Several readers have mentioned they've spotted an unusual coloured seagull recently at Geraldton's beaches. We can't say we've ever seen one this colour.
Any theories?
Thanks Leonie for sending in these pics.
Thanks Emily for sending these pics in.
Pavement works on North West Coastal Highway may impact your journey from 7 to 12 June. Plan ahead to avoid delays. For a full list of roadworks happening across the region visit: http://ow.ly/3Gcj300PkGR
A woman reached out to EG a few weeks ago, at her wits end and demanding a return phone call. I rang back as quickly as I could. For privacy reasons we'll call her Jane. (That's not her real name, but Jane is such a wonderful name I like to use it whenever I can.)
I wondered what I had done to upset her. Turns out she wasn't upset about anything to do with Everything Geraldton. Moreover, she didn't live anywhere near Geraldton. She lives in Rockingham. That would be Mark McGowan's electorate if I'm not mistaken.
She reached out to EG, as well as a number of other media outlets, in a desperate attempt to have her story told. She told me the other outlets had basically said "we don't like to deal with these sorts of things" and I guess I can understand why. But I decided to listen to Jane for some time as she related her troubles.
Here it is in a nutshell.
Jane has seven kids. She's come out of a violent relationship. She had a VRO for her and her children's protection, but as she put it, "I may as well wipe my arse with the VRO." She says her ex breached it at least 20 times.
Her ex husband committed a terrible crime recently and is about to go to jail. Jane says he got her onto meth a decade ago, and she says she's been off it for a bit over 100 days. Jane is also medicated for bipolar.
Oh yes. Seven kids, who have been brought up in a violent home, and are about to see their father locked away for a long time.
Most men I know head to the doctor for that special procedure after kid number three, because they know the limits of what they can cope with. But Jane has seven, ranging from 14 to 1.
Jane copes.
But barely.
And she's been trying to get some help.
Admittedly, she's already helped out by the government/taxpayer. She doesn't work, and receives the usual benefits a single mother receives.
But Jane has been trying to get some assistance with caring for the kids from agencies like DCP.
But because Jane copes she doesn't quite qualify.
You see, Jane was told the only way she could get some extra assistance was if her kids were in actual danger.
Jane had explained she was suicidal and barely coping at times. But it seems "barely coping" translates into "you're coping so you're not our problem."
Someone kindly advised Jane that all she needed to do was lie to DCP and tell them she had neglected her youngest child. Jane told them the lie they needed to hear, and was then able to get day care for the children.
It seems that if you're on the edge of coping, and can feel yourself slipping, there's not a lot of help available until you've actually slipped.
Jane doesn't want her kids to go into foster homes. But she tells me she doesn't feel like she's coping much of the time. She says she's trying to get some sort of in home care or assistance to help keep her from the edge, but because she isn't bad enough of a parent, she's struggling to get the assistance. In her words: "I'm not a bad enough mum for DCP to do anything, but don't feel like I can keep treading water for much longer."
But having recently watched Jane try and navigate the numerous organisations that are ostensibly there to help, I can see why she's frustrated.
Here's another example of the difficulty faced by Jane in looking for assistance.
Jane's nine year old daughter has been more difficult than usual lately. Perhaps that's an understatement. She actually tried to run onto the road in front of a car. The daughter confessed to a psych worker she wants to kill herself, and explained how she would carry it out. She also explained how she would hurt her siblings. Jane tells me that this daughter has a history of similar behaviour. After the recent episode of the nine year old running out the front of the home and heading for the road, only stopped by a friend who happened to be arriving who tackled the girl to the ground, Jane sought help.
As per her instructions from the support agencies, she called the Police. They said in a nutshell "What do you expect us to do? Call agency X or go to the emergency department of the hospital." Agency X also said "go to the hospital." The hospital admitted the daughter, but wanted her gone the next day with no other advice. After arguing and fighting Jane was able to take the daughter to another hospital in Perth. But they didn't want her either, because she wasn't displaying any problematic behaviour at that time. So home Jane went. But she didn't make it all the way home. Nine year old started threatening to open the car door and jump out on the freeway. So off to the nearest hospital, Fiona Stanley. And guess what. They don't want the daughter there any more either. Fair enough. They've got sick people to look after. So where do you take a suicidal nine year old who's threatening to hurt her siblings and herself? DCP will know.
Nope. DCP said, and I quote because I heard the conversation, "That's up to you to talk to the hospital about."
"But I can't take my daughter home because it's unsafe, and the hospital says I can't leave her there. What do I do?" Jane asks.
"That's up to you to talk to the hospital about," DCP says again.
I'm sure you're a better parent than Jane. I'm sure you'd never make the life choices that would lead a person to this point. Good for you.
But the fact of the matter is there are plenty of people like Jane living in our communities, and they struggle to navigate the complicated network of government departments and agencies. And some of these people don't fit our definitions of who qualifies for assistance.
They feel like they're being handballed each time they pick up the phone and ask for help.
I've done as much independent investigation as I can, viewed correspondence and court records, but as you can imagine DCP aren't too keen on speaking with the media about specific cases. I'm sure there's more than one side to the story, and I'm sure the individuals at all the different agencies are doing their best. Is Jane just someone who has failed to take responsibility for her own actions and needs to blame the "system" to make herself feel better, or is she someone who doesn't quite fit the description of a person who needs help, and hasn't said the magic words yet to get it? Is her case symptomatic of the disconnected age we live in where we can't even reach out to our neighbours or family and ask for help, and instead depend on the tax payer to fund an agency to solve our problems?
