Greenough River Bridge officially opens

Today Transport Minister Dean Nalder officially declared the new Greenough River Bridge on the Brand Highway open.

The bridge is stage one of the State Government's Brand Highway development.

The new bridge was completed by contractor Georgiou Group Pty Ltd and it included 1.23kms of roadwork on both bridge approaches to realign the highway and another one kilometer of roadworks to realign the intersections with Reynolds Road and Hamersley Road.

"This new concrete bridge is much wider, longer and higher than the original structure built in 1953," Mr Nalder said.

"Opened to traffic in August, it improves safety for the almost 3000 vehicles that use this route everyday and will significantly reduce costs for the transport industry, which has previously cut off supplies to Geraldton and other nearby towns."

Mr Nalder said it was all about safety and mentioned that in 7 years there had been 20 crashes and 5 fatalities on this section of the Brand Highway.

Stage 2 of the project will include the realignment of the S-Bend.

Geraldton and Mullewa pools get funding

City of Greater Geraldton pools in Geraldton and Mullewa will be sparkling that little bit more this summer after $30,000 of grants funded by Royalties for Regions.

The grants come as part of the Community Pool Revitalisation Program, which through Royalties for Regions will contribute $13.2 million over four years towards supporting local pools and aquatic facilities in regional WA. 

Money will go towards aquatic centre maintenance, upgrades, purchase of pool equipment and staff training at the Geraldton Aquarena and the Mullewa Swimming Pool. 

Member for Moore Shane Love MLA and Member for the Agricultural Region Paul Brown MLC congratulated the City on receiving the grants, saying they hoped to see the funding boost in action over the summer months. 

“Anyone who lives in a regional area knows how important local pools are to their community, and we don’t mean just for taking a cooling dip,” they said.

“These facilities also play a valuable role in connecting the community socially, providing numerous health benefits, recreation opportunities and increasing education outcomes.

“This funding will keep our local pools as inviting and accessible as possible to people of all ages, encouraging them to lead an active, healthy and refreshing lifestyle.”

The Community Pool Revitalisation Program was a Nationals WA election commitment in 2013, providing regional local governments up to $30,000 per aquatic facility under their management each year.

In the inaugural funding round, a total of $2,708,128 was granted to 91 pools around WA. Of 127 public aquatic centres in the state, almost 100 are located in the regions.

It is estimated they receive more than 10 million visits each year and in 2012-13 employed more than 3000 people in a full or part-time capacity, including life guards, pool operators and swimming instructors/coaches.

For further information about the Community Pool Revitalisation Program visit www.dsr.wa.gov.au/cprp 

Bad news if you were hoping to see fewer derelict buildings in town

You may recall the CGG council implemented a strategy not too long ago to entice owners of vacant and run down property in the CBD to put a tenant in or develop. They doubled the rates for unoccupied buildings. 

But the rate payers were unsurprisingly not happy about paying the extra amount, and insteas of refurbing their run down eyesores, challenged the decision. 

Now the State Administrative Tribunal has ruled against the CGG, meaning the council may even have to pay these investment groups back some of the rate money they've paid. 

(From the SAT website: The Tribunal is the primary place for the review of decisions made by Government agencies, public officials and local governments. It also makes a wide variety of original decisions.)

Early intervention for youth crime hindered by budget cuts

Budget cuts to local organisations were a conversation point at today’s crime forum held at the QPT. 

The forum, hosted by Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price, went ahead despite Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, unable to attend due to overnight raids in Sydney.

Ms Price was joined by the City of Greater Geraldton Manager Community Law and Safety Konrad Seidl, Police Superintendent Andrew Greatwood, Senior Sergeant Martin Haime and Commander Murray Smalpage.

Today, Ms Price said the Coalition Government had delivered on its commitment to address crime and anti-social behavior with $440,000 announced for CCTV footage around Geraldton including the Esplanade, HMAS Sydney II Memorial and Car Park 5 on Sanford Street. 

But not everyone was pleased about the approach.  

Jenny Allen from the Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre said more money needed to be put into early intervention programs rather than have the focus on catching criminals.

