Latest news with #GlennWilson
West Australian
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
City's Multicultural Festival on this Saturday
The diverse cultures of the Goldfields will be on full show when the annual City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Multicultural Festival returns this Saturday. The popular festival is the city's biggest annual cultural event and celebrates the region's diversity with cultural performances, music, dancing and food. Those attending on Saturday can expect to enjoy a variety of food stalls with worldwide cuisine; dance workshops, face-painting and roving entertainment; to connect with local cultural and community groups; and to browse handmade items at the 'cultural village'. Mayor Glenn Wilson said the festival had become one of the city's most anticipated events. 'Every year, the Multicultural Festival reminds us just how diverse and welcoming Kalgoorlie-Boulder is,' he said. 'We're a community made up of people from all corners of the globe, and this event is a celebration of that – of the stories, food, music, and traditions that shape who we are.' 'What I love most is the way it brings people together. Whether you've lived here all your life or just arrived, everyone's welcome.' Mr Wilson also thanked the community groups, volunteers, performers, and City staff who make the event possible each year. 'It's thanks to the people behind the scenes that we can continue to offer this free event for our community – and it wouldn't be what it is without their passion and hard work,' he said. 'I encourage all residents to join us in supporting local performers and food vendors who have put in an enormous amount of time and effort to make this year's event unforgettable.' The event takes place on Cassidy Street, the Goldfields Arts Centre forecourt, and the Lord Forrest Precinct from 3pm-8pm.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Kalgoorlie-Boulder will be first regional WA town to host Pixar Putt mini-golf experience
Kalgoorlie-Boulder will be the first regional town in WA to host an internationally acclaimed minigolf experience. Pixar Putt will head to the Goldfields Oasis for an 11-day session from June 28 as part of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's biennial Pop-Up Project initiative. Mayor Glenn Wilson said the city was proud to provide another special one-of-a-kind experience this winter, following the pop-up ice skating rink seen in a previous year. 'This is a big win for Kalgoorlie-Boulder and a great example of what we can achieve when we think outside the box and push for something different,' he said. 'It's not just about hosting an event — it's about creating memorable experiences for local residents and communities right across regional WA who will travel here for it.' 'As a dad, I'm really looking forward to tackling the course with my four-year-old, who's a huge Lightning McQueen fan. 'It's the kind of experience you'd usually find in Perth or Melbourne, so it's fantastic to have it here at home in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.' Featuring themed holes based on Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Cars, and Inside Out 2, the course is designed for all ages. After-dark sessions for adults will also be offered, with a pop-up bar. TEG Experiences managing director Shane Harmon said he was excited to bring Pixar Putt to the region. 'Pixar Putt has had more than 700,000 minigolfers putting to infinity and beyond since we launched in 2019, and we are thrilled to be heading to Goldfields Oasis in Kalgoorlie-Boulder for the first time,' he said. 'We can't wait to showcase this Aussie fan-favourite attraction which has recently won a new legion of international fans in New York, Texas and Chicago. 'Kalgoorlie is the perfect location for Pixar Putt — there's plenty of space for patrons to have fun and kick some serious putt.' The waitlist for early access is now open, with general tickets available from midday on June 2 online at
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
New grant program aims to reward and retain Kalgoorlie-Boulder childcare educators
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has launched a new grants program aimed at recognising and rewarding local early childhood educators in the city. Applications are open for the new ECEC Educator Awards Program which provides up to 30 grants between $500 and $1000 towards professional development for local educators in long day care centres and new play equipment for family day care services. Mayor Glenn Wilson said educators played an important role in the community. 'This program is about recognising the hard work and dedication of those in the sector and making it just a little easier for them to keep doing what they do best,' he said. 'Whether it's covering accommodation costs or helping pay for more training, these grants are a way of saying 'thank you'.' Mr Wilson said the city had worked closely with the Department of Communities to roll out a range of initiatives for educators in the city during the past few years, and the grant program was another step towards strengthening and retaining the local workforce. Educators can either apply directly or be nominated by their employer or industry networks for the grants and, once successful, they must remain employed at their current centre for a minimum of six months. Applications close on June 15 and can be submitted online at
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Community feedback sought on proposed 3.3 per cent City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder rates hike
