Latest news with #WALocalGovernmentAssociation
West Australian
5 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Shire of Katanning deputy president Liz Guidera awarded WALGA life membership
A local government marvel who stood as the first female president in a Great Southern shire has received deserved recognition, named a life member at the 2025 WA Local Government Association's awards last month. Shire of Katanning deputy president Liz Guidera was one of two local government leaders recognised with WALGA life membership at the association's awards night on July 19. The 24th annual event crowned 40 elected members and officers at the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth in recognition of their remarkable achievements and contributions. Cr Guidera said the awards night was 'fabulous', and felt 'humbled and honoured' to receive the award. She quoted Woman in the Arena speech by Theodore Roosevelt in her address as a call to courage and reflection of her own journey. 'It is not the critic who counts — the credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes up short again and again,' she quoted. 'At the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.' The esteemed councillor took a seat in 1994 and was the first woman elected as Shire of Katanning president in 2001-03, and again in 2015-23 before Kristy D'Aprile was the second female appointed. Cr Guidera said that she was proud to be a leading and encouraging female figure. 'My biggest achievement was being the first woman to hold the role of shire president, and the second, but always knowing that I wouldn't be the last and paving the way for young mums to represent their community,' she said. 'As a young mum I felt I had something to offer, a family perspective on services needed and provided to advance the interests of our community. 'I've always believed that at the heart of every councillor is one driving force — community. 'That's why we do it, we are in the arena for our family, our friends and our community to make a difference.' In her 31 years on the council, Cr Guidera has been a tireless advocate for education, health, law and order, early childhood development and culturally inclusive services. She named Katanning's Early Childhood Hub as a top community-driven project she has championed with plans to integrate an early learning centre, a family centre and child health offices into a single hub. Cr Guidera has also become a mentor among community leaders through her lifetime devoted to service, advocacy and meaningful change. Shire president Cr D'Aprile said she was an inspiration. 'She has been a fierce advocate for Katanning and the Great Southern, a voice for rural WA, and a mentor to many, myself included. Her recognition as a WALGA life member is so incredibly deserved,' Cr D'Aprile said. 'Congratulations Liz. Your legacy is already long and lasting and I know there's still so much more to come. 'To those inspired by Liz's journey and her incredible contribution to our community, let this be your call to action.' Cr Guidera has been newly appointed as chair of Regional Development Australia Great Southern and said she 'looks forward to working in the broader regional space on important projects for the future'. Shire of Brookton president Katrina Crute was also named a WALGA life member.
West Australian
05-08-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Shire of Brookton president Katrina Crute elevated by award assessment panel to WALGA life member award
A long-time Wheatbelt shire president praised for her tireless campaign for regional road improvements has received the highest honour at the 2025 WA Local Government Association's awards. Shire of Brookton president Katrina Crute was one of two people esteemed as WALGA life members at the association's awards night on July 19. The 2025 event invited hundreds of elected members and officers to the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth to acknowledge their exceptional achievements and contributions for the 24th year. Initially nominated by the Shire of Brookton for a service award, the WALGA awards assessment panel elevated Cr Crute to accept a life membership certificate for her 16 years of council service, including six years as shire president. Cr Crute said she felt shocked and honoured, and was well supported by her husband, shire chief executive Gary Sherry and two councillors who attended the ceremony. 'I didn't think I'd done anything worthy of a life membership from WALGA, and that's the honest truth. I just think I've done what everyone else is doing in their communities, and that's just making them great places to live,' she said. 'To be honoured by WALGA with that recognition, it was amazing, humbling, unexpected.' The newly titled life member has played a vital role in the Wheatbelt South Regional Road Group, Brookton's Strategic Community Plan, Central Country Zone, regional community emergency services manager funding and the construction of local bush fire brigades. WALGA also applauded Cr Crute for completing the Diploma of Local Government after receiving a scholarship in 2011. Cr Crute said the extra training made her 'a better contributor to the space' and she encouraged everyone to seek further local government education. She named the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network as her highest achievement, obtaining $187.5 million in Federal Government funding to fix 4500km of arterial local government-owned roads that hauled freight across the region. Cr Crute said the 42 local governments involved agreed to repair the highest-priority roads first following a regional road assessment, rather than split it evenly among them. 'There is no example in Australia where local government of that number and that land mass have come together for one cause — it has never been done before and is unlikely to ever be done again,' she said. 'And that's extraordinary for people, for local governments to believe in the project whether they get the money or not.' On a local level, she backed the 2020 sale of the BaptistCare Kalkarni Aged Care Home, formally owned by Brookton, which sparked community controversy as the majority felt a strong sense of ownership. Cr Crute said despite this, the council knew it was the best decision as it received 'once-in-a-lifetime funds' from the sale to put towards refurbishing the Brookton Railway Station and town hall. After nearly two decades, Cr Crute will be retiring from the council in October, saying it is time for someone else to step up into the role. Shire of Katanning deputy president Liz Guidera was also named a WALGA life member, having served on the council — twice as shire president — since 1994.
