Foreshore toilets closed for maintenance

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that maintenance works will be carried out at the Foreshore “Coral Trout” public toilets and Rest Centre.

Works on the Rest Centre and the public toilets are expected to start on Wednesday August 27 and continue for approximately 14 days.

Public members are advised to use the Stow Gardens public toilets at the south end of the Foreshore and the Rubik’s Cube toilets at the north end.

The City regrets any inconvenience and will endeavour to keep disruptions to a minimum. For more information contact the City of Greater Geraldton on (08) 9956 6600.

Geraldton aims to plant one million trees

The Goodness Festival’s reach is far and wide and the Million Trees project has jumped on board to celebrate all that is good about greening our planet, well, Greater Geraldton at least.

To plant a million trees was the number one community aspiration from World Cafes held by the City of Greater Geraldton in 2010, and the momentum continues apace with more than 130,100 trees planted and accounted for to date.

A mammoth effort has been put in by Midwest Ports who have recently planted 1600 along Marine Terrace near the wharf.

City Coordinator Community Engagement, Janell Kopplhuber, said the City has been helping the community keep count of trees being planted in the city region through an online registration form.

“The City has created a registration form on our website so that anyone who has planted a tree can register it towards the million,” she said.

“We know lots of people plant trees and shrubs all the time, we just haven’t been told about them yet.”

The Million Trees project will have a presence at the Goodness Festival Expo on Saturday August 23, at the Queen Elizabeth II Seniors and Community Centre in Geraldton, where people can register to get involved as every tree planted counts towards the target and can be registered on the ‘make your tree count’ page on the City’s website.

The community has embraced this project and many successful corporate and community planting days have resulted in some interesting statistics and support, including more than 350 people and 900 volunteer hours committed to the goal.

Ms Kopplhuber said volunteers have been across the board from industry, corporate organisations, community and school students.

“It has been a fantastic effort and some of the students were at many of the community tree planting days,” she said.

“The City does revegetation work each year and this year alone volunteers have helped us to plant a total of 4,508 seedling stems along the Chapman River Wildlife Corridor.”

The average amount of seedlings planted per hour was five – fertilised, tree-guarded and watered, all contributing to the tally.

“Volunteers spent an amazing 9000 hours planting seedlings this year and if we were to calculate the value of these hours it amounts to almost $180,000 worth of volunteer time,” said Ms Kopplhuber.

Ms Kopplhuber encourages everyone who plants a seedling, bush or tree to add it to the Million Trees counter and register their interest in attending future volunteer tree plantings by visiting the City’s website or Million Trees Facebook.

More information on the Goodness Sustainability and Innovation Festival which runs from August 15-31 can be found at www.goodness.org.au

City launch Disability Campaign

You may have noticed some of the faces around town.

And now they will beam at you from posters strategically positioned in Greater Geraldton to celebrate the City’s Disability Campaign.

The City of Greater Geraldton has teamed up with local service providers to develop a series of posters which reinforce a positive, inclusive attitude across the community. The posters were developed using positive images of local people with disability in locations around the City.

The project was made possible with support of the Mid West Community Living Association, Transition Programs, Disability Services Commission and Durack Institute of Technology.

City Mayor, Ian Carpenter, officially launched the campaign on Wednesday August 2o.

“The campaign both celebrates the human condition as diverse and recognises we are all part of a community which welcomes, supports, values and celebrates diversity and our individual differences,” Mr Carpenter said.

Public submission invited on draft Public Open Space Strategy

The City has developed a draft Public Open Space Strategy (POS) for the Greater Geraldton urban area, Walkaway and Mullewa and the draft is now open for public comment.

The draft strategy is available for inspection during office hours at the Civic Centre, 63 Cathedral Avenue, Geraldton, Mullewa District Office, corner Padbury and Thomas Streets, Mullewa or an electronic version can be downloaded from the City’s website at www.cgg.wa.gov.au/services/town- planning/public-consultations.

The draft strategy will provide an overarching framework and strategic direction for the future planning and improvement of public open space over the next 20 years and beyond.

The public is invited to send submissions on the Strategy to council@cgg.wa.gov.au. The public submission period closes on September 26 2014.

Invasive species up for feral interrogation

Landholders, community groups and local invasive species management champions are encouraged to have a feral conversation at the Invasive Species Interrogation Forum on August 22.

