Wonthella Skate Park expands scope of work

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that the completion of the extended works on the Wonthella Skate Park will make it available for public use from Monday, 20 July 2015. 

As well as the original extension to the park covering 700m2, additional works include a total refurbishment of the original park structure which will entail a complete overlay of the existing concrete surface and include skating features such as grind rails, ramps, quarter pipe runs, banks, ledges and steps. 

LED flood lighting will now also be installed in place of the original metal halide luminaires as well as a CCTV security system.

Phone number change for City

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that office phone numbers have changed.

The City no longer uses numbers with the prefix 9965, they have all been replaced with 9956.

As of Friday, June 26, the 9965 numbers will no longer be working. For all enquiries contact the City on 9956 6600.

Mid West Cat Shelter Bonded Pair of the Week

Our Bonded Pair of the Week is available for $250 to the right home. Meet Mumma Jay & Jackie O!

This mother and daughter duo have been inseparable. So we are offering them as a bonded pair.

The adoption fee for our cats is $150 and kittens is $200, (with the exception of Cat of the Week) which includes microchip, sterilization, immunization, vet check, worm and flea treated. That is a huge saving on the vet work alone!

Mid West Cat Shelter Inc is a registered charity whose main objective is to rescue and re-home, lost abandoned and homeless cats and re-home them to responsible pet owners.

We promote sterilization and containment, for the wellbeing of your cat, your neighborhood and the environment. As part of the implementation of the new Cat Act, MWCS has recently received grant funding from the State Government, to provide a sterilization subsidy to low income earners in the City of Greater Geraldton. So if you have an adult cat that is not yet sterilized you can find the Application forms at your local vet.

If you would like to adopt any of our other cats or kittens, visit our website www.midwestcatshelter.com our Facebook page www.facebook.com/midwestcatshelter or phone 0487 193 244 to speak to a coordinator.

Stingers deployed in vehicle pursuit

Police have arrested two 12 year old girls and a 16 year old girl after stoping stolen car they were driving early this morning. 

Police say that around 3:20am this morning they saw a stolen Suzuki hatchback heading north along Brand Hwy in the Greenough area.  

Shortly after this in Tarcoola Beach Police signalled the vehicle to stop. The driver decided to keep driving and headed into town. 

Officers subsequently deployed a “Stinger” tyre deflation device in front of the vehicle, which successfully deflated two of the stolen vehicle’s tyres. The vehicle continued for a short distance before the occupants abandoned it and attempted to flee the area, allowing the vehicle to collide with the fence of a residential property.

Two 12 year old females and a 16 year old female were arrested at the scene and will face court this morning. 

A vehicle similar to this was stopped by Police.  

Mother asks for help regarding stolen items

Sent in:

"Could I ask people to keep their eyes out for anyone offloading a current model Apple MacBook Air laptop, a gaming MSI laptop, iPad 4th gen, 2 ipods, a blue fast charger, gold necklaces, red and black beats solo headphones. My house was broken into today. Particularly upsetting my son has worked hard to contribute to the purchase of a long wanted gaming laptop and my daughter's Air laptop. They both need their lap tops for studies in upper highschool. This has been such a low act. Two teenage girls - around 14 to 15 years of age found in my backyard by my dad who lives next door - bolted, dropping bikes also taken from my house."

Please call Geraldton Police on 99234555 if you can help.

Stolen Car

Stolen Suzuki Alto hatchback rego GNG248A, please call Geraldton Police on 99234555 if you see it or know where it is.

MWDC call for action on telecommunications review

Call from Mid West Development Commission for Mid West residents
“Don’t miss your chance to have your say on regional telecommunications”

The Mid West Development Commission (MWDC) is urging all who live in the Mid West to embrace the opportunity to have your say about the state of affairs of telecommunications in the region.

The Federal Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee last week released the 2015 Regional Telecommunications Review Issues Paper for public comment, inviting submissions from the public and interested stakeholders on key issues affecting people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.

Telecommunications was identified as one of the five key areas of the Mid West Regional Blueprint, needing a major focus to enable the region to grow. 