I don't know. But I keep meeting people who can't find the help they say they need, and they seem to be trying their best.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn has exercised his discretionary powers under the Local Government Act to begin emergency works to mitigate erosion at St Georges Beach.
On Tuesday Mayor Van Styn approved immediate works which include the construction of a low level sandbag groyne and sand nourishment works.
Mayor Van Styn said it was with careful consultation with City staff that he decided to make the executive decision.
“I understand how rare it is to utilise this power but this is an extremely important issue that demanded immediate attention,” he said.
“Without me exercising my rights under the Local Government Act, this process could have potentially taken months which is time we just don’t have.
“We have very important community infrastructure at risk and that’s why I took immediate action.”
CEO Ken Diehm said the City asked the Mayor to consider the urgency of the matter and move this forward as erosion posed imminent threat to essential community infrastructure.
“We regularly review and monitor coastal erosion and it is vital we take the necessary steps to protect our essential community and public infrastructure,” Mr Diehm said.
“With damage that occurred over the weekend, we can see that the toilet block at Rundle Park and the road near St Georges Beach is under great threat.
“We have to act fast and look at our options, hence why the Mayor has used his discretionary powers to ensure an interim solution can be implemented before any further damage occurs.”
The City have engaged specialist consultants Royal HaskoningDHV to develop a foreshore protection scheme for St Georges Beach. A report from the company showed that erosion was the result of short period wind generated waves coinciding with high water levels.
The City are now working off Haskoning’s recommendation for a low-crested sandbag groyne and sand replenishment works.
“We believe the groyne will help to capture the sand that is getting washed away and it will give us more time to work on a long-term solution not just for St Georges but for the rest of our coast including Sunset Beach and Drummond Cove,” Mr Diehm said.
Whitehill Road in Drummond Cove has also been under scrutiny following damaging storms over the weekend.
Mayor Van Styn said the process being undertaken to combat erosion could not be rushed.
“We are not trying to jump the gun and we are going through all appropriate processes. A long term solution is something that cannot be rushed,” he said.
“Sand is moving from the south to the north and we are working with specialists on the Beresford Foreshore and are following the Department of Planning’s coastal hazard risk management and adaptation planning guidelines (CHRMAP) process.
“We know this is a sensitive issue and we have engaged with the community to ensure we get the best outcome for our residents.”
Works at St Georges Beach are estimated to cost $650,000 and there is money in the 2015/16 budget to undertake the project.
The groyne and sand works will begin in the coming weeks and may take up to two weeks for completion.
Traffic management will be in place during this time. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to exercise caution and obey all warning signs and direction from authorised City personnel and contractors.
Police will be holding a press conference later today in Perth regarding drug seizures related to the suspicious boat that came into Geraldton earlier this month.
It's being reported by ABC that up to 200kg of meth has been seized from an international drug syndicate following raids on homes in Perth on Saturday, in connection with the men arrested.
Details of the case and those charged has been suppressed by the courts up to now.
Around midday on 2 May 2016, some Everything Geraldton readers spotted the suspicious boat in Geraldton's port, and a number of men, pictured below, who according to onlookers "appeared foreign" were seen being questioned by authorities, before being taken away.
Police later confirmed 8 Chinese men with no entry visas for Australia had been arrested and placed in immigration detention, but would not comment on their investigations.
The boat remained in Geraldton's port for several days while it was searched and contents from the boat removed.
The suspicious boat
The men who were arrested
The boat that took the men away
A great short video from ABC Mid West, on Yellowtail Kingfish being bred in Geraldton.
The Perth Wildcats are taking their Regional Trophy Tour to Geraldton next month!
Championship players Greg Hire, Jesse Wagstaff, Matt Knight, Shawn Redhage and Corban Wroe plus assistant coach Jamie O’Loughlan will be making the trip to the Mid West.
The group will be hitting Indian Ocean Drive with all seven of the club’s championship trophies in tow and visiting 11 primary and high schools over the three-day tour.
The Wildcats will also visit Midnight Basketball where they’ll meet with young players from the region.
They will also hold FOUR different coaching clinics with the players, allowing kids of all ages the unique chance to improve their skills and have a lot of fun.
The clinics will be held at Activewest Stadium after school on Thursday 30 June and Friday 1 July. There will be two more clinics on Saturday 2 July.
You can find out more information and register for the clinics NOW by clicking here.
All seven Perth Wildcats Championship Trophies will be on display at each clinic!
Everyone who signs up for a clinic will become a Perth Wildcats member and receive a free gift pack.
The Geraldton tour begins Thursday 30 June and runs till Saturday 2 July.
I would just like to say a kind word to the staff at Harvey Norman, computer section.
My wife & i had a few unwanted computer problems and the help was more than sales and service. One problem was fixing up a critical area on a tablet, asked what payment and and the reply was `none, just helping you out, no charge`.
Great help thanks to Gavin & staff at Harvey Norman computer section.