Seed funding from National Science Week has enabled the City of Greater Geraldton to host the free forum in line with the 2014 Goodness Sustainability and Innovation Festival, and is an opportunity for landholders to be informed about the invasive species management programs happening in the region.

Keynote speaker, Dr Michelle Christy, from the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre will give an inspiring talk; and wins can be celebrated with Simon Merewether, State Operations Manager for Invasive Species from the Department of Agriculture and Food.

City of Greater Geraldton Environmental Sustainability Officer, Bronte Grant, said she is excited about the prospect of passionate landholders getting together to talk all things feral.

“The forum aims to bring land managers together to gather momentum for invasive species management for the goodness of our environment and economy, and is timely for the finalisation of the City’s Draft Invasive Species Plan,” she said.

“There is significant support from the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Durack Institute of Technology, Department of Parks and Wildlife and Project Dieback to make this a successful event.”

Landholders, community groups and local invasive species management champions are encouraged to have a feral conversation at the Invasive Species Interrogation Forum on August 22.

Seed funding from National Science Week has enabled the City of Greater Geraldton to host the free forum in line with the 2014 Goodness Sustainability and Innovation Festival, and is an opportunity for landholders to be informed about the invasive species management programs happening in the region.

Keynote speaker, Dr Michelle Christy, from the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre will give an inspiring talk; and wins can be celebrated with Simon Merewether, State Operations Manager for Invasive Species from the Department of Agriculture and Food.

City of Greater Geraldton Environmental Sustainability Officer, Bronte Grant, said she is excited about the prospect of passionate landholders getting together to talk all things feral.

“The forum aims to bring land managers together to gather momentum for invasive species management for the goodness of our environment and economy, and is timely for the finalisation of the City’s Draft Invasive Species Plan,” she said.

“There is significant support from the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Durack Institute of Technology, Department of Parks and Wildlife and Project Dieback to make this a successful event.”

Mayor declares “Dress as a Buccaneer Day”

Dress like a Bucc - A4 poster

After the Buccs epic one point win last weekend the City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, today declared next Friday (August 22) as “Dress as a Buccaneer Day” and wants to see the whole City get behind the Buccs with their big game in the semi-finals against Lakeside Lightning this weekend in Perth.

Mayor Carpenter said he wants to see shops decorate their windows, people dressings up as Buccaneers and the team’s colours of blue and yellow light up the town.

“We would like to see Geraldton come alive in a sea of yellow and blue to give the team the community support they need to keep winning,” he said.

“The whole of Geraldton has a great opportunity to help our basketball team go through to the next round.”

Buccaneers General Manager, Andrew Horstman, said the support from the community helped the Buccaneers get over the line last weekend.

“The support was just incredible, there was a sea of yellow and blue and a great energy to help our players secure the Quarter Finals,” he said.

City Chief Executive Officer, Ken Diehm, said big prizes are up for grabs thanks to generous support of the Buccaneers sponsors.

“We have a prize of $500 for best dressed BUCC and $750 for best dressed business,” he said.

“Send in your photos to the Buccaneers Facebook page where the Mayor and a panel of judges will select the winners and will be announced Friday August 29.

“Let’s see the whole of Geraldton get behind the Buccs on the road to victory,” said Mr Diehm.

For more information or to send a photo of your costume or shop front email to enquiries@geraldtonbuccaneers.com.au. Photos can also be submitted to the Geraldton Buccaneers Basketball Club Facebook page.

West End Youth Space to come alive

Expressions of interest are currently being taken for local youngsters to be part of the Foreshore Ideas Group for the West End Youth Space.

The City is calling on all young people aged between 12-20 years who would like to help design the West End Youth Space, located on the Foreshore.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 27th 4pm - 6pm

To nominate to be part of the West End Youth Space Ideas Group, click here and log on to complete the EOI form or contact Kat Williams on 9965 6777 or e-mail kathleenw@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Participants go into the draw to WIN a $100 voucher for a shop of their choice.

Closing date is Friday, August 22nd.

City cut trees in CBD

Noticed less greenery in the Geraldton CBD?

Several trees have been cut due to infrastructure damage.

Two trees at the West End of Cathedral Ave have been removed, two at the intersection of Cathedral Avenue and Marine Terrace, along with three trees removed from the Foreshore.

