QPT turns purple for Epilepsy

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Geraldton Primary School staff Ashe Gough, Katie Taylor and Student Kristy-Lee Percy have Epilepsy and will be celebrating ‘Go Purple Day’. They are pictured with Mayor Shane Van Styn.

Lights at the Queens Park Theatre will shine purple on Monday 26 March as part of Purple Day for Epilepsy.

With March being epilepsy awareness month and March 26 being Purple Day, people all around Australia are being urged to ‘go purple’ to end the stigma and discrimination of epilepsy.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said it was something many people are touched by. 

“One in 25 people will have epilepsy at some stage in their life and nearly everyone knows someone who is affected by epilepsy,” he said.

“The City is proud to ‘go purple’ and support the cause by having the lights at the QPT purple on Monday evening.

“It will definitely make a mark on the building so make sure you drive past and check it out.”

Epilepsy is a common brain disorder which takes the form of recurring seizures. It can develop at any age, regardless of gender or ethnicity. An estimated 65 million worldwide currently live with epilepsy - in Australia alone approximately 250,000 people live with epilepsy.

Locals can show their support by hosting a Purple Day fundraising event with friends or at work, or make a donation to raise epilepsy awareness.

More information can be found at www.epilepsyaustralia.net 

Construction of new North West Coastal Highway footpath

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The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise it will be constructing a new footpath on the west side of the North West Coastal Highway between Johnston Street and Bayly Street in Geraldton with works scheduled to commence on Thursday 22 March 2018 for a period of approximately eight weeks.

The anticipated hours of work will be from 9am to 5pm. Works include earthworks and concrete works to construct a new, user-friendly concrete path.

These works are part of $544,600 allocated in the 2017/18 Budget for the construction of new footpaths, which will add approximately 1.77 km to Geraldton footpath network.

Traffic Management will be in place during this time, members of the community are requested to exercise caution and obey all warning signs and directions from authorised City personnel and contractors.

The City apologises for any inconvenience these works may cause.

If you have any queries please contact the City on (08) 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au

Rubbish collection changes for Easter 2018

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The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise of the following changes in rubbish collection days and landfill opening times and over the Easter holiday period.

Collection of 240L municipal garbage bins on residential and commercial premises for the City of Greater Geraldton, Shire of Irwin and Shire of Northampton are as follows:

Normal Collection Day : Friday 30 March 2018

New Collection Day : Saturday 31 March 2018

No changes to Shire of Chapman Valley rubbish collection schedule.

Normal rubbish collections recommence on Monday 2 March 2018. 

The following landfill and transfer stations will be closed on Good Friday, 30 March 2018.

  • Meru Landfill
  • Irwin Transfer Station
  • Northampton Transfer Station
  • Nabawa Transfer Station
  • Kalbarri Transfer Station

Please ensure that all rubbish bins are on the verge by 6:00am on your collection day.

If you have any queries please contact the City on (08) 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Harvest and vehicle ban in place

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The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise a harvest and vehicle ban is now in place from 11am to 2pm today Tuesday 20 March 2018, for the Greenough and Geraldton area, excluding Mullewa.

The fire danger index is currently at 45 and will be reviewed at 1.30pm today.

If you have any queries please contact the City on (08) 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Temporary closure of Seventh Street for road works

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The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise of the temporary closure of Seventh Street between Flores Road and Howard Street on Thursday, 22 March 2018 undertake asphalt works on.

The road will be closed from 7am to 5pm.  Members of the community are advised to use alternative routes.

Members of the community are requested to exercise caution and obey all warning signs and directions from authorised City personnel and contractors.

The City apologises for any inconvenience these works may cause.

If you have any queries please contact the City on (08) 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Great White Shark art piece to involve community

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WA Artist Ross Potter and his life sized work ‘WHALE’ for Fremantle’s High Tide Biennale in 2017.
 

A giant Great White Shark will be drawn by members of the community as part of this year’s Wind on Water Festival.

WA artist Ross Potter will host a series of free community graphite rendering workshops where participants will contribute to a large-scale temporary artwork of a Great White Shark.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the piece would definitely turn heads.

“Not only will this artwork be visually amazing but it is going to be created by our community – with the help of Ross,” he said.

