General

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is committed to providing support to not-for-profit organisations, community-based sporting, cultural, environmental, service groups and associations. As part of this commitment, the Shire is pleased to announce the provision of the Facilities Grant - Rates Assistance.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley wishes to advise that the annual rates notices were issued last Friday,17 July 2020. The first payment of rates is due on Friday, 21 August 2020.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley will undertake a Community Consultation in regards to Wyndham’s Town Revitalisation and Foreshore - Boat Ramp & RSL, on 12 – 13 August 2020. The Shire would like to invite and encourage all community members, businesses, ratepayers and residents to attend the meetings held in Kununurra and Wyndham. Community feedback is valuable in moving these projects forward.

Following the ease of COVID-19 restrictions, the State government has moved to the next stage of the Kimberley Juvenile Justice strategy (KJJS) with a $6.2 million injection. During the first year of funding, the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre were engaged to undertake a consultation process across the Kimberley to identify a range of culturally based, community-led solutions for at-risk youth. The new $6.2 million allocation for KJJS, aimed at reducing youth offending, will fund the continuation of safe-place grants, night patrols, Aboriginal Service WA support for young people in the justice system and an education industry skills program across different regions in Kimberley, including Wyndham and Kununurra.

The McGowan Government is investing in the revitalisation of regional Western Australia through the 'Vibrant Regional Businesses' program, which will provide support and services to small local businesses as they recover from COVID-19. The Vibrant Regional Businesses is a community-led investment program developed by Horizon Power in collaboration with eight regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) groups, including the East Kimberley CCI.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is pleased to announce that it has been selected as one of six Shires to participate in Nature Play WA – Nature Passport Initiative.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley Rangers would like to remind the community of the off-leash designated dog areas in Kununurra. Under the local Shire’s Local Laws 2003, Dog owners may take their dog off-leash at the Cemetery, Pump Shed, Lakeside Bush Path, and Swim Beach (areas highlighted in the map below). Within the designated off-leash areas, the dog owner must remain in control over their dog and carry a leash.

Water Corporation and the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is reminding the Kununurra community not to enter restricted areas at the Ord River Diversion Dam. Water Corporation North West Regional Manager, Sharon Broad, said signage and fencing was in place to prevent access to restricted areas, however, some people continued to ignore the many warnings.

On Friday 19 June 2020, The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley held the 80's Disco Driveway to connect with the community and boost morale amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. A disco truck drove through the streets of Kununurra with 80's disco music. Members of the community brought their families out dressed in their 80's get-up and danced on the streets. The event was live-streamed on the Shire's Facebook page with over 2,500 viewers.

A MARKYT Community Resilience Scorecard was launched on 11 June 2020 to assist local government in understanding the needs of the community, mapping community resilience and rate local governments' performance during and post the Coronavirus pandemic. The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is encouraging members of the community to take the survey to ensure the Shire can deliver services and projects that are relevant to the community.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is pleased to announce a discount on one-year registration for pets from now until 31 October 2020. The Shire is encouraging pet owners to take advantage of this 50% discount period. Under the Dog Act 1976 and Cat Act 2011, it is a legal requirement to register pets over the age of three months with their local Shire.

As the Federal and State Government continues to lift Coronavirus restrictions around public gathering, the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is pleased to advise that moving forward all public Meetings of Council will now allow for a maximum of 50 patrons to attend in person from the Gallery.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley would like to advise that there will be a temporary closure of Agate Lane, located behind the Kununurra Leisure Centre, on Tuesday 16 June 2020 due to the removal of a tree within the Kununurra Leisure Centre grounds.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 6.19 of the Local Government Act 1995 that the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley intends to impose new Fees and Charges for the 2020/21 financial year. The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley’s Schedule of Fees and Charges for 2020/21 was adopted by the Council at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 26 May 2020. These charges will take effect as of 1 July 2020, or in the case of some aerodrome fees and charges, 1 January 2021.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley welcomes the use of body cameras to improve the safety of both the community and its Rangers. During the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 24 March 2020, the Council endorsed the Surveillance Device Policy, which has allowed Shire Rangers to use the body camera as part of their role.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley has engaged NAJA Business Consulting Services to assist the Shire in the delivery of an East Kimberley Economic Development Strategy and accompanying Prospectus. The Strategy will outline an investment pathway for the orderly development of the East Kimberley economy, bearing in mind the effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the stimulus required to facilitate recovery. The Prospectus will provide us with a marketing tool that can be utilised in advocating for critical infrastructure projects in our region.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and restrictions put in place by State and Federal Government, the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley would like to remind the community that as per the notice released on 22 April 2020, the location of all Meetings of Council will continue to occur by eMeeting until further notice. eMeetings are administratively run from the Kununurra Administration Building.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley and Horizon Power would like to advise of a planned power outage, due to tree trimming, on Casuarina Drive from Victoria Highway end to Flametree Street.

The Kimberley Regional Group joined key regional leaders yesterday to provide the Premier with a 12 point plan for a COVIDSafe reopening of the Kimberley border on the 18th June 2020. This represents the first time that all key leaders across the region have united, delivering a powerful message of cooperation.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is pleased to announce that the Kununurra School & Community Library has partially reopened. As part of the COVID Safety Guidelines and Plan provided by the State Government, the library will implement the following restrictions:

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 24 March 2020, Council endorsed the following proposed differential rates and minimum payments for advertising. In accordance with Section 6.36 of the Local Government Act 1995 the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley hereby gives notice of its intention to impose the following differential rates and minimum payments on rateable property for 2020/21:

The Kimberley Development Commission wishes to advise that application for round three of the Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants is now open. The McGowan Government is investing up to $6 million in regional projects to sustain jobs and build business resilience. The RED Grants program supports locally-driven projects that contribute to the economic growth and development of regional Western Australia.

On Thursday 14 May 2020, the State Government officially released the COVID Safety Guidelines and Plan for Sports and Recreational facilities. As such, the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is working to ensure all necessary measures are met before reopening the facilities to the community; this includes completing the COVID Safety plan recently provided by the State Government.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley would like to advise that the State Government has released a COVID Safety Plan and Guidelines for Food Businesses.

Proposed Disposition of Land (Lease) – Part Lot 200 on Deposited Plan 66654, East Kimberley Regional Airport, Peter Reid Drive, Kununurra The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley proposes to lease a portion of the East Kimberley Regional Airport landholdings, part Lot 200 on Deposited Plan 66654, to the adjoining landowner Margret Conley for three years for the permitted purpose of cultivating crops.

In accordance with Section 5.4 (a)(1) of the Local Government Act 1995 the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley wishes to inform the public of a Special Council EMeeting taking place on Thursday 7 May 2020 at 5 pm at the Kununurra Council Chambers.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley would like to advise that the walking trail at Kelly's Knob will temporarily close for essential repairs. The trail will be closed to the public from 6:00 am Wednesday 6 May 2020 to 6:00 pm Thursday 7 May 202

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley wishes to advise that repairs to footpaths along the eastern side of Weaber Plain Road, between the industrial area and Hidden Valley Tourist Park, will commence on Monday 4 May 2020.