Category: General News

THE third round of funding in the Aboriginal Ranger Program is now available and the State Government is calling for groups to express their interest in securing a portion of the $4 million on offer.

Almost $16 million has already been spent on the project to support new and existing Aboriginal organisations in employing and training rangers to carry out land and sea management and tourism activities across regional WA.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said the existing funded projects had created career pathways for Aboriginal people as well as achieved long-term cultural and conservation outcomes.

Ranger Team Coordinator Samantha Williams said her team had been working in and around the Kalgan Fish Traps area for two months and had found it highly rewarding.

“As a collective group, we just love being out on country and this job gives us an opportunity to do that,” she said.

“We get to combine cultural aspects with the environmental protection and looking after the land and animals, and just being in the bush.

“It’s sometimes hard work, but we get a lot of enjoyment out of it.”

An expression of interest form can be found at dbca.wa.gov.au/aboriginalrangerprogram

NEARLY one million juvenile Australian Flat Oysters were released onto newly constructed reefs in Oyster Harbour last week near Albany as part of the Oyster Harbour Reef project.

The Nature Conservancy’s project manager Alex Hams said releasing the natural shellfish was the final stage in the project and was a very satisfying moment for him.

“The community has worked hard to get us to this stage,” he said.

“It’s been a long process to identify the best sites to re-create the reefs, lay down the 1000 tonnes of limestone bedrock over 1,650sqm of the harbour’s seafloor and now adding the living oysters.”

The Oyster Harbour Reef project is part of The Nature Conservancy’s National Reef Building Project that aims to rebuild 60 reefs in six years across Australia.

If achieved, it will make Australia the world’s first nation in the world to recover a critically endangered marine ecosystem.

Projects in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay and South Australia’s Gulf St Vincent have already been completed with others just getting underway near Adelaide, Noosa, Perth and Mandurah.

Mr Hams said Oyster Harbour would now have a future of thriving oyster reefs once more, which would bring a range of benefits including improved local fish stocks, cleaner water and boosted local economic activity.

“These million young oysters have been grown at the Albany Shellfish Hatchery,” he said.

“They’re settled onto recycled sea shells that were cleaned and prepared with the assistance of local volunteers.”

A community forum will be held at the UWA Albany Campus on February 6 to give people the opportunity to find out more about the project and ask any questions they might have.

Those interested in attending should register their interest by contacting Mr Hams at [email protected] or by calling 0421 456 708 by February 4.

CLASSIC vehicles that are registered to an approved club and are more than 30 years old will be eligible for a 75 per cent discount on registration if a new State Government scheme is approved.

The Concessions for Classics scheme was announced by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti on Saturday in a bid to bring more classic cars onto the road and boost the automotive industry.

The scheme will remove restrictions that currently prevent modified classic vehicles and street rods from accessing licence concessions, and if successful, would be available in the second half of this year.

“It’s clear that a large amount of classic vehicle enthusiasts are only using their pride and joy for special events such as cruises or shows, so it’s unfair they should pay full registration,” she said.

“Our current registration system also prevents classic car owners from accessing registration concessions if modifications – even safety improvements – have been made to their vehicles.

“This new scheme will remove that red tape and encourage more owners to get their classic cars and bikes out to events.”

Great Southern Street Machine Association (GSSMA) is an approved club registered with the Department of Transport therefore, members are eligible to apply for the scheme.

GSSMA member Brad Collins was enthusiastic about the idea.

“What I like is, cars like hot rods are always over a barrel – they are modified, so they can’t get a concessional licence,” he said.

“They’re in limbo. So I think it’s a great idea.

“Some days, I really want to drive my car but I can’t, because it’s not a registered club day.”

GSSMA President Paul Sargent explained that currently, the group had an invitational registration in place.

This means only registered members with certain cars are approved to drive their cars at club events.

“Some members have more mods than some,” Mr Sargent said.

“The new scheme gives an additional category so if, for example, I wanted to put a bonnet scoop on the HR.”

The Department of Transport is currently drafting regulation changes and upgrading systems to support Concessions for Classics.

Owners will be subject to a number of conditions such as identification labels, annual vehicle inspections and vehicle use being limited to attending club shows and events.

A WOMAN who stole thousands of dollars worth of property in a series of burglaries across Albany over the Christmas period will face a District Court judge in May for sentencing.

Mirella Pearl Woods appeared in Albany Magistrates Court via video link from Melaleuca Prison last Thursday and pleaded guilty to 15 home burglary and stealing charges.

This included two counts of aggravated home burglary and commit, one of attempted home burglary with intent, four counts of home burglary and commit, two counts of stealing a motor vehicle and six counts of stealing.