“It’s great to have an art component of WoW Fest and to have something on such a large scale is going to be a crowd favourite.

“I’d encourage community members to give it a go and be part of something very special. And if you can’t contribute to the artwork, you won’t want to miss the reveal!”

The format of the workshops will see participants work on a small square section of the Shark after learning graphite rendering techniques.

When all the pieces have been sketched, a grid method will be used to fix them to the wall to reveal the six-metre long Great White Shark.

The free workshops will take place from Thursday 19 April to Sunday 22 April at the vacant Rock’s building on Marine Terrace and are open to all ages. Children under 10 will need to accompanied by an adult. 

The big reveal will take place at Rock’s at 3.30pm on Sunday 22 April. The artwork will be temporarily displayed at Rock’s before its new home is found.

Spots are limited and bookings are required. To secure your spot in one of the eight workshops, contact the City’s Arts and Cultural Development Officer Marnie Douglas on (08) 9956 6968 or email marnied@cgg.wa.gov.au

The project is part of the inaugural Wind on Water Festival, which encompasses everything Geraldton has to offer from perfect weather, water sports plus amazing family activities on our beautiful Foreshore.

Program activities include kite displays, air displays, an Ultimate Watersports show, a sand sculpture, fishing competitions, sunset entertainment and a concert featuring The Veronicas and San Cisco on Sunday 22 April.

WoW Festival is jointly funded by a grant from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund and the City of Greater Geraldton.

For more information regarding the event or for tickets to the WoW Fest concert, head to www.wowfest.com.au

Port Assists with Rescue

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The Mid West Ports Authority have performed a textbook recovery of a man found in distress near Point Moore and Pages Beach late yesterday.

While piloting the ship Ocean Glory out to sea at about 5.30pm, a VHF radio call was raised by Geraldton Sea Rescue for any boats in the area to assist with reports of a man on a surf ski in distress.

Realizing the winds would soon increase, seas would rise and darkness was not far away, the Ocean Glory pilot contacted the crew aboard the Pilot Boat Glengary to see if they could assist.

Glengary called Geraldton Sea Rescue and informed them they would conduct a search, when a sharp-eyed engineer on the tug boat Wajarri noticed a person on a surf ski well away from the search area.

The pilot boat went to investigate and discovered the missing man, who was so exhausted he could no longer paddle.

Marine Pilot Ross Halsall said the man was at the mercy of the wind and waves.

“The Pilot Boat crew of Greg Normington and Travis Keeffe effected a text book recovery, using the man overboard recovery platform on the stern of the boat, while maneuvering with the remote-control system from the back of the boat,” he said.

“The very lucky man was returned to the Port where he was met by Wharf Supervisor Phil Patience and a security officer who provided him with towels, warm cloths and water.

“Without a radio, lights or flares, increasing winds and night approaching, had he not been found when he was, his situation could have been very bad.”

“Congratulations to all from Mid West Ports, who’s professionalism was simply outstanding.”

The port also coordinated with Geraldton Police, who first received the report and notified sea rescue.

Survey says coastal recreation areas are important

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Rundle Park and St Georges Beach were identified as important coastal assets in the Community Coastal Planning Survey.

More than half of the assets identified at risk to coastal erosion and inundation in the Community Coastal Planning Survey conducted late last year were those related to recreation.

The beaches, sand dunes, including their flora and fauna, and the walking and cycling paths along the coast were mentioned 518 times in the survey undertaken by the City to inform the development of a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the survey results aligned with the results from the Coastal Planning Community Workshops held in October 2017.

“We live in a beautiful coastal community that has spectacular beaches and coastal reserves that our community loves to visit and enjoy,” he said.

“Therefore, it wasn’t surprising to learn that more than 53 per cent of the 376 survey respondents identified coastal recreation areas as being significant to them as more than 71 per cent of the participants who attended the two coastal planning workshops had said the same thing.”

Understanding how the community values an asset plays a key role in developing coastal inundation and erosion adaptation options.

“The survey results showed natural assets such as beaches and social or cultural assets such as shared paths located along the coast were highly valued for their sports or recreational use and community amenity,” Mayor Van Styn added.

