Category: General News

AFTER many attempts to get off the ground the Denmark Community Transport Group has received the support required to enable them to commence trials of a bus service next month.

The service will be run under the auspices of Green Skills who, on joining the group, have made available their 14-seat vehicle for the trial.

Transport group spokesman Chris Lendrum said he hopes that members of the Denmark and Albany community will make use of the service running between the towns.

“To ensure continuity of this community initiative, the residents of both Denmark and Albany will need to come together in order to ensure that necessary participation levels are achieved,” he said.

“This could also be supplemented by offering the service to tourists visiting the Great Southern region.

“As a not-for-profit group, the success of the bus service operation will depend totally on this public support to generate the mandatory passenger numbers required to achieve realistic ticket prices, which are reflective of all associated costs involved in providing the service.”

Mr Lendrum said initially there will be a morning and afternoon service running between Denmark and Albany four days a week, these being on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

He said the morning service would provide a link-up with the direct Transperth bus from Albany to Perth.

“During the period between the two daily service runs when the vehicle is back in Denmark, the group will look at offering services about the Shire of Denmark reflective of the demand by residents or tourists seeking travel assistance,” Mr Lendrum said.

“Information promoting the bus service will be displayed at most public venues, clubs, medical centres and the like along with two contact phone numbers to be used.

“The first number, 9848 2055, will connect the caller to staff at the Denmark Amazing Great Southern Visitors Information Centre where more comprehensive advice on the service will be provided.

“The second number, 0478 357 379, will link the caller to the ‘The Ring a Ride’ booking service where details of their travel requirements will be recorded and associated advice provided.”

Mr Lendrum said any changes made to the booking would be communicated to passengers promptly.

The trial will commence on February 10.

SHIRE of Plantagenet Chief Executive Officer Rob Stewart will be resigning later this year after nearly two decades in the top job.

The 66-year-old stepped into the position on July 2, 2001 after having helmed his own software development company and served as CEO of the Town of Claremont in Perth.

Mr Stewart spoke with the Weekender about his time working for the Shire, a long and multifaceted journey he described as an “unusual … rich and satisfying professional experience”.

“I am genuinely sad to be leaving Plantagenet,” he said.

“Over the past 19 years, the council, council staff and community have all been very proactive and supportive.

“Everything that has been achieved has been achieved in an environment of mutual support and trust and the council continues to plan for the future.”

When asked to pinpoint the achievements he was most proud of over his long tenure, Mr Stewart said it was a difficult question to answer.

He praised the Shire for “always being willing to take considered risks” when providing infrastructure and pointed to its first Strategic Plan, adopted in 2004, which gave it developmental focus for the next 15 plus years.

This plan helped the Shire provide many upgrades to its main street, construct a new environmentally sound administration centre and purpose built Medical Centre and to purchase the Mount Barker Cattle Saleyards.

It also led to a $9m upgrade of Sounness Park including its artificial hockey turf, the joint venture development of the Public Library and Community Resource Centre and the completion of its new Community College.

Mr Stewart said he was also proud to have helped the Shire develop strong relationships with its neighbouring local authorities.

“These achievements were all the more significant as Plantagenet is a small rural local authority with only limited resources,” he reflected.

“The biggest challenge is finding enough money to get everything done as it is impossible to rely on ratepayer funds for everything.

“Another challenge is remaining positive within an environment where resources are scarce but if you stop achieving, your community would go backwards.”

Mr Stewart referred to the construction of the Mount Barker Medical Centre as a prime example of the unique difficulties facing local governments.

Although the Shire sold assets and received Federal Government funds to pay for the structure, the Centre could only go ahead after it received an interest free loan from Mount Barker’s local community bank.

“Also, we always knew that it would be difficult to build a national standard hockey pitch but still put the plans in place,” Mr Stewart said.

“Because the planning was in place, when funds were made available, we were in the box seat to successfully attract significant funding.”

Mr Stewart’s lengthy career will officially end on July 31 this year when his employment contract expires.

He said while he and his partner had expressed desire to remain in the Great Southern going forward, “the pull of grandchildren” will ultimately see them settle in an apartment in Perth.

NINETEEN people lost their lives on Great Southern roads last year, despite a downward trend in road fatalities across the state.

Road Safety Commission figures show 16 motor vehicle occupants, one cyclist, and two pedestrians were killed in the region in the period leading to December 30, 2019.

This comes as Western Australia recorded a total 164 road deaths, seven less than the preceding five-year average of 171.

Eighteen road fatalities occurred in the Great Southern in 2018, 15 in 2017 and a significant 31 in 2016.

Road Safety Council Chairman Iain Cameron told the Weekender inattention and fatigue were major factors in road crashes, with around seven out of 10 serious accidents involving a mistake or lapse in concentration.

“Road trauma is estimated to have cost Western Australia $20 billion over the past decade but the effect of just one death on family, loved ones, friends and the general community is incalculable,” he said.

