Media Statements: Statements http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/Date Descending.aspx RSS feed for the Statements list. Department of the Premier and Cabinet Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:24:39 GMT Windows SharePoint Services V3 RSS Generator 60 list Media Statements: Statements /_layouts/images/homepage.gif http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/Date Descending.aspx Minister calls for councillor’s resignation http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132782 Content:

Local Government Minister John Castrilli today called for City of Bayswater councillor Terry Blanchard to resign his position following the release of the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) report.

 

Mr Castrilli said the CCC report on the investigation into the activities of councillors and officers of the City of Bayswater found Mr Blanchard engaged in misconduct in his former position as Director of Technical Services.

 

The commission investigated processes, policies and procedures relating to the management of tenders and contracts between the City of Bayswater and a company between 2003 and 2005.

 

The report stated that while an employee of the City of Bayswater, Mr Blanchard engaged in conduct that ‘adversely affects or could adversely affect, directly or indirectly, the honest or impartial performance of the functions of a public authority or public officer’.

 

The Minister said even though the CCC report recommended  no criminal action be taken against Mr Blanchard, as he was no longer an employee of the city, it was in the best interests of the Bayswater community that he resigned.

 

“I recognise that Mr Blanchard has not been found guilty of any misconduct and indeed has not even been charged with anything,” he said.

 

“However, it is important for people to have confidence in the integrity of their elected members to provide proper governance in a transparent and accountable manner, and that is why I am calling for Mr Blanchard’s resignation.””

 

Mr Castrilli said the CCC’s recommendation that the city devise and implement an audit or checking process and to review its policy on conflicts of interest was commendable.

 

“It is understood that since the commencement of the CCC investigation in 2005, the city has made significant changes to improve workplace practices and remedy deficiencies.

 

“I hope the council can now move forward.”

 

Minister's office - 9213 6800
Date: 13/11/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: Northern Metro & Perth CBD
]]> Stratford, Pamela Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:57:49 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132782 Minister congratulates elected members http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132669 Content:

Local Government Minister John Castrilli has welcomed the 522 councillors and mayors elected to represent their areas in the recent local government elections.

“I am pleased with the interest shown in the 2009 elections and congratulate the candidates on their success,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

“I also acknowledge those candidates who were not successful and thank them for offering to stand for election.

 

“It is their active participation that ensures the validity of our democratic system.

 

“This is an exciting time to be a councillor given the significant changes under way through reform of the local government sector and I look forward to working with the newly elected mayors and councillors as we move ahead with the reform process.”

 

The Minister said the 2009 local government elections saw a return to the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system of voting following the passing of legislation in State Parliament earlier this year.

 

The system of voting replaces the proportional preferential voting (PPV) introduced by the previous Labor government.

 

“The return to the FPTP system of voting was in response to requests from the local government sector and we are pleased to have achieved a smooth transition to the new system in time for the local government elections,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

“It is a fairer, simpler system which makes the electorate process easier to understand and more accessible to the wider community.”

 

Also made available for the elections was specialist election counting software, jointly developed by the Department of Local Government and the Western Australian Electoral Commission.

 

The CountWA software, updated following the introduction of the FPTP system of voting, was distributed to all local governments with contested elections, providing councils with a faster method of determining the results of elections.

 

Minister's office  - 9213 6800
Date: 22/10/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:56:11 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132669 Sculpture restored through Country Local Government Fund http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132639 Content:

Local Government Minister John Castrilli today acknowledged the positive impact of the State Government’s Country Local Government Fund (CLGF).

 

The City of Bunbury received funding for nine projects from CLGF, which was funded through Royalties for Regions.

 

Mr Castrilli said in Bunbury Regional Parliament was the restoration of the public art piece‘Forest Trees’ outside the city’s administration building, was one project to benefit.

 

The ‘Forest Trees’ sculpture, designed by Howard Taylor, stands nearly eight metres tall and depicts the forests of the South-West.

 

The Minister said the sculpture was commissioned by the City of Bunbury to commemorate the opening of the building in Stephen Street in 1979.