“This is vital information that helps inform the development of our Coastal Adaptation Plan which will provide us with a number of options to implement should erosion or inundation put assets at risk.

“Options can range from refraining from building anything new in the area to removing or repositioning existing assets or building infrastructure such as rock groynes or sea walls to protect assets at risk.”

The City’s Coastal Adaptation Plan is currently in the final draft stage and will go out to public comment before the end of the financial year.

For more information on the survey results visit the City’s website www.cgg.wa.gov.au

Derna Park nature playground construction begins

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Wandina Primary School Principal Di Miller and City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn are joined by Wandina Primary students on the future site of the Derna Park nature playground.

Getting back to nature for Wandina children is only a few weeks away with construction of a nature playground in Derna Park begins next week.

In 2016, Wandina Primary School and the City signed an agreement to construct and maintain a nature playground in the heart of the suburb.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the project was unique and added real value to the local park.

“The project enables the school, the City and the land developer to pool funds and build a fantastic playground facility on land owned by both the school and the City,” he said.

“Derna Park is already a popular public open space and with the addition of a nature playground, it is sure to become a top location for families from across Geraldton to visit and enjoy.”

Wandina Primary School Principal Di Miller said the new playground would challenge students using it during recess and lunch times and children of all ages using it after hours.

“The new nature playground will provide our school community with a fantastic play space where children will be able to be more creative and imaginative as well as develop their gross motor skills through play in a more natural environment,” she said.

“The nature playground will be a shared play space that will be enjoyed by children of all ages.”

Construction of the playground begins on Monday 19 March 2018 and is expected to be completed by the end of May 2018. During this time, the shared path located on the south side of the park will be closed to the public.

The $200,746 project is jointly funded with the State Government’s Royalties for Regions Regional Grants Scheme and the Mid West Development Commission contributing $149,167 and Wandina Primary School and P&C; the City; and Humfrey Land Developments contributing funding that was provided to the school.

For more information on the project, visit the City’s website www.cgg.wa.gov.au

Footpath maintenance works on Foreshore Drive

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The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise footpath maintenance will be undertaken along a section of Foreshore Drive in front of the Dome Café with works commencing on Monday 19 March 2018

 for a period of five days.

During this time, members of the community are requested to use the Foreshore Promenade along the beach or the footpath on the east side of Foreshore Drive. The anticipated hours of work will be from 6am to 5pm.

Members of the community are requested to exercise caution and obey all warning signs and directions from authorised City personnel and contractors.

The City apologises for any inconvenience these works may cause.

If you have any queries please contact the City on (08) 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Healthway throw their support behind Fools Festival

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Fools Festival just got even bigger with Healthway confirming their sponsorship of the event and securing exclusive naming rights.

The Drug Aware Fools Festival features up and coming talent Baker Boy, POW Negro, Arno Faraji, Sly Withers as well as a bunch of other high energy artists.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn thanked Healthway for their support. 

“With Healthway’s generous sponsorship we are able throw a massive event for everyone in the region to enjoy,” he said.

“The Foreshore will be alive with activities such as dodgeball, aero bungy, skating demonstrations, airbrush tattoo and henna stations and chill out zones.

“I hope to see everyone down at the Foreshore for a fun and festive time.”

In addition to live music and entertainment, an art battle will take place where participants will have 30 minutes to create a masterpiece. The winner will score a $200 art supplies voucher as well as an invite to return to the next art battle.

Registrations are required for the art battle and can be completed via the City of Greater Geraldton’s website.

The Drug Aware Fools Festival will unfold on Saturday 7 April from 2pm to 8pm at Stow Gardens on the Geraldton Foreshore. The all ages event is drug and alcohol free.  

The City of Greater Geraldton would like to thank Healthway, LotteryWest and Rio Tinto for their support.

More information about the Drug Aware Fools Festival is available here: https://www.cgg.wa.gov.au/play/what-s-on/drug-aware-fools-festival.aspx

MWPA assists in Medivac

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The Mid West Ports Authority have been commended for their efforts in the successful Medivac of an injured crew member aboard an Australian Border Force vessel on Saturday.

