Road closures for HMAS Stalwart III Freedom of Entry March

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that the following roads will be closed as the City welcomes the ship’s company from HMAS Stalwart III during their Freedom of Entry March on Saturday 25 June.

• Chapman Road from Durlacher Street to Snowden Street

• Foreshore Drive from Cathedral Avenue to Forrest Street

• Forrest Street from Foreshore Drive to Anzac Terrace

• Durlacher Street from Foreshore Drive to Marine Terrace

• Marine Terrace from Durlacher Street to Chapman Road

Road closures will be in place from 2pm to 4pm.

The City apologises for any inconvenience during this time and will endeavour to keep disruptions to a minimum.

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

New lights give Queens Park Theatre a ‘glow up’

Mayor Shane Van Styn (L), Cr. Parker, Cr. Tanti, Cr. Reymond, Cr. Keemink, Cr. Clune, Cr. Hall and Cr. Librizzi take a moment to inspect the upgrade.

People passing by the Queens Park Theatre (QPT) at night may have noticed the building has had a glow up, with the installation of new lighting fixtures now complete.

The works, which were conducted as part of the City of Greater Geraldton’s capital renewals program, saw the outdated exterior lights replaced with state-of-the-art technology.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the upgrade brings the QPT in line with other national landmarks.

“Here at the City we routinely receive requests from the public to turn the QPT different colours as a show of support for certain causes,” he said.

“We were very limited in what we could do with the previous lighting structure, which had reached end of life and was starting to experience technical difficulties.

“The new system boasts 60-degree lens filters and the ability to assign every fixture a different colour to create custom lighting designs that support awareness or themed occasions.”

The 30 new lighting fixtures are a performance exterior linear Graze luminaire and are controlled by a modern interface that simplifies the customisation process.

QPT staff are working with Council to put in place an application process for community causes to ensure they align with the City’s values.

The new lighting system was installed by TLS Productions.

Rural roads reopen following heavy rainfalls

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise all unsealed rural roads have reopened to traffic.

Drivers are requested to proceed with caution, drive to the conditions and obey all warning signs and directions from authorised City personnel and contractors.

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

Fitzgerald Street drainage works

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise drainage works on Fitzgerald Street, between the Durack Institute of Technology and Augustus Street, are scheduled to begin on Tuesday 21 June 2022 and take approximately six days to complete.

To ensure community safety partial road closures with detours will be in place for the duration of the works.

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.

Sports funding applications decoded

Applying for grant funding will be made easier through a free information night hosted by the City of Greater Geraldton and the Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries later this month.

The Grant Information Night on Wednesday 29 June will take a deep dive into what funding is available, eligibility, timeframes, and how to present an application to maximise success for local sporting clubs.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn urges the community to attend.

“Sport is such an integral part of our way of life in Geraldton, therefore it is essential that we help sporting organisations in the Midwest attain the funding they need to keep our community active both physically and socially,” he said.

“I encourage everyone who is part of a sporting club to come down to the Grant Information Night and learn how to apply for the funding to help support their organisations.”

The Grant Information Night will feature Youth Affairs Council WA Grant Officer Matthew Tomich who will virtually present the process of grant writing as well as the factors to consider when submitting a funding application.

The presentation will be held at the Geraldton Multipurpose Centre between 5.30pm and 7pm Wednesday 29 June.

RSVP is essential and free tickets are available by clicking here.

Kempton Street footpath maintenance

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise maintenance works on the off road shared path on Kempton Street, between St Georges Beach and Hosken Street, will start today and take approximately two days to complete.

Pedestrian management will be in place during the works.

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.

Temporary closure of Yarraman Park playground

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise maintenance works on the Yarraman Park playground equipment will be begin Thursday 16 June 2022 for a period of approximately three weeks.

To ensure community safety during the works, the playground located on Yarraman Road in Waggrakine will be closed.

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.

HMAS Stalwart III to open to Geraldton community

The HMAS Stalwart III will arrive in Geraldton later this month and a variety of events will be hosted in celebration.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to look inside the Royal Australian Navy’s newest ship HMAS Stalwart III when it arrives in Geraldton later this month.

It is the first time the ship will visit its Ceremonial Homeport and a number of free events are happening over the weekend to celebrate including a Public Personal Training Session, Freedom of Entry March and Ship Open Day.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn is looking forward to the occasion.

“This is going to be an exciting and historical moment for our community as we welcome the HMAS Stalwart III to our seaside city, which also happens to be the ship’s Ceremonial Homeport,” he said.

“We solidified a partnership with the Navy towards the end of last year and granted Freedom of Entry to Greater Geraldton.

“This is welcome news for our community and I know everyone will be very eager to participate in the events – especially the Ship Open Day!”