“CCTV is about catching people but the programs we offer are about early intervention,” she said.

“We really need some focus on that in Geraldton.”

Some youth focused programs delivered by the Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre will not go ahead next year due to Federal Government budget cuts.

“Unfortunately it has been a really tough week for me, because I’ve had to tell a number of our staff that they won't have jobs next year - these are our youth workers,” Mrs Allen said.

“And that’s because of cuts in funding, particularly Federal Government funding into youth programs.”

In earlier talks in the forum, Midnight Basketball had been discussed as one of the City’s most successful programs for youth and crime prevention.

However, with Federal budget cuts many of those who were involved in Midnight Basketball will no longer be part of the program.

“The success of Midnight Basketball is partly due to 4 of our staff who are paid to go and support the program and a number of those staff members will not have a job next year,” Mrs Allen said.

“We will continue as an organization but I am concerned about those particular funding cuts and for example, Midnight Basketball, you’ll have 4 less staff there to support that next year.”

Ms Price said she agreed with Mrs Allen and that she was still fighting that battle.

“In terms of youth connections, I’m really disappointed that that money was cut, and as Jenny knows, I’ve written to the state Government and I’ve also written to my federal colleague to ask for at least to have that extended,” she said.

“And it may be too late for the people Jenny unfortunately had to let go, but I’m still fighting that particular one.

“I’m very concerned about young people in Geraldton, and listening to Conrad talk about the great work that the Council is doing, it’s a real shame to think that those sorts of programs will be affected.

“I haven’t given up, I do acknowledge the work that Jenny and her team do, it is an issue and unfortunately money is too tight to mention at the moment.

“I don’t want to get political, and I won't, but we are doing the best that we can considering the circumstances, but there is no doubt that it is an issue and as I said today on radio today, education, education, education is what we need to give young people, and I know Jenny was providing a great service for those kids who didn’t fit the main stream model and to give them some skills for them to go out and get a job give them something worthwhile to do with their lives.”

Local resident Michael Warner gave his opinion on the issue saying there wasn't enough early intervention with youth and crime. 

“I don’t want to get into Indigenous youth or Caucasian youth but I have to agree – what are we doing to mitigate the crime before it even starts?” he said.

“It seems to me that what we have is faginism, what we have are people that preying on disadvantaged youth and disengaged youth. Why do we have them? Because the federal government has ripped so much money out of programs that we can’t cope anymore.

“The Police are doing the best job and I congratulate the Police on the high profile that they’ve made in the last 6 months, but I really would like an answer to this – what are we doing about engaging the families and getting them to accept the responsibility of their children, because after all, that is one answer.”

Ms Price went onto reply that money wasn't the answer.

“I know that the Prime Minister has a personal commitment to improving the lives of Aboriginal people, and going through the numerous programs, community groups, non-community groups, we all know there are hundreds of them costing all of us, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, billions of dollars so guess what? Money wasn’t the answer,” she said.

The 50 Cent Swing will be back!

The Merry-Go-Round when it was a swing. Picture: Phil Duperouzel

Geraldton's iconic Merry-Go-Round by the Sea, otherwise known as the 50 Cent Swing, has been removed but don't worry - it will be back!

The 50 Cent Swing is not actually a swing anymore after it was made a fixed structure in 2010. 

A statement from the City said the Merry-Go-Round had only been removed for refurbishment.

"It has been cleaned, restored, galvanised and painted and will be returned as a fixed structure providing seating in the new youth space/Geraldton Visitor Centre area," a City spokesperson said.

"It will be fixed on a concrete plinth with interpretive signage about its history and surrounded by timber decking linking the two areas."

The location of the 50 cent swing, next to the old Railway building is currently under renovations.

The Heritage listed building, Geraldton’s first Railway Station located on Marine Terrace, will soon be home to the Geraldton Visitor Centre and the City are refurbishing the whole area.

Credit card parking payment facilities now available at Geraldton Airport

Parking at Geraldton Airport can now be paid by credit card. The facility was activated on August 13 and the new fees and charges as adopted in the City's 2014-15 Budget on July 1, have now come into effect.

