We took a look at a new Pakistani cuisine restaurant in Geraldton, Barbecue 4 U

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Everything Geraldton went and checked out new Pakistani cuisine restaurant "Barbecue 4 U" located in Bluff Point, Geraldton. 

Quite simply, the food was incredible. Definitely try the Chicken Malai Boti.

They're open Tuesday to Sunday, offer take away, dine in, or free home delivery. You can reach them on 9923 1716.

Barbecue 4 U currently have a lunch time special, with $10 lunch boxes available. They're available between 11am and 3pm, and if you order 5 or more lunch boxes you get FREE delivery – so you get great food, at a great price and you don’t even have to leave the office!

A developer is trying to get permission to subdivide our precious sand dunes

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Mayor slams Minister’s plans for Southgates

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn has described the State Government’s plan to change an amendment which will result in the rezoning of Southgates Dunes for development and future urban subdivision as “nothing short of environmental terrorism”.

The proposed changes to Planning Scheme Amendment No. 4 went to council Tuesday night at the Agenda Forum after the Minister for Environment, Hon Albert Jacob, and the Minister for Planning, Hon John Day, reached agreement on the conditions to which the Amendment should be subject if it is to be implemented.

Mayor Van Styn has hit back at the proposed changes to the Amendment saying that any development on the land would destroy sand supply to other local beaches and are completely outrageous.

“We are flat out carting sand to Beresford to save our beaches (from Pages beach) and here we have a proposal that will make that problem a lot worse,” he said.

“The idea of destroying the sand supply to our northern beaches is mind blowing and it’s hard to believe that anybody could think that is in any way a good idea.”

The Amendment involves subdividing an area of around 780ha of land on Southgates Dunes.

The Local Planning Scheme Amendment in its current form poses significant risks for the City both financially and environmentally.

“The Southgates Dunes are iconic and represent Geraldton a much as our lighthouse,” Mayor Van Styn said.

“We also need to be reminded the proposed developer is the same developer that was responsible for the mess at Cape Burney,” he added.

If the motion to object the proposal is passed by Council next week, the City will immediately advise the Minister for Planning that the Council strongly objects to the implementation of Local Planning Scheme Amendment No. 4 in its current form.

“Here is yet another example, of Perth based planning bureaucracies making appalling planning decisions that are completely out of step with local sentiment and is another clear example of why local government should be the masters of their own planning,” Mayor Van Styn said.

“I call on all of our community to do all they can to protest against this outrageous proposal.”

Has there already been excessive mining at Southgates?

Many residents over the past several months have expressed their outrage to Everything Geraldton over how much sand has already been taken from Southgates. It's clear from the beach, and the road, that much of the natural and iconic dunes have been flattened. 

What's not known by most locals is that conveniently the level to which the dunes have been flattened is the exact same height that the EPA have said needs to be in place when/if any sub-division occurs. 

Some locals are questioning if EPA guidelines have been breached, or if too much sand has been taken already from the dunes, due to the obvious scaring that is clearly visible to all passers-by. 

The mining that is taking place at Southgates is for the lime sand to be used by farmers. It is used to increase the pH levels of soil. The mining, if done at low enough levels, is sustainable, as the dunes do grow each year. 

 

Everything Geraldton welcomes your feedback regarding "Save Southgates". Provide your feedback with the link below. Or email geraldton@justeverything.com.au

If you would like to contact our local representatives, here are their contact details. 

Ian Blayney

Shop 2, 5 Chapman Road
Geraldton WA 6530
Ph: 9964 1640
Fax: 9964 2892
Email: ian.blayney@mp.wa.gov.au

Paul Brown

Unit 3, 5 Chapman Road
GERALDTON WA 6530
Ph: (08) 9921 4818
Fax: (08) 9921 4972
Email: paul.brown@mp.wa.gov.au

Darren West

84 Marine Terrace
GERALDTON WA 6530
PO Box 578 GERALDTON 6531
Ph: (08) 9964 1001
Fax: (08) 9964 1002
Email: darren.west.mp@mp.wa.gov.au

Mayor Van Styn has set up a Facebook page called Save Southgates. Links below. Like the page and share with your friends if you're interested in getting behind it. 

Let's save Southgates! #savesouthgates

Posted by Save Southgates on Friday, March 18, 2016

We take a look at the new breakfast menu at Skeetas. #delicious

/ Skeetas Restaurant/

We recently checked out the new breakfast menu at Skeetas Restaurant. It's well worth a look. (closed captions available)

The "Fig n French Toast Minis" with mascarpone were incredible. 

Skeetas is located in the exquisite new marina district of Geraldton. You can reach them on 99641619. 

They've told us that if you head in there for breakfast, mention you saw this video on Everything Geraldton and your coffee will be on the house. 

