JUGGLING BILLS, JUGGLING BILLS, THESE BILLS WON’T GO AWAY.

It is hardly a cheerful Xmas carol, but it is probably the best you will hear this Yuletide and beyond.

York, the town, is considered as iconic, not just in WA, but throughout Australia.

It is one of the best examples, in the nation, of Georgian and Regency Australiana-styed architecture of its kind- in a historic inland farming community.

As it is in a wealthy farming region that has developed and prospered over close to two centuries, why is it now considered by accountancy experts as ‘The Shire of Scarce Resources’?

Those who read the two York Social Media sites have a good idea why.

The Shire of York Council’s presumption is that 2018 should be a substantially positive year for Council and the community. We all hope so!

There are some minor contradictions to this prognostication and it is called Northam. Others could include legal action including the Old Convent School demolition derby, the Forrest Bar & Café and the substantial toughening of the Local Government Act 1995, to become the new Act 2018.

Despite the collapse of the regional ‘Super Towns’ program, Northam, that was designated to be one, managed to attract some massive private commercial development before the wheels fell off.

They include an ALDI and a new Coles shopping centre, the equal to any supermarket presentation in the Metropolitan Area.

Add to this a luxury Dome, licenced coffee shop and restaurant that may be even more attractive than the phantasmagorical Forrest Bar & Café, and will also feature superior accommodation- when completed. 

Will the new Northam facilities place competitive pressure on comparable commercial businesses in York by offering  lower prices, a wider range and variety of products and a new, modern shopping and relaxation experience? It can be assured that they will try as they are less than 25-minutes away.

How can York answer back? Firstly by opening the Imperial Hotel, as a luxury boutique tourist experience, the rapid development of a Micro- Brewery come distillery and since the advent of ‘Marriage Equality’ maybe become a welcoming town on the ‘Rainbow Trial’ for marriages and even a divorce party or two.

This will have to be a local community demand as we now know that the Shire of York has scant resource and can only assist by ensuring a level playing field in any way it  can, as best it can.

The senior Management team of the Shire of York administration has been reduced by one- and maybe it should stay that way.

There is an issue however and that is to ensure required asset maintenance is continued and improved to State and National standards.

The problem here lies in the fact that there is now neither an Executive Manager, Works and Services or an underling, Manager Works and Services, which may leave the Shire slightly exposed in this area of expertise.

It could end up meaning calling in even more contractor cavalry to be paid through scant resources?

York’s future is not in the lap of the Gods- its in the Council Members and the Chief Executive Officer making the best use of these not abundant, indeed scant resources.

Let us hope that neither let us down.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

David Taylor
Shire of York Ratepayer.

QUESTIONAIRE (what is a ‘Bin Chicken’ and a ‘Tip Rat’?)

‘BIN CHICKEN’ (urban dictionary definition of the Australian White Ibis that happily gorges itself on all the delicious ingredients in a suburban rubbish bin.)

‘TIP RAT’ (urban dictionary street talk relating to people and waste disposal)

‘Tip Rat’ in particular is an expressive US colloquialism with an Australian usage. It is a fundamental reference to the human species, mostly unflattering.

It varies from describing a Collingwood AFL footballer, a characterization of a person who patrols an area of land designated for the storage of human wastes, an underachieving public servant who, through lack of ability, is destined to remain in the stultifying atmosphere of a government agency and someone that is not liked at all.

The Minister for Local Government, David Templeman, has called many of the WA local government councillors male (sexist), pale (racist) and stale (age prejudiced).

So the Hon. Minister should accept the fact that environmentalists may feel that some of the upper echelon of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is male, pale and stale, and the added descriptive colloquialism.

That is when their scientific evaluation is adversely adjusted to the monetary valuation of the project at hand.

And then there is the recent problem of DWER’s failure to provide important documents on their website during the Allawuna Sunset Clause consultative process. Just unimportant information like Works Approval Application’s citing supporting geotechnical data, noise, odour and dust assessments and hydrological site characterization. 

Rationalists may feel the bigger the project, the more money to be spent, the more State Government pressure, the more likely these environmental regulators will not give a ‘rats’ about any potential for environmental disaster and provide their approval.

Of course this could make the Hon. Stephen Dawson, the Minister for Environment the head of a rat pack, which includes David Kelly (Water) and Rita Saffioti (Land) who are hardly likely to be on any environmentalist’s Christmas card list.

Those who care understand there is a company trading as Alkina Holdings Pty Limited with its principles being Sam Mangione and Jake Hickey.

The company is using the coattails of SUEZ, the former applicant for the use of Allawuna Farm as an enormous Perth rubbish dump while the Shire of York sat twiddling its thumbs and collectively sucking one.

SUEZ bowed-out, claiming it would be cheaper to dump its waste elsewhere.

So how do Mr. Mangione and Mr. Hickey intend to store your rubbish bin treasures and make lots of cash out of trash?

Alkina Holdings Pty Limited’s corporate background could be described as eclectic, but hardly impressive to the astute finance analyst.

It commenced trading as Alternative Living Pty Limited on March 1, 2007, lasting 9 months until December 18, 2007. It changed to Alkina Holdings on the same day

The Company has used business names such as Solid Rock Homes and Muchea Constructions.

You can only buy a Solid Rock Home in Tacoma, Washington State, USA, so it probably is not the same business, but is currently listed as an Alkina business name.

Unless there is another Sam Mangione, the Alkina one is also the co-owner and managing director of the largest, privately owned, waste management company in WA, Instant Waste Management.

So it will be interesting to see how the moon, the stars, the power of money and political influence align in the future.

The other alignment would be local dust, odour, noise and pollution of potable water supplies, including rain and ground water by airborne gases such as methane and CO2 and what other chemicals combine together in the bowels of a putrescible (decaying) waste dump.

Methane and CO2 are major contributor to ‘Climate Change’. However Methane is a 25 times more dangerous ‘Global Warming’ pollutant than CO2- if that is any comfort to anybody. In Donald Trump’s America CO2 and Methane are the ‘Greenhouse Gasses’ responsible for one/third of the country’s foul air.

To all of the above, with methane, you can add the risk of fire.

The toxic financial fall-out could be crop and soil damage, the reduction in the price of surrounding farmland and lots of other special defects. Maybe lamb quads with one leg each.

Through the auspices of the Greens Robin Chapple MLC, seven questions were raised in parliament with the Minister for the Environment Stephen Dawson. These questions were created by me with the collaboration of Mrs. Kay Davies.

The Minister’s answers are published below on what is called the ‘Great (200,000 tonnes per annum) Southern Landfill’ with 3,800 tonnes delivered, each week, by a never ending polluting procession of tip trucks.

It took the Minister 49 days to provide his response in just 157 words which is mind boggling in itself.

His answers encapsulated questions A to G. It appears the Minister does not know there is b, c, d, e and f in between.

If it is any consolation this dictum was released on Wednesday November 28, 2017, just two days ago, meaning no decision had been made up until then.

He has also suggested Question G be redirected to other Ministers regarding the acceptability of the Great Southern Highway for additional huge, heavy haulage, traffic movements and its death toll that may well be nine since 2000.

Robin Chapple is resubmitting this question to the Minister for Transport but does not expect a retarded response until April 2018.

Hopefully this means that a decision will not be contemplated until 4 months into the New Year.
But don’t count on it.