A statement from the City said, "the trees were damaging community infrastructure and they will be replaced with more suitable species."

Footpath works to start on Chapman Road

The City of Greater Geraldton has advised that footpath renewal works will be carried out on the Chapman Road footpath between Cathedral Avenue and the ANZ bank driveway.

Works will commence on Monday August 11, 2014, and is expected to continue for eleven days. The pathway will be closed to pedestrians during this time.

Anticipated hours of work will be between 6am to 6pm. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to take caution and obey all warning signs and direction from authorised City personnel and contractors.

The City say they regret any inconvenience and will endeavour to keep disruptions to a minimum.

City undertakes further geotechnical survey at Beresford Foreshore

As part of the City of Greater Geraldton’s Beresford Foreshore Protection and Enhancement Project, geotechnical investigations will continue on the Beresford Foreshore starting this week for up to two weeks.

A local engineering company will excavate several test pits at three locations on the beach with a backhoe between the breakwater and Trigg St at times coinciding with the low tide.

The test pits will allow for the beach sediment to be assessed for properties including: sand colour and size, gravel inclusion, water level depth and the depth to rock/reef.

The backhoe will require access over the foreshore reserve and any access tracks created for the testing will be reinstated on completion of the works.

In addition, investigative work will be carried out at Pages Beach with regards to sourcing sand for capital beach replenishment of Midalia’s Beach on the Beresford Foreshore.

For further information or information on the Beresford Foreshore Coastal Protection and Enhancement Project contact Michael Dufour on 9956 6600 or council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Walkaway drug and alcohol centre approved for go ahead

Proposed Mount Hill Walkaway community farm which will provide rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addicts has been approved.

At last nights council meeting over 70 people attended the debate and heard as the council voted 11 -2 in favour of the go ahead rehab centre, even in despite of a petition against the centre with over 270 signatures. Hope Community Services (HCS) are the company behind the centre and are a community services organisation that provides support services to people affected by alcohol and drugs. A range of services are offered by HCS including programs directed to those at risk, counselling services, rehabilitation programs, supervised residential accommodation and transitional housing accommodation.

The proposed Community Farm will enable HCS to expand its services in the Midwest, both in their ability to offer services via the therapeutic community model and their ability to offer supervised accommodation services.

HCS has received a $2 million grant from the Western Australian Royalties for Regions Program that required the development of a detailed business case which was required to demonstrate a quantifiable return on investment, based on a sustainable economic and environmental model.

The land to be developed is located within the locality of Mount Hill and is approximately 15 km south-east from the Walkaway townsite via Nangetty – Walkaway and Allanooka Springs Roads. The site for the centre is approximately 42 km from Geraldton and is located just north of the local authority boundary with the Shire of Irwin.

Proposed development includes an extension to the rear (south) of the existing shed of approximately 130m2, giving a total of 300m2.

Three accommodation units are proposed although only 2 will be initially constructed. The units will be 98m2 each and the floor plan for each accommodation unit will comprise 4 bedrooms with 2 single beds, clothes storage and table/desk and an additional inclusive access (disabled) bedroom. Each accommodation unit will house up to 9 residents and a maximum of 27 residents could ultimately be accommodated at any one time.

The unique locational and physical attributes of the subject land and its high aesthetic appeal, make this an ideal setting for the centre. In addition, the property well developed with infrastructure which can be expanded upon in the future also make the area ideal for the development of the community farm.

The coordination and delivery of therapy programs will be managed in accordance with established HCS programs, management and reporting guidelines. Participants enter into HCS residential programs voluntarily and are not bound to remain in programs. Farm residents will not be referred from the WA Police Service or Justice Department sectors. They will come from current HCS programs at Rosella House or other HCS locations. HCS accepts referrals from drug and alcohol agencies, mental health services, GP’s, welfare agencies, private counsellors, families and self-referral.

All clients accepted into the program are required to have undergone a pre- admission processes including, but not limited to, medical detoxification, mental health and readiness for change assessment. This ensures not only the safety of the individual, the facility and wider community but ensures the client has maximum opportunity to achieve success.

The facility will have 5 to 7 full time employees, with a minimum of 4 to 5 staff on-site at any time during normal business hours, and 1 to 2 staff on-site for evenings and overnight. The community farm will be managed and overseen by a combination of service manager, farm manager, project manager, support workers and care providers and will be staffed 24 hours a day every day of the year.