 

5 things Geraldton job seekers should do

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Look, the economy around Australia isn't cranking like it was. China isn't paying us $200 a tonne for our dirt any more. So there's less money flowing downstream through everyone's wallets and there are less jobs on the table.  

But there's plenty of folks who could do a few simple things to help themselves when it comes to finding a job. 

1. Fix up your God damn Facebook profile. 

Honestly, every employer will do a search on Facey to stalk you before hiring you. If they're confronted with profile pics showing how cool you think being drunk is, questions about where to get the best weed in town, and bitching that shows you have no decorum, I can guarantee your resume will go straight in the bin. 

Hot tip: Check out the "View As" option to see what others see. 

2. Take a job. Any job. 

When I interview people, I always value someone who is doing SOMETHING over someone who's been sitting on the dole for 2 years waiting for the perfect job to come along.

In 2008 I couldn't find a job in my chosen profession in Geraldton. I couldn't leave town. So I took whatever job I could get, which happened to be at a servo. I scrubbed toilets and cleaned diesel residue for the next 9 months. I didn't LOVE it, but eventually I found other work. 

I am saddened when I meet people who won't take a job they think is beneath them, but are fine going on the dole.

3. Do some study. Get a qualification. 

The economy is becoming more and more automated. Unskilled labour is going to increasingly be done by autonomous machines, and will continue to move overseas. Invest some time in learning a skill that employers will find useful. We have a small but growing university right here in town, and a very bustling tafe, Durack Institute of Technology. Get in touch with them and see what they have on offer. If a Sudanese refugee who doesn't speak English as well as you can put the hard yards in and become a chemist (link), you can hit the books too.  

4. Network with the right people. 

I meet a lot of employers who know they could use some extra staff, but hate the process of hiring someone so much that they just keep putting it off. But when they meet someone they know and like, who they know is looking for work, they're more than happy to offer them a job. So start meeting the right people. That might mean joining a public speaking group, or getting involved with a local charity, joining Pollinators, getting along to a Rotary meeting, or going to the Council meetings, or whatever. Use your imagination. But the go-getters and business owners of this city aren't going to knock on your door and ask to hang out with you watching Netflix. Get out and meet them. 

5. Apply for everything. 

Subscribe to the Everything Geraldton Jobs email (link). Keep an eye on Seek. Hand out your resume. Post in the Employment Wanted section on EG (link). Apply for any job you can legally do. And don't wait until a job is advertised; As per tip 4, plenty of business owners never even get that far. 

Bonus tip: Be positive. 

Nothing hurts like rejection. It attacks your psyche, it makes you question your self worth, it makes it hard to get out of bed and try again. But do whatever you have to do to get your head right, otherwise your own thoughts will kill your chances of finding work. Find whatever works for you...  pray, meditate, talk to encouraging friends, listen to a motivational speaker. These things may not get you a job directly, but they may make the difference between an employer thinking they like your energy, vs them thinking they want nothing to do with you. 

Geraldton firm wins $8m contract to build Tasmanian Police boat→

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Sarah Taillier for the ABC:

A Geraldton-based company that has secured a bid to build a new police boat for Tasmania has described the contract as a win for the mid-west WA region.

Click here to read story.

 

Part of Northgate Shops closed Wednesday.

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ATTENTION

Northgate will be closed tomorrow in certain areas due to urgent maintenance works. Entrance to the centre will be from the South Tower by Escape Travel / Liquorland.

Northgate anticipates normal trade to resume as soon as practical.

For all queries please contact Centre Management on (08) 9921 6975

Northgate Shopping Centre staff have expressed their sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

The Batavia Story needs to be told - Russell Crowe may be the man that will do it

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Attendees at the CEDA Conference held in Geraldton last week were treated to an account of the gruesome true story of shipwreck, sex, slavery and mass murder that is the ‘Batavia’ by the man who wrote the book – columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun-Herald - Peter Fitzsimons.

Brought to Geraldton by the Mid West Development Commission as Keynote Speaker for the conference, Mr Fitzsimons highlighted that the Mid West could put itself on the global stage through the telling of Australia’s best story. He also alluded to the fact that he was in the process of negotiating the rights of his book on the ‘Batavia’ to become a film to non-other than Academy Award winning Australian actor Russell Crowe.

On the subject of opening up of the Abrolhos Islands for tourism, Mr Fitzsimons said that it was a great opportunity for the region and that it was important to ensure that its existing charm be maintained.

The eco and sustainable development of the Abrolhos Islands is one of six key tourism opportunities that was identified as having the potential to accelerate the Mid West economy in the Mid West Tourism Development Strategy. The strategy was a direct result of the Mid West Regional Blueprint. The first of the six opportunities identified in the strategy is already well underway with the construction of the Kalbarri Skywalks due for completion by June 2017.