MWDC Chair Murray Criddle believes that this is an important opportunity for Mid West residents to influence how the Federal Government supports the growth of telecommunications services to regional Australia.

“The Regional Telecommunications Review comes at an important time for people living in all parts of the Mid West, with telecommunications infrastructure being upgraded through the rollout of the National Broadband Network and the Australian Government’s $100 million Mobile Black Spot Programme,” Mr Criddle said said.

“I strongly encourage individuals, businesses, peak bodies and other interested organisations to make a submission or even just a comment to the Committee.  It’s easy and of course, you can make your submission online.

“What the Committee is keen to hear about is how the Australian Government and other levels of government, industry, and the community can support access to telecommunications services to meet the needs of people living in this region.

“The Issues Paper asks 13 key questions, however, even if you aren’t prepared to address all 13 questions, I urge you to simply write down your views, highlight issues and opportunities and send them in.

“This is our chance to be heard and we need to tackle it head on!” Mr Criddle said.

The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee reviews telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia every three years.  Importantly, the last review -- conducted in 2011-12-- had 35 recommendations made, all of which were adopted and implemented by the government.

“The Commission is also forming an Advisory Committee led by our Digital Economic Strategy Manager Rob Smallwood that will participate in the consultations in which we hope to highlight specific areas of interest and discuss key issues in our creation of a regional digital strategy for the Mid West,” Mr Criddle said.

 The issues paper is available at www.mwdc.wa.gov.au with submissions due by Wednesday 15 July 2015. The Committee will report its findings to Government by 23 August 2015. 

Two weeks for local schools to apply for Sporting School funding

Member for Durack Melissa Price is urging all local Durack primary schools to register for the first round of Sporting Schools funding.

The $100 million programme is part of the Abbott Government’s plan to get more children active and healthy.

This year’s round of programme delivery grants will enable primary schools Durack to enhance the delivery of sports-based activities during Term 3 and 4 this year.

Ms Price said if you haven’t registered and applied for funding, now is the time with the first round of funding to close on Friday June 26.

“This is one of the Abbott Government’s cornerstone preventative health programmes aimed to improve our children’s health through getting more kids involved in physical activity,” Ms Price said.

“Being involved in this new programme will expand sporting opportunities for children before, during and after school hours at Durack primary schools.

“Sporting Schools is designed to deliver sports in line with local schools’ needs and ultimately to get the children of Durack active, engaged and having fun through sport, more often.”

Sporting Schools is about developing children’s love of sport during these early years because we know:

• approximately three quarters of Australian children spend their spare time watching television;
• only one third of children are managing the recommended hour of physical activity a day; and
• only half are involved in sport.

“With this in mind, the Abbott Government is committed to providing children across Australia with opportunities to build healthier habits early in life,” Ms Price said.

“It’s about nurturing children’s love of sport during these early years to encourage a lifelong sporting commitment while also developing their skills in leadership, teamwork, social inclusion and community spirit.”

Applications for funding close on June 26.

Regional capitals key to sustainable population and productivity growth

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon Jamie Briggs (centre) with Regional Capitals Australia Board members.

(L-R): Mayor Ian Carpenter, City of Greater Geraldton; Bruce Anson, Warrnambool City Council; Patience Harrington, City of Wodonga; Ald Albert van Zetten, Launceston City Council; Assistant Minister Briggs; Mayor Deirdre Comerford, RCA Chair and Mayor of Mackay Regional Council; Cr Mathew Dickerson, Dubbo City Council; Cr Michael Fraser, City of Wodonga; Phil Pinyon, Wagga Wagga City Council

Regional Capitals Australia (RCA), today highlighted how more targeted infrastructure investment in Australia’s 50 regional capitals can ease the squeeze in metropolitan cities, and boost regional Australia’s growth.  

Joined by Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon. Jamie Briggs, and 75 leaders from regional capitals, RCA Chair, Mayor Deirdre Comerford drew on the alliance’s submission into the Senate Inquiry on The future role and contribution of regional capitals to Australia to highlight the need for additional national funding to grow regional capitals. 

Mayor Comerford also highlighted a recent report released by Infrastructure Australia which estimated that growing congestion will cost Australians $53 billion by 2031. 