Parking fees remained at the former rates until the credit card facility was activated removing the necessity for people to carry cash, and often, use the airport terminal café to withdraw money with their debit cards to pay for parking.

The new fees and charges for long term parking at the airport are now $15 per day with a minimum of $30 for the first two days, and $10 per day thereafter.

For short term parking the first hour is free and then $2 per hour thereafter to a maximum of $20 for 24 hours.

The City say fees generated from parking, and from aviation operations, are used to fund capital upgrades and ongoing operations and maintenance of the airport, removing the need to fund these activities from Rates.

The new car parking areas more than double the long term and short term car parking spaces, overcoming the problem of inadequate capacity that had been a source of complaint by the community in recent years.

The new car parks were built at a cost of $2.86M with additional works this year to complete landscaping.

To meet growing community needs the Council, at its Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday August 26, awarded a contract for an extension to the Airport Lounge to local contractor, Crothers Construction at a cost of $1.861M with total project costs including customer facilities, amenities and furnishings of $2.1M. 

Local artist takes Geraldton to Jeju

Geraldton artist Marianne Penberthy in her home studio with some of her contemporary Bojagi art. 

Gridlocked. Hardly, but multi-award winning, Geraldton WA practising artist, Marianne Penberthy, says she has always been attracted to grids which feature strongly in her work.

“Grids interest me,” she says, “they appear as structure in everyday life; stonework in old colonial walls, architecture, street layouts – even nature produces random grids; in a leaf, in the landscape.

“And maps, I particularly like the early Dutch maps,” Marianne tells me as she shows me one with her own grids incorporated over it.

“As a child I was interested in maps and the layout of the place where I lived.

“I have strong memories of the local street maps of my childhood place in my mind. These maps fade over time, gradually becoming overlayed with new places, people and experiences.’

Grids are what attracted her to Korean Bojagi (pronounced ‘bo-jah-ggy’) an exquisite traditional folk art wrapping cloth method made up of small cloth remnants that has its origins in Korea from 1392. It’s a method for wrapping and carrying things that has developed into a contemporary art medium Marianne has embraced and explored as it speaks to her inner grid!

“I discovered Bojagi at an exhibition at the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery in 2002 and then attended a workshop in Perth with Chunghie Lee, a textile professor in Korea and America, and Bojagi ambassador,” says Marianne.

“She kept in touch and invited me to submit work in 2011 and 2012 for two different exhibitions.” 

And now, thanks in part to a second City of Greater Geraldton Artists Opportunities Program grant, along with an Airflight Grant from the WA Department of Culture and the Arts, Marianne has taken her art from Geraldton to Jeju.

The two grants enabled her to accept an invitation to give a talk at the 2014 Korean Bojagi Forum on Jeju Island, just off the Korean Peninsula, and exhibit as part of an International exhibition in Seoul, South Korea in earlier this month (September).

“In 2013 I received a CGG Artists’ Opportunities grant which enabled me to have my artworks professionally photographed; this was such an important thing and the timing was just right,” Marianne says.

“It allowed me to present quality images in future grant applications for professional development. Professional images make a huge difference in securing an art grant.

“In December 2013, I obtained a New Work Development Grant from the WA Department of Culture and the Arts which led to investigating two Asian textile traditions, the Korean Bojagi and also Japanese Shibori.”

At the Bojagi Forum, Marianne spoke about her new work development and showed works in two exhibitions in South Korea, including a solo show of nine works.

The Geraldton Regional Art Gallery owns a piece of Marianne’s contemporary Bojagi and she is currently working on an interpretation of the Bojagi technique – and grids in the landscape.

“My concepts relate to land, sense of place and family,” she says.

“Joining remnants and the reforming of something from small pieces and bringing something back to a whole form is exciting.”

Marianne was also excited about taking Geraldton to the world at the forum that had speakers from across the globe.

“I had photos of Geraldton in my presentation,” she says, “I’m always very proud to promote my home town.”

Marianne will give a talk at Durack Institute of Technology and ACDC Gallery later this year, about her visit to South Korea.