Community feedback is sought on a proposed maximum 3.3 per cent rate-in-the-dollar and minimum payment increase for Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents next financial year, with some councillors expressing a desire to see the figure reduced before it is adopted. At Monday night's meeting, councillors unanimously endorsed the proposed rates model — which includes an overall rates revenue yield increase of 5.01 per cent — for public submissions up to June 10. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder expects the proposed 2025-26 rates revenue yield to be $35,822,553 compared to the current financial year revenue of $34,112,213. The agenda item report tabled at the meeting said this was equivalent to a 3.3 per cent increase to the rate-in-the-dollar and minimum payments. The report said this increase was necessary to meet the anticipated revenue requirements for the 2025-26 budget, addressing the changing economic conditions across the city. It said the proposed hike was below the Local Government Cost Index June forecast of 3.6 per cent but above the CPI rate of 2.8 per cent. Mayor Glenn Wilson welcomed community feedback on the proposal to be considered before a rates model was adopted at a future meeting, but stressed the 3.3 per cent was the maximum increase to be considered by the city. He said rates accounted for a quarter to a third of the city's revenue, with government grant funding making up a significant portion as well. 'Community expectations of what council should be delivering is quite high,' Mr Wilson said. 'Balancing that up with a figure that is the least impactful as possible to our residents and ratepayers had been key for these conversations to the point where council have instructed staff to look at mechanisms that we could have at our disposal — which we already do for hardship payments — and to make sure that we're only putting up the minimum to help those who are finding it difficult.' Cr Carla Viskovich, who moved the motion on Monday night, said the city had 'ambitious goals', including plans to renew ageing infrastructure, and she looked forward to the council continuing to be transparent with the community about how rates funding was used. While ultimately supporting the motion, Cr Terrence Winner said he was not committing to the 3.3 per cent figure 'completely'. 'At this point in time, we as a council are very well aware, and it has been discussed around the table on numerous occasions, that most people are hurting at the moment with the cost-of-living pressures and financial instability,' he said. 'I think we need to continue to explore ways to support our community through this time; by keeping our belts tight we can keep any increases as low as possible and charge those with greater capacity more, while reviewing city expenditure to keep in line with community capabilities, expectations and community growth. 'Our community wants to see that if we are investing money into projects and programs that we're getting great outcomes in delivering these projects.' Cr Nardia Turner said her hope was for the rate increase to be reduced when the issue returned to council. The report to council also noted an anticipated 3 per cent increase in operating expenditure for 2025-26 and an expected $77 million in capital works.
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder rejoins RoadWise program, inspired by grieving father's road safety push
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has officially rejoined the State's RoadWise program, partly inspired by the advocacy efforts of a man whose son died in a car crash last year. The city was last week presented with a plaque as formal recognition of its renewed commitment after leaving the program in 2020. Mayor Glenn Wilson highlighted the role Daniel Campo played in driving the initiative forward since the death of his son Nick in North Lake last July. 'Daniel's determination is a powerful reminder of why this work matters,' he said. 'Road safety isn't just a statistic — it's deeply personal. Every decision we make about our roads has the potential to prevent another family from experiencing that kind of loss. 'His continual push for regional road safety has highlighted how far we have to go.' Mr Wilson said there was a lot that could be done to advocate for better awareness and safer environments on regional roads, particularly in the Goldfields given the long distances often travelled. 'In the Eastern States, you'll see road safety signs every 20-30m,' he said. 'Here, between Kalgoorlie and Northam, there's only one billboard reminding drivers to stay safe. 'Importantly, being a part of the program also strengthens our ability to advocate for safer roads and work with other local governments and agencies on practical, community-focused initiatives.' Being part of the program provides the city with added structure, resources and a best-practice framework for road safety projects, and will support the city in identifying priority projects, review local data, and update policies and processes. Western Australian Local Government Association president Karen Chappel commended the city for formalising its commitment to road safety through RoadWise. 'RoadWise aims to build an informed and committed sector with safe system principles integrated into the way the local road network is managed, ultimately making an effective contribution to the achievement of national and State road safety objectives and targets,' she said.