 

“It was removed from the front of the council’s building to allow for re-development of the administration building and surrounding streetscape in 2005,” he said.

 

“It is wonderful to see the CLGF being used by cities such as Bunbury to improve their communities.”

 

The CLGF was launched in December 2008 as part of Royalties for Regions, to assist country local governments in building and maintaining community infrastructure by providing $500million over five financial years - 2008-09 to 2012-13.

 

“These funds are in place to support and maintain strong and vibrant country local governments,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

“The return of the ‘Forest Trees’ sculpture to its original position in front of Bunbury’s administration building is a fantastic accomplishment by the city and an important addition to the upgraded precinct.”

 

Minister's office  - 9213 6800
Date: 19/10/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: South West
]]> Antartis, Jill Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:55:35 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132639 Work to begin on Bunbury Timber Jetty http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132645 Content:

Local Government Minister John Castrilli today announced funding for the Bunbury Timber Jetty will be de-coupled from the Bunbury Waterfront project, paving the way for work to commence on the heritage structure within the next few months.

 

Mr Castrilli said the deteriorating condition of the jetty had become an urgent public safety matter and, given the length of time it would take to secure planning approvals for the Bunbury Waterfront project, the only viable option had been to separate it from the project to enable work to commence as a matter of priority.

 

Under LandCorp’s overall Bunbury Waterfront development budget, $3.5million had been set aside for works to the jetty, to match a further $3.5million contribution from the City of Bunbury. 

 

Following today’s Regional Cabinet in Bunbury, the Minister said he was delighted to announce that Cabinet had approved separating the jetty from the overall Bunbury Waterfront project, with the $3.5million funding contribution now coming through a separate arrangement with LandCorp. 

 

Under the new agreement, the city will take on all responsibility for any works to the jetty structure.

 

“Today’s resolution to the critical issue of the jetty is a great outcome for Bunbury, an outcome that was achieved as a result of all parties coming together to think outside the square in developing a solution,” the Minister said.

 

The State Government’s $3.5million capped contribution for works to the Bunbury Jetty is in addition to its previous $1million contribution in 1997 when the Bunbury Timber Jetty licence was transferred to the City of Bunbury.

 

Minister's office - 9213 6800
Date: 19/10/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: South West
]]> Antartis, Jill Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:57:14 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132645 Make your vote count in local government elections http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132603 Content:

Local Government Minister John Castrilli has urged Western Australian electors to take the time to vote in next Saturday’s local government elections.

 

“It’s important for residents to have a say in who runs their community. Your vote can have a powerful influence on decisions being made where you live,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

“With local authorities playing such a significant role in shaping our communities, it is important that all members of the public are involved in deciding who represents them as councillors.”

 

The Minister said local governments had budgets in the millions of dollars and provided wide-ranging services, including the responsibility for planning residential and commercial developments and deciding the location of houses, shops and services.

 

“Many have a keen interest in local issues and by taking the time to assess candidates and what they wanted, voters could actively shape their communities,” he said.

 

“I encourage all Western Australians exercise their vote either by returning their signed ballot paper or by voting in person.

 

“Ballot papers need to be completed and returned by 6pm on Saturday, October 17 to be included in the count.”

 

Any enquiries regarding postal voting should be directed to the WA Electoral Commission returning officers. Voting in Person queries should be directed to the local government returning officers.

 

More information on how to cast a vote or to find out which local governments are conducting Voting in Person Elections or Postal Elections visit the Department of Local Government’s website on http://www.dlg.wa.gov.au or on 9217 1500.

 

Minister's office  - 9213 6800
Date: 13/10/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:43:37 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132603 Strong response to local government reform submissions http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132557 Content:

More than 115 local government reform submissions have been submitted to the Department of Local Government.

 

Local Government Minister John Castrilli said he was encouraged by the response from local councils and that submissions were still coming in.

 

“I understand that a number of local governments are holding meetings in early October and I expect the remaining submissions to be received in due course,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

The Minister said many local councils highlighted potential areas for reform and had displayed enthusiasm about the strategic benefits that lay ahead.