- Leon
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We love hearing your stories of great customer service in town. Feel free to contact us with any notes of thanks you think should be published by emailing geraldton@justeverything.com.au
If you live in an area southwest of a line from Geraldton to Southern Cross to Norseman to Israelite Bay you need to prepare your home and family now for the severe weather coming Saturday.
This includes people in Perth metropolitan area, Geraldton, Dalwallinu, Jurien Bay, York, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Bridgetown, Albany, Katanning, Narrogin, Southern Cross and Esperance and surrounding areas.
This weather is not unusual for this time of year, but could damage homes and make travel dangerous
DFES has these tips to help you and your family prepare before the bad weather starts:
As at 11.35am on Friday 20 May 2016 the Bureau of Meteorology advises the first significant cold front of the year is expected to affect southwest WA during Saturday.
The strong cold front is likely to cause widespread damaging winds to 100 kilometres per hour that could result in damage to homes and property. In isolated areas dangerous gusts in excess of 125 kilometres per hour could cause significant damage or destruction to homes and property.
Damaging winds are expected to develop about the Southwest Capes late Friday evening, extending to reach Perth to Katanning to Albany by 6:00am Saturday and Jurien Bay to Merredin to Hopetoun by late morning.
Higher than normal tides may cause flooding of low-lying coastal areas particularly along the west coast during Saturday morning around the time of high tide. Dangerous surf conditions which could cause some beach erosion are also likely.
Heavy rainfall will occur with the passage of the front with the heaviest falls expected southwest of a line Perth to Albany. Isolated thunderstorms and small hail are possible southwest of a line Perth to Albany, extending along the south coast to Esperance during Saturday afternoon and evening.
People in the southwest of WA experience a front as windy as this about 5 times per year.
Storms may be accompanied by:
After a storm SES volunteers make temporary repairs to homes that have been badly damaged, such as roofs that have been ripped off or large fallen trees on homes and cars. Please contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs.
Visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter @dfes_wa or listen to news bulletins.
For the latest weather warnings visit www.bom.gov.au/wa/warnings or call 1300 659 213.
Sent in to Everything Geraldton today:
This morning around 8.45am returning home from dropping my children off from school, I was turning into Bayview Street from Newhaven St in Mt Tarcoola when a brown and white bull arab looking dog followed my car home. I was hesitant to open my door as the dog was waiting for me. As i went to open it the dog used its nose to open it further. It seemed friendly enough at the time.
Fast forward 5 minutes when my daughter and I were on the lawn checking the dog's tag, I noticed our black cat was sitting on the garden bed next to the front door. When I went to shoo our cat away, she was sadly mauled by this dog. For 5 minutes this dog shook the shit out of our cat who we have had for 5 years.
The dog took the cat with him up the street while we raced inside to call the ranger.
I just want to ask the public if anyone has seen her as we would like to give our baby a burial and be able to say goodbye.
Thank you
The driver of this Toyota Landcruiser is lucky to be alive, after falling asleep at the wheel today on Brand Highway, according to Dongara Police.
Police say the driver was a male.
A recent study found 11.8% of casualty crashes were the result of a driver falling asleep.
Drowsy driving puts your own life and the lives of others at risk.
Police have not yet said whether the driver will be charged.
"He was happy to see us, I'll give you the tip!"
Those were Ian from Geraldton Volunteer Marine Rescue's words after their longest trip they've ever had to do ended well on the weekend.
From the GVMR FB page:
Geraldton VMR’s Communication Officer was awoken at 0055 on Sunday morning by a phone call from the wife of a yachtsman headed for Cocos island who had run into trouble West of Leeman. Due to the light wind conditions they, that is, the Skipper and his deckhand, had been motoring along in a 3 to 5 m swell when a rope fell overboard and tangled in the propeller. The propeller snapped off and the driveshaft was badly bent. The bent shaft damaged the gland seal and the vessel began taking on water. With little wind and no motor, they were only able to sail very slowly in a north-westerly direction.
The skipper of the yacht, “Angel's Dance”, was able to contact his wife by satellite phone giving his GPS coordinates, whereby she passed on the message to Geraldton VMR. The Geraldton VMR communications officer immediately advised Fremantle Water Police of the situation and they began the process of organising a rescue.
The Geraldton VMR rescue crew were then advised of a possible job, and they then went to prepare the rescue boat Nashira for departure.
At 01:30 the go-ahead was given by the water police to commence heading for the position given, this was some 65.5 nautical miles South by West from Geraldton and 46 nautical miles West by North from Leeman.
Despite the heavy swell conditions, the sea state was relatively calm so the Nashira was able to maintain a speed of around 20 knots. The yacht had also developed a fault in its VHF radio system, the only communication was possible through the satellite network. The shore based operator was able to track the vessel using the AIS system and so was able to continually update the vessels position. Nashira was able to make phone contact with the “Angel's Dance” at around 05:20 and made a course change to intercept her. By this time a heavy fog had descended cutting visibility to a minimum so at around 05:50 the skipper of “Angel's Dance” was asked to set off a parachute flare and then a hand-held red flare. The Nashira arrived on site shortly after at 05:57. Due to the low light and full visibility it was decided that the Nashira would sail with the “Angel's Dance” until full daylight when it would be safer for a tow to commence. By 06:30 conditions had improved so the tow line was attached to the “Angel's Dance” in the long trip to safety began.