“These congestion figures are quite alarming and it is only going to get worse with Australia’s population predicted to grow to 40 million over the next 50 years; the four largest cities could even grow by 45 per cent in just over 15 years. 

“The time for a rethink is now – through our submission to the Senate Inquiry we have made a clear call to action – our national leaders must take a good look at the potential that sits outside the urban growth boundaries of our capital cities – and commit to sustainably growing our regional capitals. 

“Regional capitals are already the key to successful regions – our cities are home to four million people, and also support an additional four million residents in surrounding areas who depend on these cities for their jobs, infrastructure, hospitals, education and other essential social infrastructure. 

“What is less well known is that we are also important contributors to regional Australia and our nation. Each year $225 billion is generated in our 50 cities and with the right investment this figure can only grow.” 

Despite their sizeable potential, there is currently a lack of consistent investment in regional capitals infrastructure, a key policy gap that Regional Capitals Australia is trying to address.  

“What we need is infrastructure funding that targets the areas of greatest return: regional capitals. This sort of strategic investment will be more effective than just funnelling money into the areas around capital cities to try to cope with current congestion. 

“The economic analysis in our recent submission proves that regional capitals absolutely deserve a place in national policy, and achieving that recognition is the number one goal for Regional Capitals Australia,” said Cr Comerford. 

“In the coming months, we will release our federal election platform, and our member councils will be actively highlighting our recommendations to their local members.” 

RCA’s submission into the Senate Inquiry can be viewed here. All other submissions are available here.

Call for nominations of Geraldton's top school staff

Rangeway Principal Jacqui Quartermaine

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said it’s time to recogniseteachers, leaders and support staff who excel in Western Australian public schools.

Mr Blayney said nominations for the prestigious 2015 WA Education Awards were now open.

He said the WA Education Awards are a great way to acknowledge Geraldton’s teachers, leaders and support staff who encourage our students to be the very best they can.

The awards are the perfect way to celebrate the dedicationof a staff member who goes above and beyond to help students realise their potential and the awards are the perfect way to celebrate their dedication.

At last year’s awards Rangeway Primary School achieved great success winning the WA Premier's Excellence in Aboriginal Education Award.

Under the expert guidanceof Principal Jacqui Quartermaine staff were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to achieving the very best for its student body.

Dream and believe, strive and succeed' underpins the school's approach to Aboriginal education.

This year winners in 11 categories will share $337,500 in prizes. The categories are:

• WA Premier's Primary Teacher of the Year
• WA Premier's Secondary Teacher of the Year
• WA Premier's Excellence in Aboriginal Education Award
• WA Primary School Leader of the Year
• WA Secondary School Leader of the Year
• WA Beginning Teacher of the Year
• WA Education Assistant of the Year 
• WA Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer of the Year
• WA School Services Staff Member of the Year
• WA Primary School of the Year
• WA Secondary School of the Year.

Nominations close on August 21 and finalists will be announced in September.  Winners will be revealed at a breakfast presentation on November 30.

To nominate someone, contact the Principal of the relevant school who can assist you in filling the correct form. 

Record $111m allocated for road safety

The State Government has allocated a record $111 million from the Road Trauma Trust Account to help reduce road trauma in Western Australia.

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said funding would go towards road safety initiatives which had a proven record in reducing crashes.

Mr Blayney said $46 million would go towards road safety treatments to address run off road crashes including shoulder widening, audible line edging, wire rope barriers and overtaking lanes.

Run off road crashes represent one-third of people who are killed or seriously injured on WA roads. It is even higher in regional areas and represents 62 per cent of serious crashes in remote WA.

Mr Blayney said $12 million would fund safety treatments at metropolitan intersections including modified traffic signals, roundabouts and speed management treatments such as speed humps.

Intersection crashes represent one-third of people killed or seriously injured on WA roads.

Mr Blayney said $5.5 million would be allocated to increase drug and alcohol testing of motorists and there is also an extra $1.56 million to support the Government's alcohol interlock program aimed at serious drink drivers.

More than $15 million has been allocated for road safety education programs and campaigns, research and analysis as well as road safety policy and co-ordination.