David Taylor

THE MINISTER’S RESPONSE:

Parliament and Session             40 : 1

House   Council Sitting Date     10/10/2017

Answered On                              28/11/2017

Status                                          Approved and Published

Title: Question Description Great Southern Landfill - York

387. Hon Robin Chapple to the Minister for Environment:

I refer to Alkina Holdings Pty Ltd's application for a works approval for a landfill site, being the Great Southern Landfill of Lot 4869 on Plan 224502 in Certificate of Title Volume 285, Folio 784 at St. Ronan’s York, and ask:

(a) what is the risk of leachate and other pollutants, including the possible storage of crocidolite asbestos fibres, contaminating the Mundaring Weir catchment areas such as St. Ronan’s Well and Conservation Area (Western Australia Government Heritage Commission Listing 04429), local fresh ground water such as at St. Ronan’s Well itself and attendant water courses, creeks and river systems;

(b) what assurance and absolute protection is to be provided to prevent the contamination of surrounding valuable, finite, highly productive agricultural land including under the Australian Government Biodiversity Act 2015 in accordance with, but not limited to, its export compliance regulations regarding contaminated agricultural goods;

(c) what absolute protection is guaranteed against catastrophic breaching of this landfill site by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, creating a 3 metre high fault line, 40 kilometres in length which occurred approximately 40 kilometres from this site 49 years ago;

(d) what viable and adequate emergency contingency plans will be put in place to minimize any environmental, property and personal damage to those persons located within a radius of a minimum of 10 kilometres of the site in case of any breech and who will pay for the implementation of these plans and any infrastructure required including forms of risk insurance, now and in the future;

(e) what is the current traffic volume for both private and commercial vehicles using the Great Southern Highway between The Lakes and St. Ronan’s;

(f) what will be the weekly volume of Alkina Holdings Pty Ltd waste management vehicles and their tonnage using what is considered to be, by its users and the former Premier, Colin Barnett and the former Minister for Water and the Member for Central Wheatbelt, Mia Davies, as a possibly dangerous, narrow, winding road, potentially unsuitable for large increases in heavy haulage traffic movements; and

(g) what has been the death and serious injury toll on the Great Southern Highway, between The Lakes and St. Ronan’s since 2001?

Answer:

(a–g)

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is currently assessing a works approval application (W6077/2017/1) for the construction of a class II putrescible landfill site on Great Southern Highway, St Ronans.

I understand that the application has proposed an annual throughput of 200 000 tonnes which equates to approximately 3 800 tonnes of waste being delivered to the site each week.

The Department is currently assessing potential risks to the environment and public health posed by landfill emissions including leachate and asbestos fibre release. Part of this assessment includes consideration of risk to sensitive receptors, such as groundwater, surface water bodies and conservation areas. The potential for ground disturbance, including the probability of earthquakes occurring and impacting on the proposed landfill is also being considered.

I am advised that the Department has consulted with a range of stakeholders on the application and received a number of submissions which will be considered prior to making a determination.

Questions related to traffic increases and road safety should be referred respectively to the Ministers for Transport and Road Safety.

DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT (Is ‘Chalkies” another Shire million dollar nemesis?)

There could be more grief for the Shire of York as political attitudes change at the top and swing inexorably away from unrestricted, unmonitored local government council autonomy to being considered incompetent malfeasant ‘bunnies’ in the financial audit and Governance State Government ‘spotlight’.

Now there is a new David Templeman ‘Bill’ for early next year, with the ominous title of ‘Demolition by Neglect’, that may have serious consequences for the Shire of York.

If you own a heritage listed building that is falling apart at the seams through neglect by the owners then they could face a $1 million fine and a year in jail much sooner than later.

‘Chalkies’, aka St. Patricks Catholic Convent is listed as Place Number 02898 on the Government of Western Australia Heritage Council Register. It also gets an honourable mention on the National Trust and National Estate lists.

Its owner, whether it likes it or not, is the Shire of York!

Since its controversial purchase, Chalkies has been condemned by experts as unfit for public use with a minimum price-tag for restoration of $1 million, including GST.

The building has remained untouched, soon to be known as ‘demolition by neglect’, since it was acquired by Commissioner James Best, acting as the Shire of York, over two years ago.

Next year it will be required that the owners of a decaying, neglected, heritage listed building must make the property safe and secure with Chalkies meeting all the decaying, neglected and heritage listing dilapidation stipulations.

All owners must agree to undertake emergency repairs.

Recalcitrants will be issued with a ‘repair notice’ and if no effective action is taken, a ‘repair order’

Failure to abide by the repair order by the due date will mean a $50,000 penalty for every week that repairs remain unfinished. After that, if nothing positive happens, the $1million fine will be levied with the owner facing a 12-month jail term.

Unfortunately when a State Government decides to cast a net, such as one to prevent itself from having to forcefully acquire derelict historic buildings, it can catch more than it bargained for from the Governmental Bureaucratic Stupidity Syndrome.

There cannot be a severe punishment for the private owners without the same rules applying to publically owned buildings possessed by a local government, repaid for by ratepayers through a loan from WA Treasury.

As things stand now, ratepayers definitely face a $1million repair bill that may have to come from the Shire’s 2017-18 Budget.  That should be a given.

If it does not, then as soon as the bill is passed, the Shire of York should be issued with a repair notice, and if it fails to meet its obligations, a $1million fine making Chalkies a $2 million waste of local ratepayer’s money.

Ownership of Chalkies by the Shire could make the President, David Wallace, the principal owner by default- or otherwise through legal recognition.

If things go pear-shaped as they often do at the Shire of York, Mr. Wallace, could face jail or a suspended sentence. Either of which would require his resignation from Council!

The Council and its Administration are still questioning the legality of the purchase of Chalkies by Commissioner Best, ad nauseam, without any positive resolution.

The fact that the WA State Government wants to put the financial burden of maintaining historic buildings on those named on the purchase documents does not bode well for the Shires’ chances of placing the onus back on David Templeman.

Once again the Shire of York shows extreme ignorance and an inability to deal appropriately with the happenings within and outside its area.

Like defending its ratepayers against a rubbish dump at St. Ronans Well, the Shire of York Council Executive staff keep getting caught with their pants down, literally, metaphorically and actually.

David Taylor.

CAN YOU TELL HOMO OBSCENUS from HOMO ERECTUS?

(Shire Employment Vacancy……………………experienced Local Government Executive Pervert required.)
Neanderthals, as a species of Homo Erectus, died out 40,000 years ago.

Unfortunately extremely primitive mentality and prejudices have remained among some modern men including the perpetual denigration of the female of the species, both physically and mentally.

This includes such inspired verbal garbage as women only stood up straight when men invented the shopping trolley or that a man Indecently and wilfully exposing himself to women anywhere - is only a joke!

In many people’s minds the Shire of York could well have sunk back into the Stone Age if information filtering through to the community is true. It is certainly not humorous nor can anyone defend the indefensible.

Information suggests that a Shire of York, Public Servant with Senior Management status, in charge of staff and with all the duties of care this entails, exposed his genitalia to female staff more than once and to more than one person within the Shire of York Offices.

Actually there were three women believed to be involved whose names are being withheld for obvious personal reasons. The Shire’s involvement is withholding information for obvious reasons being self-protection.

By definition Indecent Exposure in a public place includes a school, a police station- and the workplace.

It is not only an act of sexual harassment in the workplace under the Fair Work Act, Australia, legislation- it is a Criminal Act.

Under Western Australia law it comes under the Criminal Code section 203 with the sentence for a Summary Conviction being 9 months jail and a $9,000 fine and as a Criminal Conviction-2 years’ incarceration.

Once is a criminal offence probably dealt with as Summary Conviction. More than once is a serious recidivism in a criminal offence to be dealt with in a Criminal Court in front of a judge and jury.

The hierarchy of the Shire appear not to wish to make any comment even though they are directly answerable to the ratepayer. It is disgusting as it could allow a pervert, who should be convicted of a criminal offence, to flash his way through another Shire Council as he allegedly did in Busselton.