HMAS Stalwart III Commanding Officer Steve McCracken said the ship’s company was excited to visit Geraldton.

“There is an enduring link between the Navy and the City of Greater Geraldton, and we hope this visit goes some way to reinforcing that connection,” he said.

“We are very much looking forward to meeting as many Midwest locals as possible, and showing the community what their Navy is all about.”

Mid West Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Damian Tully looks forward to the maiden visit.

“Mid West Ports is very excited to welcome HMAS Stalwart III on its maiden visit to Geraldton. It is an honour to host her and her crew and we warmly welcome their arrival,” he said.

The HMAS Stalwart III will make its way into Geraldton on Friday 24 June at approximately 12pm. Members of the community will be able to watch its arrival into the Mid West Port Authority along the Geraldton Foreshore.

On Saturday 25 June, the ship’s crew will host a Public Personal Training Session at Stow Gardens on the Geraldton Foreshore at 8am. This will allow the public to see how the Navy stays fit ashore and at sea. Members of the community are encouraged to be part of the exercise and secure their place by clicking here.

At 2pm the same day, a Freedom of Entry March will be conducted through the Geraldton CBD with the march concluding at Edith Cowan Square. There, the Wilinyu Dancers will welcome the crew as well as the Royal Australian Navy Band with two cultural performances.

On Sunday 26 June from 10am to 2pm, the HMAS Stalwart III opens to the public with tours happening every 30 minutes. The tours will provide the public with insights as to how Navy officers live and work at sea by providing an exclusive look inside. Tickets can be acquired by clicking here.

The HMAS Stalwart III will depart Geraldton on Monday 27 June at approximately 9am but will return in the future, so the crew can engage with the community through more events and programs.

New Mullewa entrance mural to celebrate culture and cohesion

Callaghan Park will be the site of a vibrant new mural set to add to the cultural cache of Mullewa.

The new piece will be a collaborative effort from renowned local artists Charmaine Green, Helen Ansell, Pauline Bell, Debra Maher and Susan Merry.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn is excited about the new work.

“Mullewa already has some fantastic public art and this new painting will be a wonderful addition to the collection,” he said.

“This artwork celebrates the key components that make up the rich fabric of Mullewa’s heritage and I look forward to seeing the finished product.

“I urge everyone to come and check out the mural once it is installed.”

Artist Charmaine Green is also looking forward to seeing the work come to life.

“Our vision for the entrance mural is to represent the pathways of connectedness and cohesion of the Mullewa community whilst also depicting the elements for which Mullewa is famed,” she said.

“The name Mullewa comes from the traditional name for the Mullewa Spring so water is a connecting theme throughout the mural.

“As artists, we are delighted to be a step closer to finishing the work and we encourage everyone to come down and view it once it is complete.”

The new Mullewa entrance mural is due to be finished by the end of June, subject to weather.

For more information on attractions in Mullewa see here.

Temporary closure of Point Moore access tracks

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that due to increased coastal surge and swell associated with the current and forecast weather fronts in the coming days, the access tracks to Point Moore will be closed to ensure community safety. The closure will go into effect at 4pm today, Thursday 9 June 2022.

Weather conditions and the beach will be monitored over the coming days. The public updated on the re-opening of the gates.

The City apologises for any inconvenience these closures may cause.

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

The beat goes on for Regional Sounds

Moth Street Artists performing at Regional Sounds

Exciting times are ahead for the Original Railway Building resident’s Regional Sounds as their home in the Geraldton CBD was granted a 12-month extension by the City of Greater Geraldton last week. 

Regional Sounds is a music organisation dedicated to fostering creative growth and supporting pathways for musicians in the Midwest.

Since moving into the Original Railway Building just six months ago, they have been going from strength to strength.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn welcomed the news.

“Regional Sounds have a solid strategy to develop local artists, build community and help increase the vibrancy of our CBD. It’s because of this that we’ve endorsed an extension of their lease for another 12 months with the option for a further 12 months,” he said.

“By offering Regional Sounds a longer lease we are providing them with the stability and security they need in order to continue their mission.  

“They have done a wonderful job in activating the area, held some brilliant events, and are enabling our community to be the best it can be.”

Regional Sounds Executive Director Alexia Parenzee was elated by the decision.

“So far we have delivered 18 different events and workshops, which have brought the community together to enjoy local talent, supported the development of musicians within the local scene, and attracted people from around the state,” she said.

“Our organisation has been working with a range of community groups including Shine and Desert Blue Connect as well as the Health Department to facilitate music events and workshops that create positive outcomes for at-risk groups, support groups, and as a suicide prevention initiative.  We have also partnered with other organisations working within the creative arts in Geraldton to maximise our shared impact in the community development and arts sectors.