Mr Blayney said the Liberal National Government would remain relentless in further reducing road trauma through safer roads, enforcement and education.

Alert: Take action with bad weather in south western parts of the Midwest Gascoyne

Take action with bad weather in south western parts of the Midwest Gascoyne Thursday 18 June 2015 - 2:30 PM ​If you live in an area between Dongara and Wongan Hills you should take action and stay safe due to bad weather.

This includes people in Coorow and Eneabba and surrounding areas.

This weather is not unusual for this time of year, but could damage homes and make travel dangerous.

WHAT TO DO:
• Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.
• Unplug electrical appliances and avoid using landline telephones if there is lightning.
• If caught outside find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, storm water drains and streams.
• If there is flooding, create your own sandbags by using pillow cases filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home.
• If boating, swimming or surfing leave the water.
IF DRIVING: • Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.
• Slow down, turn your lights on and keep a safe distance from other drivers.
• Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen powerlines and loose debris.
• If it is raining heavily and you cannot see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears.
• Take care in areas that have been flooded and be careful driving on gravel roads as surfaces will be slippery and muddy, and vehicles could become bogged.

WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING: DFES is monitoring the situation.

STORM/THUNDERSTORM/WEATHER DETAILS: As at 1.58pm 18 June 2015 the Bureau of Meteorology advises showers and thunderstorms are occurring across the south west of the State with an area of heavy rainfall over the southern Central West that may cause flash flooding. These conditions should ease later this afternoon. Coorow has recorded 57 millimetres of rain in the hour between 12:40pm and 1.40pm.

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE:

• If your home has been badly damaged by a storm, call the SES on 132 500 • In a life threatening situation call 000 After a storm State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers make temporary repairs to homes that have been badly damaged, such as roofs that have been ripped off or large fallen trees on homes and cars. Please contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs.

KEEP UP TO DATE: Visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter @dfes_wa or listen to news bulletins. For the latest weather warnings visit www.bom.gov.au/wa/warnings or call 1300 659 213.

The next update will be provided when the situation changes.

New tenants to receive 'P plates' in housing trial

The State Government will trial the use of probationary tenancies in public housing to encourage tenants to take their responsibilities more seriously.

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said until now, probationary tenancies were only used where applicants with poor previous histories sought to re-enter the system.

Mr Blayney said the Department of Housing will conduct a 12-month expanded trial of probationary tenancies designed to encourage more tenants to fulfil their obligations in their taxpayer-funded homes. 

Under this trial program, applicants housed from the wait list will be given a probationary tenancy of six months.

Probationary tenancies will be supported by other initiatives that re-emphasise and improve tenants' understanding of their obligations.

Mr Blayney said the great majority of public housing tenants do the right thing and look after their homes, pay their rent and get along with their neighbours, however, there are a small minority that fail to meet their obligations.

The errant minority will be sent a clear message by the State Government that taxpayer-subsidised housing is time-limited and conditional.

This is especially significant given there are many people on the public housing waitlist who deserve a home more than tenants who refuse to respect the privilege they have been afforded by the taxpayer.

Mr Blayney said there are many people on the public housing waitlist who deserve a home more than tenants who refuse to respect the privilege they have been afforded by the taxpayer.

Under the trial if tenancy conditions are not met, the department will not renew the agreement. If tenants behave they will receive a standard periodic agreement.

The trial will be conducted in the department's south metropolitan region starting in July.

Seniors will be excluded unless they have existing poor tenancy histories.

Festival of Surfing set to make waves in Geraldton

Surf’s up: (Back) Dave Williams, City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Ian Carpenter, Bruce Montgomery, Brian Hood, Ben Mardon, (Front) Sam Salmond, Danny Williams and Rory Nelson.

Cowabunga! The Geraldton Festival of Surfing is about to make waves in the Midwest as the event hits the City for the very first time.

As part of an exciting partnership between the City of Greater and Surfing Western Australia, the Midwest will be put in the spotlight as an attractive surfing destination as five premier surfing events hit our coast.

Spanning from June to September, surfers will enjoy Geraldton’s ideal winter conditions at some of the City’s most iconic surf locations.