Ship Scheduler Aimee Meehan was contacted with a request to assist with the Medivac of an injured crew member aboard the 58m Australian Border Force patrol vessel Cape Sorell.

The vessel was in transit to Fremantle when a crew member slipped on a wet floor of the bridge and was believed to have fractured their tibia.  

With conditions expected to deteriorate in the vessel’s location north west of the Abrolhos Islands, MWPA Marine Pilot Shannon Nicholson said staff jumped in to action to support a swift and efficient Medivac.

“Our Ship Scheduler Aimee Meehan researched all relevant details of the vessel and began to organize logistical support to accommodate her arrival,” he said.

“Security personnel, the on-duty Wharf Supervisor, Pilot Boat Skippers and Pilots were all called to assist while our Wharf Supervisor Damien Healy arranged for Moorers to attend and CBH personnel to move the ship loaders on berth 3.

“He also liaised with the Pilots to determine the most appropriate berthing position for the vessel, mooring and gangway arrangements and ensured an iron ore train, due to arrive at the same time, was unloaded in a way not to obstruct the preferred gate for the ambulance.

“The security guard then escorted the ambulance to the vessel and the crew of the Cape Sorell worked together with the Moorers and Pilot Boat crew to secure a safe gangway and eventually escort the patient to the hospital.”

Thanks to the efforts of the MWPA, the operation took just over an hour before the vessel could return en route to Fremantle.

Mrs Meehan said the Port was often called on to assist in this type of emergency.

“This has happened previously and being a big port in our location, we’re a likely target for people stopping in,” she said.

“No matter what, it’s something we’re always able to assist in because we have a fantastic marine team and pilots.

“It’s never an issue to get everyone on the move and our efforts on Saturday are another example of all levels of the MWPA working together as a fantastic team.”

The Captain of the Cape Sorell thanked the Port and commended the personnel involved for the efficient and successful operation.

Olive Street war memorial construction begins

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Artist impression of the WW1 Memorial being built on the Olive Street Reserve.

Construction of a World War 1 Memorial to commemorate citizens of the Geraldton district who lost their lives in the war is set to begin on the Olive Street Reserve before the end of the month.

The WW1 Memorial, which was designed by Eastman Poletti Sherwood Architects in consultation with Geraldton RSL, is laid out from east to west to align with the position of the setting sun every year on 25 April ANZAC Day. The structure includes the names of those fallen during the war in a setting that represents a typical battle front scene featuring trees stripped bare of branches and a raised timber boardwalk above a muddy landscape.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the completion of the war memorial will see the City’s longest standing legacy project come to an end.

“In 1961, Frank Green Senior gifted land in Mahomets Flats to the City to be used for recreational purposes and at the time requested a memorial be created on the land that recognised his son Leonard T. Green and other citizens of the Geraldton district who lost their lives in active service in the First World War,” Mayor Van Styn explained.

“At a later date, the gifted land was needed to facilitate traffic management and Eldred Green, Leonard’s brother, agreed to exchange the land with the Olive Street Reserve. 

“Now, 57 years after the original agreement was made, the Olive Street Reserve Remediation works were completed in 2017 and when the memorial is in place the bequest will be fulfilled.”

The estimated date of completion of the memorial project is June 2018.

For more information on the project, visit the City’s website www.cgg.wa.gov.au

 

Mountain bike facility construction in Spalding Park

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The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise the shared pedestrian and cycle path on the north side of Spalding Park and a portion of the carpark will be closed to the public from Monday 12 March 2018 to undertake construction of a mountain bike pump and jump track.

To ensure community safety during the eight week construction period, temporary fencing will be erected on site and a detour will be in place.

Members of the community are requested to exercise caution and obey all warning signs and directions from authorised City personnel and contractors.

The City apologises for any inconvenience these works may cause.

If you have any queries please contact the City on (08) 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

City harvests power of the sun

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Solar panels on the roof of the QEII Seniors and Community Centre

The City is set to reap the benefits of solar power with the installation of solar panels on the roofs of three of its facilities over the next three weeks.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the continued roll-out of solar photovoltaic systems on City buildings is key to reducing the City’s operating costs and carbon footprint.

“The installation of solar panels on the roofs of the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, Queens Park Theatre (QPT) and Geraldton Multipurpose Centre (GMC) will save the City around $40,000 per annum in power costs,” he said.

