Monday 22 June 2009

Regional councils spark most complaints

as posted here

Regional councils are the most complained about in WA, with Shark Bay, Busselton and York sparking 63 investigations between them by the Department of Local Government in the past year.

Information provided to The West Australian under freedom of information reveals that the Shire of Shark Bay, which is the subject of an inquiry by the department, topped the list with 31 complaints.

Of those, five were upheld on matters relating to the actions of elected members and employees.

Busselton Shire Council, which has been in the spotlight over the Smiths Beach development, triggered 19 investigations by the department over allegations of improper use of information to gain advantage or cause detriment, securing personal disadvantage and relations with local government employees. However, none was related to Smiths Beach.

Six of the complaints have yet to be settled, while the shire got one warning and advice on three occasions.

The Shire of York recorded three black marks from 13 complaints, mainly against breaches of financial disclosures.

Gosnells and Cambridge attracted 13 complaints each. Of these, the department upheld three for Cambridge and six for Gosnells, including a referral to another agency.

BEATRICE THOMAS


as posted here

Sunday 21 June 2009

$250 fines for industrial pollution branded 'pathetic'


as posted here

THREE Maddington firms have escaped with a $250 fine for polluting 800m of a brook, which has outraged a land-care group.

The companies were fined this week after a large oil spill coated 800m of Bickley Brook.

The companies, which service mining equipment, can choose to pay the fine or challenge it in court, where they would face penalties up to $5000.

The Department of Environment and Conservation issued the fines, but refused to name the companies.

Toxic sludge was spotted by members of the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare, who claim waste from nearby companies often finds its way into the brook.

They branded the fines as pathetic.

``If we went down there (to Bickley Brook) in any flash rain event, we would pick up major contamination because the companies are not forced to clean up,'' said SERCUL regional director Julie Roberts.

``Through that area you can't get access, so if there are dead animals in there you would just never know.''

DEC environmental hazards manager Ken Raine said one of the companies fined this week had been issued with a caution for the same offence just months before.

He said while the fines were small the clean-up costs were the big deterrent.

Mrs Roberts claimed the council should be doing more.

City of Gosnells governance director Trevor Perkins said: ``The ... site is one sampling site that has been identified as a consistent pollution hot spot.

``The identification of other premises which may contribute pollutants is difficult due to the number of businesses whose stormwater drainage discharges at that point of the brook.

``The City of Gosnells, in partnership with SERCUL, is in the process of developing a strategy for identifying and addressing those point sources, with a view to working with DEC on resolving the problem.''

as posted here

Saturday 20 June 2009

Wards recommendation accepted

as posted here

The Minister for Local Government has accepted a recommendation from Council that wards in the City of Gosnells be abolished.

This brings an end to the old system where voters elected councillors in a particular ward – Bickley, Canning Vale or Gosnells.

Voters will now select candidates on a City-wide basis at the next election, to be held on 17 October.

A Council recommendation to retain 12 councillors was also accepted. Half of the 12 councillors are up for re-election in October. Those whose terms do not expire until 2011 will continue in their positions as representatives of the entire district.

Council elections are held every two years and councillors then serve a four-year term.

The recommendation to abolish wards was based on recommendations from independent consultants engaged by the City to assist with a mandatory review of wards and councillor numbers.


as posted http://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/scripts/viewarticle.asp?NID=19176

Thursday 18 June 2009

Letter to Local Member for Gosnells

In light of the current swine flu issues, do you consider it necessary for the City of Gosnells
to enforce its current Local Laws pertaining to toilets and the requirements for hot and cold water,
soap and adequate drying procedures to be in place, most schools do not have a budget to supply these
basic facilities, and if you were to take the time to inspect toilets in schools in your area, you would see that
they are lucky to have toilet paper and cold running water in place ...

Peter Evans

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Car explosion leaves two men in critical condition

as posted here

Police in Perth say two men have suffered severe burns while working on a car at a suburban property.

A 21-year-old man suffered burns to 75 per cent of his body and his 43-year-old father suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body.

It is understood the two were draining fuel from a car when vapours in the engine caught fire.

as posted here

Cruise passengers disembark in Fremantle despite swine flu fears

as posted here

Passengers from the $1 billion cruise liner Sun Princess are disembarking in Fremantle this morning, despite fears that a small number of passengers remain in isolation with suspected swine flu.

Seven passengers aboard the 2000-berth vessel were cleared of swine flu yesterday after swabs were flown to WA from Mauritius, the ship’s last port of call before Fremantle on its 46-night trip.

A spokesman for the Sun Princess said the isolated passengers would be transported off the superliner separately and then taken into custody of the WA Health Department.

All passengers will report to WA Health Communicable Disease Control officers before disembarking, who have set up inside the passenger terminal.

A Health Department spokeswoman said all passengers would have to fill out health declaration cards on arrival in line with national protocols before being let off the ship.

Five people were confirmed yesterday afternoon to have influenza A and two were cleared completely.

The Sun Princess docked in Fremantle port at 6am. The ship left Sydney on May 2 for an Indian Ocean cruise and is the first international cruise ship to arrive in Perth since the outbreak of the A/H1N1 virus.

The Sun Princess is the sister cruise ship of the Dawn Princess, which was forced to anchor offshore earlier this month in Queensland while authorities took the precaution of testing five passengers and a crew member for swine flu.

The health alert comes as the number of swine flu cases in WA hit 82 yesterday, after another seven people were diagnosed. They included a 16-year-old Wesley College student, a 14-year-old in Thornlie and a nine-year-old at Geraldton Primary School. Four adults were also confirmed as having A/H1N1, including one from Wesley College, as well as one each from Nedlands, Mullaloo and the East Kimberley.

PERTH
KATE TARALA,LEE RONDGANGER


as posted here

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Father and son burnt in Thornlie car explosion

as posted here

A Perth father and son are in hospital with serious burns after a car they were working on exploded.

The son, 21, received burns to 75 per cent of his body while his 43-year-old father received burns to 40 per cent of his body.

The pair were working on a car in a semi-enclosed carport in Thornlie about 5.30pm yesterday when a spark ignited fuel vapours under the bonnet causing a flash fire explosion.

Police were first on the scene, placing the father in a shower while the son was put under a garden hose to alleviate the pain.

Both men remain in Royal Perth Hospital this morning.

PERTH
JAYNE RICKARD


as posted here

Day one ..

the following reply was given ...

Thankyou for your enquiry. Council meetings are conducted under the provisions of the City of Gosnells Standing Orders Local Law 2003, a co...