West Australian
10-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
Albany's Raymond George, Mt Barker's Ken Clements and Woodanilling's Russel Thomson in Kings Birthday Honours
Three esteemed Great Southern men have been honoured for their decades of community service with their names featured on the King's Birthday 2025 Honours list. Albany marine biologist and golf club patron Raymond George, Shire of Plantagenet deputy president Ken Clements and Woodanilling local government veteran Russel Thomson all received Medals of the Order of Australia on Monday. A mainstay of the Mt Barker community for more than 40 years, Cr Clements served as the Shire of Plantagenet president from 2009 to 2017, a councillor since 1990 and is currently deputy president. He has worked with numerous committees across planning, emergency management and community development as well as having extensive involvement with the WA Local Government Association, where he was a State councillor and life member. As well as local government roles, Cr Clements has been a pillar of the local sporting, historical and tourism industries. Fellow councillor Russel Thomson was also lauded for his commitment to his community, having served on the Shire of Woodanilling council for 43 years, occupying the role of president for 26 of them. Now deputy president, Cr Thomson is also a passionate advocate for land conservation and resource management, founding the Land Conservation Development Committee, the Blackwood Basin Group and Wagin Woodanilling Landcare Zone and winning several State awards for his efforts. Cr Thomson is also a stalwart of the Katanning Rotary Club and has been a volunteer firefighter since 1973. Marine biologist, local historian and former WA sportsman Raymond George was honoured for his contributions to science and to the Albany golfing community. The carcinologist worked at the WA Museum as curator of invertebrates from 1953 to 1982, during which time he identified the western rock lobster, naming it 'Panulirus cygnus George'. Dr George is celebrated for his decades-long involvement with the Albany Golf Club, where he authored its history, chaired the heritage committee, and was named a life member in 2023. Beyond his scientific and historical, Dr George represented the State in hockey and water polo in his youth. Governor General Sam Mostyn praised all 830 recipients of the King's Birthday Honours, now in its 50th year. 'Every day, and all across the country, Australians are doing extraordinary things with passion, generosity, energy, and resolve,' she said. 'These honours recognise the selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity, and care that flourish across our country. 'To all who are being recognised in The King's Birthday 2025 Honours List, I want to offer my congratulations and gratitude for all that you have given to Australia — and I look forward to meeting many of you at the investiture of your awards.'
Perth Now
08-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Grim warning to homeowners in Perth metro area
Cost-of-living concerns won't stop WA councils from implementing an annual rate hike of at least 3 per cent in coming weeks, homeowners have been warned. Analysis by The Sunday Times found most metropolitan councils are aiming for an uplift of between 3.5 and 4.5 per cent when the next financial year begins in July. Some – such as the City of Canning – are proposing rates will jump as much as 6.85 per cent. The WA Local Government Association was at pains this week to point out that local governments across WA have very different needs when it comes to spending, so it stands to reason that their annual slug of ratepayers will differ too. 'Local Governments across Western Australia all have different expenditure profiles, based on their geographical size, communities and assets and it is important local governments take into account their own circumstances when considering cost pressures,' a spokesperson said. WALGA calculated industry costs increased 3.2 per cent last year, which represents the price rises councils face just to continue business as usual. In April – about the time councils were getting into the nitty gritty of their spending budgets for the next year – the figure was forecast to continue to inflate at an even slightly higher rate. Known as the Local Government Consumer Index, it sets the benchmark for where councils need to start when deciding where to set rates to avoid their own case of bill shock. '(It) measures price changes of goods that represent categories of expenditure of Local Governments across Western Australia,' a WALGA spokesperson said. 'The LGCI is calculated and compiled by WALGA each quarter to assist local governments in decision making, particularly around budgeting and financials. 'This analysis provides important information to Local Government leaders in understanding and responding to a changing economy and its impacts on the Local Government sector in the Western Australian context.' Only the City of Perth, which relies less on residential rates to underpin its income stream, so far is proposing a rise lowed than the LGCI – and even that is being advertised at 3.1 per cent. The City of Canning has long been one of Perth's cheapest for rates but this year finds itself grappling with what could be the highest rates rise in 2025-26 for the entire metropolitan area, currently advertised at 6.85 per cent. Canning mayor Patrick Hall promised the council and its business leaders would work hard behind the scenes in coming weeks to lower the figure and provide some relief for ratepayers. 'The city and its executive have assured us they will use every lever at their disposal to ensure that the rate that we settle on will be — we would hope — significantly lower than the 6.8 being advertised, and that will be the intention,' he said. 'We are a low rating council, but that is not a badge of honour for a council. 'We need to be providing a sustainable level of investment in all the things that make up a big council, and we are a big council. 'Our population is growing and people's expectations grow with that. We need to be able to invest in maintaining the assets we have and providing the lifestyle and amenity not only demand but that they deserve. 'We have spent an incredible amount of money in new parks and playgrounds and that sort of amenity that really improves the lifestyle of young families.' In the City of Nedlands, one of the costs outlined in their 4.8 per cent proposed rise is to pay for an IT upgrade of the city's software and network infrastructure. The council explained that alone was worth about 2 per cent of the rise, with the remainder effectively to meet the LGCI. It left some on the council, which threw around figures as high as 5.4 per cent, questioning whether there would be enough money in the budget to pay for some of the projects expected in the local community. Meanwhile cost-of-living concerns moved one south of river council to find different help for individuals who will struggle with the coming rates impost. The City of Rockingham won't shy from a rates rise this year but it has introduced interest-free bill smoothing, meaning their locals won't be charged any more to pay by weekly instalments. Most councils charge at least 5.5 per cent for that privilege, yet a handful offer it free.
