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
Monday 22 June 2009
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
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
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
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