It was realised that the Nashira would not have enough fuel to complete the journey so the Port Denison VMR was contacted and it was arranged that their rescue vessel would rendezvous and takeover the tow while Nashira ran into Port Denison to refuel. As there was no unleaded fuel available at Denison the Geraldton VMR fuel ute was dispatched.
Nashira rendezvoused with Denison’s Rescue 1 at 11:20 and then she headed for the Port Denison Marina where she loaded on another 570 litres of fuel. The kind crew at Port Denison VMR provided steak burgers and other refreshments to the Nashira crew so they went out again refuelled and refreshed.
At 14:05 they caught up with Port Denison’s rescue boat and took over the tow again. At 1545 they arrived at the entrance of the Geraldton Fishermen’s harbour where they shortened up the tow and bought the “Angel's Dance” into the harbour and finally alongside the Fuel Wharf, at 16:08 bringing to an end an epic trip that had taken close to 14 hours to complete.
Shot of the Geraldton Esplanade from the air
by @jthomas84_
According to the recent data released by the World Health Organisation, Geraldton has the highest levels of air pollution of any city in Australia. An article from The Guardian (link) (the UK based publication, not the local newspaper) made the assertion based on the spreadsheet of data put out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (link).
But before you start wearing a gas mask full time, we want to go through the data to find out what it all means exactly, and if the assertion that Geraldton really has the highest level of pollution really stacks up.
Before we lose you with too many scientific terms, it may pay to explain exactly how air pollution is measured.
Monitors measure two types of air pollution particles. Larger particles are called PM10. Smaller (invisible) particles are called PM2.5.
Sandeep Chowry, an environmental engineer, explains more on Quora (link)
Coarse dust particles (PM10) are 2.5 to 10 micrometers in diameter. (i.e. µm which is basically a millionth of a meter.) Sources include crushing or grinding operations and dust stirred up by vehicles on roads. These tiny particles which are about 30 times smaller than the width of a hair on your head are small enough to get inhaled past our defensive nose hairs and into our lungs.
Fine particles (PM2.5) are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, and can only be seen with an electron microscope. Fine particles are produced from all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and some industrial processes. While PM10's story ends at the lungs, PM2.5 can pass from our lungs into our blood supply and be carried throughout our bodies thereby making them "the invisible killer"
The 12 month median PM10 particle rate for Geraldton was 22µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre), which is worse than Sydney, Perth or even New York. The WHO guidelines for a 12 month median for PM10 is 20µg/m3.
The PM2.5 particle rate for Geraldton was 10µg/m3. The WHO guidelines for a 12 month median for PM2.5 is 10µg/m3.
To put that in comparison, Perth, with 2 million people, measured 17µg/m3 for PM10 particles, and 8µg/m3 for PM2.5 particles, slightly better than Geraldton.
But here's where it gets interesting.
Geraldton doesn't have a monitoring station for PM2.5 particles. We only measure PM10. So the World Health Organisation used a formula to essentially guess what the PM2.5 particles are for Geraldton.
We asked Mayor Shane Van Styn, who had seen the WHO data, what he thought about the assertion that Geraldton was the most polluted city in Australia.
"Geraldton is a windy city on the coast," said Mr Van Styn. "The majority of PM10 pollution in Geraldton would be background, natural dust and sea salt, not man made toxic fumes like in a city. And the WHO data doesn't include places like Port Hedland or Karratha. The level of 22 µg/m3 is what you would expect for a windy, coastal city in Australia with higher than usual background crustal dust levels.
"Finer fraction PM2.5 is typically more from products of combustion, but importantly, PM2.5 for Geraldton was converted from PM10 measurement, not measured. So this number is likely going to over-estimate the actual PM2.5 levels for Geraldton.
"I would challenge that you cannot call any city which only just exceeds the WHO guidelines and mostly based on background levels, a “polluted city”, which conjures up images of smoke laden air, which is chokingly hard to breathe in.
"When looking at other pollutants such as NO2, SO2 and ozone, Gero would not even rate a mention, compared to large cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth."
According to historical data from the Dept of Environment Regulation (link), the days on which Geraldton's PM10 levels spiked dramatically were largely due to dust. Given Geraldton is directly downwind from Southgates sand dunes, surrounded by broadacre farming, and has a busy port in the middle of town, dust is an obvious culprit. Moreover, Geraldton is right on the coast and is so windy the trees grow sideways, so a decent percentage of the particles in the air are sea salt.
A report on heavy metals in the air in Geraldton from 2011 (link) stated that "Air monitoring data during ship loading have indicated that dust levels up to 430 µg/m3 TSP and 150 µg/m3 PM10 have been detected within the Port. If ship loading is allowed to occur during on-shore winds then there is potential for dust to reach nearby residences."
Great question. Geraldton suffers for several months each year when nearby farmers burn off stubble, blanketing the town in smoke, and Iluka's refinery is directly south (upwind) of the town. But the Department of Environment Regulation doesn't monitor pollution levels for PM2.5 in Geraldton yet.
We asked Mayor Van Styn if he supported the idea of setting up facilities to measure PM2.5 in Geraldton, to put people's minds at rest, and to find out exactly what our PM2.5 is.