West Australian
07-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Most Perth councils aiming to implement annual rate hikes despite cost-of-living concerns
Cost-of-living concerns won't stop WA councils from implementing an annual rate hike of at least 3 per cent in coming weeks, homeowners have been warned. Analysis by The Sunday Times found most metropolitan councils are aiming for an uplift of between 3.5 and 4.5 per cent when the next financial year begins in July. Some – such as the City of Canning – are proposing rates will jump as much as 6.85 per cent. The WA Local Government Association was at pains this week to point out that local governments across WA have very different needs when it comes to spending, so it stands to reason that their annual slug of ratepayers will differ too. 'Local Governments across Western Australia all have different expenditure profiles, based on their geographical size, communities and assets and it is important local governments take into account their own circumstances when considering cost pressures,' a spokesperson said. WALGA calculated industry costs increased 3.2 per cent last year, which represents the price rises councils face just to continue business as usual. In April – about the time councils were getting into the nitty gritty of their spending budgets for the next year – the figure was forecast to continue to inflate at an even slightly higher rate. Known as the Local Government Consumer Index, it sets the benchmark for where councils need to start when deciding where to set rates to avoid their own case of bill shock. '(It) measures price changes of goods that represent categories of expenditure of Local Governments across Western Australia,' a WALGA spokesperson said. 'The LGCI is calculated and compiled by WALGA each quarter to assist local governments in decision making, particularly around budgeting and financials. 'This analysis provides important information to Local Government leaders in understanding and responding to a changing economy and its impacts on the Local Government sector in the Western Australian context.' Only the City of Perth, which relies less on residential rates to underpin its income stream, so far is proposing a rise lowed than the LGCI – and even that is being advertised at 3.1 per cent. The City of Canning has long been one of Perth's cheapest for rates but this year finds itself grappling with what could be the highest rates rise in 2025-26 for the entire metropolitan area, currently advertised at 6.85 per cent. Canning mayor Patrick Hall promised the council and its business leaders would work hard behind the scenes in coming weeks to lower the figure and provide some relief for ratepayers. 'The city and its executive have assured us they will use every lever at their disposal to ensure that the rate that we settle on will be — we would hope — significantly lower than the 6.8 being advertised, and that will be the intention,' he said. 'We are a low rating council, but that is not a badge of honour for a council. 'We need to be providing a sustainable level of investment in all the things that make up a big council, and we are a big council. 'Our population is growing and people's expectations grow with that. We need to be able to invest in maintaining the assets we have and providing the lifestyle and amenity not only demand but that they deserve. 'We have spent an incredible amount of money in new parks and playgrounds and that sort of amenity that really improves the lifestyle of young families.' In the City of Nedlands, one of the costs outlined in their 4.8 per cent proposed rise is to pay for an IT upgrade of the city's software and network infrastructure. The council explained that alone was worth about 2 per cent of the rise, with the remainder effectively to meet the LGCI. It left some on the council, which threw around figures as high as 5.4 per cent, questioning whether there would be enough money in the budget to pay for some of the projects expected in the local community. Meanwhile cost-of-living concerns moved one south of river council to find different help for individuals who will struggle with the coming rates impost. The City of Rockingham won't shy from a rates rise this year but it has introduced interest-free bill smoothing, meaning their locals won't be charged any more to pay by weekly instalments. Most councils charge at least 5.5 per cent for that privilege, yet a handful offer it free.