If the Shire of York President or its Chief-Executive-Officer have displayed a ‘suck-it-up-princess’ mentality and refused to advise the police of what has occurred within their duty of care- this should not be tolerated.
It only preserves the currently flawed system of Local Government Probity and Governance

A second possibility is that those who deliberately withhold information regarding an indictable indecent sexual act without any reasonable excuse can face their own conviction and jail sentence.

Given the circumstances, including the additional workplace related offences of bullying and racial discrimination, it suggests that the offender’s actions were known for a period of time and all information was withheld from the community through fear and self-interest.

Who the self-interested parties are should be self-evident.

There is a third, the Executive Manager for Corporate and Commercial Services who is the Human Resources Manager responsible for the quality of performance of all staff, including the Chief Executive Officer and other Executive managers and their occupational health and safety.

She has apparently dropped the ‘balls’, big time!

So would the local Police know about this scandal and who the perpetrator and victims are?

You would hope so- otherwise they are not very good at policing.

Their problem is that they have no ability, or resources, to undertake this sort of investigation.

This does not prevent the Sargeant-in-Charge from ringing the WA Police Sexual Assault Squad and/or the Sex Offender Management Team and provide them with any knowledge of these criminal offences in his possession and understanding. (These police officers claim to work closely with local police in regional Western Australia.)

Failure to do so makes him as culpable as any member of the public by withholding information regarding a criminal act and could see his career in the force jeopardized if he does not act appropriately.

And the Shire of York should be treated with the contempt it deserves!

David Taylor.

MOVE OVER HOLLYWOOD HERE COMES YORK

OMG-if you did not believe it before, you can believe it now. York average rates are $1,900 with other rural/regional shires averaging $1,386, a variance of nearly 30%, way-over the state average and $400 per annum more than the City of Perth. So it is time for strict governance from Minister Templeman and CO and a new Local Government Act dealing specifically with Rural, Regional and Remote Shire Council problems!

BUT THINGS GET WORSE- we now have a tinsel-town type scandal with a crewe-member being outed.

                                               OPEN LETTER

Date November 9, 2017
Mr. Duncan Ord
Director General
Department of Local Government

Dear Sir

YOUR REF: - Current WA Local Government Law and Regulations and the quality of Public Servants as they effect Rural, Regional and Remote WA.


For nearly a decade every politician and bureaucrat involved in local government have thrown their hands in the air regarding continuing public angst and unrest caused by shire council administrative mismanagement, the poor quality of councillors and local government employees and lack of any form of transparency. The favourite catchcry is- ‘it’s not my problem-you are autonomous’.

In the underpopulated rural Local Government Areas it has been like a high risk, almost terminally ill patient being denied access to the rudimentary health advice and support required to prevent the necessity of palliative care that, in the end, is way too expensive to provide. Despite this, a previous Local Government Official, Brad Jolly, had the gall to call us mendicant

So- exactly whose problem does this new government think it is?

Obviously the poor ratepayer who elects the councillors then suffers the consequences which are considered self-generated under the government’s interpretation of local government law and regulations- is the perception of the culprit.

The Shire of York has just terminated the contract of Mr. Paul Crewe, Executive Manager Infrastructure and Development Services who is responsible for all works and services, capital projects, asset planning, asset maintenance, planning for whatever, environmental health, building, roads, the wide-ranging dogcatcher who used to subcontract the local pound out as boarding kennels and council emergency services programs.

Why? Who knows and so what!  You will say that this is a matter for the Chief-Executive-Officer and Council, in particular the President who probably does not share such information with colleagues as mandated to do.
WELL IT IS NOT!

It appears to be a matter for Worksafe Australia, the Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act, Fairwork Australia and the Racial Discrimination Act.

It is alleged that Paul Crewe has hit the jackpot, a trifecta of the worst acts of staff victimisation that cause trauma and stress in the workplace, Sexual Harassment, Bullying and Racial Discrimination.

Each one of these offenses should see the manager concerned removed from office and not be allowed to be in charge of staff again.

What happens in Local Government is there will be a collusive agreement between the Shire President and the CEO to prevent any details of what has occurred from surfacing in the public arena. The perpetrator will receive a payout with a confidentiality clause covering all parties to the agreement preventing them, by law, in making any further comment.

He will probably move to another council with the sanction and protection of the WA Local Government Association and Local Government Professionals WA.

What should happen, in the best interest of the future of local government, is that the Shire of York should come under intense scrutiny, by all authorities concerned, for failing to provide a safe working environment. (It has been sacked, suspended and now this!)

Any and all shire staff effected should demand compensation from the Shire through their union representatives or legal firms such as Slater & Gordon who may be more than happy to instigate a class action on behalf of a number of claimants on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis.

Compensation at the top end of the scale of severity in such cases can be up to $150,000 per individual.

It is what should happen, but it is the last thing that the Shire of York and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Clowns, Tumblers and Jugglers in Cultural Industries, with its shambolic, impolitic, archaic legislation, that sits on its hands suggesting it is an unaccountable eunuch of a governance body, would want.

That is with the exception of the Local Government Risk Profile expose where now the Minister for Local Government is claiming ‘the Department has an important role in building capacity and good governance in the local government sector and providing effective regulation through ensuring compliance with the Local Government Act 1995 and its regulations.

There are only two ways to look at this. It is either the biggest load of government bullshit ever written or it’s the greatest ‘lightbulb’ moment in recent local government history with this Minister admitting that Labors’ 1995 Act should actually be complied with.

Now that is a revelation 23-years in the making.
Any community can base its rationalised visualization on the fact that this Local Government Risk Profile has been operating for the past six years with the risks still rapidly multiplying.

Now back to the problem of the quality and accountability of Local Government Public Servants!

Mr. Crewe had a big job- yet was just a small fish in the local government pond, but an expensive fish none the less, in the nearly $4 million, per annum, Shire of York salary and wage cost fiscal swamp. Much more than the shire spends on facilitation for its huge, elderly population.

Maybe he was exhausted because he has not had the support of a Works and Services Manager and a plethora of other shire minions.

Mr Crewe was not much more than 12 months into his contract.   So there, arguably, goes another $500,000, plus any compensation claims raised through his dismissal, and including the additional salary paid to whoever replaces him.

The news of his rapid departure, which coincided with the council elections, appears to have been  kept secret so that it could not have any effect on the recent council polls.

The only candidate for whom this potential scandal may have been of some detriment was the Shire of York President, David Wallace.

Your government says that all the above is still the total responsibility of the individual Shire Council.

Unfortunate rural ratepayers get their throats cut three times, once by local, then state and federal governments. In many cases mainly for the privilege of having their rubbish collected and their wallets emptied by those whom your government calls the male, pale and stale local government member coterie who, in York, decided to have their own, publically funded, Tavern licenced Bar and Cafe.

So, based on gender, how is Ms. Lisa Scaffidi, referred to- female, failed and anything that rhymes with jail?

Probably the real catalyst for the Local Government Risk Profile was the opening of the Royalty for Regions billionaire cookie-jar.

Since then a number of councils have provided palatial, often unused, community facilities using this funding without the least idea of how much the annual running costs would be and the overall community debt accrual over its usable lifetime. Sending their ratepayers down a faecal creek so to speak!

York is one of these with the inclusion of its York Recreation & Convention Centre, based on its shire’s Actual Revenue Figures and Budget Actual Expenditure, ensuring an over budget expenditure of $13, 760,000 for the 2016-2017 Financial Year.

If you add on the actual cost of the planning, development and construction of the YRCC then you could project an over budget expenditure of $20,000,000 in nice round figures.

The future investigation into how Royalties for Regions funds were misspent to create local government financial mayhem should include the YRCC and its Tavern Licenced Forrest Bar and Café which makes a mockery of the government’s Competitive Neutrality requirements.