"Absolutely. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t. We’re already doing the work to measure PM10, surely we can do the same for PM2.5.
"The issue of pollution has been raised fair and square by the World Health Organisation. Let's make a call to the Department of Environment Regulation to measure the air quality for PM2.5 in Geraldton and find out exactly what the levels are."
NACC (Northen Agricultural Catchment Council) CEO Richard McLellan said air pollution is something to be taken seriously. "Of all the forms of pollution, air quality is the one that most that affects human health," he said. "With water you generally know if you're drinking polluted water. But when it comes to air quality, most people don't know if they're breathing polluted air."
Mr McLellan also spoke to the indirect implications of air pollution. "There's social implications, but there's also economic. It affects tourism and people wanting to visit a place. This issue needs to be nipped in the bud as soon as possible."
Everything Geraldton has contacted the Department of Environment Regulation for comment, and at time of publication has not had a response. We will publish their response to the matter when we receive it.
Since Everything Geraldton published news about the demise of Shane Crothers Homes, multiple business owners have come forward and expressed anger at the situation, claiming they are owed many of thousands of dollars and have been kept in the dark.
Some of the business owners we spoke with did not want to be named, but shared that they are extremely angry over how they felt they had been treated, and the money they are owed.
Based on the number of businesses that have contacted Everything Geraldton, lots of people have not been paid.
There's also mystery surrounding who exactly is the administrator for Shane Crothers Homes Pty Ltd, with several creditors speculating that an administrator HAS NOT taken control of the company yet as Mr Crothers asserted.
Company Director Mr Shane Crothers stated to Everything Geraldton last week that Shane Crothers Homes had entered into voluntary administration, but at the time of publication of this article the business is not listed with ASIC as being in administration, nor is anyone we have spoken to aware of who the administrator is. According to ASIC, no Form 505 Notification of appointment or cessation of an external administrator has been lodged.
The following information is from ASIC for creditors (people owed money) regarding voluntary administration, and it explains a little about what happens when someone who owes you money enters administration.
ASIC says the administrator will contact people within days. It's been over a week, and no one has heard anything, and Mr Crothers isn't returning calls.
This is also from ASIC:
It says administrators have 8 days to call a meeting for creditors. Tomorrow (Wednesday 10 May) will be the eighth business day since the public was informed by Mr Crothers that Shane Crothers Homes had entered into voluntary administration, and no meeting has been organised yet.
Everything Geraldton received a copy of the correspondence Mr Crothers sent out to clients, claiming that he had sold the company, AND it had entered into administration. Accountants we have spoken with are confused how the company can both be sold, and have entered into voluntary administration.
There has been no word on who the buyer of "the business" is, and what it is exactly the mystery buyer has purchased. Mr Crothers claims the unnamed new builder will be employing SCH staff immediately.
Everything Geraldton has since tried multiple times to get in touch with Mr Crothers. None of our phone calls have been returned.
When we spoke with Mr Crothers last week we directly asked if people currently building with Shane Crothers Homes would have their projects completed. He said he was unable to answer that question, even though he had already assured clients that the unnamed "new builder" would see the homes through to completion.
Everything Geraldton did some digging on what public information is available for Shane Crothers Homes.
Shane Crothers Homes Pty Ltd is fully owned by KALBANK HOLDINGS PTY LTD, which is in turn fully owned by Shane Alfred Crothers.
(Kalbank Holdings is also not listed as being in administration with ASIC.)
The principal place of business listed for Shane Crothers Homes Pty Ltd with ASIC is 144 Flores Road.
This property, interestingly, is not owned by Shane Crothers Homes Pty Ltd. According to Landgate the property is owned by CHAPMAN ROAD SMSF WARRANT PTY LTD.
SMSF stands for self managed super fund.
This self managed super fund, according to public records on ASIC, is owned by Debra Michelle Crothers and Shane Alfred Crothers.
Individual creditors, some of whom say they are owed hundreds of thousands, are fearful they may not be able to touch the property at Flores Road because it is owned by a separate superannuation fund, and not Shane Crothers Homes Pty Ltd.
In the ASIC filings for CHAPMAN ROAD SMSF WARRANT PTY LTD, Mr Shane Crothers is registered in one role as living at 189 Parmelia Boulevard, White Peak, and in another as living at 15 Basile Court, Wandina.
15 Basile Court is registered with Landgate as being owned by Lisa Jane Vince. This property was also advertised this year as being for rent. 15 Basile Court is, however, still the registered address ASIC has for Debra Crothers and Shane Crothers.
189 Parmelia Boulevard is registered with Landgate as being owned by Debra Michelle Crothers, and is "Subject to Dealing".
189 Parmelia is also currently advertised for sale. (Link.)
Based on publicly available information we could find, none of the properties associated with Mr Shane Crothers or Shane Crothers Homes Pty Ltd are held in the names of Shane Crothers or Shane Crothers Homes Pty Ltd.
We have been informed by creditors that other properties also exist.
All of the ownership information we have published is publicly available online. No private information has been published.
There are also questions surrounding the future of the businesses "Devpro Unit Developments" and "Devpro Design & Construct".
Everything Geraldton has not been able to contact the office number at Devpro, with the phone simply giving an engaged signal.