Department of Regional Development Director General Ralph Addis, Mid West Development Commission Chair Murray Criddle, Peter Fitzsimons and Commission Chief Executive Officer Gavin Treasure.

Fantastic new learning facilities for Geraldton - video

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Yesterday, Thursday March 3 2016, Durack Institute of Technology officially opened three fantastic new facilities.

  • Health, Education and Community Services Facility
  • Aboriginal Learning Centre
  • Evolution Hair, Beauty and Massage Training salon

Hon. Liza Harvey and Hon. Terry Redman MLA were in attendance for the opening, along with staff, students and others. Check out the short video above, which gives a brief look at these great new assets for our community. 

Medical Cannabis will finally be grown in Australia

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It's finally legal to grow medicinally with new licences, but you still can't actually use it. 

Health Minister Sussan Ley said the Department of Health and the Therapeutic Goods Administration are considering downgrading it to a "controlled substance", making it similar to morphine.

Huff Po on the breaking news from the Australian Senate:

Australia has passed a medical marijuana bill to allow the cultivation of the drug, but the Greens say medical cannabis remains an illegal substance.
Health Minister Sussan Ley announced on Wednesday afternoon that amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act -- passed through the House of Representatives on Tuesday -- had also successfully passed through the Senate.
The bill would allow access to medicinal cannabis products for people suffering from serious illness, by legislating the growing of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes. Products such as cannabis oil are used in the treatment of nausea during chemotherapy, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

Click here to read more. 

Great service at Ultratune- Letter to Editor

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 "Hi, is it possible to post the following on your page/website please? TIA ..... Huge praise to Ultra Tune Geraldton for their professional excellence. They are very gracious and understanding of circumstances and overall provide an amazing, fantastic efficient service above and beyond the expected. Ian and the whole Ultra Tune team receives highest recommendation I can possibly give to anyone needing mechanical services, as they are definitely the best I have ever dealt with in over 30 years in Geraldton. To describe Ultra Tune Geraldton team in one word it would be AWESOME. Thank you once again."

- Ric

Brilliant idea to improve Buy and Sell safety

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It's hard to tell how much of our economy has moved to "Buy and Sell" sites now. They've become an extremely efficient way of getting rid of unwanted items, but plenty of people are running actual businesses in them too. 

There's always the concern of giving complete strangers your home address though, especially when they're coming over to inspect the flat screen TV you're trying to sell. Are they scoping your home? Will they be back later tonight to help themselves? We've all had those thoughts. 

One very forward thinking cop shop in the US is offering local residents a safe place to conduct their transactions. Farmville (I know, right) in North Carolina has a monitored parking lot at the local police station where people can exchange goods and money, with the assurance a camera is watching. 

Here's what they published on FB:

The Farmville Police Department now has an area in the Police Department parking lot where you can exchange items purchased over the internet. This area is located where the officers park their cars at night, right in front of the PD main lobby, and is under 24 hour surveillance. There are parking spaces designated as an Internet Exchange Location and Police Vehicles Only, these areas can be used to exchange items.
With the increase in people buying and selling items online and through social media we wanted to make a location people could feel safe making the exchange.
We understand people feel hesitant to give someone their home or work address or meet them in a random parking lot and wanted to provide a location that was public, monitored and accessible.
If a buyer or seller is unwilling to meet you at this location to exchange items, you probably don't want to be doing business with this person anyway.

Do you think this is something Geraldton needs?

Leave a response in the comments below. 

The Farmville Police Department now has an area in the Police Department parking lot where you can exchange items...

Posted by Farmville Police Department on Monday, February 15, 2016


Thanks Aleisel for the heads up. 

Discussions over future of family day care

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The decision for the City to discontinue its involvement in family day care was discussed at the Council Agenda meeting last night and will go to Council for the final decision next week. 

Negotiations are currently being undertaken between early parenting and early childhood specialists, Nglala, and the Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre (GRCEC) for the organisations to take over as the approved provider of the current City run Bright Stars Family Day Care Service. 

City of Greater Geraldton Acting CEO Ross McKim said Bright Stars Family Day Care would be in very capable hands if the decision were to go through council and the Ngala Board choose to progress with this direction. 

“This matter is something we haven’t taken lightly and Bright Stars have been a very integral part of our organisation,” he said. 

“If Bright Stars was to be operated by Ngala and GRCEC we know that it would be in extremely capable hands. This would be an excellent outcome for our community.” 

The City has been actively involved in the provision of family day care since 1978 and since then, the City’s Bright Stars Family Day Care Scheme has grown to service Geraldton and the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions.  

More recently, they were the winners of the WA Best Service Award for excellence in Family Day Care in 2014. 

“Our successes are largely due to our staff who prides themselves in providing service excellence,” Mr McKim said. 

GRCEC is community organisation which has been operating in the Mid West Gascoyne and Murchison regions of Western Australia, delivering a diverse range of programs since 1975. 

