Six cruise ships set to hit Geraldton's coast this year

For the first time ever cruise ship Seabourn Sojourn, will be visiting Geraldton as part of its world tour.

The luxury ship will be the first to visit Geraldton for 2014 and is expected to sail in on Tuesday February 25 at 10am with about 450 passengers on board, plus 330 crew members.

Geraldton’s Meet and Greet Volunteers, local band Folklore and stallholders will be at the Batavia Coast Marina to welcome tendered passengers ashore.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said in 2013 the City saw three cruise ships with an overall capacity of 6,946 passengers and 2,400 crew anchor in Geraldton.

“We welcomed 6,060 passengers ashore and we have always had positive feedback from them about our volunteers and we are known across the State as having one of the warmest welcomes to Western Australia,” he said.

Currently six ships are scheduled to visit in 2014:

• 25 February – Seabourn Sojourn as part of its world tour.
• 4 March and 4 November – Radiance of the Seas will be returning to Geraldton waters after having visited seven times previously.
• 12 March – Amadea, a German ship, is visiting Geraldton for the first time.
• 7 July and 14 September – Sea Princess will be coming to Geraldton; its sister ships Dawn Princess and Sun Princess have previously stopped in Geraldton.

Eleven visits are scheduled for 2015.

For more information about cruise ship visits, or to become a Meet and Greet Volunteer, contact Joanne Brown via email joanneb@cgg.wa.gov.au or call the Geraldton Visitor Centre on (08)9921 3999.

Nominations for Heritage Awards now open

It’s that time of year again to nominate a local individual or organisation for the annual City of Greater Geraldton Heritage Awards.

Introduced by the City in 2012, the City of Greater Geraldton Heritage Awards acknowledges outstanding efforts by local individuals and organisations to preserve, promote and conserve the region’s heritage.

Nominations will close at 4pm on Friday March 21, 2014. Winners will be announced at a gala event during Heritage Week in April 12-20, 2014.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the awards support those who work hard to maintain and keep our heritage.

“The City acknowledges local individuals and organisations that show their knowledge and commitment in conserving important local heritage,” he said.

Recipients for the 2013 Awards were: City of Greater Geraldton Award for Excellence in Heritage Building Design and Conservation

• Winner: John and Nola Patience, Glengarry Homestead
• High Commendation: Peter Dameon, Greenough Museum and Gardens

City of Greater Geraldton Award for Outstanding Heritage Achievement

• Winner: Gary Martin, Greenough Museum and Gardens
• High Commendation: George Macdonald
• Special Recognition: Jim Trevaskis

Wish to nominate for a person in your local community? Copies of the Guidelines can be collected from the Geraldton Regional Library or downloaded from the Library website at http://library.wa.gov.au/local-heritage-links/.

City revisits customer service survey

The introduction of the City of Greater Geraldton’s #changesCGGcommunity Participatory Budgeting initiative, that involves the community in recommending the range and level of service offered by the City, is well under way with the second round of 40 randomly selected participants. However, for those who may have missed out and would still like to have a say, residents can rate the performance of the City by participating in a telephone survey. In addition to providing valuable information to the City on levels of satisfaction with services, the results of the survey will provide another tool to assist the community panel in their deliberations on what services the community values.

The City has engaged the services of local social research team, Social Dimensions, headed by Dr Ann Larson and Dr Peter Howard to conduct the survey to find out if the City is meeting its expectations.

Social Dimensions conducted a similar survey for the City in 2010, and Dr Larson said by and large residents thought the City and its administration did its job well.

“What we want to find out now is whether the City is holding its own, has improved its customer service delivery or needs to make improvements in any areas,” she said.

Dr Howard said the survey however, may not find many changes at this stage.

“In our experience it can be years before community members are aware a service has improved. If someone had a negative experience, even if it was five years ago, they are not likely to give that service a tick now because they do not know how much that service has improved,” he said.

The survey will aim to ensure responses reflect the opinions of a cross section of the local population and 465 residents will be contacted which will enable accurate comparisons between the 2010 survey and this year’s. In the 2010 survey the former Shire of Mullewa and former City of Geraldton had not amalgamated.

