SHIRE SNIPPETS

February 2012

“CSSU need to make a decision as to whether there will be enough children at the new Onslow

Early Learning Centre to open the doors. Currently we have registration for 4 children a day ,

we need 11-15 per day to open.”

Attention Parents Requiring

Child Care

CSSU Need to know numbers

NOW

if minimum numbers are not reflected we may

lose this Day Care Provider! As you may know the Shire has been working extremely hard to secure a new provider

for Day Care Services in Onslow to operate from the brand new Centre . CSSU held a parent meeting recently to ascertain levels of interest, numbers of children,

on what days and what age children of Onslow will be requiring care. We had only a small turnout at the meeting compared to the number of people in town we know who

want a day care service!

If you require child care please contact Coral Callan on 0459115135 or email coral.callan@cssu.org.au to request an enrolment package for your child .

Alternatively you can call Darlene Bodanski at the shire on 91846001.

Enrolment packages are also available from the front counter at the Shire office.

As the old saying goes "If you don't use it you may loose it"

We will notify all parents who enrol of when we have the

required number of children to open.

CSSU is really looking forward to becoming

a part of your community.

REGIONAL CONSULTATION PILBARA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

A public forum is being conducted on behalf of the Department of Training and Workforce Development and the Pilbara Workforce Development Alliance. The forum is part of broader consultations which will result in the preparation of a Pilbara workforce development plan for 2012 – 2015. The overall purpose of the plan is to identify the current and future workforce development and skills needs of the region and develop strategies to ensure that these needs can be addressed. The focus of the forum will be in two key areas: • Provide a local perspective on key regional workforce trends and challenges;

and • Canvass potential strategies, actions and priorities that need to be included in

this regional workforce development plan. Forums will be held on: Tuesday 28 February, 2012 from 4pm to 6pm at RM Forrest Memorial Hall, Second Avenue, ONSLOW; If you would like to attend the forum please register at: Onslow: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OnslowRSVP or contact James Mathews at jmathews@kpmg.com.au or Tel: 07 3233 9443

Council meets on the third Wed of every month in either Onslow, Paraburdoo, Pannawonica or

Tom Price. The general public are welcome to attend these meetings.

A public question time is held at the start of the meeting for the general public to raise concerns to

Council. This provides an opportunity for Councillors and staff to gain a greater understanding of

the issues affecting the community.

Time for all meetings is 3.00pm

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Coastal Setbacks

As part of LandCorp’s investigations for the release land for residential, commercial and industrial development within and around the existing Onslow Townsite, it commissioned specialist coastal and ports engineers to assess the appropriate setback to account for the action of physical coastal processes in line with the State Government policy.

LandCorp has provided the Shire with a copy of the Report which recommends most development at Onslow be at 6.4mAHD and “Critical or Emergency Response Infrastructure” at 7.4mAHD. These recommendations have significant implications for the development of the town with respect to design, building impact and land use.

Council recommended to further review the information presented in the report and seek peer review, prior to reporting back to Council.

The report will be posted on Councils Website if anyone would like to read the report and make comment.

Council Adopts New Onslow Local Planning Policy

At Council meeting of 14 December 2011, Council resolved to adopt for community consultation, revised “Local Planning Policy - Shire re-quirements for Planning Applications within the Onslow Coastal Hazard Area – Scheme Control Area”. The revised Policy was published in the Pilbara News (twice) along with notification at the Shire offices and Shire Website. No submissions were received.

It is recommended that the revised “Local Planning Policy - Shire requirements for Planning Applications within the Onslow Coastal Hazard Area – Scheme Control Area” be adopted in accordance with the Planning Scheme. The “Local Planning Policy - Shire requirements for Plan-ning Applications within the Onslow Coastal Hazard Area – Scheme Control Area” is available on the Shires website and from the Shire Of-fices.

Onslow Interim Design Guidelines

Between 26-28 July 2011 the Shire hosted a LandCorp inspired “enquiry by design” process (also referred to as a “Charette‟) in Onslow. Several land planning and design workshops and focus groups sessions were undertaken to explore potential de-velopments including residential expansion, parks and recreation and development issues in the town centre. One of the clear outcomes from the “charette” was the need for design guidelines (in the form of a local Planning Policy (LPP) for the land in Onslow zoned “Commercial and Civic” under the Scheme.

At Council meeting of 21 September 2011, Council resolved to adopt for community consultation, draft LPP “Onslow Interim Town Centre Design Guidelines”. The draft LPP was referred to land owners in the “Commercial and Civic” zone as well as published in the Pilbara News (twice) along with notification at the Shire offices and Shire Website. One submission was re-ceived during the advertising period.

