President's Report
Stage 2 Beverley Swimming Pool Precinct – stage 2 of the Swimming Pool project includes a new building requiring around $7M to complete. Significant funding external to the Shires loan capacity and reserve fund allocation will be needed for Council to have confidence to proceed. Grant applications are being submitted; however, they are competitive and can be scaled back.
Is our community prepared to get behind this project with fundraising to assist bringing it to fruition? I am also interested to hear from anyone who might support a tax-deductible fund if established specifically for this project.
The new complex will be located, and entered, from the western side of the pool. It will include ablution and change rooms, improved vision of the pool area from the office/kiosk, first aid room, storage, community room and a modern gym facility with visible creche space.
Shire Budget – the budgetary process continues, with Council at its June meeting considering the current list of non-rateable properties, wages and salaries increases, and the 2026/2027 Fees and Charges. Minutes of Council meetings and verbal recording of these meetings are available on the Shire website.
Local Public Health Plan – under the Public Health Act 2016 every local government in WA is required to prepare its own Local Public Health Plan, which aligns with the State Public Health Plan 2025-2030. The Beverley Local Public Health Plan 2026-2031 will be informed by responses to an on-line Survey, which is advertised on the Shire website and in this edition of the Blarney. Hard copies of the survey are available from the Shire Office for those who require one. Responses from a broad range of age groups in our local community would be most useful, please ask your family and friends to participate.
The Local Health Plan will be used to inform the Shire’s Strategic Community Plan, Long Term Financial Plan, Annual budgets and Disability Access & Inclusion Plan. It is intended to be a flexible and living document, allowing new opportunities to be added as they arise over the life of the Plan.
Rubbish Tip Access – there has been some angst within the community about gardening contractors not being able to access the tip during the week for garden waste. The shire is proposing to provide an area where contractors with garden waste (only) can be accommodated during the week in a separate enclosure without needing to enter the main refuse site. Security will be installed to discourage and detect those who do not respect rules for the refuse site.
Responsible Dog Ownership – use of oval area – dog owners are reminded that dogs should not be on the town oval when the oval is being used for sport, or when oval maintenance is underway. In the new financial year following Council consideration of costs to establish a fenced dog exercise area behind the water run off dam near the pool, Community feedback will be sought on a proposed plan.
Visitor Feedback – positive feedback is often received from our visitors staying at the RV stopover across the road from the river park, negative feedback is rare. Comments left by a group at the end of May “We stayed in a group of 4 vans. Wanted to congratulate your Council on providing such a lovely site for us to have a short stay in. The facilities across the road were spotless for the start of the weekend. The locals we encountered were very friendly and informative. And the venues we visited were most lovely and the food enjoyable. We appreciated having the opportunity to explore your pretty town”.
Cr Dee Ridgway
Beverley Shire President