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.

Chapman Road footpath renewal

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that footpath renewal works are currently being undertaken along Chapman Road near the Durlacher Street intersection. 

Entry to the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery and Geraldton Visitor Centre is via the Armstrong Street side of Chapman Road. 

The works are expected to take approximately one week to complete and the anticipated hours of work will be from 7am to 6pm.

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.

Why do people see an Osteopath?

Did you know that Osteopaths treat:

• Lower Back Pain and Sciatica

• Neck Pain

• Shoulder Pain and Frozen Shoulder

• Jaw Pain( TMJ)

• Headaches and Migraines

• Plantar Fasciitis

• Knee pain

• Osteoarthritis

• Piriformis Syndrome

• Postural pain

If you didn’t know already, Geraldton has an Osteopath - Dr Mathew Kirk - Rewind Osteopathic and Massage Clinic

Mathew loves helping people function at their best and be pain free.

To book an appointment with Dr Kirk please call reception on 0422 221 371 or jump onto www.rewindosteo.com.au and hit “Book Online”

They are now open on Saturday from 10am - 1pm!

Rewind Osteopathic and Massage Clinic has HICAPS so you can claim on-the-spot rebates with all private health funds. They also accept Chronic Disease Management care plans from your GP also, check with your GP for eligibility.

Rewind Osteopathic and Massage Clinic
4 Snowdon St,
Geraldton

Clinic Hours:
Mon, Tue - 8am - 6.30pm
Thur - Fri 8am - 4pm
Sat - 10am - 1pm

Temporary closure of off lead dog exercise area

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise the off lead dog exercise area located in the Leonard T Green Memorial Park will be closed for maintenance works on Wednesday 1 June and Thursday 2 June 2022.

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.

Bus shelter construction Wonthella

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise a bus shelter on the east side of Central Road between First Street and Place Road to will be renewed with works scheduled to commence on Tuesday 31 May 2022 for a period of approximately two weeks.

The anticipated hours of work will be from 7.00am to 6.00pm. Traffic management will be in place during this time which will include detours for occasional road closures.

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

Geraldton Aquarena main 25m pool unavailable

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that the Geraldton Aquarena’s main 25m pool will be unavailable to the public on the following dates as the venue will be hosting the annual Short Course Classic swimming competition: 

·         Saturday 4 June

·         Sunday 5 June

Both the leisure and hydro pools will remain open as normal during this time.

The City apologises for any inconvenience the temporary closure of the main pool may cause.

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

Mullewa Muster and Rodeo bucks into town

The Mullewa Muster and Rodeo is back next weekend!

Rodeo fans will be jumping for joy with the Mullewa Muster and Rodeo set to return for a great line up of entertainment next weekend.

It returns to Mullewa on Saturday 4 June after being forced to take a two year hiatus thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn was pumped to see its return.

“The Mullewa Muster and Rodeo is an absolute showstopper of an event and I’m pumped its back on the calendar,” he said.

“Between the full points rodeo, beaut ute and whip cracking competitions, a country music concert and all the bells and whistles you’d expect from rodeo, it’s going to be one heck of a day out.

“I hope to see the Midwest turn out in droves to support the Mullewa community!”

The Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association’s (ABCRA) full points rodeo is back with $35,000 in prize money up for grabs.

Lighting up the stage from 6pm are country music acts the Craig Pickett Band, Scarlet’s Way and Monty Cotton.

No muster is complete without the classic whip cracking competition and beaut ute completion, plus there will plenty of entertainment for the whole family.

Free on-site camping is also provided, complete with a fundraising breakfast on Sunday.

Gates open from 8am but tickets are on sale now via Eventbrite or at https://www.mullewamuster.com.au.

Batavia Coast Marina Enabling Works

The City of Greater Geraldton wishes to advise that Development WA and its contractor, Civcon WA will be accessing the stormwater outfall on the Geraldton Foreshore adjacent to Forrest Street between Wednesday 25 May and Friday 27 May 2022 as part the Batavia Coast Marina Stage 2 Enabling Works.

Working hours will be 7am to 5.30pm for the duration of the works.

During this period, temporary bunding will be installed around the stormwater outfall, and traffic management will be in place to minimise disruption.

The City apologises for any inconvenience these works may cause.

For further information on these works please contact Aaron Connoley at Civcon WA on 0424 176 213 or email aaron.connonley@civconwa.com.au.

City purchase Club Rocky’s for new Youth Centre

(L-R) Acting Director of Community Services Fiona Norling, City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn and Youth Crime Prevention Officer Lydia Young

Young people in Geraldton now have a dedicated space of their own with the City of Greater Geraldton purchasing Club Rocky’s in Wonthella just last week.

Over the next couple of months, slight renovations will be made to transform the building into a more suitable space for young people.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn is delighted with the acquisition.

“We’re investing in the future of our community by developing a safe space for young people to come together locally,” he said.

“The purchase of this building makes sense on so many levels – its proximity to the Geraldton PCYC who we have a great relationship with, the Wonthella Skate Park as well as the Geraldton Aquarena.

“All of these facilities are heavily visited by our community and we’re looking to transform the area into a zone for young people to get together safely and positively after school and during the holidays.”

The City’s Youth team currently operate out of Lester House in the Geraldton CBD, however, the size of the building limits what activities can be run as well as how many participants can be involved.