The HCS has said they have accessed the risks involved and addressed the publics concerns and has put a comprehensive risk management system in place. This includes detailed assessments to determine suitability for potential entry into the program, it should also be noted that the program is not for withdrawal/detoxification purposes.

Geraldton is a Biodiversity Hotspot

Biodiversity - Noun:The variety of plant and animal life in the world, or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable. Oxford English Dictionary

The Geraldton area is one of only 34 of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and is of very high biodiversity value. However it is under significant threat.

The City of Greater Geraldton and the Shire of Chapman Valley are seeking community support to maintain this important and desirable habitat, through a survey to develop private landholder incentives to preserve Geraldton’s ranking as a biodiversity hotspot.

City Senior Environmental and Sustainability Officer, Robyn Nicholas, said the two local governments’ policies and strategies show a commitment to environmental values, and to halting and reversing the observed trends towards collapse of local ecosystems.

“The City has developed a Local Biodiversity Strategy, which can be found on the City’s website under town planning then public consultation on www.cgg.wa.gov.au, to address some of the issues and the values of which historically have been hard to quantify,” she said.

“However, more recently concepts including ecosystem services, triple bottom line, sustainability indicators, natural asset management and carbon price have helped to identify the value of such areas.

“The development of the strategy included substantial community and stakeholder engagement, and to achieve the vision, will need stronger action from government and must provide for stronger support for local community groups and private landowners.

“Indeed an action from the strategy is to develop and support an incentives program for private landholder conservation,” said Ms Nicholas.

“We would like private landholders’ thoughts on how to encourage the retention, protection and management of this vegetation on private land by encouraging them to complete a survey and be in the draw to win 50 local provenance seedlings valued at $165 each.”

To discover how this program could work the City is encouraging private landholders to complete a survey which can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K8FWC2P and closes on Thursday July 24, 2014. You could get the chance to win two prizes of 50 local provenance seedlings valued at $150 each.

For more information contact Robyn Nicholas on 9956 6629 or robynn@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Batavia Motor Inne might finally get finished

The City of Greater Geraldton has issued a new building permit for construction to start once again on the Batavia Motor Inne site that has been left derelict for more than five years. The original building permit lapsed in December 2013 due to lack of progress on site and an intent to issue a demolition notice was issued by the City.

The owners have been working through the outstanding issues with their project team and this time utilised a private certifier/fire engineer over the past six months to come up with a compliant Certified Building application.

City CEO, Ken Diehm, said the building permit has been tied to the construction timetable.

“The building permit has been conditioned to ensure that construction is continuous and timely,” he said.

“Work stalled towards the beginning of last year and was to resume in February this year but it didn’t happen. Enough is enough.

“Council has had enough of derelict buildings in the City, and if the conditions of this permit are not adhered to, or work stops without a valid reason, the City still has the option to issue a demolition order,” said Mr Diehm.

He said he expects the proponent to apply for incentives as part of the CBD Revitalisation Program adopted by Council in May 2014 to drive desirable redevelopment in the CBD, which could see a periodic rates exemption.

“If the proponent seeks concessions under the CBD Revitalisation Strategy they would be the second company to do so, and would mean the incentives program could prove an effective tool to revitalise our City,” said Mr Diehm.

Work is expected to start in the next two weeks and the anticipated completion date of the 78 room accommodation and function centre is May/June 2015.

Herald Build Pty Ltd is the company undertaking the refurbishment and a nominated building supervisor will manage the project, with a local foreman based permanently on site.

City staff get set to tread the boards for Foodbank

Think City of Greater Geraldton Council staff are boring pencil pushers with no personality?

Boy, are you in for a pleasant surprise on July 26 when City staff present a variety benefit concert to raise funds for Foodbank Geraldton, at 7pm at Queens Park Theatre.

Some amazing talent lurks amongst City staff who will entertain with music and comedy in the With a Little Help From Our Friends concert, so named to promote the idea of people helping others in need, and of course recognising help from well- known friends outside the City who will support the cast on stage.

Leading the friends will be Geraldton’s own very talented Mia Royce along with Aaron Willcox wielding some guitar magic.

City Mayor, Ian Carpenter said this voluntary initiative from City staff and friends shows great community spirit to raise funds for Foodbank. “Staff from across the organisation are volunteering their time, talent and effort, at no cost to the City, we are simply providing QPT as the venue. They are doing all the arranging and rehearsals in their own time,” he said.