City of Greater Geraldton Deputy Mayor, Neil McIlwaine, said the event is set to showcase the best of local surfing talent as well as talent from around the state.

“We’re a hotspot for surfing here and the winter weather makes for perfect conditions,” he said.

“It’s an exciting partnership with Surfing WA and we hope this event is something we can continue into the future to line up with our strategic plans to enhance tourism and events which will have a positive economic overflow into our community.”

There will be a total of five events as part of the festival.

• HIF Pro AM - June 20 and 21
• WA Junior Series – July 18 and 19
• SunSmart School Surfing Titles – August 3
• Sunshine Surfmasters – September 5 and 6
• Batavia Coast SUP Surf and Race – September 10 and 11

The Festival will kick off on June 20 and 21 with the final HIF Pro Am State Title event which will see 10 state champions crowned for 2015. 

The final round of the WA Junior Surfing Series will follow with WA’s brightest young surfers set to tackle the Midwest. The event is set to have a record turnout giving surfers an opportunity to compete against their friends and eventually reach the pinnacle of junior surfing.

The SunSmart School Titles also form part of the junior development pathway, with the first of the qualifying series historically held in Geraldton. Schools will travel from the North West and Midwest districts to compete.

The 39th WA Country Builders Sunshine Surfmasters is the oldest surfing event in the state. Built and developed over the years by the local Geraldton Boardrider Club, the event continually pushes the standard of competition and event delivery each year. It will attract some of the state’s top shortboard riders with its unrivalled history and prestige amongst the surfing community.

The final event of the Festival will be the inaugural Batavia Coast SUP and Race. With the rapidly increasing popularity of Stand Up Paddle Boarding, the event looks to have a range of surfers in both age and ability.

Surfing WA Events Manager, Justin Majeks, praised the Midwest and said it was an incredible time of year for surfing in the region.

“This new partnership will see the amazing waves and beaches around Geraldton utilised by some of the best surfers in WA,” he said.

“With such strong and well established grass roots clubs in the area the festival will continue to push and develop the sport of surfing in the Midwest.”

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

Lancelin Road safer for trucks and other drivers

Work is under way on Lancelin Road to provide safer travelling for drivers of heavy vehicles and other motorists on the coastal route.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the Leighton Opus Team had been awarded a $590,000 contract to build an extra lane near the intersection of Indian Ocean Drive and Lancelin Road.

"These important works will provide a southbound acceleration lane from the Lancelin Road intersection at Indian Ocean Drive, towards KW Road," Mr Nalder said.

"This will allow heavy vehicles turning south out of Lancelin Road to accelerate clear of the through traffic lane, leaving the through traffic largely clear of slow moving heavy vehicles."

The Minister said the work, due for completion by the end of June 2015, would improve the level of driver safety and reduce frustration for motorists moving between the coast at Lancelin and the Brand Highway via KW Road.

New road coaches to benefit Geraldton and Mid West regional passengers

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said today regional Transwa passengers will soon be travelling in heightened comfort in new road coaches thanks to a $15.1 million State Government investment.

Geraldton and Mid WestTranswa passengers will benefit greatly from the new state-of-the-art road coaches which will replace the entire decade-old regional fleet making their trip much more relaxing and comfortable.

Mr Blayney said due to the size of our State, most Transwa journeys average six hours, making the delivery of the very best of passenger well-beingwith state-of-the-art seating, on-board entertainment as well as USB charging portsultra-important.

Transwa operates regional road coach services to more than 240 towns across the State, from Kalbarri in the north, inland to places such as Meekatharra and Kalgoorlie-Boulder and south to Esperance and Albany.

In total the Government will invest $16.3 million in the project that will see the current fleet replaced with 23 new road coaches over the next three years, with $1.2 million coming from the resale of the existing road coaches.

Mr Blayney said the new 23-strong Transwa fleet will help build a stronger economy and better quality of life in the State's regions.

All the road coaches will be compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 ensuring they are accessible to all passengers.

Safety issue with some Samsung washing machines

Thanks Julie for sending in this info from Samsung

IMPORTANT PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL REMINDER

Dear Customer,

You may have heard that there's a safety issue with some of our Top Loader washing machines made between 2010 - 2013.