The court was told Ms Woods broke into four homes across two suburbs, and attempted to break into a fifth, in the final two weeks of December before police apprehended her.

Prosecuting Sergeant Peter Yuswak said Ms Woods’ crime spree began on December 19 and December 20 when she broke into a Mira Mar property and stole a Microsoft laptop valued at $1700.

She then attempted to enter another home in the same suburb but was unsuccessful.

On Boxing Day, Ms Woods broke into a Lockyer property, whose occupants were away on holiday, twice within the span of a few hours and stole more than $1000 worth of items.

This incident was captured on security cameras inside the house.

Five days later, Ms Woods burglarised another Lockyer home where she took a Samsung phone, sunglasses and other items totalling $1100, as well as a Holden Commodore Sedan valued at more than $1000.

She then returned to Mira Mar and stole alcohol, chocolate and other items worth $195, a blue leather handbag, a black purse and a Holden Sedan valued at more than $1000.

Ms Woods was represented by defence counsel Janie Gibbs and will front the District Court sitting in Albany on May 26.

Magistrate Raelene Johnston ordered presentencing and psychiatric reports be prepared prior to this date.

THE WA Liberal Party’s sole nominee for pre-selection for the Seat of Albany has said it would be a “challenge” to unseat Labor, but is more than ready to give it a go.

Albany City Motors financial director and prominent sport volunteer Scott Leary was the only candidate to submit his nomination to the party before deadline last Friday.

If endorsed, the 53-year-old could see himself square off against Labor Party heavyweight Peter Watson, who has held the seat for nearly two decades but is yet to decide whether he will re-contest at the 2021 state election.

“It won’t be an easy path at all given that Labor has been an incumbent for so long,” Mr Leary said.

“Peter Watson is a great representative and has done an okay job for here but I think I can bring a bit more emphasis, a bit more direction to Albany.

“I’ve been civic-minded probably all of my working life so I think it’s now time to put something back into the community.”

Mr Leary moved to Albany in 1992 and has worked at the dealership for more than 20 years.

He said his experience in financial management, dealing with people and familiarity with long working weeks made him a worthwhile political candidate.

“The numbers are not scary to me … and I’ve got a great sense for budgeting and what needs to be happening,” he said.

“There are some great projects that the City of Albany has got and to be able to get funding to those and see those through to finishing is great.”

Mr Leary highlighted education and health as areas of interest but noted it was too early to announce policy or plans.

On Monday, he said he was yet to have official discussions with the WA Liberal Party or constituents.

The party’s State Council is expected to review his nomination in the coming weeks.

ALBANY has a wheelchair-accessible taxi service again after driver Stuart Hickson rescinded his decision last month to close and will continue operating, saying his rapport with his clients made that move untenable despite the financial pressures.

Mr Hickson closed for the past week and the only other wheelchair taxi in Albany stopped operating on Christmas Day.

He said he felt guilty that his long-term loyal clients he had built up friendships with over his 14 years of driving would lose their independence.

“I felt terrible so I made the decision to keep providing a service. I’m not sure I can even make it financially viable but I will battle on despite the Government,” Mr Hickson said.

“It’s harder to make money. Drivers get a lifting fee of $10 for every job, it’s $15 in the metropolitan region, so why is it not a level playing field?

“Also, we then have to fill in spreadsheets to record every lifting job at the end of each day to recoup money. It’s a time-consuming process.”

Despite the obstacles, paperwork and lack of Government assistance, Mr Hickson recently purchased another vehicle to broaden the service to cope with demand.

“There’s too much work for one vehicle so having two cars brings the service back to how it was,” he said.

“But potential drivers are put off by the amount of red tape involved with wheelchair taxis.”

Spencer Park resident Amanda Booth frequently utilises the wheelchair-friendly taxi service.

The 26-year-old has spina bifida, a birth defect in which the spinal cord fails to develop properly, leaving her wheelchair-bound.

Ms Booth cannot drive and requires assistance to get to work, meet her friends and go to appointments.

Jo Booth said her daughter used the service at least two or three times per week.

“We were very scared at the thought of Amanda not being able to get around to live her life,” she said.

“We had thoughts on other transport options at Christmas time when we learned it may be stopping, but the options to Amanda weren’t good – the buses weren’t any good due to limited service and there are no stops near her house or where she needs to go.”

She was thrilled to learn Mr Hickson was continuing his taxi service.

Relief Manager of Yakamia’s Ingenia Gardens Heather Edmondson said residents in the village depended on the specialised taxi service.

“It’s absolutely fantastic news,” she said about Mr Hickson’s decision.

“It gives our residents who need a bit of help and support the freedom to get out and about, and not be stuck at home.”