Devpro Unit Developments and Devpro Design and Construct are both trading names for WAVERLEY CORPORATION PTY LTD.
WAVERLEY CORPORATION PTY LTD also lists its principal place of business as 144 Flores Road.
The current directors of WAVERLEY CORPORATION PTY LTD are Shane Alfred Crothers and John Preston Crothers.
Almost 50% of WAVERLEY CORPORATION PTY LTD is owned by KALBANK HOLDINGS PTY LTD. (120,000 shares) (which is in turn owned by Mr Shane Crothers.)
Crothers Bros. Holdings Pty Ltd owns 40,000 shares. (which is owned by Lorraine Crothers and Geoffrey Crothers.)
JP and KH Crothers Pty Ltd own 40,000 shares. (which is owned by JOHN PRESTON CROTHERS and KATHRYN HELEN CROTHERS.)
LORRAINE KAYE CROTHERS owns 25 shares.
SHANE CROTHERS HOMES PTY LTD owns 25 shares (which is in turn owned by Kalbank Holdings, which is in turn owned by Mr Shane Crothers.)
A.C.N. 008 685 836 PTY LTD owns 50 shares. (Yes, that's the name of the company. It's previous name was GERALDTON BRICKWORKS PTY LTD). (it is owned by STARFIELD NOMINEES PTY LTD which is registered at the same address as Lorraine Crothers and Geoffrey Crothers. A liquidator was appointed in 2014.)
It is unclear if WAVERLEY CORPORATION PTY LTD / DEVPRO is still trading. They also have not been contactable.
Daniel Tyler from Bubbles Plumbing and Gas says he's owed between $14,000 and $15,000 by Shane Crothers Homes, and feels like he's been kept in the dark.
He says he heard rumours about Shane Crothers Homes closing, and he rang Mr Shane Crothers on Monday morning of last week (2/5/16) to find out the story.
"I did speak to him Monday morning. I rang at around 8:30. He told me he'd gone into voluntary liquidation. But in the letter he said administration. They're totally different things. When I asked about the money he owed me, he laughed and said “well you won't see that will you.” It was like he didn’t care.
"[Since then] I haven’t heard a thing from him. You ring their office, and it just goes on an answering machine.
"No administrator has contacted me, and I haven’t been able to find out who the administrator is. I’ve looked on ASIC and there’s nothing registered on there as being in administration."
We asked Mr Tyler if he expected to be paid eventually.
"I’ve got no idea, I’ve got no idea about the whole thing because no one’s saying anything. A lot of people are owed money through town, and no one knows, they’re all in the dark as well.”
When Andrew Forrest first put forward his idea to politicians for a cashless income management system to tackle some of the alcohol and drug abuse that was occurring in our communities, I was fond of the idea.
Having worked first hand with youth in Geraldton I have seen the effects of alcohol abuse on young kids in our communities.
I supported Geraldton being given a chance to trial the card. As Mr Forrest put it, what we're doing now isn't working; we need to try something. And I agreed.
But as time has gone on, and I've spent time trying to research the implementation of the card, I have changed my mind.
There are two reasons.
First, no metric has been decided upon to measure whether or not the card is achieving its stated goal. If crime increases after the implementation of the card, will the government guarantee removing the card and admitting they wasted our money? Would crime rates have gone up anyway and will the card be unfairly blamed? If crime decreases after the card is introduced, how will we even know if it's because of the card, or will the proponents of the card try and take credit? If the people known to abuse alcohol regularly simply move to another town (like what happened in the Pilbara), will the government get rid of the card? We have no idea.
The "trial" seems extraordinarily vague and unscientific.
Secondly, and this is the main reason for my change of heart, is the stigma that will be attached to the very distinct card.
Like it or not, being unemployed and on the dole has a large social stigma attached to it. Heck, most of our surnames are our ancestors' occupations. What we do for a living is a massive part of our self identity in our culture, for better or worse. Think back to any 'small talk' chat you've had with a new acquaintance since you left school. "What do you do?" was most likely one of the 'get to know you' questions. And if you were on the dole, you didn't say "I'm on the dole." You said "I'm looking for work, but I'm a painter." Or "I used to be a teacher but I'm not working currently, I'm a full time carer for my sick mother."
Not all of us are keen to announce our current employment status to the world, just like some of us like to keep private our marital status, or our religious beliefs, or our sexual preference, or our membership at alcoholics anonymous.
But once this card is brought in, every time you pull it out to pay for something, you're loudly announcing to the person serving you, and the people in line behind you, that you don't have a job and rely on tax payer money to make ends meet.
Some of those people serving you will quietly put you in a box in their minds. Some of those people in line behind you will judge you while they inspect what you've chosen to buy with their hard earned tax money.
Some will not.
My credit card doesn't have my job written on it. And thank God too. I don't want to announce what I do for a living everywhere I go.
And I don't think it's right to stigmatise our fellow humans who, for one reason or another, find themselves without a job.
4000 years ago the Israelites had a system whereby farmers weren't allowed to harvest all the way to the edge of their fields. Why? So the poor could obtain food without being stigmatised and having to beg.
Are there people abusing the system, who have no intention of looking for work, and love their tax payer funded drug use?
Sure.
Are they the majority?
Of course not.
Should we stigmatise everyone who's currently unemployed because of the few bad apples?