“It will be an enjoyable night and City Councillors encourage the community to get into the spirit of the concert and support this great cause.”

City CEO, Ken Diehm, said it is wonderful to see the musical talents of City staff in a charity concert for Foodbank.

“All too often, we focus on our work, and it’s important to note that people have lives outside of work and people who are less fortunate require our support,” he said.

“It never ceases to amaze me the width and breadth of talent of our staff and I encourage everyone to come along and enjoy a fun evening of entertainment to help Foodbank. The generosity of City staff is to be congratulated – and it’s all for a good cause. Helping those in Geraldton who do not have the same opportunities as many of us do.”

The concert has received support from the Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry - long supporters of Foodbank and local charities - with promotion to its members, and CBD Chamber members are separately holding a combined food and blankets donation day for Foodbank and the Salvation Army in the CBD on July 5.

With support from city centre traders, flyers for the With a Little Help From Our Friends City concert will be distributed to the public at that event.

In addition to concert box office proceeds being donated to Foodbank, food donation bins will be available in the QPT foyer on concert night. A feature of the night, to boost the fund raising effort, will be the auction of a beautiful Abrolhos pearl pendant, designed and crafted especially for the concert and generously donated by Chimere Pearls. Tickets for the concert are available from the Queens Park Theatre 9956 6662, the Civic Centre, 63 Cathedral Avenue, Geraldton, or online at www.queensparktheatre.com.au

Update from Chapman River Friends

PLANTING DAY in the park, It's done!Saturday 5th we did some planting in the Chapman River Regional Park, about 15 volunteers turned up, put in some 500 plants! Very well organised on site by the council staff. Great job!!! Now rain PLEASE!!!

GUIDED WALKS in the park. Sunday 6th afternoon we had a very good walk although it threatened to rain and there was a cold wind. 22 people came. We did the short walk along the north side crossing opposite Spalding Golf course. Plants had opened up, some birds like the Cormorants and Darters were there and we all looked at a Long Neck Turtle in the river at the crossing.

6 councillors could lose positions under proposed cuts

A surprise take away from the CGG CEO's statements following tonight's budget announcement:

“During the next twelve months we will be seeking to reduce the number of Councillors from 15 to nine and will need to find a further $1 million in savings, just to limit future increases to 5.2%.”

Full press release follows.

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City of Greater Geraldton CEO, Ken Diehm, said this year’s budget is one of the tightest budgets the City has had to ever bring in.

Two years ago the City was looking to increase rates by 7.6% per annum. Since that time the City has re-worked its financial planning and identified annual rate increases of 5.2% to continue to provide the current level and range of services and renew ageing infrastructure before it begins to fail.

“Last year we were able to limit rate increases to 2.25% and over the last twelve months the City has been working with Community Panels to identify capital works priorities and desired service levels,” said Mr Diehm.

“This work, coupled with internal efficiency gains, has enabled the City to further reduce the projected rate increases.”

Residential rates will now increase by 4.3%, a reduction of 0.9%, and non-residential rates will increase by only 3.6%, a reduction of 1.6% from the advertised proposed rate.

The increase in rates for an average residential property will be $1.27 per week. Mr Diehm said this has been a tough budget.

“State and Federal government funding has been reduced by $3 million and we have been hit by spiralling water and electricity costs.

“Wages have increased by only 2.6%. This is a combination of a 4% increase in the award, a 0.25% increase in compulsory Super contributions, a reduction in management positions, and more staff time allocated to capital works,” he said.

“Materials and contractors have increased by 2.8%. After eliminating the impacts of the additional Airport security costs of $695,000, there has actually been a reduction in materials and contract expenses of 0.4%.

“The City has tightened its belt and efficiency gains and cost savings of approximately $652,000 have been achieved during the 2013/14 financial year and incorporated into the 14/15 budget.

“These savings have been used to finance a higher level of asset maintenance and to fund new initiatives identified by the Community Panels and the business community,” said Mr Diehm.

“The City’s belt tightening doesn’t stop with this budget.

“During the next twelve months we will be seeking to reduce the number of Councillors from 15 to nine and will need to find a further $1 million in savings, just to limit future increases to 5.2%.”