The CGG Artist Opportunities Program offered by the City of Greater Geraldton, provides successful applicants the opportunity to undertake arts projects for the advancement of their art practice and career, and for the creative enrichment of the community.

For more information on the program visit www.queensparktheatre.com.au/artist For more information on her work or to interview Marianne call 0419 938 188. 

Update: Sea Princess not coming to Geraldton due to mechanical issues

Image: www.princess.com

Update 14/9/14 6:30pm: The "Sea Princess" won't be calling into Geraldton tomorrow due to mechanical issues.

Original article below:

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Cruise liner the Sea Princess, will be paying Geraldton a visit on Monday September 15.

The 15 deck, 77,499 ton Cruise ship is expected to arrive at 8am and depart at 6pm the same day, with approximately 1900 passengers on board.

Cruise Ship Meet and Greet Volunteers will be on hand to welcome passengers ashore and local markets will be set up at the Batavia Coast Marina.

The Sea Princess features luxuriously appointed amenities including a café, fitness centre, Lido Pool, main dining room, Oasis Pool, Razzmatazz Bar, Rigoletto Dining Room, Riviera Pool, Traviata Dining Room, Youth Centre, Theatre and much more.

For more information about this and other Cruise Ship visits, or to become a Meet and Greet Volunteer, contact City of Greater Geraldton Cruise Ship and Visitor Information Office, Joanne Brown, on (08) 9921 3999.

For more information about the Sea Princess and the Princess Cruises visit www.princess.com.

Why councillors should be paid a lot more

Recent news about a small increase to the allowance paid by councillors and the Mayor was met with a collective shrug by Geraldton residents. 

The press release from the city was careful to emphasise how little the increase is, and how small the overall amount councillors receive relative to the work they do and the time they contribute. 

But should councillors be receiving so little that they still need to keep their day jobs? Would they not be able to do a better job and devote more time to their work if they were actually paid a decent amount?

Giving money to politicians or elected officials rates only slightly less distasteful than letting paedophiles out of prison, in the minds of many Australians. But our cultural distrust for what are essentially public servants is mostly unmerited in my mind. 

We asked these people to do a job for us that we don't have time to do, namely, facilitating the day to day running of our city and associated services. They're not dictators, monarchs or overlords. They're school teachers, mums, dad, grandparents, small business owners, accountants... everyday local residents like you and me that put their hand up to have a go and help out.

Yet in day to day conversation around town about "the council", more vitriol is thrown towards these everyday people than is warranted. We demand they do a better job, provide more services, get in touch with the public more effectively, reduce rates and cure cancer. 

All the while they must maintain their full time jobs, keep their respective relationships with their significant others in tact, raise children, and remember to get their suits dry-cleaned for the upcoming council meeting in a week's time. 

By not paying councillors a liveable wage, we're depriving ourselves of the very thing we need; dedicated, focused individuals with skin in the game who are available to us and can better inform themselves of the myriad of issues that come across their desks/email inboxes each week. 

It's a thankless task at the best of times, and the care factor level one needs to run for council is much higher than what the average resident posses. Two thirds of us couldn't even be stuffed to go and vote at the last local election. 

It's up to the state government to set the maximum amounts a councillor can be compensated, and at the moment it's not enough to be a full time wage.

And if it were ever increased, we may increase the risk of political parties entering the local government scene like happens over east. 

But I for one would love to know the councillors I elected were actually at the council offices most of the time, providing assistance and guidance to staff as needed.

While I certainly don't have a problem criticising specific decisions made by council, I tip my hat to anyone dedicated enough to put their hand up and have a go at serving the public through this demanding role. 

City Rangers finalists in State award

The City of Greater Geraldton’s Community Law and Safety Team have been selected as finalists in the WA Ranger Association Team of the Year award.

CEO Ken Diehm said he was extremely proud of the work the City’s rangers undertook and to be recognised as being finalists in a State award is a huge step in terms of recognition.

“The City’s Rangers can work under the most stressful of circumstances. Whilst the majority of people in our community treat them with respect, sometimes it can be very difficult to carry out their duties without being harassed,” he said.