I don't think so.
Could we consider instead a system just for people known to DCP that need income management help?
Everything Geraldton has just been informed of an incident at the foreshore.
There is a large police presence, and numbers of people in the water.
Fire services and ambulance are also present.
Police have said they are not willing to comment on what has occurred at this time.
GWN7 have reported a bodyboarder is stuck between rocks.
Onlookers were very concerned: "... must be twenty police with a rope been working hard for ten minutes to get them out ... pretty scary with big waves coming in every three minutes."
Update, person has been recovered and is ok. Click here to read update and rescue story.
Police, paramedics and fires currently rescuing a young bodyboarder stuck between rocks in Geraldton's Champion Bay pic.twitter.com/tLyWUWOaNv
— Tasha Tania (@TashTania) May 4, 2016
He was at an excursion with his high school when his leg got caught in rocks while bodyboarding. He's now well and recovering #Geraldton
— Tasha Tania (@TashTania) May 4, 2016
Well known local builder 'Shane Crothers Homes' has entered into voluntary administration.
Company Director Shane Crothers confirmed today the sad news with Everything Geraldton.
But he had a word of thanks for the Geraldton community who supported SCH for the last two decades.
"I like to thank everyone that has supported us over 19 years. Clients, contractors, suppliers, staff. We're truly thankful. A lot of them have been fantastic with messages of support this week. We've been proud to be a small, locally owned family builder, and we thank all of our customers who have supported us over the last 19 years."
Mr Crothers mentioned the tough environment for business around town at the moment, saying it's a sad day when a local businesses that's been operating for 19 years closes.
Shane Crothers Homes have been operating in the Mid West since 1997.
Update: Tradies and businesses unhappy about not getting paid.
Image: Mark Guidice. "All happening down at the wharf. Customs and Police swarming over this boat.
Everything Geraldton has had several readers reach out asking about a boat in Geraldton's port today.
Onlookers said there were about 5 to 6 men on board, who seemed to be questioned by officials before being taken away on another boat. This was around midday today.
We contacted Mid West Port Authority who said they were unable to comment.
WA Police released this statement:
"Commonwealth and state agencies work closely together to ensure the safety and security of the Western Australian community. As operational activity is ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment further."
Update: We haven't had firm confirmation of the situation with the boat, but we have been informed that Border Force are saying it was not an "irregular maritime arrival"
The boat witnesses say the men were taken away in.
Suspicious boat docked in Geraldton harbour at the moment, authorities are currently checking it out. pic.twitter.com/fOj98X670G
— Chris Lewis (@a_film_maker) May 2, 2016
Several authorities have just boarded the suspicious vessel currently docked in Geraldton. pic.twitter.com/E0Am67zhYh
— Chris Lewis (@a_film_maker) May 2, 2016
The area where Jaffle Shack is located.
The pop up store along the Geraldton foreshore "Jaffle Shack" was granted permission for alfresco seating at Tuesday's council meeting, after being rejected at last months meeting.
Last month the proprietors of nearby restaurants Dome and Skeetas were both present at the council meeting to raise questions regarding the seating at the pop up store. Mr Graham Sertorio from Dome was particularly visibly frustrated at the proposal. Several issues were raised, in particular the question surrounding the need for Jaffle Shack to provide public toilets. In a response provided later, the council has advised that the nearby public toilets at the foreshore suffice.
The style of table to be used at the Jaffle Shack.
Although divided in their opinions, council rejected the application for the seating in March, stating that the seating did not keep with the goal of open free space at the foreshore, and that what was originally put to them as a "pop up" coffee shop was evolving into a fully fledged restaurant on the foreshore.
The proponent for the request, Jaffle Shack owner Christian Watters, changed the number of tables from the original application of 9 tables with 6 stools per table to 4 tables with only 5 stools per table, and also reduced the footprint of the area needed from 60m2 to 50m2.
Part of the condition for approval is that the alfresco dining is to be made available for general public use, and not only patrons of the Jaffle Shack.
The proposal passed council 7 votes to 5.
Interestingly, last month council staff noted in the meeting that ALL alfresco dining tables and chairs that are on public areas are available for the general public's use.
In supporting the application, Mr Watters advised council of the following:
* The addition of alfresco dining to the area surrounding the Jaffle Shack will assist in creating an environment that is healthy, safe and comfortable not only for patrons of the Jaffle Shack but for other users of the foreshore. Currently customers are bringing their own picnic blankets and congregating around the trees to take advantage of the shade on offer. The alfresco dining options proposed will increase the available shade and as a result will increase the availability of suitable spaces. Through thoughtful design in keeping with the shack, the attractiveness of the area will also be improved.
* By providing an area to sit and take in our wonderful foreshore (both protected from the heat of the sun and also in a way that ensures an ability to dine in some comfort) the vibrancy of the area will be enhanced. A more comfortable seating arrangement than currently is on offer (by way of seating on the grass) will encourage longer stays which is in keeping with the City’s desire for the foreshore area.
* The public amenity of the area will not be impeded at all by this application. The area proposed for the seating is immediately adjacent to the Jaffle Shack and have both a path and trees which are well suited to the addition of further seating.