Where is my rates money being spent?

We often get people Everything Geraldton saying things along the lines of "what does my rates money get spent on anyway?" Well, apart from the Library, Airport, Queens Park Theatre, town planning, ranger services, parks, roads, street lighting, Aquarena, QE2 seniors centre, family day care, Art Gallery, Visitor Centre and waste management... here's where some of your rates monies will be spent in 2014-15.

City of Greater Geraldton 2014-15 Budget expenditure at a glance:

• $150,000 to upgrade Mullewa landfill
• $100,000 to investigate domestic recycling
• $133,000 increase in street tree pruning
• $200,000 for emergent restoration and coastal management
• $440,000 for CCTV cameras for the Esplanade, West End precinct and Sydney II Memorial
• $500,000 in renewing existing footpaths and cycleways
• $520,000 for improved fire fighting capability at the Airport
• $600,000 upgrade of Wonthella Skate Park
• $700,000 upgrades to the works Depot
• $750,000 for a new Animal Management Facility
• $900,000 to undertake greenwaste processing, concrete crushing, improvement works, and to design an integrated resource recovery facility at meru landfill
• $950,000 for a new environmentally friendly geothermal air conditioning plant at the Geraldton Art Gallery
• $1,000,000 renovations to WA’s first Railway Station building to house visitor centre
• $1,500,000 for 500 lux lights at Wonthella Oval to attract high calibre events
• Around $1.5 million in drainage renewal and improvement works
• $1,940,000 for new youth recreation facilities in the West End precinct
• $2,100,000 for Airport lounge extensions
• $4,700,000 for beach stabilisation at Beresford, Greys and St Georges Beach
• $4,750,000 for a multi user facility on the West End to replace ageing building housing community groups
• About $4.5 million in pavement, intersection and kerbing renewal works throughout the City
• $26,000,000 to complete the Karloo Wandina Project, including Verita Road and a connecting bridge to Abraham street

Read 5 reasons your rates just went up 4.3% - (3.6% for commercial)

Or read: 6 councillors could lose positions under proposed cuts

5 reasons your rates just went up 4.3% - (3.6% for commercial)

1. Grants from State and Federal governments have been reduced by $3 Million, but the community still requires and expects the same level of service.

2. Costs incurred by the local council such as labour and materials typically go up at a rate higher than the consumer price index. For example, electricity and water costs are rising by up to 6%, and in the next year electricity cost for street lighting will go up by 36%.

3. Assets are wearing out quicker than we can afford to replace them.

4. As part of the City of Greater Geraldton's #changescgg program, more than 70 community members were chosen randomly to spend up to 8 hours every Saturday for 8 weeks reviewing the Council's services and capital works program. They provided council with what services they felt were important to keep, what should be cut, and what needs to be added. These recommendations are in part what formed the recommended rate increase to council.

Check out come of services the community members wanted added here on pages 13-17

5. The "CGG Ratepayers Demand Change" group (CGGRDC), who have been very vocally fighting any rate rises, only got 3 members elected at the last council election; Simon Keemink, Shane Van Styn and David Caudwell. Keemink and Caudwell voted against tonight's rise, Van Styn voted for it, but noted while he strongly opposed rate rises in principle at this point, he felt the city had committed to some very large projects such as Verita Rd and the renovation of the old Railway building, and pulling the pin on projects like that would have too strong of a negative effect on the town. (Laurie Graham, who is also a new councillor, winning at the last election, was the only other councillor to vote against the rise).

Our brief take on the new budget and rate rise:

Since the 27% rise two years ago, mentioning the word "rates" in Geraldton is like mentioning Hitler. It causes the dopamine levels in any rate-paying Geraldonite to drop to dangerously low levels, which unfortunately now makes the topic difficult to discuss rationally.

But considering when the local council so much as HINTS at shutting down a heated pool for a few months, or relocating a pony club so they can better utilise valuable land, or if the roadside collection takes 5 seconds longer than expected; there is public outrage, it remains rather clear that Geraldton residents still expect a certain level of services from their local government.

While exactly what services should be kept, culled or added is worth debating, it's still unclear what the CGGRDC would like to see cut to achieve their demands of a drastically reduced expenditure.

Based on what members of the public said they wanted during the community consultation period, the city actually put a 5.2% rate increase proposal to councillors to consider.