“We have a packed schedule planned for the rest of 2022 and into 2023 that we know will be a big hit with music lovers and the wider community.”

More information about Regional Sounds is available by clicking here.

Construction continues on northern leg of cycle network

The next leg in the Chapman Road Shared Path project is kicking off with the construction of the Glenfield Beach Drive section starting next week.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the $220,000 path is 100% funded by the State Government through the Geraldton Cycling Expansion Project.

“This 380m long and 2.5m wide shared path along the south side of Glenfield Beach Drive will ensure cyclists and pedestrians can safely travel between Hillview Drive and Chapman Road,” he said.

“Although it may seem like a path that goes to nowhere at the moment, it is required to actually connect the suburb to the long awaited shared path between Drummond Cove and Sunset Beach.

“We’re constructing the Glenfield Beach Drive section while the detailed designs for 3.5km long shared path along Chapman Road are being finalised for construction next financial year.”

A shared path connecting Drummond Cove with Sunset Beach is a top priority in the Geraldton 2050 Cycling Strategy.

The State Government recognised the importance of expanding the City’s cycling network  and investing $4.24 million in the construction of an additional 8.3 kilometres of high quality shared paths to connect Drummond Cove and Cape Burney to the existing network.

“I’d like to thank the State Government for funding the Glenfield Beach Drive leg of this much bigger project,” Mayor Van Styn added.

“Their generous commitment to our cycling projects have certainly fast tracked the delivery of the highly anticipated Sunset Beach to Drummond Cove shared path much earlier than expected.”

More on the project here

More on the Geraldton 2050 Cycling Strategy here

Media Opportunity: Geraldton Airport emergency response exercise

Local media are invited to attend and observe Geraldton Airport’s full-scale emergency response exercise this weekend. There will be photo opportunities as well as the chance to interview participants.

When: Saturday 11 June 9.30am for 10am start – 1pm

Where: Meeting point is the Greenough Terminal, Geraldton Airport 

Lunch: Will be provided, please RSVP with any dietary requirements

Dress code: All media will be fitted with hi-vis and blue identifier helmet upon arrival

RSVP is essential to this exercise, please RSVP by 3pm Friday 10 June to desmondh@cgg.wa.gov.au

FOGO Trial extended for 12 months

The City of Greater Geraldton’s Food Organic Garden Organic (FOGO) trail that collects organic waste from 500 households from across the City will be extended by 12 months.

The continuation of the trial will enable the City to further educate participants on the important waste reduction initiative and evaluate the effectiveness of the program so an informed decision on a potential roll out of FOGO waste collection to the rest of the community can be made.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the trial that started out well in May 2019 has suffered setbacks.

“Although initial interest from trial participants was very positive, as the trial progressed nearly half of them stopped putting their FOGO bin out for collection,” he said.

“Contamination rates begin to rise and then in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic hit making it difficult to engage with participants.”

The trial extension will provide an opportunity for an education program to be undertaken with FOGO participants and evaluate its impact on the contamination rates.

It will also enable the City to determine if the specialist compost contractor currently converting FOGO waste to compost can produce a quality end product that can be provided to the community.

Mayor Van Styn said reducing waste to landfill and lowering emissions are top Council priorities.

“Preserving our environment, reducing emissions and moving towards a circular economy are key focus areas in the State Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 and the City’s Strategic Waste Management and Recycling Action Plan,” he said.

“We are also working towards net zero emissions by 2030 and with organic waste rotting in landfill being our worst emitter this is an area we really need to focus on.”

For more information on the trial follow the CGG FOGO Trial Facebook page or visit the City’s website here 

$150k back into community thanks to Buy Local initiative

More than $150,000 has been injected into the local community all thanks to the Buy Local Greater Geraldton Gift Card program.

Reaching the impressive figure in just eight months makes Greater Geraldton one of the most successful program participants nation-wide, with the program continuing to go from strength-to-strength. 

Described as an “unbelievable milestone”, City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn applauded locals for embracing the program.

“This achievement is all thanks to the wonderful businesses who came on board - as well as all the local shoppers who have continued to purchase the cards,” he said.

“Without them - $150,000 could have potentially been spent online or elsewhere. Instead, that money has gone directly into our local economy, where we know the flow on effects to our community benefits everyone.

“I thank all the locals who have helped us get to this milestone, and I encourage everyone to consider supporting the program when you’re thinking about buying your next gift.”

The Buy Local Greater Geraldton Gift Cards program launched in September 2021 and since then, over 80 businesses have come on board as redemption stores. 

The gift cards are an EFTPOS based system which promotes spending in Greater Geraldton, to ensure money stays in the community and contributes to economic growth.

From retail to restaurants, automotive services, cleaners and everything in between - the gift cards offer users a repertoire of local businesses to support.

