimum cost to the community.

However, the community has a role to play in this by using its voting power to ensure the best possible candidates are elected to Council in October. We need to remember that decisions at Council are made by majority vote. So if the majority of councillors don't share the community's vision, the community loses out.

This October you will once again have the opportunity to influence the future direction of our City and District. So please take that opportunity, make your vote, and make it count.

I urge you study the candidates, consider what they have to offer and if they're contesting their own seat, think about what they've delivered in the past. Discuss your thoughts with others if it will help, and make informed choices that will give even more momentum to those councillors who've worked to constrain costs over the past coupe of years.

I wish all candidates good luck in the upcoming election, and I hope to see more councillors come on board to continue the work of bringing costs down while maintaining the range and quality of the essential services the community needs.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing your votes roll in. I have great faith in the community's judgement.

David Caudwell (JP)
Councillor
City of Greater Geraldton
Chapman Ward
0459 216 000

Don't Click Anything!

If you receive an email purportedly from Australia Post (with their logo) which states that an attempt to deliver a parcel yesterday was unsuccessful and that you need to either click the link in the email or copy the hyperlink into your browser in order to obtain the advice label to collect it from the post office... DON'T CLICK ANYTHING!

The email looks very authentic but the link downloads a zip file which if extracted can encrypt random files in your computer (in my case 30,000) This virus is called ransomware and the only way to restore your files is to pay a $500 or so ransom and the perpetrators will send you a code to un-encrypt your files.

If you are tempted to pay the ransom, bear in mind that they will then also have your payment details (credit card etc).

Files affected are mostly word documents and various files which render installed programs useless, images, audio files etc. The windows folder may become corrupted and your network settings will also be affected.

There will be an ENCRYPTED FILE against all files affected and instructions on how to restore the files. 

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES OPEN THESE EMAILS OR CLICK ON ANY LINKS> DELETE THE EMAIL OF MARK IT SPAM OR ADD TO YOUR JUNK MAIL SENDER LIST>

anonymous

A Big Thank you

I would like to Thank Joseph Lim from Tarcoola Pharmacy for coming to our local Support Group - Yarraly - Midwest Lung and Respiratory Support Group giving us a very informative and excellent talk and advice on pharmacy items, on why it is important to have one Pharmacy dispense your medical scripts and dangers of mixing some medicines with across the counter vitamins and other very important roles that he plays in working closely with doctors prescribing medications. If you ever need any advice or support it is worth travelling to Tarcoola to meet Joseph and his team.

Once again a very big thank you Joseph and our goodies pack was most appreciated. :-)

Should you wish to join our group and to hear other people giving informative talks, we meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Community Health Room, Geraldton Regional Hospital at 1.30pm.

Yarraly - Midwest Lung and Respiratory Support Group

Letter to the editor; Running for CV Councillor

I am 51 years of age, married with three adult children who live in Perth.  My wife Lisa and I are currently building a new home in White Peak and we have both been active members of the Park Falls Residents Association since purchasing our block in 2014. I am the current Vice President of the association.

I have been a Local Government employee for the past 22 years and have a very good understanding of the processes that are required. I have also been involved in junior and senior community/sporting groups and have been a volunteer bush fire fighter for the past 16 years.

I believe I can offer the Shire of Chapman Valley and its residents a wealth of knowledge and experience. If elected I would look forward to representing not only the South West Ward residents but the whole of the Shire of Chapman Valley.
 
https://www.facebook.com/Darren-Cole-for-Councillor-South-West-Ward-Shire-of-Chapman-Valley-1111553915539578/timeline/

Darren Cole

September is international Childhood Cancer awareness month

September is international Childhood Cancer awareness month. As childhood cancer doesn't have much awareness it has a lack of research, 4% to be exact. So we as parents of children with cancer we are trying to get the word out to help save many lives.

The GOLD ribbon represents Childhood Cancer, please GO GOLD this September to show your support for all children around the world.

Childhood Cancer is the number one killer in childhood disease, 1 in the 5 children diagnosed will loose their battle. Every 3 minutes a child is diagnosed. It is NOT rare.

I have added a link where you can buy a gold ribbon for just $2 what goes back into research. If you cannot buy a ribbon simply just share on Facebook or wear gold.