“The team have made a huge effort to make sure Geraldton is well serviced in community law and safety issues.”

City of Greater Geraldton Community Law and Safety Manager, Konrad Seidl, said to be finalists for the award is a great team achievement.

“Being part of the Law and Safety team is one of the hardest jobs in the council,” he said.

“The job can be very demanding and we have the highest amount of customer requests, but this doesn’t stop the great culture we have in our team.”

A Rangers day can vary from dealing with dogs, cats and livestock, to matters of parking, camping, litter and off road vehicles.

Law and Safety also deal with City Crime Prevention activities including CCTV and Emergency Management and all bush fire responsibilities.

Much of the work in the field creates work in the office giving each member their fair share in front of the community or a computer screen. No day is ever the same.

Mr Seidl said it’s very rewarding to achieve so many goals on a daily basis. “We work together to make a significant contribution to keeping Greater Geraldton safe,” he said.

“I’m proud of how far the team has come and if we’re not successful this round, I’m sure we will be nominated again for our services.”

Mr Seidl will be presenting at a conference on Wednesday September 10 about a new approach to the City’s Ranger Services and Emergency Management Exercise. He will also be attending the awards presentation taking place that same day.

Geraldton Crime Forum

Federal Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price, want to hear your thoughts on what action can be taken locally to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the Geraldton community. Date: Thursday 18th September 2014 Time 11.00am for a 11.30am start Location Queens Park Theatre, Cathedral Avenue GERALDTON WA 6531 RSVP: By COB Monday 15th September 2014 PH: 08 9964 2195 or via email to mpricersvp@aph.gov.au 

For any enquiries, please contact Melissa Price’s office on 08 9964 2195.

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City Councillors’ fees and allowances increased

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors fees and allowances came under review last month after a Salaries and Allowances Tribunal determination for 2014-15.

Council endorsed an increase to current fees and allowances which equates to an increase of more than $13 a week to Councillors' meeting fees.

The below table shows the total increase to the budget and the total fees and allowances of the Mayor, Deputy Major and Councillors.

Screen Shot 2014-09-04 at 11.59.24 am

City Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the increases are fair and still at 80 per cent of the recommended maximum allowed by the tribunal.

“I think the increases recommended by the tribunal are fair and our Council has agreed to limit the total remuneration at 20 per cent less than the upper band set by the tribunal,” he said.

“I’m happy that councillors are renumerated fairly for all the work they do for the local community.”

State Government management order secured for Original Railway Station

photo-4

A State Government management order has been secured for the Original Railway Station building on Marine Terrace.

The City, its residents and visitors, are set to benefit from the management order that will save more than $11,000 a year as land ownership is retained by the State, but provides the City with management of the facility at no cost.

Member for Geraldton Ian Blayney was involved in negotiations with the State Government securing the management order and the City have said it will save them thousands of dollars in lease fees.

The Original Railway Station is one of the City’s much loved heritage buildings that has for many years been left to languish as a suitable tenant could not be found.

It is now being lovingly restored, thanks to funding from the City of Greater Geraldton and the State Government through its Royalties for Regions program and Lotterywest, and will become the new home for the Geraldton Visitor Centre.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said it was great news.

“The Premier has confirmed that the State Government has offered the Original Railway Station to the City under a management order. This is great news for our residents and means the City will save tens of thousands of dollars over the years,” he said.

Mr Blayney said he is very happy to see the City and the State working together to preserve and use the iconic heritage building.

“The Original Railway Station Building has remained in a derelict condition for some time,” he said.

“Given the significant and cultural heritage values of the building, and the large investment the City and the State Government is making, the proposed usage of the Original Railway Station as the Geraldton Visitor Centre is consistent with the land being again reserved for Community Purposes, with a management order provided to the City.”

Restoration and refurbishment works are scheduled for completion in November ready for the Geraldton Visitor Centre to move in.

Visitors will experience the history of this iconic building with interpretive heritage signage and audio oral history detailing the life and times of the building which also in the past has housed the Mechanics Institute, a library and the museum.