“These buildings were chosen based on the available roof space for the panels and a quick return on $115,000 investment of less than three years.

“More importantly, the project is enabling the City to maintain its ongoing commitment to sustainability which will benefit our future generations.”

The City began its investment in renewable energy in 2012 when solar panels were installed on the roof of the QEII Seniors and Community Centre and a further installation at the Aquarena in 2015.

Installation works at the GMC commenced this week and are expected to take around two weeks to complete. Works at the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery are expected to begin on 12 Marchfollowed by the QPT on 19 March 2018.

City cracks down on illegal motor vehicle storage

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PHOTO CREDIT: James Elsby: Daily Mail Australia

The illegal, dangerous and unsightly storage and dismantling of numerous vehicles on residential and rural residential land is being targeted by the City in an effort to improve community health, safety and amenity.

City of Greater Geraldton Chief Executive Officer Ross McKim said the City takes these illegal activities very seriously.

“The City may prosecute owners or occupiers of residential or rural residential land who breach planning, development and building regulations,” he said.

“A recent investigation into complaints regarding a landowner who was effectively using their residential property as a vehicle wrecking yard, storing over 20 unregistered or wrecked vehicles, resulted in the prosecution of the non-compliant property owner.”

The storage of multiple vehicles on residential properties is also an eye sore and can pose a number of safety, environmental and public health concerns.

“Vehicles, in any state of disrepair, stored on residential or rural residential land can seriously detract from the aesthetic value of neighbouring properties,” Mr McKim said.

“These vehicles are also a fire hazard, can release oils and other toxins into the ground, attract pests such as snakes and rats and are the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes as rainwater often pools inside vehicles with broken or missing windows.

“The City will work with residents to ensure that their residential areas and street scapes are maintained and are not degraded by inappropriate industrial or commercial type activity adversely impacting their lifestyle, the general amenity and diminishing the value of their homes,” he added.  

Temporary closure of Seventh Street for road works

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The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise of the temporary closure of Seventh Street between Flores Road and Howard Street on Wednesday 7 March 2018 to undertake asphalt works.

The road will be closed from 7am to 5pm.  Members of the community are advised to use alternative routes.

Members of the community are requested to exercise caution and obey all warning signs and directions from authorised City personnel and contractors.

The City apologises for any inconvenience these works may cause.

If you have any queries please contact the City on (08) 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Looking after the World, in our own Backyard

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Assistant Minister for the Environment the Hon Melissa Price MP today announced the Australian Government is investing more than $2.1 million in WA’s own amazing places. 

“I’m pleased that the world-renowned Ningaloo Reef and coastline, Purnululu National Park and the Shark Bay region will all receive $700,000 to help manage these destinations into the future,” she said. 

“These are some of the most beautiful places on earth and together we can look after the plants and animals that call these places home. 

“From our stunning whale sharks, whales and dolphins off Ningaloo to the East Kimberley’s Bungle Bungles - our famous beehive-striped maze of orange and black sandstone domes - just waiting to be explored via Halls Creek and Kununurra. What an incredible heritage for our state and our families. 

“And World Heritage listing is more than just a ‘listing’ – it’s a global brand that helps us to drive tourism in our state. 

“It helps make us a destination of choice for international travellers. Tourism delivers $5.5 billion dollars a year to our economy and 72,000 jobs for West Australians. 

“Additionally we’re investing more than in Shark Bay. Inducted onto the World Heritage list in 1991, it is a place that contains plants found nowhere else on earth. Of the 26 species of endangered Australian mammals, five are found in the Shark Bay area.  From bandicoots to bettongs – we need to protect these animals and this investment will help do just that.” 

For more on our World Heritage places go to http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/heritage-places

Batavia Marina Jetty Restricted Access for Clean Up Australia Day

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The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that the Service Jetty located at Batavia Marina will be in use from 9am-11am on Sunday 4 March.

Divers will be working in the water for the Clean Up Australia Day Event. There will be spotters stationed on site providing direction for public access.

The City of Greater Geraldton apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

For more information regarding Clean Up Australia Day, contact the City of 9956 6600.