“Even good drivers make mistakes and it is not just high risk behaviour such as speeding or drink and drug driving that can cause crashes.

“It is up to every road user to do their part to ensure we are all safe on the roads.”

According to the RAC, roughly 60 per cent of WA road fatalities occur on regional roads.

The organisation’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs Will Golsby called for the State Government’s Regional Road Safety Package to be fully funded in the 2020/21 State and Federal Budgets.

The $900m road improvement initiative aims to accelerate road upgrades to more than 17,000km of WA’s regional road networks.

“Our regional communities are hurting – just 20 per cent of WA’s population live in our regional areas yet this is where most of our fatalities occur,” Mr Golsby said.

“These low-cost road improvements would reduce road trauma by an unprecedented 60 per cent and prevent more than 2,100 serious crashes from occurring in the next decade.”

The nine-year initiative would not immediately target Great Southern routes, instead first focusing on improvements along the Great Eastern Highway, the Great Northern High- way, the South Western Highway and the North West Coastal Highway.

DENMARK residents will have a chance to have their say about a proposed water pipeline from Albany to Denmark during a Shire-hosted community meet later this month.

Water Minister Dave Kelly and Member for Warren-Blackwood Terry Redman will attend the January 28 consultation, more than four months after the Shire requested they visit to discuss the town’s long-term water security.

Mr Kelly has faced criticism for postponing a meeting originally scheduled for December 10 and for announcing the $32m pipeline project without first consulting the Shire and the City of Albany (‘Kelly transparent on water meeting’, 12 December).

Denmark Shire Acting CEO David Schober, who previously expressed disappointment at the delay, said the new meeting date was locked in in late December.

“We have enjoyed some discussions with the Water Corporation as a result of this request to the Minister’s Office,” he said.

“The Department of Water and Water Corp will both be present for this meeting.”

The Albany to Denmark pipeline is expected to be roughly 60km long and will begin construction sometime this year.

It was announced last September alongside a raft of Stage 5 water restrictions for Denmark and after the town’s primary water source, the Quickup Dam, looked to receive its lowest stream flow ever.

“Like many parts in the south-west of Western Australia, Denmark simply doesn’t receive the amount of rain that it used to due to the very real impact of climate change,” Mr Kelly said at the time.

“Denmark’s water supply is solely reliant on rainfall. If we don’t act now, Denmark could run out of water before next winter.”

As of January 3, the Quickup Dam measured just below 70 per cent capacity.

The upcoming consultation may also address other potential water saving strategies, including rainwater harvesting, water catchment and dam expansion and a desalination plant.

It will take place at the Riverside Club at 3 Morgan Road from 6pm on January 28, with residents urged to submit their RSVP and questions to the Shire by January 21.

ALBANY’S annual Kalgan Stampede rodeo will not be going ahead this summer after efforts to find it a new operator last year proved unsuccessful.

Coordinator Tom Kennedy approached a Perth-based company to take the reins in July after the endeavour became too much of a burden for him to bear on his own.

He said while plans to get the rodeo up and running just after Boxing Day fell through, he had hope a local crew with a strong volunteer base would step forward to coordinate future iterations.

“We thought we’d be better off waiting a year, revising, observing the tourists and gaining a better understanding of when is a good time to try and run it, ” Mr Kennedy told the Weekender.

“I don’t want to stress out my family, to pour our hearts and souls into the rodeo over Christmas and the new year, and then find we only get half the amount of people and owe $20,000 plus to local businesses at the end of it.”

Mr Kennedy has been running the Kalgan Stampede, which features barrel racing, calf steering, mustering and other activities, since its three-day debut in 2018.

He said poor ticket sales at its early 2019 run were the result of a list of challenges somewhat unique to Albany.

“We need to rely on the tourists to come to the event because the locals either don’t want to go, don’t know that it’s on or would rather sit at home and watch something on Netflix,” he explained.

“But you can’t afford to clash with anyone else’s events. If it isn’t a rodeo, it’s another event like horse racing, speedway or the City of Albany’s Australia Day celebrations at Middleton.”

“There’s many boxes you’ve got to tick through government departments, regulations, all the different insurance issues.

“It’s a lot tricker to run events nowadays than it was back in the ’70s and ’80s.”

Mr Kennedy also helms Albany Tenpin Bowling and used to operate the town’s Central 70 Drive-In which officially closed last April.

He said a rodeo had a lot to offer a community like Albany because it promoted rural lifestyle skills like mustering and horse activities and was a drawcard for visitors.

“It’s the excitement, the power, the speed, the adrenaline rush,” he said.

“The bulls are the main attraction, they are the absolute superstars of the arena.”

ALBANY residents are being urged to protect themselves from mosquitos this summer to prevent the spread of debilitating mosquito-borne diseases.

The City of Albany launched its Fight the Bite campaign last week to encourage locals to cover up, use repellent and clean up areas around their homes that would help mosquitoes breed.