This is that there is no net competitive advantage through public sector ownership because the necessities of social welfare and equity, regional development demands and the interests of the consumers are all being met. This is one with single answer- bullshit!

And a $20 million fiasco for a shire with the 3,600 inhabitants- is bordering on gross negligence and should have past Shire of York Councillors breaking out in a cold sweat!

It would be nice if the YRCC matter is raised between the DLGC at the next meeting with the WA Corruption and Crime Commission to see if the negligent loss of $20 million of ratepayers, and taxpayer’s money is considered some sort of offence.

Otherwise is placed on the list of the inept blunders made by the previous government to be investigated by the proposed government committee on Royalties for Regions project expenditure.

There have been a number of salient points raised in this letter. I do not require or expect a response, it is if anything mentioned here becomes a serious issue to the public and the community you cannot claim to know nothing about it.

Yours sincerely
David Taylor.
Shire of York Ratepayer.

$240,000 FOR YOUR THOUGHTS- PLUS EXTRAS.

Large business corporations such as 7 West Media and Myer have suffered massive hits to their share price, being two of the worst performing companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

This has resulted in Chief-Executive-Officers handing back millions in bonuses, copping substantial pay-cuts and probably staring down the barrel of being part of a headcount reduction process.

So it’s lucky that many WA Local Government Councils are not listed on the ASX.

Over the past 5 years, WA’s wage growth for the average worker has been less than 2% per annum.

Now here comes the good news. At the same time the poor old Local Government Council CEO’s, some overworked and many underperforming, have managed to gouge a massive 40% to 56% salary package increase.

This bonanza, in disastrous economic times for WA, is courtesy of gullible Local Government Councils, supportive protective, secretive societies such as the WA Local Government Association and the Local Government Managers Association, all sanctioned by a failed  Department of Local Government.

No-one really knows what may be being spent and even squandered on salaries because of what is called ‘chronic underreporting’- meaning hiding the salary amount so ratepayers do not go ballistic.

However an example has been provided by the Mayor of the Town of Cambridge, Keri Shannon.

Her council, with its 28,000 residents, is a precinct close to inner-city Perth. It has a population that is nearly 8 times larger than the Shire of York’s.

Her CEO, Jason Buckley, receives a current salary of $244.231, $35,413 in Superannuation, a $15,645 vehicle allowance, $13,579 in fringe benefit tax support and $4,000 for his laptop and mobile phone.

At the lower end of the scale, the CEO of the City of East Fremantle with a population of 7,765 has a remuneration package of $170,000 while his counterpart at the City of Joondalup, with a population of 161,000 receives between $370,000 and $380, 000 per annum.

All three manage to pay their CEO with a domestic rate levy lower than that of the Shire of York that demands $514 per annum more from its ratepayers, on average, than the rest of Regional WA and at least $153 more than the typical Perth Metropolitan ratepayer, with Peppermint Grove ratepayers forking out the most-$4,134 per annum .

So what does the Shire of York CEO, Paul Martin, get paid?

Is this a matter between Council and the CEO only? No it is not!
Based on published figures the CEO of the City of East Fremantle is paid $170,000 while acting on behalf of a population twice the size of the Shire of York.

Based on population numbers alone, Mr. Martin’s base salary should be below $100,000.

It is certainly not that. His salary package including wages, Superannuation, vehicle allowance, rental allowance, maybe fringe benefit tax support and communications could be around $275,000.

As Mr. Martin has been at the Shire of York for 18 months he obviously must have had a Performance Review and highly likely a Salary Review.

Based on a 40% to 56% hike in city CEO’s packages, after the first 12 months he could have received an increase of between 8% and 11% on a $240,000 base salary which means an additional $19,200 to $26,400.

Now like numerous colleagues in Perth, it is time for President David Wallace to follow the example of Mayor Keri Shannon and ensure that Shire of York ratepayers are not chronically under-informed through chronic-underreporting by him- or worse still- no reporting at all.

Mr. Martin has one challenge that many city councils do not have, that is massive, per-capita, road maintenance costs that have burgeoned to $29,000,000 with an alleged $22,000,000 gap between revenue and expenditure.

This issue has just become more contentious with the rapid departure of the Executive Manager Infrastructure and Development Services, Paul Crewe, and that there has been no assistant, being a Manager of Works and Services, for many months.

So a massive debt and responsibility for local roads is now been looked after by whom, with what qualifications and for how long?

Then there is the massive expenditure on Recreation and Culture, otherwise known as the YRCC of over $17,000.000.

In the next few months it will be found out if President Wallace is just a sheep, maybe a lamb or someone with more substance?

David Taylor.

DENESE DUMPED AS DEPUTY.

For those who really want to know, the last time the Shire of York was financially ‘in the black’ was 11 years ago with annual expenditure, debt and community angst, the only things that have been seen to blossom since then. (No current Councillor sat on that council!)

Reasonable debt is acceptable when used to provide for the genuine needs of the community, including the best quality sports and recreation facilities possible.

It is not acceptable when it goes way beyond reasonable expenditure and affordability- including boutique beers and subsidized meals at the Forrest Bar & Café for a coterie of supposed local luminaries.

You can also include shire staff wages which are rapidly advancing towards the $4 million per annum mark with the continual hiring of numerous outside consultants adding thousands to this cost.

Wage costs are close to $1 million more than what the Shire spends on Community Health, Education and Welfare to support its rapidly aging population.

On a positive note, Shire President Wallace, now has a team that has no links to the financial excesses and squandering of the past. (Wallace himself took office at the same time as Matthew Reid.)

That is with the exception of the now deposed Deputy Shire President, Denese Smythe, who is the only surviving member of the six member council which included Messrs Boyle, Scott, Lawrence, Hooper and Duperouzel with Ray Hooper and Ms.T Cochrane as CEO and Deputy CEO.

Her first term in office was between 2000 and 2004 when the entire Council was sacked, then from 2011 to 2015 when Council was suspended. She comes up for re-election in 2019.

Ms. Smythe was on Council when some very poor financial decisions were made between 2011 and 2013- for which it could be claimed she bears a degree of compliance and therefore responsibility along with the other councillors at that time.

This potential dereliction of a financial duty-of-care is regarding the York Recreation and Convention Centre that received council approval without proper business modelling being undertaken and without a whole-of-life debt to equity estimate.

Expenditure over budget estimates puts the result of these serious errors in council administrative oversight at between $17 million and $20 million.

Also, despite her 10 years as a councillor, Ms. Smythe, appears to have little understanding of what probity and the dignity of office actually means, including her allegedly joining the ‘York Bitching’ closed Facebook Page.

During the recent election campaign it has been alleged that Ms. Smythe, supposedly in front of a group of witnesses, made a comment that one council candidate was a drunk. The inference being that this person was at times cognitively incapacitated with a potential for anti-social behaviour and possible unfit to hold public office.

Unfortunately the person she appeared to choose to convict in absentia and without due cause had a career that led to a delayed form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder requiring medication that does not allow for the particularly large overindulgence in alcohol called drunkenness. This medication was first prescribed in 1999.

Therefore- this is the type of derogatory, defamatory statement that can be viewed under the Defamation Act 2005 and under Rules of Conduct Regulations by the Standards Panel of the Department of Local Government.

This Standards Panel, in the main, is a toothless tiger but not for much longer. Later this year the Minister for Local Government will be granted the power to sack individual councillors. Whether this will be retrospective is a distinct possibility.

The last positive minor-breach adjudication given by the Standards Panel involving York was against former Shire President, Tony Boyle, for a reason with a degree of similarity.