To get that even lower, down to 4.3% for residential premises, and 3.6% for non-residential, required more axing.

According to information provided the city, the increase in rates for an average residential property will be $1.27 per week.

Keep in mind as well, two years ago when there was the 27% increase, all the forward estimates required increases following that for the next decade of another 7.2% per annum.

Coupled with last year's modest increase of 2.9%, the City of Greater Geraldton has certainly reigned in its spending, though CEO Ken Diehm says he's going to continue looking at ways to improve efficiencies.

We've published our fair share of articles criticising certain local government decisions, but to be fair, they're damned if they rase rates and damned if they cut services ( or don't fix playground equipment etc etc). But services cost money.

Mayor Ian Carpenter pointed out tonight he wasn't impressed hearing state government MP's publicly opine that "local councils shouldn't raise rates" while at the same time they cut funding to local governments and raise electricity and water costs to them.

It's a good point too.

Robbing local government's pockets to make the state or federal budget look good doesn't help anyone, it just passes the problem down the line.

See our follow up article: Where is my rates money being spent?

Or read: 6 councillors could lose positions under proposed cuts

Nominations open for Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards and Australian WA of the Year

Nominations are now open for both the local Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards and Australian WA of the Year.

Each year the City of Greater Geraldton calls for nominations from the public for those who have contributed in some way to the betterment of the community. The awards foster, recognise and celebrate significant contributions to community life and active citizenship in all local government areas of WA.

Four Great Australians brought their inspirational stories to Geraldton last week launching the National Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards 2015.

The four are WA’s Australian of the year 2014 recipients, and more than 100 people came out in the chill night air on Monday June 23, to listen to and meet them, at a free public forum at the Queen Elizabeth II Seniors and Community Centre, hosted by Australia Day Council of WA.

Reconciliation advocate and Senior Australian of the Year, Fred Chaney AO, who has a fierce commitment to social justice and equality talked about his work helping to empower indigenous people.

WA Australian of the Year, cancer researcher Professor Bruce Robinson AM, gave a larrikin take on how he came to the serious side of his work as a world leader in the study of asbestos related cancers and founding the Fathering Project that aims to connect children with father figures.

Young Australian of the Year, Dr John van Bockxmeer, “grew up wanting to give back” and founded Fair Game, a charity that assists thousands of people in migrant and indigenous communities with recycled sport equipment to capacity build sport, fitness and wellness programs through health education.

Australia’s Local Hero, Noongar Linguist Denise Smith‐Ali, has dedicated her life to reclaiming and reviving the language of the Noongar people of the South West of WA. Her early focus on educating and engaging young people has led to documenting creation and ancestral stories that relate to country.

The City of Greater Geraldton hosted the Great Australians at a lunch time networking session in the Civic Centre Function Room on Tuesday June 24, where councillors and community members were able to chat with them.

The City invites you to nominate an outstanding local hero or group for one of the Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards to be presented in Geraldton on Australia Day, Monday, January 26 2015, or the Australian WA of the Year which will be presented in Canberra.

Award nomination forms are available at the Civic Centre or on the City website www.cgg.wa.gov.au

For more information contact Yvonne Lovedee 9965 6773 or email Yvonnel@cgg.wa.gov.au

If you were concerned about ammonium nitrate in Kojarena, you can rest easy for now

Council have rejected, again, the proposal to store ammonium nitrate, a dangerous good, at Kojarena. The proposal was put forward by Blue Energy Explosives. Several members of the community reached out to Everything Geraldton during the week expressing concern of the storage of the highly dangerous substance in Kojarena.

At the beginning of the meeting, members of the public, including neighbouring farmers, expressed serious concerns over the proposal .

Cr Van Styn said he inspected the property and despite the fact that there was the potential for more jobs, he believed the fact that the buffer zone encroached on someone else's property, as well as other factors, made the proposal unacceptable. Phil Melling, director of sustainable communities, said the buffer zone was completely on the proponent's property, according to their submission.

Mayor Ian Carpenter said he believed more public feedback was needed before considering the proposal.

Councillor Jerry Clune said at least three meetings have already been held with the proponent, and they had been largely difficult to contact on the matter, rejecting the notion more consultation was needed with Blue Energy Explosives, and calling on his peers to support his motion to reject Blue Energy Explosive's proposal outright.

The vote was 10/4 to reject the proposal.