Geraldton was part of the first government railway line in WA making the Original Railway Station the oldest in existence in the State.

The friendly visitor centre staff will welcome visitors into an open plan information ‘hub’ covering all there is to see and do in Geraldton and its surrounding Coral Coast neighbours, as well as an expanded retail section featuring local products.

A special ‘themed’ area will take advantage of key seasonal attractions including the region’s wildflowers.

A new café opening onto a foreshore-facing deck will encourage people to stop, take a break and plan their exploration of the region’s beautiful area. There will also be space to relax, read and discover in the first floor interpretation area featuring audio history, local artists’ works and more.

City to collect data on condition of entire road network

The City of Greater Geraldton has more than 3,800km of roads valued in excess of $500 million and they City have said it is vital the that our roads are managed responsibly.

So if you see a white Nissan Patrol four wheel drive vehicle cruising the streets with a number of cameras on the roof, and a strange box on the front, do not be alarmed, it is not Big Brother or Google Earth conducting surveillance on residents, it is a research vehicle conducting a condition assessment of the City’s roads.

The City has engaged the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) to collect data regarding the condition of the entire road network in Geraldton and Mullewa, using state-of-the-art equipment, and it will provide the City with the most accurate information in order to determine future maintenance and renewal programs.

The vehicle is fitted with a series of cameras and lasers angled towards the road for monitoring and will not intrude on anyone's privacy.

This technology is used extensively nationally and will allow the City to plan expenditure on local roads more effectively.

The vehicle is driving every sealed and unsealed road in the City, including car parks, until the end of September.

Dongara Port Denison wins tidy town award

Congrats to our friends in Dongara Port Denison who today won the Midwest-Gascoyne tidy town award for Natural Environment Conservation. Pic via Shire of Irwin Facebook page.

Rolf Harris painting to be reinstated at Dalwallinu council

Ian Cutler from Geraldton Newspapers reports that Dalwallinu Shire Council has voted 6 - 2 to reinstate a Rolf Harris painting at a council meeting on Tuesday. According to the minutes from the meeting:

...responses from the community have been received via letters, emails and through the "Totally Locally" newsletter. There have been offers to purchase or acquire the painting from the Shire which need consideration.

This mater has opinion in support and against the display of the Rolf Harris artwork and not everyone will be pleased with the decision Council makes, however to have the painting in storage has zero benefit.

Click here to read the minutes in full.

City Councillors’ fees and allowances increased

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors fees and allowances came under review at this week's Ordinary Meeting of Council after a Salaries and Allowances Tribunal determination for 2014-15.

Council endorsed a three percent increase to current fees and allowances which equates to less than $13 a week after the increase.

City Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the increases are fair and still at 80 per cent of the recommended maximum allowed by the tribunal.

“I think the increases recommended by the tribunal are fair and our Council has agreed to limit the total remuneration at 20 per cent less than the upper band set by the tribunal,” he said.

“I’m happy that councillors are renumerated fairly for all the work they do for the local community.”

Important fire break information

Fire Break Notices for the City of Greater Geraldton 2014-2015

It’s that time of year again where the City of Greater Geraldton would like to remind land owners to start looking at preparing their property for the up and coming bush Fire season.

The following Fire Prevention measures are a Minimum Standard Requirement.

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GERALDTON

Small lots (under 0.4ha) - regardless of whether the land is vacant or has a building.

5 October 2014 to 1 May 2015:

• Blocks must have flammable material, mowed or slashed to a maximum height of 7.5cm – ploughing and rotary hoeing are not permitted. • All wattle bush must be removed from block unless application is made to retain wattle prior to September 15 and approved. (See exemptions). • All structures and buildings must have a minimum of 3 metres clearance of all flammable material.

Residential and Special Rural/Rural Residential/Rural Smallholding lots between 0.4 and 5ha

5 October 2014 to 1 May 2015:

• Firebreaks must be mineral earth (bare earth) a minimum of 3 metres wide and have a minimum overhead clearance of 4 metres or have flammable material graded, mowed or slashed to a maximum height of 7.5cm over the entire property (excluding managed vegetation such as ornamental trees, distinct islands of vegetation remote from boundaries and assets). • All structures and buildings must have a minimum of 3 metres clearance of all flammable material.