For this he was publicly censured by the Local Government Standards Panel bringing the Shire of York into disrepute in the local government community and the public in general.

How much punishment this actually is depends on the mindset of the individual concerned.

But it did give rise, in part, to an investigation that concluded with the Fitz-Gerald Report.

Ms. Smythe has been given ample opportunity to deny or confirm what she said. If it was the defamatory statement as claimed- she has been given the option of a public apology that would have seen an end to the matter.

She has chosen not to respond!

It could give rise to some very worrying times for Ms, Smythe including numerous problems, not the least of which will be the close scrutiny of all her actions as a councillor by a number of third parties from now on.

President Wallace was made aware of the complaint against Ms. Smythe on October 10, 2017, eleven days prior to the election.

Whether this led to her being voted out of her position as Deputy President, in the best interest of the reputation of the Shire of York Council, is unknown.

David Taylor.

 

DAVID TAYLOR’S- PRESENTATION TEXT

‘Thank you to AVRA for organizing this meeting. Thank you all for coming and I now pay my respects to the Balladong people.

I spent my formative, acne years, in Toodyay, living there from 10 to 19.

I went to Northam High School, playing for the First 18, and First 11, becoming a Prefect and graduating with a distinction average.

My career choices were going to University to study Economics, or to Mount Lawley Teachers College.

I made a totally different choice- a long career in the print media with
WA Newspapers Holdings Pty Ltd.

In 2005 my wife Lorraine was chosen as the new branch manager of Westpac and she and I moved to York.

 We have always thought it was a great choice.

As a private citizen I have fought for local government open and transparent democratic processes over the past nine years, writing to numerous politicians and dozens upon dozens of articles.

I first became aware there were underlying problems, in the Shire of York, when I was asked to be the Parliamentary Research Officer for the Avon.

This was in 2005

I will not bore you with the extent of these accusations.

In July, 2014, I received a brown paper parcel placed on the door step at my Perth address.

This was the controversial Fitz-Gerald Report - suggesting that there was an unacceptably toxic atmosphere in York- between members of the Shire and
the public.

There was sufficient evidence of truth in the accusations.

I read it- and met a newspaper colleague at a coffee shop

On July 24, 2014, the West Australian published the article ‘York Council could probe former Chief’- naming the former CEO and others.

The rest is history.

Most things, at the Shire, have improved over the past year.

That is why I am here as a candidate for a seat on the Shire of York Council.

Should I be elected, I will be cooperative, collaborative and use my best endeavours to be an effective member of Council on behalf of the York community and its ratepayers.

I acknowledge that Local Government Councillors and councils do have a varied and difficult community improvement assignment to deal with that is becoming more important as the 21^st Century progresses.

As a support mechanism I believe, in certain circumstances, the use of properly constituted local advisory committees to assist Council in being a socio-economic driver. In particular, when there are members of the community who have the obvious skills required to make well informed recommendations

Recently I revealed a significant- extremely negative- financial difference in Local Government Area domestic property rating between York and others.

This will be scrutinized in the 2018, Local Government Act 1995, Review.

It should result in the Local Government Act 2019- to more adequately reflect
what is required of a modern, local government administration after 24 years of change.

Already- how the Shire copes with its finances and its internal and public audits will be now viewed and reviewed by the Auditor General’s Department.

But foremost, it is in the hands of Local Councillors who are mandated to make decisions on behalf of their electors.

If I am elected, and this does not happen, I will not be a shrinking violet in asking why not.

This will include demanding that the administration explains directly to us all, why they are unable to fix the past financial mistakes, other than by robbing Peter the ratepayer to pay Paul and numerous contractors with dubious qualifications.

This should not have been part of the deal when the CEO’s KPI’s were set.

Some will ask- seeing you do not currently live in York why should I vote for you?

In 2012 my wife Lorraine’s mother, who lived in Perth, was diagnosed with deadly Asbestosis.

Lorraine wanted us to care for her mother during this traumatic time.

Since she passed we have taken care of Lorraine’s elderly father, who has medical conditions that would not allow him to safely stay in York.

But our family home is here.
The skills I could bring to the Council table are positive, transparent community communications, in the ratepayer’s interest, so questions can be asked with a guaranteed answer.

I have political, constitutional, and local government governance research knowledge, so I can ask pertinent questions to be answered by the administration.

I also have major corporate business acumen and administration skills which are significantly higher than any local Shire.

Some say the two, local government and private business, cannot be equated.

When it comes to financial risk they certainly can. An example is the YRCC Bar & Café which could best be described as a local government/ ratepayer owned private enterprise that is a commercial failure.

Lorraine and I owned, and I ran, a successful 4.5 star rated Bed & Breakfast at Northam for four years. This gives me some insight into the problems facing the tourism industry in York.

It is something I like to call locality tourism, meaning the best use of what could be defined as natural assets within the shire precinct.

These are the water aspect provided by the Avon, the potential for expanding an ‘Extreme Sports’ arena such as Mount Brown and the vast potential of the York Race Track, the oldest inland track, and its surrounds- that is one of the most attractive in Australia

During my career I have sat on the ‘The West Australian’ newspapers Editorial Board of Management, the Northam Tourist Bureau, Essential Personnel (assisting people with disabilities to obtain mainstream employment) and
the York 175^th Anniversary Committee.


Though apolitical I took on the role of interim President of the Northam Branch of the WA Liberals to ensure the survival of the branch.

Briefly here is how I stand with the current controversies in this Shire.

No- I do not want a tip near York.

On Tuesday Questions on Notice were read out in the Legislative Council by Robin Chapple MLC, compiled by me, in an attempt to kill off the project.

Other than threatening to chain myself to the Allawuna Farm gate there is little more that I can do without being on council.

Regarding the sale and massive costs of repair of the Convent School, the matter has been placed in the hands of the appropriate regulatory authority.

It is now wait and see!

My position on the YRCC is that a special liquor licence be granted to a
syndicate of Sporting Clubs as required in the best interest of all sports.

The café should be closed and used as a kitchen by the sporting clubs should they see fit.

I am advised that the decision to hire two staff by the Shire of York to assist two managers at the Bar & Café was undertaken without the knowledge of some Shire Councillors.

There should be a public demand to know who made the decision given there is a suggested take-over time frame of July 1, 2019.

Overall I intend to ensure the Shire of York--- never again has a list of finance and administration- ‘Extreme Risks’- against its name’.

Thank you.

BEYOND WASTING WORDS-BEYOND BELIEF-NOT BEYOND ANSWERS

To all those who wish to refuse Perth’s refuse here is the response from Robin Chapple MLC who will table the QUESTIONS-on-NOTICE before the Legislative Council on October 10, 2017, to be answered by the Minister for the Environment, Stephen Dawson.

Please note that it will take Dawson to November 29, 2017, to find suitable responses that may not be the correct answers.

Also please note that the ‘Department’ (the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation) did not provide important documents. These documents are listed below and show how conniving, or just plain incompetent the DWER is.

From: Jurak, Nina
Sent: Wednesday, October 4, 2017 1:17 PM
To: davidgrant@westnet.com.au
Subject: RE: ALLAWUNA LANDFILL

Hi David,

I note that the public comment period was extended by another 10 days as the Department did not provide important documents.

I have also submitted your questions to be asked on the 10 October and answers expected by 29 November.

