28 July 2022

Shire President Update

This month I had the honour of officially opening Stage Two of the Two Henry Road project. With six more independent living units available to support our older residents to remain living in their community.

Stage Two of the Two Henry Road project was the result of a collaboration between the Shire of Irwin and the WA Country Health Service, as part of the WACHS $26 million Residential and Dementia Investment Strategy.

The facility features dementia friendly design and is located opposite the Dongara Health Service, Accident and Emergency Department and visiting allied health rooms, allowing people to remain independent for longer and age in place.

The Shire is very proud that these units have been awarded platinum certification by Liveable Housing Australia, the highest standard possible for dementia friendly and age-friendly design, and that we can offer our older community members this alternative.

I would like to acknowledge the Hon Sandra Carr MLC, Member for the Agricultural Region who was representing the Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA Minister for Health and Mental Health, and WACHS Midwest Regional Director Rachel Ferarri who joined me to officially open the new units. Also in attendance was Shire of Irwin CEO Shane Ivers, Councillors Hayley Palmer and Barry Wyse, and existing and future tenants.

I must recognise hard work done by Shire staff and the project team at WACHS to bring this project to fruition, as well as the extraordinary team at Nordic Builders, whose work on this build has been nothing short of tremendous.

In a previous update I spoke of our priorities that included but were not limited to the Kailis Drive entry statement, Foreshore playground and Grannies Beach upgrades. It takes a lot of effort to secure appropriate funding and deliver these priorities and I would like to acknowledge the effort of Councillors, the CEO and Shire staff for their hard work and dedication to making these priorities a reality. This has included working and creating mutually beneficial relationships with local industry who we hope will support some of these major infrastructure projects that will be of enormous benefit to the whole community.

Local Firefighters Honoured

Three Shire of Irwin firefighters have been honoured with a national award for assisting their NSW colleagues during the 2019/2020 bushfire emergency.

Irwin Bushfire Brigade volunteer Aaron Halliday, Shire of Irwin Community Emergency Services Manager Mark Teale and Deputy Bushfire Control Officer Murray Butcher received the National Emergency Medal for their involvement in the Black Summer Bushfires.

The National Emergency Medal recognises significant or sustained service in a nationally significant Australian emergency and are part of the country's honours and awards system.

Aaron and Mark were presented their awards by the WA Emergency Services Minister, the Hon Stephen Dawson and Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, Darren Klem at a ceremony in Geraldton.

$1.8 Million Raised!

The Dongara Op Shop is celebrating a milestone. The shop, run by Dongara Charities, has now been operating for 20 years and in that time has raised a phenomenal $1.8 million!

The shop first opened in February 2002, after Chairperson Maureen McBride and Vice Chairperson Jo Fitzgerald recognised a need in the community and has been run by a group of dedicated volunteers ever since.

Aside from helping those in the community who sometimes struggle to afford the basics, the proceeds from the Op Shop have assisted many large charities such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service and St John Ambulance WA.                                    

Locals have also benefited with donations to numerous community organisations including Sea Rescue, Historical Society, Football Club, Playgroup, Lions Club, Surf Lifesaving and numerous sporting groups.

Dongara Charities also contributed to the building of the toilets at RSL Memorial Park, the shade shelter at Town Park, the Fishing Platform, the new St John Ambulance building and generators for both St John Ambulance – Irwin Subbranch and the Bowling Club.

Well done to everyone involved in this incredible organisation.

Industry Update

Joint venture partners Triangle and Pilot Energy are exporting oil through the Mid West Port for the first time.

24,500 barrels of oil, which were previously sent to the BP refinery in Kwinana before it closed down, has been trucked from Arrowsmith to the Port.

Triangle and Pilot Energy plan to exhaust the Cliff Head oil wells, before transitioning into the renewable energy space.

Early work on a clean energy project, which would see an oil field south of Geraldton converted into a carbon storage facility, has begun after a feasibility study identified the Cliff Head oil field and infrastructure as suitable for a medium-scale project to capture and store carbon dioxide.

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

To download this month's Community News click here