Latest news with #WALGA
West Australian
7 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Mid West-Gascoyne leaders from Exmouth, Geraldton and Mingenew recognised at WA Local Government Awards
Local government champions from the Mid West and Gascoyne were among 40 individuals and councils recognised at this year's WA Local Government Association Awards. Hosted at the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth and supported by the State Government, the event celebrated the efforts of elected members, officers and local governments that go above and beyond for their communities. Shire of Mingenew president Gary Cosgrove and Shire of Perenjori chief executive Paul Anderson were awarded an Eminent Service Award, which honours individuals who have shown outstanding leadership and long-standing commitment to local government. The City of Greater Geraldton and the Shire of Exmouth were also awarded WALGA RoadWise Recognised Awards for their ongoing efforts to promote road safety. WALGA president and Morawa shire president Karen Chappel said the awards were a chance to acknowledge the people who gave so much to the sector. 'The annual WALGA Local Government Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements and lasting contributions made by Elected Members, Local Governments, and Officers to their communities,' she said. 'Local governments are highly accountable to the communities they represent, and our 2025 recipients embody the dedication and hard work undertaken by the sector each and every day to positively contribute to the wellbeing of their communities.'Congratulations to everyone who was recognised for their efforts.'
Perth Now
29-06-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Concerns arise over future costs to manage invasive pest
The cities of Stirling and Joondalup are among several councils concerned they'll be left to foot the bill on managing the invasive polyphagous shot-hole borer after the State Government announced it was shifting away from eradicating the destructive pest. The National Management Group met last week and decided the eradication of the shot-hole borer in WA is no longer achievable, based on expert advice. Since being detected in 2021, the invasive pest has forced the removal of more than 4700 infested trees to date. The WA Local Government Association says it is deeply disappointed by the decision to shift from eradication to management and is calling for a long-term funding commitment from the State Government. 'WALGA has long been concerned about the effectiveness of the State's PSHB response and has been calling for greater transparency, research into control methods and more community education and engagement,' WALGA president Karen Chappel said. 'This failure will have significant implications for local government, who are already spending millions to control PSHB and increase tree canopy, and will now face the additional ongoing costs of managing or removing infected and dying trees in public parks and streets.' Following last week's decision, a new national Transition to Management plan is now being finalised, supported by a $26.5 million allocation in the State Budget to urban tree canopy and Treebates programs in a bid to manage the impact of the shot-hole borer. The State Government is hoping to slow and minimise the risk of it spreading beyond local government boundaries and the metropolitan area. The invasive species was first detected in Perth in 2021. Credit: Pia Scanlon In the City of Stirling, where more than 108 trees have been cleared because of infestation, officials are concerned about the potential costs and impacts ahead. 'The city shares WALGA's disappointment about the transition to PSHB management and its concern about the future funding responsibility for that management, particularly after the 18-month transition period due to start on 1 July 2025,' a spokesperson said. 'Clear support and direction are needed from the State Government for the local government sector to be able to plan and deliver effective management of PSHB to protect the Perth-Peel urban forest beyond the transition period.' In the City of Joondalup, where the pest hasn't yet caused widespread damage, CEO James Pearson said the council had been working closely with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to monitor and manage risks but warned that given the future spread of the pest, management costs could escalate rapidly, putting extra financial strain on the city. 'There will be financial implications for the city if local governments become responsible for managing PSHB-infected trees in public parks and streets, particularly as the future spread of PSHB is unknown,' Mr Pearson said. 'The city will undertake an audit of its street tree population to identify locations of the current reproductive hosts. The city will continue to plant trees not identified as PSHB reproductive hosts and will investigate preventative treatments.' On Friday, the City of Wanneroo confirmed the pest had reached its jurisdiction after reporting its first confirmed case The State Government has committed an additional $62.6m to biosecurity response activities from 2024-25 to 2027-28, along with $2.17m to fund research projects, including chemical treatments aimed at limiting the spread of the shot-hole borer. WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis believes the State has a strong foundation to manage the pest moving forward, as the infestation remains confined to the metropolitan area. 'We will continue to look for alternative solutions by supporting local scientists to undertake more research under WA conditions,' Ms Jarvis said. 'The more we can learn about this pest, the better equipped we will be to protect and support our State's tree canopy and agricultural industry.'