The organisation is committed to providing services to children, youth and families to build individual, family and community capacity.  

GRCEC’s Director Jenny Allen said Ngala and GRCEC are committed to further enhancing their partnership. 

“We have available the resources, experience and commitment to continue to deliver a high quality education and care service for families,” she said. 

Ngala is a provider of early parenting and early childhood services with a focus on supporting and guiding families and young children and CEO Ashley Reid said the organisation was very excited to be part of this initiative with GRCEC. 

“With a long history of child health and early childhood development services in WA, we look forward to working with all involved for the benefit of local families,” he said.

Mr McKim said if the decision goes through council the long-standing reputation of Bright Stars would continue on its positive path. 

“If Council and Ngala make the decision for Bright Stars to be run by Ngala and GRCEC I am confident that both these organisations will be able to continue the legacy that our Council has made over the last few decades,” he said. 

The Council meeting will be held at 5pm Tuesday 23 February 2016, in Council Chambers, 63 Cathedral Avenue, Geraldton. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

This business owner was already struggling. Now this!

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Martine Spowart was already doing it tough, running a small business to help make ends meet. Then this morning some vandals decided to make life that much harder. 

Batter Up Fish and Chips was broken into between 6 and 7 am this morning (Thurs 11 Feb 2016). The owner told us that Police were unable to obtain any finger prints.

The till had been smashed on the floor, but there was no money in it or anything else of value in the store. So the would be thieves left empty handed.

Martine isn't sure if the cost of the damage will be covered by insurance, the outcome of which will affect whether she is able to stay in business. 

She was still positive though, saying that it could have been worse. It was also a nice surprise that the "Make-A-Wish" fundraising tin hadn't been taken. 

"By the looks of it yes I will be [open tonight]. So many people have posted offering their help and support. I am blown away by the generosity of our Geraldton community."

Miles Glass & flyscreens are fixing the damage today. 

If you want to help out over the coming days and order some fish and chips, give Batter Up a call on 9923 2044. They're located in Bluff Point at Shop 2, 436 Chapman Road.

Click here for more info on Batter Up. 

If you did spot anything suspicious this morning in the area, or you can assist Police in any way, please call them on 9923 4555. 

Temporary closure of cardboard baling facility

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Temporary closure of cardboard baling facility

The City of Greater Geraldton would like to advise due to unforeseen circumstances the roller shutter doors at the Meru Tip Shop have been damaged and require maintenance. To ensure community safety the cardboard baling area will be temporarily closed to the public from today 10 February 2016

During this time all cardboard will be diverted to landfill. Members of the public will be able to dispose of their cardboard free of charge.

 

Chinese Business Event; Workshop and Dinner: Expressions of Interest

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Chinese Business Event; Workshop and Dinner: Expressions of Interest

Meaning "hello" in Chinese, Ni hao WA is an annual event for the State's tourism industry. The event welcomes Chinese trade partners to WA and aims to strengthen business relationships with key buyers and media.

The workshop for Ni Hao WA 2016 is set on 14 March 2016 in Fremantle. As part of the program, there will be 40 agents and media from China and Hong Kong where they will be split into 3 groups doing famils in WA. One group from China with 20 key agents and media and one group from Hong Kong with 10 agents will stay in Geraldton for 2 nights on 10 and 11 March evenings as part of the itinerary.

The City is hosting a workshop and dinner on the Thursday 10 Mar 2016. The objectives of the event are to:

• provide an overview and outline of opportunities in the China and Hong Kong markets (workshop)

• raise the profile of Midwest Region as a tourism destination (Dinner)

• establish and increase business networks with key trade partners in the target markets (Dinner)

• further strengthen business relationships with Product and Marketing Managers in China (Dinner)

• generate media exposure for Midwest and key marketing initiatives in China (Dinner)

The workshop will be held from 3pm to 5:00pm on the 10 Mar at the Function Room of the Civic Centre, and the dinner (includes pre-dinner drinks) is scheduled for 6:30pm- 8:30pm of the same day at the Latitude 28. The cost of the workshop and dinner is $220. The City is targeting 15 - 20 local businesses to attend the event.

If you are interested in participating, please express your interest through email to Han Jie Davis hanj@cgg.wa.gov.au , by COB of 5pm 15th Feb 2016.

Melissa Price wants a simpler system for penalty rates for employees

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Durack MP Melissa Price is arguing for a simplified system of payment for employees, arguing that a simpler system would encourage more businesses to open more hours, thus creating more jobs. 

Daniel Hurst writing for The Guardian (the international publication, not the local paper):

Melissa Price, who represents the Western Australian seat of Durack, criticised the “complex” existing rules in a submission to the Fair Work Commission (FWC), which is reviewing penalty rates in hospitality and retail awards.

Click here to read the full article.