~ President’s Post ~

Like so many other businesses in Nar-rogin, it is not Business as Usual at the Shire. Whilst the Shire is still ‘Working for you” and carrying out programmed works, much planning has been undertaken by Council to see where the current and future budget can be adjusted to cope for the change and provide some relief for the hurt that is being experienced by residents, businesses and community groups.

Indicative cost disruptions for next year’s budget equate to decreased in-come of approximately $200,000. Council’s challenge will be in identify-ing changes to Shire operations to overcome this, whilst still attempting to provide a much needed capital pro-gram for economic stimulus.

I hope and encourage you to go out and spend $50 Narrogin Dollars that will be available to all those on the electoral roll to spend at Narrogin businesses during June, July and Au-gust this year. You will see the adver-tisement in this edition of the paper and if you keep an eye out in your mailbox, in the coming week, you will find a letter with all the details.

The Shire has got on board with the Narrogin Chamber of Commerce and has subsidised this year’s memberships to small (qualifying) businesses and will also be paying the membership for eligible businesses who wish to join the Chamber, and hence also enjoy the benefits of receiving Narrogin Dollars from local electors.

Owing to social restrictions, Council have been meeting using Skype com-puter conferencing, from their own homes. With the Premier’s weekend announcement, meetings will resume in Chambers, this month all the while, adhering to the directions of the au-thorities.

Leigh Ballard ~ Shire President.

~ Council Decisions ~

Council decisions made at the meeting held on 28 April include:

Agricultural Machinery Dealership AFGRI has applied for planning con-sent to develop premises at the north-west-corner of Graham Rd and Great Southern Highway, catering for up to 25 employees including apprentices. The Council has supported, in princi-pal, this exciting proposal, however, public comment is now invited.

Colour Palette - Narrogin CBD The Townscape Committee has recom-mended to Council a draft policy and guide to provide to business and prop-erty owners in the CBD a range of colours and signage styles suitable for the style of their building with the aim of attaining, in time, an enhanced streetscape. The Council has approved and public comment is now invited.

For either of the above items, more details are available on the Shire web-site www.narrogin.wa.gov.au/documents/current-community-consultations - and to provide com-ment, simply write to the CEO via email or post, see below.

Itinerant Vendor Policy - Council sought public comment in relation to a proposed Itinerant Vendor policy. The draft was adopted following receipt of public comments.

Pump Track & Mountain Bike Trail Council sought public comment in relation to a proposed mountain bicy-cle pump track and mountain bike trail. The proposal was amended following receipt of public comments. The Plan will form the foundations for future grant applications.

Contract Renewal - The contracts of two-long serving executive managers, who are well regarded by both em-ployees and the community, were re-newed for a further five year term.

COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Options The COVID-19 Relief Plan was pre-sented to Council who adopted measures addressing both the more pressing needs of the community in the short term and the ongoing needs for the next 12 months following the dec-laration of the Corona Virus Pandemic, by the World Health Organisation, on 11 March 2020.

An advertisement on the page facing outlines in brief the measures adopted.

The full minutes can be found on the Shire’s website with public copies available at the Library and Shire Administration. Council Meetings commence at 7pm and are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Com-munity members are most welcome to attend (social distancing will be ad-hered to). Entrance to the Council Chambers is via the door near the William Kennedy Way carpark.

~ Shire Notices ~

Roadworks & Projects The community may have noticed that the new ablution block and picnic shelter in Memorial Park is now com-plete. New connective concrete paths and roll on turf were laid around both buildings to finish it off.

The Rural gravel road re-sheeting pro-gram for 2019/20 is nearing comple-tion with Birdwhistle Road remaining to be completed.

Playground equipment including the skate park and outside gym are still restricted for use at this time due to Government restrictions associated with COVID-19, however, with recent announcements will we be readying them again for use in, hopefully, four week’s time.

The railway platform has had the rot-ten timber retaining sleepers replaced with new jarrah and the platform sur-face is going to be patched. This will improve safety in the area should trade personnel be required, in the future, to renovate the railway building.

Accommodation Units Three new accommodation units at the Narrogin Caravan Park are nearing completion. It is anticipated that the units will be fully fitted, furnished and landscaped ready for guests in June (see right).

Narrogin Earthmoving and Concrete have just completed the aprons to the

buildings in readiness for some native plants in their surrounding gardens.

~ Homecare Highlights ~

COVID19 has not slowed us down, in fact we have been so very busy this month just with having to change the way we do things, as well as keeping up with our core business.

Sadly, Jessie House is still closed to the public, but, with bad comes good and all is not lost. It has given Nar-rogin Regional Homecare a chance to work on those much needed renova-tions to service our clients better and

provide an updated and more homely atmosphere. Have you noticed our lovely new white picket fence?

In Jessie House itself, we only have the painting yet to do and we are wait-ing for some new furniture to be deliv-ered, which is expected to arrive in the middle of June. Then, we will be open for business (once we have word from the State authorities of course).

Our clients, who have recently come to visit the Centre, have all said they love the changes and we, at Narrogin Re-gional Homecare, can’t wait to offi-cially announce that we are open for overnight and extended-stay respite.

89 Earl Street, (PO Box 1145)Narrogin WA 6312 enquiries@narrogin.wa.gov.au Tel: (08) 9890 0900 www.narrogin.wa.gov.au

Like and Follow the Shire of Narrogin to keep up to date with the latest news. https://www.facebook.com/shireofnarrogin/

August 2018

Relax in the Library

From Days Gone By - Left - William Moss, Mayor, 1906-1909 & Right - John Clayton, Chairman Road Board,1907 – 1920. The photos of all but five of the Chairs and Presidents, of Narrogin’s former and current municipalities, have been collected and framed with the intent of displaying them in the Mayor’s Parlour above the Town Hall. These photos are available in a gallery on the Shire’s website https://www.narrogin.wa.gov.au/image-gallery/mayors-chairs-and-presidents/6. Can you help us locate our five missing pictures, JTW Chip-per, DC Scott, PE Wedd, F Buxton, DM Taylor?

OUT ‘n’ ABOUT

August 2018 May 2020

~ Library News ~

At the time of writing the RW (Bob) Farr Memorial library is closed, but we are very encouraged and excited with the Premier’s weekend announcement, and we are busily working on our re-opening plan in order to restore our service whilst observing the directions of the authorities. If current borrowers wish to pick up items from the library they can contact staff by phoning on 9881 1751, emailing on mls@narrogin.wa.gov.au or via this webpage web page https://narrogin.libero.com.au/libero/WebOpac.cls The staff will arrange a bag of items for collection. As part of our contribution to Paint the Town REaD, we have been part of a launch of an Australia-wide campaign to encourage people to read and sing with their children. The Governor General’s wife, Her Excellency Linda Hurley, is the patron of Paint the Town REaD and launched the campaign from the gates of Government House. Mrs Hurley had written a song for Paint the Town Read and Narrogin Library has provided the harmony and a verse for Narrogin to the song.

OUT ‘n’ ABOUT

The Library’s Robyn Stinger and Teddy preparing to decorate the Library for Let’s Go on a Bear Hunt and Paint the Town REaD.

Teddy Bear Hunt

Jessie House Improvements

Shire employees John and Brodie have been working with local builders Tim Yuen and A&A Corasaniti renovating the inside and outside of Jessie House.

Mr Hendrikus Chattillon at the Narrogin War Memorial with the new bronze plaque containing the names of soldiers from WWI whose names were omitted from the original plaques.

New Plaques

Local Contractors Kulker Carpentry & Construction have been replacing old sleepers in readiness for further works.

Platform Works