Toodyay Herald

The deficit will be offset this year by more than $3.6 million in external grants, subsidies and financial contributions.

However, the shire’s underlying operating surplus ratio is still well below State Government audit standards.

The ratio measures the shire’s ability to pay for its operations out of regular revenue and have money left over to fund new projects.

The council’s long-standing practice of increasing revenue by charging higher rates was postponed this year after an April decision to freeze rates, fees and charges to help relieve local economic hardship caused by the Covid-19 health crisis.

Shire budget papers show that rates revenue raised this financial year will fall about two per cent short of last year’s total.

But the total cost of shire borrowings has more than doubled to $5.9 million – mostly due to additional recreation centre costs.

Loan repayments for all shire borrowings this year will total $600,000, of which more than half will be for the recreation centre.

Ongoing annual shortfalls prompted auditors Moore Stephens to warn the council in June last year of a “significant adverse trend” in shire finances since 2016.

This year’s ratio shows a three-fold worsening of that trend with a budgeted operating surplus ratio of minus 34 per cent.

Last month’s council meeting adopted eight recomendations concerning various parts of the shire’s 2020-21 budget with a mostly unanimous 7-0 vote (Cr Ben Bell absent and one seat vacant).

The only dissenter was Cr Paula Greenway (pictured left at last year’s ground-breaking ceremnony for Toodyay’s new $14 recreation precinct) , who raised her hand against the final motion when Shire President Rosemary Madacsi asked councillors if there were any objections to adopt the budget as a whole, including financial statements, notes, supporting documents and schedules.

The recommendation was moved by Cr Phil Hart, who spoke briefly in favour of it and praised shire staff for putting a “huge amount of work” into preparing this year’s budget for adoption.

His motion was seconded by Cr Therese Chitty, who chose not to speak.

Cr Greenway remained silent when President Madacsi asked if there were any speakers against Cr Hart’s motion.

When her name was called by President Madacsi, Cr Greenway said “I don’t wish to speak”.

The motion was carried 6-1 with Cr Greenway voting against it.

She declined next day to respond to a Herald email when asked to explain publicly why she voted against the budget.

New Shire CEO Suzie Haslehurst was not involved in preparing this year’s budget, which the council adopted last month on only her second day at work.

She said it was a near break-even budget with virtually no surplus – “there’s no fat in it”.
“This will be the case for the next few years,” she said.

“We won’t have any ‘play money’ for big new things.

“Staff have been told to be vigilant about costs and we have to be very cautious about how we approach things.”

Ms Haslehurst said shire service levels had been reviewed and four positions were made redundant for a cost saving of about $600,000.

Budget papers show planned rates revenue of $6.3 million and a nominal surplus of $1.1 million, which includes grants, subsidies and contributions from external sources.

However, operating costs will exceed regular shire income by $2.6 million, largely due to recreation centre costs and large annual loan repayments that are set to continue for the next 20 years.

“We need to be very pro-active about obtaining new grant funding but don’t have sufficient financial reserves to provide matching funds,” she said.

“Our priorities this financial year will be roads, maintenance and upgrades, drainage and footpaths, and paying down loans.”

Ms Haslehurst said she expected construction work on Toodyay’s new recreation centre to be completed by the end of September and the new public swimming pool open in time for the coming summer season.

The shire has advertised for a “suitably qualified operator” to manage part or all of the new recreation precinct including the swimming pool, sports grounds and other facilities.
Tenders close at 2pm on Wednesday July 8.

Ongoing divisions also blocked an initial bid last month to secure an absolute majority of five votes to allow new Shire CEO Suzie Haslehurst to start her new job on June 22 instead of having to wait until mid-August.

The shire has lacked a full-time CEO since February, including during the recent virus lockdown, staff cuts and an emergency budget based on no increase in rates or fees and no extra charges for late payments.

Cr Brian Rayner (left), who nobody voted for in 2017, declined a Herald request to explain – with three other councillors unusually absent – why he didn’t want the new CEO to start earlier, saying it was “confidential”.

The three candidates seeking to fill former shire president Bill Manning’s seat say they all want change.

All three have professional qualifications and business skills – one is a former university business lecturer and shop owner, two have local farming experience, one is a former WA regional city administrator, and another provides financial advice to miners.

The winner is expected to break an impasse between four new councillors elected by all Toodyay voters last October and three longer-serving members who were re-elected two years earlier under a now abolished ward system that excluded most Toodyay voters.

The shire is also awaiting the outcome of a long-running WA Government inquiry into its operations and affairs over seven years.

A WA Local Government Department spokesperson said State officials would soon ask people named in the inquiry to respond to the findings before WA Local Government Minister David Templeman tables a final report in State Parliament.