In some cases, this issue could cause smoke, or even fire, to come from the machine. All it takes to fix an affected machine is a quick, free service from one of our qualified technicians.

In 2013 we commenced a product safety recall for six models of Top Loader washing machines. However, there are thousands of affected machines that are yet to be serviced.

I'm writing to you because Samsung needs your help to ensure that other Australians - your family, your friends, your neighbours - remain safe and well.

Here's how you can help. Firstly check your own machine. Get your parents to check their machines. Get your mates to check their machines. Get your neighbours to check their machines. Get anyone you know who has a Samsung Top Loader to check their machines.

All they need to do is follow the instructions in the boxes on the right hand side of this page.

Thank you for your help. Australia we need your help Phil Newton Vice President of Consumer Electronics Samsung Electronics Australia

Funding boosts close ties between Mid West and China

Funding from the State Government’s Royalties for Regions Regional Grants Scheme and the Mid West Development Commission, will see the City of Greater Geraldton develop a brand new website which will provide a platform for businesses in the Mid West and China to identify and promote business opportunities.

With funding of $43,500, the Mid West China Connect website will serve as a two-way business portal for Mid West and Chinese business to provide information in both English and Mandarin, on how to do business in the Mid West region, connect existing businesses in the region and China, advertise and promote the region's resources, industry, lifestyle and tourism attractions and to stimulate investment.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said the new online tool was the perfect medium for both Mid West and Chinese businesses to communicate.

“This new venture will open a lot of doors between China and the Mid West and we have been working on fostering this relationship for many years and this is just another progression in our already great connection,” he said.

“It gives the Mid West and China the opportunity to identify opportunities, connect, share information, and promote business opportunities without language barriers. 

“Ultimately, we want to put the Mid West and Geraldton into the direct searching radar of China - the biggest trading partner of the Nation and the State.

“I urge local businesses to seize the opportunity to take advantage of the potential that the new website could generate.”

The website will provide businesses in both the Mid West region and China to list their business in English and Mandarin for free , giving them the opportunity to advertise their business with a description of services, contact details, products, services details, images, video clips and maps.

Once the website is set up, it will be maintained by the City providing content monitoring, day-to-day information updates, two-way translation and further facilitation services.

The Mid West China Connect website will also provide URL links and QR codes to social media sites including Chinese social media networks.

Mid West Development Commission Chairman, Murray Criddle, said the website was an important factor in helping to grow the trade between the Mid West and China.

“The trade between our region and China is already high and this website is a great tool to help grow that even more,” he said.

“We know Chinese investors have shown a lot of interest in the Mid West which is something we aim to harness and this website is helping us to do that.”

Once up and operating, the website will directly connect suppliers and demanders, enabling Mid West businesses to identify new sources of supply of inputs to grow their businesses, and new customers for their products and services, stimulating local economic development and employment.

“Essentially, this will be an important online platform to attract people to live, work, visit and invest in the Mid West Region,” Mayor Carpenter said.

This project is made possible by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions Regional Grants Scheme and the Mid West Development Commission.

The website is set to be up and running by March 2016 – so watch this space.

Further information about how your business can be listed will be provided closer to the conclusion of the website.

For more information about the project, contact the City on 9956 6600.

Skydive Jurien Bay is coming to Geraldton

The most professional skydiving company in Australia, Skydive Jurien Bay, is coming to Geraldton on the 27th and 28th of June! Grab this limited opportunity to tandem skydive from 14,000 feet over Geraldton and land on the beach at point Moore and see your spectacular city as you have never seen before.

Spots are limited so book your jump today! Phone 1300 AWESOME or 9652 1320. For more information, visit our website. 

Baseball Bat Damage

At about 5:20pm on Sunday 14 June 2015 two youths were in attendance at a service station on Rifle Range Road, Rangeway.

It will be alleged that the youths used a baseball bat to strike the front entrance glass door, which resulted in the door sustaining large cracks.

Geraldton Police attended the area shortly after where the two youths were located in possession of the baseball bat.

An 11 year old youth from Utakarra will appear at the Geraldton Children’s Court at a later date charged with criminal damage.