Thank you for your support

http://www.thekidscancerproject.org.au/Bears/Merchandise-for-Purchase/Gold-Ribbons-%283-pack%29.aspx

Ashlee

Letter to editor; Thank you Chris at MWDR

A MASSIVE shoutout to Chris at Midwest Disaster Relief for his amazing help in organising furniture for a family that was in desperate need he was just fantastic! A great asset to our community! My friend will be so grateful. 

Ron Ashplant- candidate for Council, City of Greater Geraldton

As the designers and creators of the HMAS Sydney II Memorial, in association with the Rotary Club of Geraldton, we would like to express our support for Mr. Ron Ashplant in his forthcoming quest seeking election to the Council of Greater Geraldton. 

Mr. Ashplant played a significant part in the successful development of the Sydney Memorial on Mt. Scott, when he was a member of Council previously, and his devotion to community development generally is, by all accounts, of the highest standard. 

The HMAS Sydney II Memorial, now recently voted as the No.1 Tourist attraction in WA by the International Trip Adviser Travel Site, needs careful and ongoing support for its care and upkeep generally, but especially by someone with such a track record in understanding the requirements of such a sensitive element and central feature, in this community.  

It is our strong opinion that having Mr. Ashplant in Council would be a major help to fulfill the role required and ensure that the Memorial was maintained at the highest level. 

The people of Geraldton would be very fortunate indeed to have someone of Mr. Ashplant’s calibre as a Council member again. 

We wish him every success.

Joan Walsh-Smith & Charles Smith

Pot Plants Stolen from local Childcare Centre

On arriving at the Childcare Centre on Wednesday morning, I thought it must've been April Fools Day. Overnight someone came and took four large pot plants. These were not small, it took two men to lift them to put them there. The children had planted and carefully nurtured these plants, learning how to be respectful and caring towards their environment and community.

Although someone sees this as a cheap way of stocking their garden, it is at the expense of others and in this situation, 89 children and 82 families.

I am hoping that I will wake up one morning and they will be returned.....no questions asked.

Daneale Buckley
Kidz Retreat

Response to Mr Correy’s Letter to the Editor

In the interest of public transparency and in response to Mr Correy’s Letter to the Editor, previous Letters to the Editor, he has submitted on Everything Geraldton and questions he also asked of Council at the 28 July Ordinary Meeting the following information was provided To Mr Correy at both the Council meeting and in writing in a letter dated 3 August 2015:

Question
Abraham Street/Verita Road Bridge contract

(A)       Why did the CEO award the bridge contract to Georgiou at 8.171M plus GST with no reference back to Council when he was instructed in October 2014 to negotiate the contract at $8.2M inclusive of GST- in excess of $800,000 extra?

Before responding to the questions from Mr Correy I think it is important to clarify a few matters.

Since the Council made the decision to award this contract, Mr Correy has been on a fishing expedition to try and find some evidence to support a conspiracy theory that he has invented.

The repeated questioning on this matter has cost the City thousands of dollars in lost time and productivity. In addition to this, the line of questioning is considered to be a personal attack on the integrity of Officers from Brookfield Rail, Public Transit Authority, Department of Main Roads, GHD, the City and myself.

The panel of very qualified and experienced representatives from these organisations have more than 150 years of collective engineering experience, have built thousands of kilometres of roads, scores of bridges and have assessed thousands of complex tenders. This panel, whose integrity you have continually questioned, have unanimously agreed that Georgiou’s tender provided the best value for our Community.

I respect your right to ask questions and seek clarification but doubt that you can form an objective view because of your vendetta against this City and your lack of knowledge or experience in considering complex tenders and in building bridges and roads.

Response - A
The CEO was not instructed to negotiate the contract at $8.2M inclusive of GST this is a misrepresentation of the facts that a plain reading of the resolution reveals.

The CEO was in fact instructed to award and execute the contract if he was satisfied that:

1. The preferred contractor was able to obtain a construction license from Brookfield Rail and enter into agreement with Brookfield Rail to enter and carry out works within the Rail Corridor.
2. A tripartite agreement between Brookfield Rail, Public Transport Authority was able to be entered into.
3. All other outstanding matters including without limitation the City’s exposure to Risk had been resolved.
4. The negotiated contract was within the budget allocation and consistent with the intentions of the Tender.

