Chris Bucktin introduced our Guest Speaker who needed no introduction, our Mayor, Shane Van Styn.
Shane, for the first time in his life, had difficulty speaking, because of an afternoon dental appointment. He gave a brief outline of this year’s Council operations preferring to answer questions.
The City operate on an $80million budget, which has been constant over the last 10 years. This year they hope to turn things around from a $9million deficit to a $1.2million surplus. An interesting comparison was made between The City of Vincent (metro), area 16sqkms to Greater Geraldton ,900sq kms. Both operating on the same funding but completely non comparable infrastructure needs with road maintenance, repair and construction.
This year the Council are spending $22m on road maintenance, repairs, footpaths, $3m on patching up.
Other infrastructure projects are the Spalding Park Precinct ($9m), completing the pool (30 weeks), ((Russell is delighted )), Meru , Footpath from Cape Burney to Drummonds, Sunset Beach erosion project.
Mr McGowan and his Community Cabinet are here this weekend 4/2.
Questions without notice:
Cryptic Jim: What is the Council doing about the rat problem? The mayor admitted a mouse/pigeon and cockatoo problem, but was a little perplexed about the rats. (Jim, proceeded to show him a picture of a rat the size of a stubby holder, captured at his place in Mt Tarcoola)
Laurie Dines: The White Cockatoos. Shane explained that they have a professional shooter who is allowed to cull 2500 birds. They try to shoot out east as they are not allowed to shoot within the city central. (He gave a graphic example of a childs birthday party and the consequences of a dead cockatoo).
Julie Urquart: The dune movement at Southgates. Shane explained the situation with the sand mining and dune movement.
Geoff Wood; The reduction of Councillors from 12 to 8. Shane is concerned about the fair representation of the Greenough and Mullewa constituents but it is the Government that is mandating one vote/one value across the board, hence our representation at State level is also reduced.
Russell McKinnon expressed a vote of thanks with the customary 50 vaccine certificate.