Buy Local Greater Geraldton Gift cards are available at any IGA Group stores (Rigters, Queens and Wonthella), Mitchell and Brown Retravision, Cellarbrations Bottle Shops, Ivy Vibe, Sportsfirst Geraldton as well as online by clicking here.

The program is made possible through ongoing support from partners Rio Tinto, GWN7, Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rigters IGA Group and Mitchell and Brown Retravision. 

For more information about Buy Local Greater Geraldton Gift Cards, click here. 

Bulk verge side rubbish collection to return

Geraldton residents will be pleased to learn that the popular bulk verge side rubbish collection will make a comeback next financial year, following Council’s decision to reinstate the program annually.  

The free collection allows residents to dispose of bulky items such as white goods and furniture as well as green waste on their verge side for City contractors to dispose of or recycle.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn hopes this will reduce waste being disposed of in the bushland.

“You just have to talk to people as well as see the chatter online to get a feel for how much the community want bulk verge side rubbish collection to return,” he said.

“We are still determining the time of year the collection will take place. Our summers are notoriously windy and there is a lot of rain come winter. The last thing we want is for the rubbish to spread from the verge side, and managing that is essential to its success.

“This is an expensive program that our community has been asking for. We’re returning it to help beautify all areas of Geraldton as opposed to some of these items being dumped in the bush.”

Bulk verge side waste was collected for a number of years but the City ceased the program in 2016 to reduce costs and decrease the incidents of untidy verges.

Having a thriving community that provides opportunity whilst protecting the environment and enhancing the social and cultural fabric is a key part of the City’s Strategic Community Plan, and reinstating the free collection is a step towards achieving this.

The City has budgeted $650,000 in the 2022/23 Budget for the annual collection of bulk verge side rubbish.

More information about when the program will start will be announced soon.

Sand bypassing works

As part of the Northern Beaches Stabilisation Program the Mid West Ports Authority will be undertaking sand bypassing works on the Beresford Foreshore between Tuesday 7 June and Friday 10 June 2022.

During this period, sand from Pages Beach will be transported by the Port to placement sites along the Beresford Foreshore.

The purpose of the sand by-passing is to feed sediment into the longshore current operating in a northerly direction along the Geraldton coastline. Through a coastal process known as littoral transport, the sand bypassing provides sediment to Geraldton’s northern beaches through the action of the breaking waves and the longshore current.

Traffic management will be in place to minimise the disruption to traffic in the area. Working hours will be between the hours of 7.00am to 5.30pm for duration of the works.

For further information on these works and the Northern Beaches Stabilisation Program in general, contact the City of Greater Geraldton (08) 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au.

Glenfield resurfacing works

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that road resurfacing works to a section of Glenfield Beach Drive from Hillview Drive/Schooner Pass through to Surfside Terrace are scheduled to begin the week commencing Tuesday 7 June 2022, weather permitting, and will take approximately four days to complete.

These works are part of the 2021/2022 Road Renewal Program which will see more than 19kms of the City’s roads resurfaced or resealed. 

The anticipated hours of work will be from 7am to 6pm with detours and traffic management 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.

Chapman Road footpath works

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise the footpath on Chapman Road in front of the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery (GRAG) and Park is being renewed.

From Monday 6 June to Wednesday 8 June 2022 the footpath will be closed with a pedestrian detour in place. Access to entrance of the GRAG building will remain unchanged.

These works are part of the GRAG Park Upgrade project here

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.

Preservation and access for Point Moore

Point Moore by Ian Ogelsby

New boom gates to be installed at key access tracks herald a well-balanced approach to the management of Point Moore beach.

Following extensive community consultation last year, Council made the decision to introduce the gates to protect the coastal vegetation whilst allowing vehicle access and prioritising the safety of beach users.       

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn welcomed the arrival of the gates.

“Nearly 800 community members responded in the Point Moore Beach Usage Survey and the majority of people were deeply concerned about protecting the sensitive coastal ecosystem,” he said.

“Most people who drive on the beach are respectful of pedestrians and the environment so we did not want to ban vehicle access.

“However, due to the changing nature of the coast, it is important to be able to prevent vehicles from driving on the beach when there is insufficient space between the dune and the waterline.

“Installation of the new boom gates will allow for beach access when conditions permit and restrict when they are deemed a risk, so everyone may enjoy the area and we can protect the environment,” added Mayor Van Styn. 

The contractor anticipates having all the new gates completely installed by Friday 3 June.

The installation of the new works is partially funded by a $76,000 Coastwest grant awarded to the City by the Department of Planning, Lands, and Heritage.

Additional works to be performed include sand trapping fences, brushing and potential CCTV installation pending budget approval.