Kind regards,

Nina Jurak

Research Officer

Office of the Hon Robin Chapple MLC

Phone (08) 9486 8255 | Freecall 1800 138 610 http://www.robinchapple.com/

Everyone should be demanding answers from Dawson and his department how this happened.
Inadvertently is not the word I would use! the

To: davidgrant@westnet.com.au
Subject: RE: ALLAWUNA LANDFILL

Please note that the following documents were inadvertently not uploaded to DWER's website at the start of the consultation period:

·         Works Approval Application - Supporting Geotechnical information;

·         Works Approval Application - Great Southern Landfill - Review of Noise, Odour and Dust assessments and Management Plans for approved Allawuna Landfill;

·         Great Southern Landfill - Hydrological Site Characterisation;

·         Great Southern Landfill Facility, Lot 4869 Great Southern Highway, Shire of York - Great Southern Landfill Management Plan; and

·         Fee Calculation.

https://www.der.wa.gov.au/our-work/community-updates/451-great-southern-landfill

From: davidgrant@westnet.com.au [mailto:davidgrant@westnet.com.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 4 October 2017 3:50 PM
To: Jurak, Nina <Nina.Jurak@mp.wa.gov.au>
Subject: RE: ALLAWUNA LANDFILL

Thank you for all your kind assistance Nina,

Just a thought- but have you any idea what important documents the Department forgot to disclose?

Kind regards

David Taylor.

THE LITTLE BAR ON THE PRIARIE

As a breeze blows across a couple of hectares of bare paddock, dust settles on large windows with an outlook to very little, unless you like tennis and faux lawn?

No chance to scream  for your footy and cricket teams from the bar as it was located and planned by architects who would have designed a giraffe with feathers and a 10 metre wingspan.

So who was the building actually created for?

The sports fan who loves a Carlton Mid, Draught and Dry, Cascade Light, Great Northern Super Crisp Lager and Matilda Bay Dogbolter on tap while enjoying the view of a bar instead of their team sprinting out onto Forrest Oval?

Or the sedentary, adipose-enhanced patrician who enjoy a Groisch, Rogers, Nail Stout, Pistonhead Lager and Squires in their own purpose built, semi-private, quaffing palace without being disturbed by the awfully loud and annoying sound of barracking?

There is always access to at least $22,000 worth of beverages in stock in any given month, even when the stocktake has to be asked for a week to four-weeks after the report was due. All purchases, over the past 4-years, courtesy of local ratepayers.

Then there is the food stock holding, called ‘food calc’s, which comes in between $5,000 to $8,000 per month.

That means a lot of meals, from a lot of perishables, or maybe even a separate catering business?

These late reports are requested, in writing, with such professional accounting protocol terminology as ‘Thanks a bunch’ attached.

It is unsure when the Auditor General’s department takes over auditing local shire council books it will consider this internal audit linguistics as entirely appropriate.

These stocktake value reports are not from 2013-2014 Financial Year, they are from this year-2017.

Are some of the boutique beer beneficiaries those who authorized the building of this bar in the first place?

Was the entire premises developed more as a failed Convention Centre for the South East Avon Region of Council’s starlets who wished to tread the boards on an amalgamated council stage, rather than to satisfy the needs of the local sports clubs?

That is for local ratepayers, and the community, to decide!

Until July 1 , 2019, the entire population of the Shire of York will be paying at least $62 per head, annually, to keep the bar and eatery alive. It means everyone including those way-to-young to vote, or drink alcohol.

Furthermore- the domestic ratepayers of York will also be funding everything associated with it to the tune of around $676 per annum, each, which is the difference between their property’s Gross Rental Value and the cost of past shire financial mistakes- by comparison to other councils.

These include the syphoning-off of funds intended for road maintenance that has caused a multi-million dollar problem with local roads.

Although by no means a recommendation but more a discussion point, the closure of the café section would see a minimum of between $60,000 and $96,000 saved per annum. A reduction in monthly beverage stock holdings and opening hours reduced to Friday’s through Sunday’s would also see a massive reduction in costs.

It would mean that the Shire is not just paying lip-service to ‘Competitive Neutrality’ regarding other similar, privately owned businesses whether established or proposed- such as the Imperial Hotel reincarnation.

It could provide the opportunity for no rate increases over the next few years, maybe even a rebate.

Unfortunately this will not happen. The Shire of York administration has acted swiftly in shoring-up its position of control over both Council and a financially limiting asset by advertising two new permanent positions.

One is a Wait Services and Functions Officer (commonly known as a waiter or waitress) answerable to the Prairie Bar & Grill Manager and to the Catering Manager when appropriate.

The other is a Kitchen Hand, there to slice and dice $8,000 worth of perishables per month to serve a Sunday crowd of 14 gourmands.

No privately owned café, restaurant, sandwich deli, pie, kebab and fish-and-chip shop can survive on selling just 14 meals on a given day without the financial backing of a multi-millionaire doing some money laundering.

Any additional cost to ratepayers for these Shire of York employees, (not YRCC employees), is currently unknown. What it means is the Prairie Bar & Grill cannot survive without massive financial support from ratepayers.

The applicants will not be discriminated against on the grounds of gender, age, marital status, pregnancy, race, disability, religious or political convictions.


It would appear that members of the LGBT community need not apply

None of the Senior Management of the Shire of York administration had any involvement in the development of the bar and café.

However they now seem to be exacerbating the financial problems facing all current stakeholders and any future Licencee-lessee.

The administration has been tasked to provide a final solution in the best interest of ratepayers and the community in the manner and time frame agreed to by Council. This should be after the 2017 election.

It is COUNCIL who RULES and is responsible for making the final decision.

David Taylor.

THE FIRST MISSILE LAUNCH (audit Armageddon for Local Councils)

It all seems serene, a symbolic front cover of the ‘West Weekend’ magazine with Shire President, David Wallace, an emblematic ‘White Rose of York’ amid a sea of gold-tipped canola.

For the first time in a long time there is a positive overall picture and story on the town of York itself- and its future.

The apt title is ‘Field of Dreams’ rather than nightmares about the ghosts of the past like ‘The town where time stands still’ featuring the Town Hall clock once permanently stuck on 5 minutes to midnight, and ‘Chainsaw Massacre’ on the fall of a mighty Fichus and other Shire inspired arboreal desecration.

Locals are now investing in their own town.

In years gone by it was entrepreneurs from the city, with at least one having a stint at Her Majesty’s Pleasure for tax evasion.

Local venture capitalization by members of the community is by far the most positive development for York in its pilloried local government, post bellum era.

Now come the potential storm clouds hiding behind a silver lining.

Time and time again letters were sent to Mr. Colin Murphy demanding that the auditing procedures of certain councils be investigated where money was being ill-spent or mysteriously disappearing. The response was that the ‘Auditor General’ had no remit to scrutinize the expenditure of ‘government monies’ for which there is actually no known meaning through any dictionary definition.

It was assumed that it meant rates raised by, and government loans and grants received by Local Government Councils to spend on essential community services.

Actually, it is parliamentary pecuniary patois to cover a multitude of current, inept financial expenditure regulations and their associated sins.

Now after an interminable delay the penny has finally dropped and Local Government Area ‘government monies’ are no longer sacrosanct and immune from ‘best practice’ audit procedures.

Too many councils are at extreme risk in their finance management and too much public financial hardship endured through massive domestic rate loadings above Gross Rental Value caused by what is laughingly called ‘council mistakes’.

Then  there was the hiring of private accounting companies to provide financial year audits where the service provider may be inveigled by a particular council to ‘gloss-over’ financial discrepancies and signs of mismanagement.

One example is maybe when a Local Government Shire Council owns and operates a commercial business.

Its haphazard monthly stocktake/ financial reports consist mainly of and/or a reliance on till transactions which are now to be monitored by CCTV. (Some documents cannot be found or do not exist.)

Monthly stock purchasers may include amber liquid in 6 different keg varieties and 26 packaged options. Some so exotic they are only known to the avid connoisseur.

There are certainly many labels to suit a multitude of tastes, but certainly no purchases in sufficient volumes to give any economy of scale. It’s the options you might not even be given in a five-star bar.