Perth Now
08-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Grim warning to homeowners in Perth metro area
Cost-of-living concerns won't stop WA councils from implementing an annual rate hike of at least 3 per cent in coming weeks, homeowners have been warned. Analysis by The Sunday Times found most metropolitan councils are aiming for an uplift of between 3.5 and 4.5 per cent when the next financial year begins in July. Some – such as the City of Canning – are proposing rates will jump as much as 6.85 per cent. The WA Local Government Association was at pains this week to point out that local governments across WA have very different needs when it comes to spending, so it stands to reason that their annual slug of ratepayers will differ too. 'Local Governments across Western Australia all have different expenditure profiles, based on their geographical size, communities and assets and it is important local governments take into account their own circumstances when considering cost pressures,' a spokesperson said. WALGA calculated industry costs increased 3.2 per cent last year, which represents the price rises councils face just to continue business as usual. In April – about the time councils were getting into the nitty gritty of their spending budgets for the next year – the figure was forecast to continue to inflate at an even slightly higher rate. Known as the Local Government Consumer Index, it sets the benchmark for where councils need to start when deciding where to set rates to avoid their own case of bill shock. '(It) measures price changes of goods that represent categories of expenditure of Local Governments across Western Australia,' a WALGA spokesperson said. 'The LGCI is calculated and compiled by WALGA each quarter to assist local governments in decision making, particularly around budgeting and financials. 'This analysis provides important information to Local Government leaders in understanding and responding to a changing economy and its impacts on the Local Government sector in the Western Australian context.' Only the City of Perth, which relies less on residential rates to underpin its income stream, so far is proposing a rise lowed than the LGCI – and even that is being advertised at 3.1 per cent. The City of Canning has long been one of Perth's cheapest for rates but this year finds itself grappling with what could be the highest rates rise in 2025-26 for the entire metropolitan area, currently advertised at 6.85 per cent. Canning mayor Patrick Hall promised the council and its business leaders would work hard behind the scenes in coming weeks to lower the figure and provide some relief for ratepayers. 'The city and its executive have assured us they will use every lever at their disposal to ensure that the rate that we settle on will be — we would hope — significantly lower than the 6.8 being advertised, and that will be the intention,' he said. 'We are a low rating council, but that is not a badge of honour for a council. 'We need to be providing a sustainable level of investment in all the things that make up a big council, and we are a big council. 'Our population is growing and people's expectations grow with that. We need to be able to invest in maintaining the assets we have and providing the lifestyle and amenity not only demand but that they deserve. 'We have spent an incredible amount of money in new parks and playgrounds and that sort of amenity that really improves the lifestyle of young families.' In the City of Nedlands, one of the costs outlined in their 4.8 per cent proposed rise is to pay for an IT upgrade of the city's software and network infrastructure. The council explained that alone was worth about 2 per cent of the rise, with the remainder effectively to meet the LGCI. It left some on the council, which threw around figures as high as 5.4 per cent, questioning whether there would be enough money in the budget to pay for some of the projects expected in the local community. Meanwhile cost-of-living concerns moved one south of river council to find different help for individuals who will struggle with the coming rates impost. The City of Rockingham won't shy from a rates rise this year but it has introduced interest-free bill smoothing, meaning their locals won't be charged any more to pay by weekly instalments. Most councils charge at least 5.5 per cent for that privilege, yet a handful offer it free.