* This proposal will not impede at all on the community’s use of the public infrastructure currently in place and will in fact improve the infrastructure on offer by freeing up community facilities for general usage.
* The proposed operating hours of the seating area are as per those of the café, this being 7.30am until 6pm at this time but subject to seasonal changes.
The type of stool to be used.
* The tables and chairs will be stored in the existing lease area.
* The stools have rubber stoppers on the bottom of each foot preventing damage to the grass.
Mr Graham Sertorio, Director, Champion Bay Holdings 2 Hoskin Street, Bluff Point
Question:
If there is to be an extension to the Jaffle Shack’s alfresco area, where are the toilet facilities to be located to accommodate the patrons?
Response:
The alfresco application submitted will be using the City’s facilities that are provided on the foreshore given the size of the facility and temporary nature as approved.
Question :
Where there is an alfresco area with more than 20 seats isn’t the proponent to provide toilets
Response:
This question will be taken on notice and a response will be provided in the next Agenda. A formal response will be provided to Mr Sertorio.
Response :
The requirements for toilets is specified within the National Construction Code (NCC) Sanitary facilities need to be provided for patrons if the total number of persons accommodated in the building is more than 20.
This is generally calculated by the number of seating proposed (Tables, Chairs) for patrons. The toilet facilities to be used by patrons need not be for their use exclusively. For a building accommodating more than 20, the NCC goes onto state “Suitable sanitary facilities for personal hygiene must be provided in a convenient location within or associated with a building, to the degree necessary. The proximity to the public toilets is not dissimilar to a café etc. within a shopping centre.
Mr Graham Sertorio referred to a letter dated 3 Aug 2015, from the City of Greater Geraldton and the following question/response.
Questions were addressed at the Ordinary Meeting of Council of 28 July 2015 as per below
Question:
If increased to 48sq meter now. Does this mean the Pop Up Café will have its own private seating for its customers?
Response:
It will mean the footprint area of 48m2 will be leased to the proponent for exclusive use under a lease agreement for use in line with a sea container café with a verandah /decking containing universal access.
Question:
With the excessive use now available, how is it maintained by Council?
Response :
The City will monitor the use as per other alfresco areas and the recommendation includes a condition in this regard. For example the alfresco area at 2 Foreshore and those in Marine Terrace are not part of any lease area and no fees are charged by the City in order to encourage vibrancy.
Question:
At no cost?
Response :
Council will not charge for the Alfresco area exactly the same as other alfresco areas.
Question :
Why do I get charged for the Alfresco area (at Dome)
Response :
As your Alfresco area is part of the building structure and is for exclusive use.
Mr C Cox, 19a Ajax Drive, Wandina, Geraldton
Question:
Will the proponent have to pay any money in lieu of parking like other restaurants and businesses considering they will be seating approximately 70 people and will they be required to subsidise the use of public toilets?
Response:
Provision of car parking on the foreshore for the various activity areas were part of the overall Foreshore Master Plan. It is noted that the foreshore car parking areas are also catering for the City Centre activities as well.
Question:
This business was approves as a pop up shop, with a set area. If the concept is now changing to a business/restaurant with the capacity for up to 70 people, should this therefore go back to council, and be re classified as a restaurant rather than a pop up shop?
Response:
The current approval covers the operation of a sea container café with the floor area now set at 50 sq m. The proposed alfresco area does not change the current approval/ use.
Question :
Will the proponent be erecting all the 9 tables and 54 chairs daily to increase the available shade seating on the foreshore for other users as was mentioned in his application or will he be erecting tables and chairs as required as stated at the agenda meeting purely for him own benefit and use?
Response:
The application mentions tables and chairs daily use. The proponent has advised that if business is quiet on certain days he will only put out chairs/tables to meet those needs.
Two councillors from the City of Greater Geraldton have had discussions with the Shire of Chapman Valley regarding changing the boundaries of the City of Greater Geraldton, so the Mullewa Ward would become part of the Shire of Chapman Valley.
Cr Tahlea Thomas and Cr Jennifer Critch, who run their own independent facebook group called 'Mullewa Councillors', approached the Shire of Chapman Valley without discussing the matter at any formal council meeting, according to CGG Mayor Shane Van Styn.
“I need to make it perfectly clear that council have not considered this matter,” Mayor Van Styn said.
“Two council members have independently taken part in discussions with the Shire of Chapman Valley without consultation or consent from Council.
“It has not been formally discussed at any official Council meetings or forums.”
The Shire of Mullewa amalgamated with the City of Geraldton Greenough on 1 July 2011 to form the City of Greater Geraldton.
The community in Mullewa at the time was overwhelmingly against the amalgamation, with 83.24% of Mullewa voters voting against the merger.
Chapman Valley Shire President, Councillor John Collingwood, said "Chapman Valley has been approached by the Elected Members representing the Mullewa Ward in the City of Greater Geraldton enquiring into our interest in opening dialogue with the City on possible boundary changes.
"Chapman Valley is not committing to anything at all other than to listen to what the City has to say.
"Any proposed boundary changes need to go through a rigorous and detailed analysis to ensure any new entities are financially sustainable and meets the demographic and community interest requirements of the legislated condition for proposed boundary changes."
Mayor Van Styn said "We are happy to look at any proposal but we will need to consider all issues to determine if it is in the best interests of our community.”
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