Council adopted the “Local Planning Policy - Onslow Interim Design Guidelines” as a Local Planning Policy under the provi-sions of the Shire of Ashburton Local Planning Scheme No.7 (“Scheme”). The Interim Design Guidelines are available on Coun-cils website and from the Shire Offices.

Height of buildings in Onslow

The Shire President requested the Shire to investigate and prepare a Report to Council in relation to a draft amendment to the Shire of Ashburton Local Planning Scheme No. 7 limiting building height limits within the “Commercial and Civic” zone of Onslow.

A review of building height planning controls in the State was undertaken and it was concluded that the planning controls and coastal position of the City of Busselton was reasonably relevant to Onslow. The Busselton Planning Scheme includes building height provisions that define a general height limit of 7.5 metre for land within 150 metres of the Mean High Water Mark and 10 metres outside of this area (not including land in the industrial area). The Busselton Scheme provides the opportunity to exceed these heights but subject to appropriate planning assessments.

The Busselton approach is considered to be sound, however the distance from Mean High Water Mark would need to be de-fined to suit Onslow. It was recommended that Council initiate draft Scheme Amendment 23 generally based on a general height limit for land within the “Commercial and Civic” zone in Onslow of 7.5 metre for land within 80 metres of the Mean High Water Mark and 10 metres outside of this area. The Scheme Amendment document would be prepared by staff and re-ferred to the EPA for assessment. Once the EPA has responded, the matter would be widely advertised in accordance with the Planning and Development Act, for a period of 42 days.

The comment period will be widely advertised.

STRATEGIC & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

With Amanda O’Halloran

SHIRE SNIPPETS

Regional digital TV services will be transmitted from the new satellite platform known as the VAST service. VAST will replace the current Aurora satellite signal.

Vast is a new Government funded satellite TV service that is available to Australians who live outside the cov-erage of a terrestrial network (metropolitan areas). It is a direct home digital service. The purpose of the VAST is to ensure that people living in remote areas receive the same benefits of digital service as other Australians.

Council voted to switch off Onslow’s analogue television services (estimated mid 2013) and opt Onslow into the satellite subsidy scheme (SSS) at last week’s meeting.

The SSS provides a subsidy for eligible households to switch to satellite TV via the VAST service.

Eligible households will receive an installation subsidy by the Government which will cover a satellite dish, a VAST set top box and associated cabling. VAST installation will be carried out by an experienced installer en-gaged by the service contractor.

After the subsidy the household financial contribution is expected to be between $200 and $350. (this equates to a 75% subsidy) Once the VAST service is installed there are no ongoing costs for the household.

If the householder does not participate in the scheme they will no longer receive commercial television transmissions when the analog signal is turned off (mid 2013).

There will also be available a Household Assistance Scheme which will be available at no cost to eligible households. This will include the VAST installation in Onslow. Eligible householders under this scheme would include people who receive one the following payments :

Age Pension

Disability Support Pension

Carer Payment

Department of Veterans’ affairs service pension

DVA income support supplement payment

Eligible customers for the Scheme will receive a letter from Centrelink inviting them to participate in the Scheme in the second half of 2012.

The SSS only provides assistance to residential household. Commercial premises and non-residential house-holds are not eligible to apply for the subsidy.

All residential households will be eligible if the Shire opted into the SSS.

Council will be working through the process and issues with Community members as more information comes to hand. If anyone has any queries please don’t hesitate to call Megan Walsh at the Onslow Office on 91849300.

DIGITAL TELEVISION SERVICES

IN ONSLOW

STRATEGIC & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Cont...

With Amanda O’Halloran

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STRATEGIC & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Cont...

With Amanda O’Halloran

ONSLOW INDUSTRY FORUMS

Onslow’s first industry forum will be held on Thursday 8th March, 5pm – 7.30pm in the Shire Hall.

The Industry forums are aimed at current business operators or anyone interested in starting a business in Onslow . We aim to facilitate quarterly forums to assist businesses to maximize the increased potential pre-sented by the Wheatstone and Macedon Projects and enable businesses to build , diversify and be sustainable into the future.