The CEO was only required to refer the tender back to the Council if the above conditions were not met.

The negotiated contract was below the budget allocation of $10,000,000 and the above conditions were met, the CEO accordingly exercised the authority delegated to him by the Council.

Question
Abraham Street/Verita Road Bridge contract

(B)       If the tender price was varied or withdrawn doesn’t that then deem the tender non-compliant and therefore invalid?  And if so, why was the tender not re-advertised or alternatively negotiations commenced with the next lowest conforming tenderer?

Response – B
The tender price was not withdrawn.  Tenderers typically submit a price which includes a number of conditions and assumptions based upon their understanding of the scope of works. During the tender process these conditions and assumptions are clarified with prospective tenderers and tender prices are commonly adjusted. If you have had any experience in the evaluation of complex tenders you would understand this.

If a tendered price is varied during the assessment process as a result of nominated inclusions and exclusions, or in response to scope clarifications, it is not considered to be invalid. This practice is common with tenders of this nature and is supported by law.

The variations following the Council decision were anticipated by the Council and that is why they delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer. The variations related to the third party requirements (Brookfield Rail, Public Transport Authority and MRWA) not known at the time and would have applied to any tender that was accepted.

Question
The Verita Road bridge contract was awarded at $8,172,298.07 exc GST.

I have correspondence that states that an alternative tender from Highway Construction was on the table at $6,528,153.81 exc GST + $1,108,808 exc GST for 4 extras.

In simple terms the 2 tenders read like this:

-   Georgiou Tender                                 $8,172,298.07 exc GST

-   Highway Construction (all in)  $7,636,962.18 exc GST

Less a further $300,000 reduction resulting in a net tender price of

                                     $7,336,962.18

Difference                   $ 835,335.95

How does the City’s engineer justify the statement he made to the Council Meeting in May that the accepted tender was 1.5% below the next cheapest tender?

Also why did the CEO agree to pay $835,335.95 of ratepayers money more than was tendered?

Response
The figures you have provided for comparative purposes are wrong because they do not incorporate the variations to the tendered prices of both parties during the assessment process. I note that you have also misleadingly added a discount of $300,000 that was offered by AlbemOperations & Highway Construction after the award, which you know would have been illegal for the Council to accept.

The following table shows a true comparison.

A proper comparison shows that Albem& Highway Constructions tender was $110,884.47 or 1.56% higher than the tender from the Georgiou Group.

Question
If the contract award price to Georgiou was $8.17M + GST, can council please advise what was the lowest conforming submitted price of any of the remaining tenderers excluding all non-priced criteria assessment influence?

Response
The submitted tender prices varied between $7,180,969.22 Incl. GST to $8,424,131.45 Incl. GST.  These prices excluded any adjustments following receipt of responses by tenderers to clarifications from the Tender Assessment Panel and further third party requirements not available at the time of tendering. 

Georgiou Group Pty. Ltd. was the highest ranked Tenderer based on the qualitative and quantitative assessment Criteria and Albem Operations Pty. Ltd. & Highway Constructions Pty. Ltd. was ranked third out of seven Tenders.

Ken Diehm
CGG CEO

Mayoral election

We have four worthy candidates in the coming election for Mayor but I believe by far the best man for the job already has it - Ian Carpenter.

Before I state my reasons, for those who don't know, I am a Councillor, elected in 2013.

Being Mayor is a demanding full-time role and we are fortunate to have a full time Mayor who has the experience to deal with the vast number of complexities that go hand in hand with Federal, State and local legislation and regulations. 

We have a population headed for 50,000 and for all our problems, and we all know there are problems, the City of Geraldton-Greenough is a dynamic regional centre and with continued good management, will remain so.

Ian is devoted to Geraldton and works very hard for this city. He is not running for personal glory or any ambition beyond what is good for our community. The many people who know Ian understand this aspect of his character regardless of what else they think of him.

He has a great knowledge, which for myself and other new Councillors is a resource we are grateful for, and over the years has built and nourished important contacts in Perth and Canberra - in other words with people and agencies that control funding. The value of that is considerable.