The survey began on Wednesday, February 12.

City Mayor, Ian Carpenter, encourages all residents contacted to take part in the survey.

“In addition to the #changesCGGcommunity Participatory Budgeting panels, this is a valuable way for Council to gain feedback on the City’s performance,” he said.

The City’s Community Grants Program Round 14 is now open for local community groups and not-for-profit organisations.

Twice each year the City of Greater Geraldton offers community groups the opportunity to apply for grant funding to benefit their not-for-profit organisation.

One per cent of annual rates is returned to the community under the Community Grants Program and one successful recipient of the last round, Round 13, was the Geraldton Triathlon Club receiving more than $4000 for a safety upgrade project.

This enabled the club to purchase an Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) or “rubber ducky”, and a trailer to transport the IRB along with five inflatable marker buoys for use at regular weekly races during the triathlon season.

This equipment will also be used for the annual Endure Olympic Distance Triathlons that attract competitors from across the state each year.

Geraldton Triathlon Club representative, Christine Kerr, said the purchase of this equipment would enable the club to supervise and respond to any potential emergencies during all club events.

“The equipment will provide the highest safety standards possible for the Geraldton Triathlon Club weekly race events and the Endure Olympic distance triathlon held in April each year,” she said.

“The Inflatable Rescue Boat is the fastest and most manoeuvrable piece of rescue equipment used by surf lifesavers internationally, and these are acknowledged as a key piece of safety equipment for water cover during ocean sports, such as ocean swims, surf carnivals and triathlons.”

Not only will Geraldton Triathlon Club use the equipment for weekly competition, the trailer is necessary to transport the IRB to the beach for weekly events and to other Geraldton beaches for community events.

“This will allow the club to promote its events with confidence that improved professional safety and rescue systems will be in place,” said Ms Kerr.

“The club is grateful to the City of Greater Geraldton for its assistance to enable us to run events of a high calibre with the right safety supports in place.”

Triathlon is a sport open to all, and Geraldton Triathlon Club welcomes involvement from individuals regardless of initial fitness levels, age or abilities.

The GTC conducts a Junior series each season, and in 2012/2013 had 149 juniors between the ages of 7-16-years-old participate on a regular basis. The adult membership grew in 2012/2013 to 160 triathletes competing regularly.

Round 14 of the City of Greater Geraldton Community Grants Program is now open and suitable organisations are invited to apply. Visit the City website cgg.wa.gov.au/residents/grants for an application form.

For more information on the grants program contact Renee Doughty, City Treasury Officer on 9956 6600 or to find out how to prepare a successful submission for a Community Grant, the City is holding an information night on Thursday, February 27 in the Function Room of the City’s administration office on Cathedral Ave, for more information visit: cgg.wa.gov.au/events/community-grants-information-night

Last financial year 55 community groups were awarded $339,297 through the City’s Community Grants Program.

City is underway with cull on Corellas

The cull on Corellas has begun after the City obtained a permit from the Department of Environment and Conservation to get rid of up to 400 of the birds.

With a recent increase of Corella activity causing widespread destruction of public buildings and flora, the City have taken measures to decrease the impact in local areas.

This is a last resort for the City after gas sound cannons failed to stop the birds.

The licence obtained by the City allows for up to 400 Corellas to be culled in Alexander Park, Utakarra Park, Wonthella Park, Wonthella Sports Complex, Greenough Oval and Walkaway Town Site.

Mayor Ian Carpenter said in a statement last month that the cull was important to stop large-scale damage in local areas.

“No one takes enjoyment from the culling activities, but it is necessary if we are to stop the extensive damage that the Corellas are causing,” he said.

“Our objective is not to reduce the number of Corellas but to move them on and prevent the damage they cause in our City.”

Path on St George's to promote bicycle safety, connectivity and healthier ways of transport

Locals have expressed their anger over a footpath which is currently being installed at St George’s Rundle Park.

Everything Geraldton Facebook user Tony said the park was being “desecrated”.

“It could have been done a lot better and saved play space,” he said.

Another comment to Everything Geraldton from Denize said the implementation of the new path would affect the children playing on the playground.