 

“The response demonstrates that local government authorities in Western Australia are taking the issue of reform seriously,” he said.

 

“Reform is all about enhancing capacity for local governments to better service their communities.

 

“It is the way forward, and I commend WA local government authorities for their input at this stage of the reform process.”

 

Mr Castrilli said the next phase of the reform process was for submissions to be forwarded to the Local Government Reform Steering (LGRSC) Committee for review. 

 

The committee would provide analysis and prepare an interim report to the Minister by the end of October 2009.  A consolidated report would be available towards the end of the year.

 

Minister's office  - 9213 6800
Date: 1/10/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:48:42 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132557 Local government reform submissions due next week http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132518 Content:

Local Government Minister John Castrilli has urged the State’s local governments to submit their reform submissions by September 30.

 

Mr Castrilli said reform would deliver a number of strategic benefits to Western Australia’s local councils and their communities.

 

“There has been widespread public discussion about driving reform in local government with focus on cost savings, not strategic benefit,” he said.

 

“Reform will create better efficiency, improved services and delivery and more sustainable finances.

 

“It will build a sector that has the capacity to plan and act regionally with the State and Commonwealth governments.”

 

The Minister said local councils have consulted with their communities and considered ways in which they can voluntarily amalgamate to reduce the total number of elected members to between six and nine and form appropriate regional groupings of councils.

 

He said responses from local governments to-date had been very positive.

 

“Last week four Mid-West shires, Mingenew, Three Springs, Morawa and Perenjori agreed to form one local government and I encourage other local governments to embrace the form agenda,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

“This is a voluntary process, however, all local governments must provide a reform submission, including those that do not believe amalgamation is required.”

 

The Minister will review the reform submissions through the Local Government Reform Steering Committee.

 

The steering committee will provide an interim report to the Minister by mid- October and a consolidated report towards the end of the year.

 

Minister's office  - 9213 6800
Date: 23/09/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:32:41 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132518 Improved transparency in local government http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132499 Content:

More than 40 amendments to ensure effective, efficient and accountable local governments have been passed by the State Government.

 

Local Government Minister John Castrilli said the Local Government Amendment Bill 1995 would improve provisions relating to declaring financial interests and election donations, as well as restricting the types of gifts that council members may receive.

 

“The Bill will require council members to disclose the actual value of gifts and travel benefits in their annual return,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

“Gifts valued at more than $200 are to be disclosed with details including source, description, date received and value.”

 

The Minister said the Bill will give the Minister and the departments of Local Government and Regional Development stronger powers to obtain information from local authorities when carrying out investigations.

 

Other key amendments include:

 

·             widening the circumstances that local governments can take gravel and other building materials from land for building purposes

 

·             new powers for local governments to enter private land to remove graffiti.

 

The Minister said he was pleased with how smoothly the Local Government Amendment Bill passed through State Parliament.

 

“The Bill will improve the operation of the Local Government Act 1995 and has involved extensive consultation with the Western Australian Local Government Association and relevant private and State organisations,” he said.

 

“Regulations will be developed to implement the changes and it is anticipated they will come into effect towards the end of 2009.”

 

Minister's office  - 9213 6800
Date: 18/09/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:00:57 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132499 Four shires agree to amalgamate http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132502 Content:

Local Government Minister John Castrilli has congratulated Mingenew, Three Springs, Morawa and Perenjori in agreeing to form one new local government.

 

“The decision by these Mid-West shires is a very positive step in securing the long term future of these communities,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

The Minister said local government reform was a valuable opportunity for authorities to plan ahead, ensuring the best possible service delivery for their communities.

 

“The planned reform is about building sustainable local governments,” he said.

 

“The State Government is moving forward to a new future for Western Australian local governments and I am pleased these fours shires have led the way and embraced this opportunity.

 

“Reform is about lifting the sector to a new strategic level, while retaining the important elements of community representation and local identity.

 

“I encourage other local governments to embrace the reform agenda and become stronger, more sustainable councils, better able to plan, manage and deliver services to their communities and attract greater private sector investment and funding from State and Federal governments.”

Local government reform submissions close on September 30.