*Structures include power poles.

Broadacre farming or lots over 5ha

5 October 2014 to 1 May 2015:

• Mineral earth firebreaks installed within 20 metres inside and along the whole external boundary of land held in contiguous ownership up to a maximum of 200ha. • Firebreaks must be a minimum of 3 metres in width and have a minimum overhead clearance of 4 metres. • All structures and buildings must have a minimum of 3 metres clearance of all flammable material. *Structures include power poles. Fuel and/or Gas Depots • Owners or occupiers of land on which any storage container is used to contain liquid fuel or gas, including land on which any ramp or supports are constructed shall have a 5 metre flammable material-free area surrounding the container.

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MULLEWA DISTRICT

RURAL LAND

Owners and Occupiers of lands, other than within a townsite, shall clear of all flammable material firebreaks of at least three (3) metres width as close as practicably possible inside and along the whole of the external boundary of their property or properties.

TOWNSITE LAND

Owners and Occupiers within a townsite shall: (a) Clear of all flammable material the whole of the area where; (i) The area of the land is 2023 square metres or less or, (ii) The land is used for storage of flammable liquids, or (iii) There is a hotel situated thereon. (b) If the area of land exceeds 2023 square metres (half an acre): (i) Clear of all flammable material firebreaks at least two (2) metres wide immediately inside all external boundaries of the land; or (ii) Have the grass mown to a height of not more than 50mm over the whole of the land, except where the land is used for the storage of flammable liquids.

HOMESTEADS, BUILDING, HAYSTACKS, STACKS OF FODDER, BULK FUEL, DRUMS AND LIQUID PETROLEUM

Owners and Occupiers of land shall: During the period from 1st day of October, 2014 to the 31st day of March 2015, inclusive, have firebreaks at least three (3) metres wide in such positions as are necessary to completely surround the perimeter of any homestead, building, fuel installation (including drums), haystack (where such a haystack is situated within 200 metres of any homestead, building, fuel installation) or group of such structures or installations.

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For the full Fire Break Notices please visit the City of Greater Geraldton website.

Water supply interruption

As part of the City of Greater Geraldton’s major Karloo-Wandina (Verita Road) Infrastructure project, the Water Corporation and the City will undertake works in Rangeway, Mt Tarcoola and Wandina to improve the water supply network.

It is necessary to relocate some existing water mains at critical road crossings along Verita Road at Columbus Boulevard and Ackland Road. Some shutdowns to water supply tanks in the area are required for relocating these water mains.

This will result in reduced water pressure to homes and businesses in the area however the water may be turned off completely if stored water runs out before completion of the work.

The planned works will start on Wednesday August 27 from 5am to 5pm and at 5am on Thursday September 11 to 11am on Friday September 12.

Residents are requested to keep water usage to a minimum during these times. The City apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

For any questions relating to the work please contact Moneer Fates, Site and Delivery Manager on 9956 6600 or mobile 0433 453 441.

Water Minister visits Geraldton to discuss odour complaints

Water Minister Mia Davies visited Geraldton on Monday to discuss odour complaints coming from the Utakarra Waste Water Pumping Station. Residents have been complaining for months about the odour and after the Minister's visit yesterday, Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said the Water Corporation are hopeful that the odour issues can be addressed by October and other issues fully resolved by mid-February, 2015.

Minister Davies was accompanied to the site by senior staff of the Water Corporation and spent Monday afternoon inspecting the site and being briefed on the continuing work being undertaken to resolve the odour issues that have been a concern for local residents.

The Minister met with the City of Greater Geraldton CEO, Ken Diehm and Mayor Ian Carpenter to discuss the new biological odour scrubbers that will be fitted in October and the installation of the new pumps in February.

A meeting was also held with local residents who expressed their concerns and the impact that the continuing problems at the Waste Water Pumping Station was having on their day to day lives.

“A reference group has been formed. This group will receive regular briefings on progress, which I will be happy to facilitate," Mr Blayney said.