Club Rocky’s in Wonthella will allow the City to increase the programs currently delivered and build upon the popular School Holiday Program, which engages a variety of young people in both Geraldton and Mullewa.

“Our five-year vision for the building and area is for it to be a fun, vibrant and safe space. Some immediate upgrades are required but we will do more extensive works over the next few years,” added Mayor Van Styn.

The acquisition of the land in Wonthella links back to the City’s Strategic Community Plan and delivering on the community’s vision for spaces, places, programs and services that foster connection and inclusion as well as more activities for young people to be involved in.

More information about the City’s new Geraldton Youth Centre will be available over the coming weeks.

Chapman River Estuary action plan revealed

Chapman River Estuary

An action plan to enhance the unique cultural, recreational and environmental values of the Chapman River Estuary is one step closer to completion with NACC NRM presenting various aspects of the draft plan to the community next week.

City of Greater Geraldton Deputy Mayor Jerry Clune invites members of the community to review what’s been developed in collaboration with the community.

“Last month local residents, environmentalists, wildlife enthusiasts and sporting group members came together in a workshop to share what they do when they visit the estuary, discuss what they value about the area and express concerns they had about its future,” he said.

“NACC NRM and City staff also met with members of the Cultural Committee of the Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation to gain a better understanding of the cultural significance the estuary has for many Aboriginal people”.

“All this invaluable information has been utilised to create a draft action plan for the estuary which outlines what can be done to ensure the cultural significance, recreational opportunities and the habitats of migratory shore birds, turtles and other animals including a federally listed Threatened Ecological Community can be maintained and protected for future generations.”

“It’s really important we get this right so I encourage anyone interested in the Estuary and its future attend the workshop and give us their feedback on various aspects of the draft action plan.

The Chapman River Estuary Stakeholder Feedback Workshop will be held on Thursday 12 May from 5.30pm-7.30pm at the Spalding Tennis Club on Chapman Road in Bluff Point.

RSVPs are essential. To secure your spot contact NACC NRM’s Coastcare Support Officer Alanah Campbell on 0429 967 975 or email Alanah.campbell@nacc.com.au

The City has partnered with NACC NRM to create the Chapman River Estuary Action Plan. Once the plan is complete identified works can be implemented.

The development of the Chapman River Estuary Action Plan is funded by the State Government Natural Resources Management Office.

Post Office Lane Lightbox Gallery seeks a new exhibition

Post Office Lane Lightbox Gallery. Photo by Karl Monaghan

A new artist is being sought by the City of Greater Geraldton to display their works in the Post Office Lane Lightbox Gallery – an outdoor exhibition space in the CBD.

This showcase will provide yet-another local artist with a unique platform to present their creations to the community.

City of Greater Geraldton Deputy Mayor Jerry Clune urged artists to apply.

“The Post Office Lane Lightbox Gallery is a cultural asset for the Midwest and is popular with both locals and visitors,” he said.

“For artists to have their works displayed at this accessible location provides creatives with an opportunity to promote their art to a wider audience, around the clock.

“There are limited spaces available each year so we encourage all our talented artists to put forward an expression of interest.”

The Post Office Lane Lightbox Gallery in Rocks Laneway is made up of eight lightbox cabinets and will soon display River, Ocean & Sky by Nicole Dickerson.

The successful applicant for the next exhibition will receive a budget of $1,000 to cover the costs related to the development, marketing and presentation of their work.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by COB Friday 20 May. For more information and to submit an expression of interest please click here.

Have your say on shared path to Drummond Cove

All cycling, walking, jogging and skating enthusiasts are invited to have their say on the draft plan for the Drummond Cove to Sunset Beach shared path.

The second stage of the Geraldton Cycling Network Expansion Project will see a $1.4 million State Government investment into a high-quality, 3.5 kilometre shared path along Chapman Road, catering to users of all ages and abilities.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn is pleased the draft plan for the long-awaited project is finally coming together.

“An off-road shared path connecting Drummond Cove, the City’s northern most suburb, to our cycling network is one of the top priorities in the Geraldton 2050 Cycling Strategy,” he said.

“The draft plan connects the recently completed shared path at Corallina Quays in Sunset Beach along the west side of Chapman Road to the soon to be built path along Glenfield Beach Drive in Drummond Cove.

“This project has been years in the making and we want your feedback to make sure we get it right.”

Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti emphasised the McGowan Government’s commitment to delivering top quality walking and riding infrastructure in Geraldton, and around the State.

“This was a key commitment of the local member Lara Dalton and over the next two years we will be transforming the Geraldton cycling network with an additional 8.3 kilometres of high-quality shared paths for riding and walking to be constructed.

“The Drummond Cove to Sunset Beach project has the potential to showcase some of the area’s best natural landscapes while also forming an important recreational asset for the community.”

Community members interested in providing their feedback can view the plan online here

Hard copies of the plan and feedback forms are also available at the City Civic Centre on 63 Cathedral Avenue.

A Community Drop-In Session regarding the project will also be held from 9am-11am on Saturday 14 May 2022 at the John Batten Community Hall in Drummond Cove.

The deadline to have your say is 9.00am on Monday, 30 May 2022.

The $4.24 million Geraldton Cycling Network Expansion Project is 100 per cent State funded and a McGowan Government election commitment.

More on the Chapman Road Shared Path project here