“I’m heart broken that they feel they need to put a winding foot path directly past the sitting and BBQ areas at Saint George Beach the grass area for the little ones to run and play on is gone,” she said.

In a statement from the City, the path is part of a strategy to improve bicycle safety and encourage people to use other forms of transport.

“The path under construction at Rundle Park is part of the Council’s strategy to improve bicycle safety and connectivity to encourage more residents to choose a healthier form of transport. The City undertook extensive community consultation in developing the strategy. The path is the lowest cost, highest safety option and has been approved as part of the Council’s bicycle path strategy and budgeted for accordingly.”

Mayor Ian Carpenter says that crime in Geraldton isn't out of control

In an ABC article today, City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Ian Carpenter says reports that crime is out of control are untrue. Mayor Carpenter met with Geraldton police yesterday and he said that crime statistics do not appear to be on the rise and that criminal activity in Geraldton is the same as in any other community.

"There are probably certain classes of crime which may have increased a bit but in general I'm confident that police are doing an excellent job here in Geraldton," Councillor Carpenter said.

"The statistics I've seen demonstrate to me that our community is probably no different than any other community in Western Australia."

Over the holiday period there was much talk about crime in Geraldton being on the rise with plenty of people voicing their opinions on social media.

A local community group 'Geraldton Residents Demand Our Streets Back' was even created, seeing more than 2,000 people join the Facebook group in a bid against local crime.

Mr Carpenter said people needed to be weary about what they said on social media.

"So if you're going to say these things on social media, then people need to be aware that sometimes what is being said is simply incorrect."

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References: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-11/crime-rate-claims-simply-incorrect/5252474

City seeks to purchase PTA land

City of Greater Geraldton Council has unanimously endorsed a business case to seek funding from the Mid West Development Commission (MWDC) for the purchase of Lot 601 Foreshore Drive, commonly referred to as the ‘PTA’ land.

City Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the PTA land is arguably the most strategic parcel of land in the city centre.

“Its ultimate development, and the character of development, will have a dramatic impact on the future vitality, vibrancy and viability of the central business district (CBD) as a tourist and shopping destination for generations to come. If we don’t acquire this important site we will have little control over what gets developed on it and when,” he said.

Owned by the Public Transport Authority (PTA), Lot 601 – between Foreshore Dr and Marine Tce, Geraldton – has languished undeveloped for some years since the redevelopment of the Geraldton Foreshore, with previous private developers’ plans for the location falling through.

City Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said it was time the land was developed and used to its maximum potential.

“The lack of development is of serious concern to the Council, CBD traders and the wider community and development of the land should of the highest priority within the City to achieve Council’s vision for its City centre,” said Mr Carpenter.

The City indicated interest in purchasing this prime piece of real estate and in November 2013 approached the Mid West Development Commission Board with an Expression of Interest for the commission to fund the purchase.

The EOI was considered by the MWDC Board on November 28 and the board subsequently invited the City to submit a full business case. The City’s business case will go before the MWDC Board in March.

“Proceeds from the development of the site will be quarantined to fund further development in the City Centre,” Mr Carpenter said.

Free parking on PTA land extended

Free parking on Lot 601 Marine Tce, commonly known as ‘the PTA’ land, proved so popular with the community over the Christmas/New Year break that it has been extended until the end of April.

The City responded to the request from the Midwest Chamber of Commerce and Industry to increase parking to assist CBD traders in the lead up to Christmas and negotiated with the Public Transport Authority (PTA), owners of the land to use the area.

The PTA agreed to the use of the area for free parking until January 31, however the PTA has now agreed to an extension until the end of April.

City CEO, Ken Diehm, said the City approached the PTA to consider an extension and is pleased they agreed to it.

“This is a good outcome for the community and I thank the PTA for being so accommodating,” he said.

City to revitalise West End

Following on the successful completion of the Esplanade, the City is poised to start extensive refurbishment works on one of Geraldton’s most precious heritage buildings, the Original Railway Station on Marine Terrace.

Once completed, the Original Railway Station will house the Geraldton Visitor Centre progressing the West End’s position as a valued community asset and an entry point for visitors to the City.

At the same time much needed refurbishment works will be undertaken on the Sail Inn Fish and Chip shop.