Could a case be put forward in future for a special audit given the above? The answer is more than likely!

So what ignited the State Government-to- Local Government Exocet audit missile- and saw it launched?.

The Director General of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Duncan Ord, has informed All Local Governments that the WA Auditor General will now audit all local government finances and performance.

The required amendments to the Local Government Act 1995 received Royal Assent on September 1, 2017.

The Auditor General will commence liaising with local governments in October, 2017, advising them of performance audits that will examine the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of their programs and organizations to ensure full compliance with legislative provisions and internal policies.

In future the Shire of York must publish its annual report, including the annual financial report and the auditor’s report as a full public disclosure on its official website to allow ratepayers to judge its performance.

This may see any new Councillor elected on October 21, 2017 engaged in a mad scramble to ensure that the Shire of York Administration has the required facts and figures to meet an upcoming, far more invasive audit experience.

It may just be the precursor to an even more serious transfer of power and impunity, from local government back to the WA State Government after the 2018 Local Government Act, 1995, Review.

All councils and councillors must be aware of this and take any necessary precautions to face a possibly vastly different and far less amenable Local Government Act, 2019 .

David Taylor.

BEYOND WASTING WORDS- IT’S BEYOND BELIEF!

(Why didn’t the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) bother to visit the Sita/SUEZ site?)

It is not just this Allawuna proposal but the lack of principle involved, where objections based on known scientific facts and anticipated community angst are still being ignored, so Perth rubbish can be dumped in a beautiful country backyard.

The rationale of job creation compared to the potential environmental damage does not compute.

It also really nice to know that the voice of country people appears to go unheard in the hallowed halls of Parliament House and at the EPA and SAT, with any muted ministerial responses being you are contacting the wrong department, even when you know you are not.

The EPA’s current board (that protects very little) is made up of a Professor from Utah, USA, two long-term public servants, with all the baggage it entails, an investment banker and a lawyer. It begs the question how many of these do you need to screw in a lightbulb or protect flora, fauna, its habitat and the environment with actual integrity?

Like the EPA, based on past performance, SAT is no better.  It is made up of a ubiquitous argument of layers,(more than you can count on both hands) an accountant, a psychologist, an architect and a social worker. Not an environmental scientist in sight. The closet would be an urban planner and a midwife.

These two so-called Independent Agencies are, in the end, anything but. ‘Independent’ means ‘self-sufficient’ and ‘self-sustaining’, yet both rely totally on WA Government hand-outs and when push-comes-to-shove subjugate themselves to the government’s bidding. (Their decisions can be overruled by governments’ anyway.)

There is an understanding that the Shire of York continuously failed to monitor what was occurring regarding this highly contentious project since SUEZ backed away, and its public response to date could be considered amateurish and apathetic.

It also seems a little strange that, apparently, only one Shire of York Council candidate out of seven has publically prioritized environmental protection as an important part of a required, future council agenda.

Recently letters registering dissent have been sent to Paul Martin, David Wallace, Mark McGowan, Rita Saffioti and Stephen Dawson and kind assistance sought from the Catholic Archbishop of Perth and Greens WA. All have been published on the Shire of York Official Unofficial Website along with numerous articles dating back to when the saga first began.

Below you will read ‘Questions on Notice’ that hopefully will be used in State Parliament to debate the relevant Minister’s knowledge of his portfolio and his commitment to protecting the environment from pollution. The questions are based on known facts, verified by a local community member who should know, cannot be easily refuted and raise the issue of the inherent dangers of dumping massive amounts of pollutants, transported along a narrow country road.

David Taylor.

                                                             QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

Date Compiled ………………………………. to the Minister……………………………………

There is a proposed landfill site by Alkina Holdings Pty Ltd, being Great Southern Landfill of Lot 4869 on Plan 224502 in Certificate of Title Volume 285, Folio 784 at St. Ronan’s York. So I ask the Minister the following:-

1. what is the risk of leachate and other pollutants, including the possible storage of Crocidolite Asbestos fibres, contaminating the Mundaring Weir Catchment Area, areas such as St. Ronan’s Well and Conservation Area (WA Government Heritage Commission Listing 04429), local fresh ground water such as at St. Ronan’s Well itself and attendant water courses, creeks and river systems?

2. what assurance and absolute protection is to be provided to prevent the contamination of surrounding valuable, finite, highly productive agricultural land including under the Australian Government Biodiversity Act 2015 in accordance with, but not limited to, its export compliance regulations regarding contaminated agricultural goods?

3. what absolute protection is guaranteed against catastrophic breaching of this landfill site by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, creating a 3 metre high fault line, 40 kilometres in length which occurred approximately 40 kilometres from this site 49 years ago?

4. what viable and adequate emergency contingency plans will be put in place to minimize any environmental, property and personal damage to those properties and persons located within a radius of a minimum of 10 kilometres of the site in case of any breech and who will pay for the implementation of these plans and any infrastructure required including forms of risk insurance, now and in the future?

5. what is the current traffic volume for both private and commercial vehicles using the Great Southern Highway between The Lakes and St. Ronan’s?

6. what will be the weekly volume of Alkina Holdings Pty Ltd waste management vehicles and their tonnage using what is considered to be, by its users and the Former Premier, Colin Barnett and the former Minister for Water and the Member for Central Wheatbelt, Mia Davies, as a possibly dangerous, narrow, winding road, potentially unsuitable for large increases in heavy haulage traffic movements?

7. what has been the death and serious injury toll on the Great Southern Highway, between The Lakes and St. Ronan’s since 2001.

8. why did neither the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) visit the proposed site personally to make themselves better aware of the location, its surrounding farmland area, its biodiversity, location of watercourses and the surrounding environs including habitat and its flora and fauna?

GENESIS 2017 (York Council Election Vox Populi.)

Briefing notes. The press comment by the Minister for Local Government, David Templeman, that Local Government Councillors include many who are male, pale and stale should not pass without a response. Minister Templeman should realize that this in an apt description of numerous State and Federal politicians.

The following is fact- not comment, or fiction. Minister Templeman is not fool enough to disparage councillors without having a covert agenda!

For all of us who wish to become Councillors in a rural shire, the job will not be easy as there is a bigger picture involved. But it will still be worthwhile.

In 2013 the WA State Government wanted to reduce the number of Perth councils from 30 to 15. It was assumed that such amalgamation would lead to economies of scale including a reduction in the number of councillors, council staff and a scaling back in duplication of local government services.

Records show that at this time there were 138 Local Government Areas in WA, being 35% of all LGA’s in Australia, representing just 11% of the nation’s total population.

The reason for this large number of LGA’s, established during  the 19^th and 20^th century,  was to ensure local government area coverage and representation over an area, 1/3^rd the size of the Australian continent.

However some felt that this was too costly, on a per capita basis, with small shire councils’ competing to retain medical services and other infrastructure required for their towns to survive.

In 2014 there were 34 rural, regional and remote Shire Council electorates in WA with a total population of 19,682 at an average of 576 per-shire.

This was an argument used by those who wished to reduce the number of rural and remote shire councils. 

The oldest of these particular shire electorates’ was founded in 1871, the youngest 1948, with the average being 1900 AD.  At that time the average was 114 years old, going back 5 generations with an emotive, historical timeline of strong, filial relationships in each electorate.

This was one argument why they should all be retained.

Previous socio-economic analyses suggested that Shire Council’s with this population demographic may not be economically sustainable and should be formed into Regions of Councils (ROC’s) when there was a common socio-economic link.

It was suggested that a number of the other 74 councils outside Perth, with populations above 1,000, but not much more, may also face certain problems of financing and community services delivery.