At the first industry forum in March we will have:

Amanda O’Halloran – Exec Manager Strategic & Economic Development – Onslow Development progress, projects, strategic planning and the purpose of these forums

Rachel Whiting, Manager Small Business Centre West Pilbara—Will present their new strategic plan which covers the SBSCP’s commitment to increasing services to residents of the Shire of Ashburton

Ian Hill, CCS Strategic – the consultants employed to undertake the Karratha/Tom Price/Onslow Business Park Feasibility Study. Ian and Rachel will both present a short workshop covering the vision for Business Parks or Incubator Facilities in Onslow, Tom Price and Karratha, they will also distribute the survey in paper form to be completed by attendees on the night. In this survey they ask business owners and potential entrepreneurs their ideas on what space they may need to run their business, what their residential accommodation needs are and their needs for meeting/function and training rooms.

Chevron , BHP, & Dampier Port Authority will discuss opportunities for local business now and into the future

Landcorp will be attending to present a land release update

Shire Staff will be on hand to provide information and answer any questions:

Rob Paull – Principal Town Planner (SOA)

Bernie Smith – Manager Building Services (SOA)

Anika Serer – Land Development and Marketing Manager (SOA)

Light refreshments will be available, for catering purposes could you please RSVP

to Darlene Bodanski by Tuesday 28th February on 91849314

We look forward to seeing you there!

Deb Wilkes, Executive Manager Community Development

Hi to everyone from the Community Development Team here in Onslow. After a lot of debate and discussion with various people and groups in the community, we have made a decision to make our signature Passion of the Pilbara Festival into a bi-annual event and to hold a series of smaller more locally focused events in the alternate year. I am sure you all appreci-ate the amount of work that goes into planning and executing an event like this and by holding Pas-sion of the Pilbara every second year it gives us the preparation time to make it into a truly signa-ture event that really showcases Onslow. It also means that this year we can hold a range of other events designed to engage and entertain the local community. Watch this space as we start to finalize and let you know about these. In the mean time we are already working on school holiday and after school programs for our kids, we are working with the primary school on the Leaping Lizards and Fish to Feed pro-grams and we are supporting V Swans with their plans to provide a whole range of sporting activi-ties for the kids and adults in town. Movie nights on the oval (in the MPC in winter!) will also be back in a big way. Later this year we will be hosting our new and improved Boat Regatta event, we will be starting our "Welcome BBQs" for those new to town so they can meet and greet the locals and find out how they can become part of the Onslow community. We will also be working with other local groups such as the Rodeo Club to make their annual event bigger and better than ever and make sure you watch out for all the festivities of Naidoc week. We are also keen to see if the community is interested in getting involved in things such as Tidy Towns and to get those committees and groups started. Also, if you any have ideas for activities, programs or events that you would like to see happening in Onslow we would love to hear about them. Just come down and see us or chat to us on the streets and we will see what we can do to make those ideas a reality.

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Fogging program

Please note that the shire will be continuing its annual fogging program.

Fogging times are as follows

5pm to 7pm

Monday to Friday

until further notice

(this is subject to change)

Any queries, please direct to Ken Grant on 9184 6001

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Caring for the Turtles

Residents and summer visitors to Onslow are being reminded

to watch out for nesting turtles and emerging hatchlings and

keeplights to a minimum around thewater’s edge.

Between December and April each year,turtle hatchlings begin

to emerge andmake their way back to the water. “It is impor-

tant during this time to keep your distance from hatchlings and

allow them to make their own way to the water,” says Rachael

Middlebrook, Department of Environment and Conservation

Marine Park Coodinator. “Stand away from emerging hatch-

lings as others may be digging their way out and try to keep sources of light away from them (i.e torches, boat

lights, camp fires) as it can disorientate the hatchlings and affect their journey to the water”. Beach driving can

also have a significant impact on turtle hatchlings both before hatching and on those making their way to the

water.

Driving vehicles on the sand can increase the chance of nests being compacted and crushed under the weight of

the vehicle as well as increasing the risk of driving over hatchling themselves. To limit the impact of vehicles on

nesting beaches it is recommended that members of the public drive and park only in the intertidal zone (wet

zone) and avoid driving on dry sand or dunes.

Flatback, green, hawksbill and loggerhead are the most common turtle species in the Pilbara. All are threatened

species.

Photograph by Marissa Speirs, DEC

Page 13 SHIRE SNIPPETS

The above story is taken from the “Inside Ashburton” newsletter. Inside Ashburton is

produced monthly and is available on our website www.ashburton.wa.gov.au

Get your copy Newsletter Drops

The Shire of Ashburton is supporting the community by giving different not for profit

groups from each town the opportunity to deliver the newsletter for a donation to their

not for profit group.

If you would like to find out more please contact the Media & Communications office at

the Shire of Ashburton on 08 9188 4444.