Adjacent to and in between the two sites are a number of iconic Moreton Bay Fig trees which are listed on the City’s Geraldton Tree Preservation Inventory register.

City of Greater Geraldton Director of Creative Communities, Andrea Selvey, said the trees haven’t been given a haircut for a number of years and the result has been some damage to the buildings.

“The leaf and fruit litter from this particular type of tree is aggressive to the metal roofing as well as blocking the gutters and down pipes,” she said.

“To prevent interference with the replacement of roof structures on both buildings, some judicial pruning is required. Given the size of the trees the amount of growth removed will be quite minimal.

“A Norfolk Island pine, adjacent to the building will also require some pruning, works will be carried out over the next two weeks and is estimated to take two days to complete,” said Ms Selvey.

An arborist was engaged by the City to inspect the trees and to produce a detailed report to guide the required work. The health and maintenance of the trees is of paramount importance and every precaution will be taken to ensure they are not damaged.

City to cull Corellas

Recent increase of Corella activity has caused a widespread destruction of public buildings and fauna, resulting in the Council taking measures of last resort after gas sound cannons have failed to stop the menace.

The City of Greater Geraldton currently holds a permit from the Department of Environment and Conservation to allow the culling of Corellas flocks causing damage to property.

City Mayor Ian Carpenter said the Corellas are not endemic to the Geraldton area but during the summer months they have been migrating to the coast for water and food resources.

“No one takes enjoyment from the culling activities, but it is necessary if we are to stop the extensive damage that the Corellas are causing,” he said.

The licence allows up to 400 corellas to be culled in the locations of:

• Alexander Park
• Utakarra Park
• Wonthella Park
• Wonthella Sports Complex
• Greenough Oval
• Walkaway Town site

Mayor Ian Carpenter doubts the impact that the culling program has on Corella numbers.

“The culling usually takes place at Wonthella Oval as the area can be controlled and the birds congregate there in large numbers,” he said.

“Even though we are permitted to cull 400 Corellas, we rarely exceed 100 as the birds get the message pretty quickly and move on.

“From my own observations the culling program has not had an impact on the Corella population as a whole,” said Mr Carpenter.

“Our objective is not to reduce the number of Corellas but to move them on and prevent the damage they cause in our City.”

Road Closure

PUBLIC NOTICE OF TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTING IN MARINE TERRACE AND FORESHORE DRIVE Please be advised that the City of Greater Geraldton has contracted Elite Electrical Contracting to dismantle Christmas lighting in Marine Terrace and that partial street closures will occur during daylight hours on Sunday 12 January. There mayalso be some minor localised works in business hours however this will not cause any interruption to vehicle access.

The City requests all users to use caution and obey all warning signs and direction from authorised City personnel and Contractors.

Road closures are planned as follows.

Sunday 12 January Temporary closures will occur throughout Marine Terrace for the dismantling of Christmas lighting and decorations.

Please direct all enquiries relating to this road closure to Steve Davidson on 99656774 or steved@cgg.wa.gov.au

The City regrets any inconvenience and will endeavour to keep all disruptions to a minimum.

Blayney labels WALGA “out of touch with local communities”

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has labelled WALGA president Mayor Troy Pickard as out of touch with community expectations following comments this week suggesting Councils are being blamed for inefficiencies and delays that are in fact caused by external requirements placed on them beyond their control. Mr Blayney said the comments in a WALGA release ‘Councils call to reduce red tape burden’ and published in part in this week’s Midwest Times (Dec 19) were short-sighted and failed to acknowledge the accountability that “such meetings enforce the discipline of fronting the electors and presenting an annual report”.

Mayor Pickard cited Annual Electors Meeting requirements as one example of an external requirement no longer required in the contemporary environment.

“The comments are referring to the requirement of Local Government to have an Annual Electors Meeting, which you refer to as an example of ‘convoluted and outmoded government process’,” Mr Blayney said.

“I think such comments indicate that as an organisation you are completely out of touch with the community. Such meetings enforce the discipline of fronting the electors and presenting an annual report.

“If it’s good enough for publicly –listed companies to have to do this, it’s good enough for Councils to do it as well.”