It is believed that former National Party Leader, Brendon Grylls, refused to countenance forced amalgamation of rural, regional and remote shires. His intention may well have been to use Royalties for Regions funding, where necessary, to prevent this.

Prior to the 2013 State Election the Nationals held the balance-of-power in the Legislative Assembly and the State had a AAA Credit Rating. Now neither exists,

The two major political parties, Labor and Liberal, are both city-centric in political
persuasion as they know where most voters live.

Both usually make their most unpopular decisions in the first 18 months of their incumbency.

The Labor Government is now over 6 months into its term in office, has a projected State Debt of $43.6 billion by 2020-21 and will not be financially propping-up Shire councils with any Royalties for Regions funding.

Shire Councillors were, and are the Boards of Management of a town and its surrounds (a manifold style of business), with the community being the shareholders of this business. It is a long time since shires were only mandated to fill in pot-holes and collect rubbish.

The role now extends through socio-economic development including health care, supporting tourism marketing, promotion and servicing, domestic and commercial land release, negotiating the provision of Headwork for water electricity, and gas, liquor supply management, creating and enforcing building codes, the provision of other expensive community facilities and protecting the local environment.

It is on public record that, in certain cases, the business acumen of some Shire Council elected members and their administrative staff can fall short of the skills required to cover such a diverse management profile- and some council’s trade close to insolvency.

The state’s serious economic situation may result in creating a financial vacuum for LGA’s with WA Local Government Grants Commission funding static and falling (in real terms) for some years to come.

The promised 2018 Review of the Local Government Act, 1995 will be cathartic.
A peripheral result could be a fresh call for a reduction in the state’s massive number of LGA’s when compared to the rest of the country, with the small rural and remote shires potentially a prime target.

Other investigations will include gaining the ability to sack (or heavily fine) individual councillors, tighter strictures on the acceptance of gifts and an increase in the performance criteria for a raft of administrative responsibilities including probity and fiscal accountability.

As stated, Local government Councillors have been accused by the State Government of being intrinsically male, pale and stale with a threat of salaries and allowances being slashed if their training and qualifications do not meet required standards.

The Shire of York ratepayers have to choose three Councillors to represent them through a dramatic 4-year period where there will be a ballooning state deficit of up to $43 billion.

Ratepayers will have to assess whether the three incumbent members, up for re-election, have met their obligations as councillors and have performed up to community expectations.

Otherwise the choice is three of four new candidates with their various credentials who may be more suitable in ensuring the Shire of York moves forward positively.

Whatever the choice it must be to ensure that the York community is the beneficiary of a council membership it trusts and can be relied upon to ensure the integrity and competence of its administration.

Also, as both individuals and as a team, all are fully aware of the potential for turbulent external influences that could make being a councillor a tougher assignment than it was in the past.

David Taylor/ Candidate for Shire of York Council.

FAIR FOR ALL. SHIRE OF YORK COUNCIL/ WA LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2017

I have nominated as a candidate for a seat on the Shire of York Council at the election to be held on October 21, 2017.

Should I be elected, I would like everyone to know that I will be cooperative, collaborative and use my best endeavours to be an effective member of Council on behalf of the York community.

As required by the WA Electoral Commission rules, I will no longer be making any public, personal comment as an author of articles on The Shire of York Official Unofficial  Social-Media website regarding the Shire of York in particular and local government in general.

On request, I originally decided to write for this website to provide a different, essentially unbiased, objective summation of local council performance to ensure an informed public perception of local government business and its administration, unencumbered by any allegiance or influences.

Local Government Councillors and councils do have a varied and difficult community improvement assignment to deal with- that is becoming more important as the 21^st Century progresses.

I thank all of you who have taken the time to read these columns, whether you have agreed with their content or not.

I am particularly proud of revealing significant differences in Local Government Area domestic property rating that will be scrutinized in the 2018, Local Government Act 1995, Review.

It will include investigating the system of imposition and collection of domestic and commercial rates and the additional fees and charges that should provide fair and equitable finance modelling for the future based on long term, economic projections.

Currently I do not live in York because of a close family commitment, but my family home is here.

The fact that I reside in Perth, and am involved in direct communications within in the state political arena,  where most unilateral decisions are made regarding local government areas and their administration, may have some future benefits to Council.

It provides for the opportunity to develop a spatially aware, holistic and focussed perspective of new local government initiatives as they occur and how they may impact on individual, rural Shire councils.

The skills I could bring to the Council table are positive community communications, political, constitutional, and local government governance research and knowledge, corporate business acumen and expertise in what could best be defined as locality tourism.

I am providing to you a candidate endorsement, written by a former colleague that will be testified to by WA experts in the fields of communications strategy, Tony Barrass, former WA Editor of The Australian, considered Australia’s most prestigious daily newspaper and, Stephen Scourfield, acknowledged as Australia’s leading Travel Editor and journalist covering state, national and global tourism for two decades.

Should I be elected I look forward to working closely with you and my fellow councillors.

Yours sincerely
David Taylor.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT - on behalf of David Taylor

I believe David Taylor to be an ideal candidate for a seat on the Shire of York Council at the WA Local Government Elections to be held on October 21, 2017. Mr Taylor is fairly unique through his vast array of personal experiences and employment accomplishments.

One example is as an internationally known Photo-Journalist he was the only Australasian media representative to cover the Miss Universe Contest Final in Seoul, South-Korea, in July, 1980.

He spoke out strongly to the South-Korean media about the recent disappearance of hundreds of young students during the Gwangju Uprising six weeks prior to the event being held. This led to him being offered a tour of the Korean Demilitarized Zone by the South Korean Intelligence Service by way of explanation for the deaths of these young, local military government and Anti-US protestors.
Mr. Taylor declined and was then assaulted by South-Korean Military Police for an alleged breach of a Martial Law curfew, resulting in him being escorted to and deported from Gimpo Airport by the South Korean Government straight after the pageant concluded.

Mr Taylor was one of a limited number of press representatives who covered the infamous Birnie serial killer investigations and viewed the graves of their victims. He has covered countless other traumatic, confronting events involving loss of human life including cyclones, aircraft and motor vehicle accidents and murders. He was also selected to cover national Special Air Service (SAS) war exercises in remote areas, putting his own life at some risk on night flying exercises requiring infiltration by parachute. He survived a military helicopter crash in arid desert country and became a member of the exclusive, international ‘Chopper-Cropper Club’.

This type of Curriculum Vitae may appear inconsequential and incongruous but gives credence to his ability to reject and face up to fear, threat and intolerance. Along with his strong character and resilience these should be some of the attributes required by a modern day Shire Councillor. The others are business experience and acumen and knowledge of state and local government governance and its processes.

Mr Taylor has been a Parliamentary Research Officer covering all aspects of Avon Valley and York constituent affairs. He has owned and managed a 4.5 star Bed & Breakfast near Northam giving him a strong insight in problems facing tourism in this area. He has sat on the ‘The West Australian’ newspapers Editorial Board of Management, the Northam Tourist Bureau, Essential Personnel (assisting people with disabilities to obtain mainstream employment) and the York 175^th Anniversary Committee. Mr Taylor also took up the role of interim President of the Northam Branch of the WA Liberals to ensure the survival of the branch. Recently he has authored numerous social-media articles in an attempt to highlight anomalies in local government legislation and the impact it has on rural local government areas such as the Shire of York, and the future of its community.

As a person, and a potential Local Government Councillor, I have no hesitation in recommending David Taylor as someone well suited to represent the ratepayers of the Shire of York and the local community at large.

Stephen Scourfield, Travel Editor, Australian Tourism Award Winner and acclaimed Novelist.
Tony Barrass, former Editor, Production Editor and expert Communications Strategist