West Australian
07-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Most Perth councils aiming to implement annual rate hikes despite cost-of-living concerns
Cost-of-living concerns won't stop WA councils from implementing an annual rate hike of at least 3 per cent in coming weeks, homeowners have been warned. Analysis by The Sunday Times found most metropolitan councils are aiming for an uplift of between 3.5 and 4.5 per cent when the next financial year begins in July. Some – such as the City of Canning – are proposing rates will jump as much as 6.85 per cent. The WA Local Government Association was at pains this week to point out that local governments across WA have very different needs when it comes to spending, so it stands to reason that their annual slug of ratepayers will differ too. 'Local Governments across Western Australia all have different expenditure profiles, based on their geographical size, communities and assets and it is important local governments take into account their own circumstances when considering cost pressures,' a spokesperson said. WALGA calculated industry costs increased 3.2 per cent last year, which represents the price rises councils face just to continue business as usual. In April – about the time councils were getting into the nitty gritty of their spending budgets for the next year – the figure was forecast to continue to inflate at an even slightly higher rate. Known as the Local Government Consumer Index, it sets the benchmark for where councils need to start when deciding where to set rates to avoid their own case of bill shock. '(It) measures price changes of goods that represent categories of expenditure of Local Governments across Western Australia,' a WALGA spokesperson said. 'The LGCI is calculated and compiled by WALGA each quarter to assist local governments in decision making, particularly around budgeting and financials. 'This analysis provides important information to Local Government leaders in understanding and responding to a changing economy and its impacts on the Local Government sector in the Western Australian context.' Only the City of Perth, which relies less on residential rates to underpin its income stream, so far is proposing a rise lowed than the LGCI – and even that is being advertised at 3.1 per cent. The City of Canning has long been one of Perth's cheapest for rates but this year finds itself grappling with what could be the highest rates rise in 2025-26 for the entire metropolitan area, currently advertised at 6.85 per cent. Canning mayor Patrick Hall promised the council and its business leaders would work hard behind the scenes in coming weeks to lower the figure and provide some relief for ratepayers. 'The city and its executive have assured us they will use every lever at their disposal to ensure that the rate that we settle on will be — we would hope — significantly lower than the 6.8 being advertised, and that will be the intention,' he said. 'We are a low rating council, but that is not a badge of honour for a council. 'We need to be providing a sustainable level of investment in all the things that make up a big council, and we are a big council. 'Our population is growing and people's expectations grow with that. We need to be able to invest in maintaining the assets we have and providing the lifestyle and amenity not only demand but that they deserve. 'We have spent an incredible amount of money in new parks and playgrounds and that sort of amenity that really improves the lifestyle of young families.' In the City of Nedlands, one of the costs outlined in their 4.8 per cent proposed rise is to pay for an IT upgrade of the city's software and network infrastructure. The council explained that alone was worth about 2 per cent of the rise, with the remainder effectively to meet the LGCI. It left some on the council, which threw around figures as high as 5.4 per cent, questioning whether there would be enough money in the budget to pay for some of the projects expected in the local community. Meanwhile cost-of-living concerns moved one south of river council to find different help for individuals who will struggle with the coming rates impost. The City of Rockingham won't shy from a rates rise this year but it has introduced interest-free bill smoothing, meaning their locals won't be charged any more to pay by weekly instalments. Most councils charge at least 5.5 per cent for that privilege, yet a handful offer it free.
ABC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Puppy farming prevention questions as WA government dumps contract
The West Australian government has quietly scrapped a $9.8 million contract to build a new online pet registration considered a key step in the fight against puppy farming. The Centralised Registration System (CRS) was to replace all registers managed by local governments. It was a key part of the government's reforms aimed at stopping black market dog breeding. Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley wrote to councils late last week advising that the government and tech company Seisma Pty Ltd had agreed to end their contract. "Moving forward, we will now re-engage with local governments, along with animal welfare organisations, on charting a path forward," the letter said. "As the CRS will not be delivered as originally planned, local governments will need to continue existing pet registration programs and engagement with pet owners for annual registration and renewal processes." The move has been criticised by regional councils that had been data cleaning and transcribing from independent systems in preparation for the register. The work was conducted at ratepayers' expense. WA Local Government Association (WALGA) president Karen Chappel said she hoped local governments' time and resources had not been wasted, as they had invested heavily in preparing to comply with the new program. "With it going back to the drawing board, there is an opportunity for local governments to have input and hopefully influence the new database and new system so it works well for local governments," she said. "Local governments were really concerned [if] they were going to get full cost recovery back." She said the potential for infringements to be included in the system also complicated its development. "We needed to know how that was going to work and what impact that would have on the resources of a local government and their capacity," Cr Chappel said. "WALGA does support the centralised system, but it has to be for the benefit of all and it has to be manageable." The issues came in the wake of serious problems with the new firearms registration portal, introduced as part of the Cook government's reforms to WA's gun laws. In a written statement, Ms Beazley said the cancellation was in the best interest of the state government. "After thorough consideration … the WA government and Seisma Pty Ltd have agreed to end the contract," she said. "We now have an opportunity to reflect and re-engage with local governments and the animal welfare sector on charting a path forward. "The state government is currently reviewing its options and will provide further information once it is available." Opposition Local Government spokesperson Kirrilee Warr said the minister's response was not good enough. "It's a little concerning that there was a significant amount of money that went into getting the system up," she said. "At the eleventh hour, the contract has been cancelled and there's no timeframe going forward. "[The state government needs to] give us some straight answers."