The pesky insects deposit their larvae in stagnant pools of water, domestic ponds, roof gutters, septic and water tanks, old car tyres, pot-plant drip trays, open containers and other hiding spots during warm weather.

They spread diseases such as Ross River virus, which can cause inflammation, pain, fatigue and muscle aches from several weeks to up to a year.

Manager of Public Health and Safety Scott Reitsema said citizen support was an essential part of controlling mosquito populations.

“We get great results from the management plan we implement each year, but it’s important that residents take some responsibility too. By supporting our baiting efforts we can try to get the best outcome for everyone,” he said.

“It’s also important we guard ourselves and our families from being bitten and potentially getting sick. Wearing long sleeved shirts and pants when out and about, as well as wearing lighter coloured clothing can help to deter them.

“Using insect repellents when possible and cleaning up around the yard are all important steps in the management of mosquitoes; it doesn’t take a big water pool for mosquitoes to decide they want to make it their home.”

The Great Southern saw a significant spike in Ross River virus cases in early 2017 following record rainfall and flooding across the state.

ALBANY South Coast Lions Club and the Salvation Army have joined forces once again this Christmas to provide for Great Southern families doing it rough.

The Albany branch of the Salvation Army accepted 100 Christmas cakes from the Lions Club earlier this month to help create food hampers for those in the community who cannot afford to prepare their own Christmas luncheon.

Salvation Army Auxiliary Lieutenant Colette Albino said the delicious treats would go alongside other crucial Christmas foodstuff and goodies.

“This year we’ll be putting together 125 of these hampers,” she said.

“We’ll try and put in a ham along with some drinks, vegetables and pretty much everything you would go out and purchase by yourself for a Christmas lunch.

“We really want people to be able to create a tradition for themselves.”

Lions Club President Lindsay Smith said the community organisation had donated hundreds of Christmas cakes to the Salvation Army over the past eight years.

“It’s a real privilege for our club to help out with this initiative,” he said.

Those wanting to make their own donations can go to any number of Christmas Cheer Appeal boxes around Albany, including at any local Woolworths store, Icky Finks, Officeworks, IGA on York Street, Mason Realty on York Street and Albany Stationers.

Kmart’s Wishing Tree also takes donations for the Salvation Army.

THE Denmark Environment Centre (DEC) has formed a community working group to investigate fire safety in response to public concern.

The newly formed Denmark Community Fire Safety and Ecology Group is to investigate all aspects of the south coast’s prescribed burning regimen by both the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and local government.

DEC convenor David Rastrick said all those interested in working with the group are welcome to join.

“While community safety is non-negotiable, fire safety goes hand in hand with keeping the bush in good condition,” he said.

DEC deputy convenor Geoff Evans said the group was responding to concerns that the community had indicated it would like more information given Western Australia had one of the “largest dryer weather prescribed burning program in the world”.

“Forming the group is consistent with our vision to nurture a sustainable community that has a high level of environmental conscious- ness and proactively protects its environment,” he said.

Mr Rastrick said a significant concern for the DEC was the environmental impacts on flora, fauna and soil ecology in the short and long term.

“Associated with this is the impact on climate change,” he said.

“The investigation is not, however, about prioritising ecology over the protection of people and property.

“As part of this, the DEC group is aware of conflicting reports that prescribed burning either makes future wildfire suppression easier, or in fact makes it worse in many cases. And, concerns arise that the huge commitment of resources to prescribed burning may be to the detriment of rapid effective wildfire suppression response.”

Mr Rastrick said the group would be questioning if Denmark is safer for the prescribed burning regime that occurs and if it justifies any environmental damage made in the process.

“This in turn leads to concern for the future,” he said.

“Does a drying south coast with a longer bushfire season due to climate change mean that prescribed burning must be expanded to deal with increased wildfire risk, or does prescribed burning become riskier to the public in itself?”

Mr Rastrick said one of the areas the group had begun to focus on was recent prescribed burns near Mount Lindesay this year and in 2017 and the impacts made on community health and safety, as well as that of the native flora and fauna.

“After being affected by smoke from prescribed burns near Mount Lindesay in 2017 and recently, community members may soon again experience the smoke and ash of a prescribed burn at Mount Leay to the north of Denmark,” he said.

“The recent 8000 sq ha prescribed in the Mount Lindesay using a relatively new technique of helicopter bombing much of the periphery of the block then pattern bombing through the smoke – decimated much of the area, rather than proportionately reducing fuel load.”

Mr Rastrick said despite a collaborative study made by the DEC and DBCA on the vulnerability of tingle trees to fire, the DBCA had still initiated a prescribed burn west of Walpole.

“We want to hear from as many community members as possible,” he said.

“Residents and experts all hold valuable insight into how fire af- fects our communities and bush land, and we all want out families, communities and home to be safe while valuing our environment.”

For more information or to enquire about joining the Denmark Community Fire Safety and Ecology Group contact the Denmark Environment Centre on 0438 957 504.