He is also, in my view, an excellent leader. He listens but is strong willed and once a decision is made, even if he does not agree with it, like a true leader he supports the majority.

In addition, he and CEO Ken Diehm form a very efficient team. This is crucial. The roles of staff and Council are very different and both must perform their duties without undue interference from the other.

Of course there are checks and balances, but a well run Council is one where Councillors, acting in part on advice from senior staff, make decisions, and senior staff, with guidance from the CEO, implement them.

Ian has been Mayor since 2007, a long time, but change for change's sake is never good policy. For all our problems - underperforming Federal and State economies and related funding cutbacks, social issues, a flatlining real estate market and difficult business environment, we're actually not doing as badly as some think.

The CEO has initiated a realistic and achievable Long Term Financial Plan, the Foreshore redevelopment is reaping benefits and Geraldton-Greenough has not been forgotten by big business which is of course cautious in the current economic climate but still interested in investing in Geraldton.

One final point. I have heard comments that Ian is too old. 

He is too old to play on a half-back flank in the GNFL but Mayors aren't expected to do that - they are expected to lead and work for a Community as Ian does. His brain is ticking along just fine and he's no fuddy duddy. In truth he embraces the future - our future.

On election day, I get one vote like everyone else over 18. As noted above, all the candidates are worthy but I strongly contend Ian Carpenter is the best of them.

Thank you.
V Tanti

Council Non Transparency with Tender Results

I wonder why Council have a non-disclosure policy with respect to the release of tender information. 

Try this 

Council award Georgiou Pty Ltd the Abraham Street Bridge tender at $8,172,298.06 plus GST = $8,989,527.87. 

I wrote the CEO requesting a list of tenderers and the tendered amount to be informed that I couldn’t have the information – Confidential.  State Government and other organisations including other regional councils make tender information available as a matter of openness and transparency (some Councils actually record the information in their minutes of the subsequent meeting). 

So I went through the Freedom of Information (F.O.I.) process.  Took a month but I was finally supplied with the following information.

So the tender that was awarded by the CEO was $1.5M dearer than the lowest tendered amount – any wonder it’s a Council policy to not be open and transparent. 

2 issues stand out 

1. The Council tendering and contract awarding process is a shambles and needs overhauling. 
2. All tender results should be open and transparent so that ratepayers (who pay the bills) can see how their dollars are being spent. 

Ratepayers – your opportunity to have your say is coming up.

Council nominations close 10 September 2015 and the elections are on 17 October 2015.

I suggest you scrutinise Councillor and Mayoral candidates thoroughly.

Max Correy

Reducing the size of Council /Asset management

I note Councillor Van Styn’s comments in relation to the proposed reduction in the number of Councillors.

As the current Mayor of the City I have no problem with reducing our numbers and the consequential cost savings. This was discussed at a recent Concept Forum at which Councillor Van Styn was not in attendance.

When the City amalgamated with the Shire of Mullewa in 2011 we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement that we would not reduce the number of Councillor representatives (2) for the Mullewa Ward for a period of eight years. Whilst an MOU is not a legal document, my position is, as a signatory to the agreement, I would not consider breaking this agreement.

Asset Management.

Unfortunately there is more to this issue than stated in Councillor Van Styn’s letter.

• Whilst Council did have a lager than usual increase in 2011 it should be remembered that in 2007 (also a re-valuation year) that Council chose to not implement the full increase in that year because of the drought conditions which existed at that time. This caused a downward compound over the next four years.
• With the introduction by the State of the Integrated Planning Framework back in 2011 it became necessary for all Councils to correctly address and fund asset renewal. Few have done so and might be a good example for the State to adopt the same regime! Whilst prior to this date it was not compulsory, our Council was aware it was coming and had begun to address the issue. This had my full support as it is routinely done in private enterprise, an area where I have much experience.
• I believe this showed good forward thinking by our Council not the reverse as suggested by Councillor Van Styn.
• I have also fought hard to ensure rates are as low as possible given our financial constraints and will continue to do so by making sure we examine our costs and staffing levels regularly.
• We need to be a financially sustainable city and one that does not leave debt for our children. My intention is to encourage our Council to achieve this.

Ian Carpenter.
Mayor,
City of Greater Geraldton