 

Minister's office - 9213 6800

Date: 18/09/2009
Minister: Castrilli
Portfolio: Local Government
Region: Mid West
]]> Stratford, Pamela Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:30:17 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132502 Media response - Development Assessment Panels http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132551 Content:

Questions asked by: The South Western Times - Bunbury Herald

 

Subject: Development Assesment Panels.

 

Planning Minister John Day (questions 1-4)

Local Government Minister John Castrilli (questions 5-8).

 

Question 1.

What prompted the State Government’s decision to try and introduce new planning approval laws?

 

Planning Minister's response:

Increasing expectations from communities about what the planning system should deliver and increasing complaints from the public and the development industry regarding the costs and time taken to obtain planning approval has prompted the State Government to investigate DAPs.

 

In some cases in Local Governments, development applications have been unnecessarily held up because of political issues. A more objective, consistent and professional approach is required in the planning process.

 

What this Government wants to ensure is that development projects that have community benefit and architectural merit are not held up in the approval process.

 

A reformed planning system will allow for more timely decision making, which is vital when faced with future economic upturns.

 

In cases of major projects that are large scale and complex and likely to face significant approval delays, but where there is limited local government technical capacity to undertake an appropriate level of assessment, DAPS are seen as an appropriate decision-making body.

 

Question 2.

There has been an outcry from local governments about the proposal, was this expected by the government?

 

Planning Minister's response:

Some individuals within local governments or in the community may have questions, concerns or comments about the DAPs and for this reason the discussion paper Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia has been released for public comment and any comments will be reviewed by the Department of Planning.

 

Question 3.

Does this effectively remove control for planning approvals away from Local Government?

 

Planning Minister's response:

Local governments will continue to play an important role, in the strategic planning framework for their local government, through preparation and amendment to local planning schemes and setting local planning policy. In addition Local Government will still determine applications which are exempt from the DAPs criteria.

 

Question 4.

Do you think these laws are suitable for Bunbury or is the $1million cap too low?

 

Planning Minister's response:

Analysis of ABS data shows that the local DAP proposed for the City of Bunbury is anticipated to determine approximately 4 per cent of the total approvals within the City.  This figure is indicative and may change over time as the number and value of applications submitted to the council changes.  The intent is not to limit approvals going to the DAP to 4 per cent but to focus DAPs on developments over $1million in value (with the exception of single house dwellings, grouped or multiple dwellings under 10 units, and minor applications).  There will be reporting requirements introduced to allow the Department of Planning to monitor performance of DAPs. This information will be used to determine if the formation of panels and the criteria for determination by a DAP are appropriate as growth changes over time. 

 

Question 5:

As someone who has been intricately involved in local government for a number of years can you sympathise with the mayor’s position?

 

Local Government Minister's response:

I fully support Minister Day’s proposal for Development Assessment Panels.  I have read Mayor Smith’s comments reported in local media and notice he is not fully appraised of the process that Minister Day has outlined.  For example there will be the opportunity for public presentations to panels and two elected members from the local government area where a particular development is proposed will be the elected member’s representatives for that application.

 

Question 6:

Do these laws limit the effectiveness of community participation in the planning approvals process?

 

Local Government Minister's response:

Not at all for the reasons I have outlined above.

 

Question 7:

Under the proposal would it not be possible for a project such as the original Bunbury waterfront plans to receive planning approval despite it being opposed by the community?

 

Local Government Minister's response:

All applications will be treated on their town planning merits and as is the case today, proposals will be advertised for public comment and the community will have the opportunity to have their views heard.

 

Question 8:

Wouldn’t the removal of the intrinsic link between councillors and ratepayers in the planning process also remove a level of accountability for a panel that may decide on whether or not a project gets the green light?

 

Local Government Minister's response:

No, the process provides essential accountability and transparency, the point of difference is the panel will determine applications for applicable developments rather than the elected members meeting as a Council.

Date: 16/09/2009
Minister: Day;Castrilli
Portfolio: Planning;Local Government
Region: South West
]]> Antartis, Jill Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:37:45 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132551