07 June 2022

Shire President Update

Welcome to our May update, which gives me the opportunity to share with you Council’s priorities for the next four years.

To assist staff going forward Council, through a workshopping process, select a list of priorities that reflect the community’s aspirations identified by our consultation and strategic community planning process.

The Kailis Drive entry statement has been carried over from our last workshop, this is still on our to-do list, however this project has been helped along thanks to a generous contribution from Beach Energy.

Milo Crossing, the Town Hall revamp, Foreshore playground and pavilion, pedestrian bridge, Grannies Beach upgrades, pontoon and the 24-hour RV camping have also been identified.

As you can see we have a lot on the go and it will take a lot of hard work to deliver these priorities, as they are all subject to sourcing appropriate funding. I would like to thank Councillors and staff for their hard work and vision in making our Shire a progressive one.

Council News

The Shire of Irwin is calling for public submissions after the Council proposed the implementation of differential rates at this month’s Ordinary Council Meeting.

Differential rates allow councils to set different rates in the dollar for different categories of rateable land. The Shire of Irwin have used differential rates in previous years allowing Council to maintain a degree of equity between rates levied on all unimproved value assessments within the Shire of Irwin rate base whilst providing income annually to allow for the service requirements of all property owners.

The application of differential rating maintains equity in the rating of properties across the Shire.

A Statement of Objects and Reasons for the proposed rates and minimum payment is available for inspection at the Shire Administration Office, 11-13 Waldeck Street, Dongara, between 8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday and on the Shire of Irwin website at www.irwin.wa.gov.au. Submissions by electors or ratepayers, in respect of the proposed rate or minimum payment are invited and can be mailed to PMB 21, or emailed to reception@irwin.wa.gov.au by 4.30pm, Thursday 23 June, 2022.

Celebrating our Vounteers

This month we recognised National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration that acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. With the support of Volunteering WA, Lotterywest and the Denison Blowing Club, the Shire of Irwin held a thank you dinner, welcoming volunteers from across our community.

Over 100 people attended the event from a range of organisations including St John Ambulance - Irwin Branch and the local bushfire brigades.

Volunteers are the absolute lifeblood of our community – we were so pleased to be able to honour all the fabulous people, who give up their own time to help others and make the Shire of Irwin a better place to live.

Youth Art and Skate Project

This month we held our Youth, Art, Music and Skate Community Event, which was the culmination of the Youth Art and Skate Project, at the Irwin Skate Precinct. The project was a fantastic collaboration, with Kelli Dawson and the Dongara Denison Art Group coming on board to hold Youth Skate Deck Art Workshops and a Mural Design Competition in the lead up to the event.

A big thank you to Shah's Art Studio for coming along and decking out the kid’s skateboards with custom graffiti art and to Infinity Skate WA for running skate skill workshops for both beginners and intermediates.

Also held on the day was the Kraken Deck Art Show with amazing designs from the Youth Skate Deck Art Workshops on display and the unveiling of the Kelli Dawson’s incredible skate park mural. The design for the skate park mural was based on Arlie Pearse’s concept sketch titled 'An octopus wrapping its legs around the jetty'.

The Shire of Irwin would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who made the project and the event such a huge success!

Industry Update

Early work on a clean energy project, which would see an oil field in Cliff Head converted into a carbon storage facility has begun.

Pilot Energy Limited has started activities on its Mid West clean energy project, which plans to transform the Cliff Head oil field into a “launch pad” for delivering affordable renewables.

The project is still in its infancy, with consultants engaged to progress regulatory approvals, obtain land access, and secure project financing and partnering arrangements.

The project will provide up to 16 million tonnes of permanent carbon dioxide storage, and will fully utilise the existing onshore and offshore facilities.

Once operational, the storage centre will facilitate the production of blue and green hydrogen and ammonia.

Infinite Blue Energy has recently announced a name change to Infinite Green Energy (IGE). The company, whose foundation project is the Arrowsmith Hydrogen Plant said name change better represents their position as a first-mover in the production of green hydrogen in Australia.

Stephen Gauld, CEO of IGE says: “We look forward to Infinite Green Energy bringing clean, green hydrogen to customers in Australia and around the world.”

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