Candidate April Ashley (right) posted on Facebook before last year’s elections: “I hope that sanity prevails and that the moment the new councillors take their seats, there will be no more CEO or President ‘issues’ and that the residents of 2J will be able to relax knowing that their rates will be fairly evaluated and spent wisely. Vote well folks.”

Ms Ashley – who has worked as a university business lecturer and operated small businesses, including a coffee shop and educational company – says she has no personal agenda, supports open and accountable government and that a vote for her in this month’s election will be a vote for transparency and integrity.

She said she had lectured in accounting, finance and management for 30 years at nearly all WA universities, private colleges and TAFEs and is a “positive thinker who believes in working together to achieve positive outcomes”.

“I have no personal agenda and if elected I will be your representative and your mouthpiece,” she said.

Rival candidate and Hoddys Well farmer Keith Boase (left) says “it has been disappointing to see continuing frictions within the council which is operating in a manner that causes harm to the local government and residents of the area”.

“I believe strong governance with the best interests of the residents of our shire can be achieved only by electing experienced people who will commit to providing sound decision-making without fear or favour,” Mr Boase said.

“I understand the commitment and workload involved to offer a new, independent voice to the council chamber that will bring vision and stability to restore balance in Toodyay.”

Mr Boase is a former Shire of Quairading landcare coordinator, former Agriculture Department Kalgoorlie acting district manager, former City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder environmental coordinator and manager of sustainability and waste services (including WA’s largest sewerage system outside Perth), and is currently Parks and Gardens Coordinator at the City of Swan.

The third candidate, Toodyay Central Volunteer Bushfire Brigade Captain Mick McKeown (right), says Toodyay is at a crossroads ‒ “this election provides our community with a chance to decide whether to continue with the divisions of the past or to change things for the better in the future”.

“We have significant challenges ahead and our council badly needs people who can analyse and understand complex laws, regulations and policies,” he said.

“I am not (and will not be) aligned with any group on the council and this will allow me to liaise closely with all my fellow councillors to achieve the best outcomes for the community of Toodyay.”

Mr McKeown – who is a leading member of Toodyay’s Friends of the Catholic Precinct – holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology, a Masters Degree in Engineering Science and an Agricultural Management Diploma, is a Perth Royal Show award-winning local olive oil producer and is a financial analyst for Australian and overseas mining companies.

His nomination was publicly endorsed by Crs Therese Chitty and Paula Greenway who ‘liked’ it last month on the popular Let’s Talk Toodyay page on Facebook which has more than 4400 members.

Toodyay voters should start receiving candidates’ statements, ballot papers and voting instructions in reply-paid envelopes at their postal addresses early this month.

Anyone who misses out can call the WA Electoral Commission on 13 63 06.

The Toodyay Progress Association will host a free ‘Meet the Candidates’ public forum at the Toodyay Community Centre in Stirling Terrace (next to Alma Beard Medical Centre) at 7pm on Monday July 20.

New Shire President Rosemary Madacsi called the election (shire notice Herald Page 13) last month to fill a vacancy on the nine-member council to replace former shire president Bill Manning who resigned in April to move to Tasmania.

Shire rates in the dollar will stay at last year’s levels, and any increases in State land valuations will not be added to rates bills.

Shire fees and charges – including for rubbish collection – will not increase, overdue rates will not be charged interest and property owners will not pay extra for paying their rates in quarterly instalments.

Owners who pay in full by the due date will get a three per cent discount instead of going into a draw for sponsored prizes.

Acting Shire CEO Chileya Luangala confirmed last month that the new budget would include all measures adopted at a Covid-19 special council meeting in April.

She said councillors had met eight times since December to discuss shire finances and a further budget meeting was planned before a 4pm agenda briefing scheduled for Tuesday June 16.

Savings of about $600,000 had been made by last month by making four staff positions redundant.

Savings included employee direct and on-costs, vehicle-related costs, fringe benefits tax and “associated reductions in services”.

Meanwhile, the WA Local Government Department says State lawyers have finished examining a report by three Perth investigators into shire operations and affairs over the past seven years.

The State Solicitor’s Office returned the report to the department after deciding whether to extract any evidence that could be used for a prosecution before the report is sent to the shire for comment and then tabled in State Parliament by WA Local Government Minister David Templeman.

The inquiry covers present and former shire councillors and staff, including former shire CEO Stan Scott whose 12-month ‘interim’ contract was cut short in April after the council rejected his bid last year to keep his job for another three to four years.

New Shire CEO Suzie Haslehurst has signed a four-year contract and is due to start later this month.

An eight-day nomination period for next month’s council election to fill a vacancy created by former president Bill Manning s resignation in April will open on Wednesday June 17 and close at 4pm on Wednesday June 24.

The WA Electoral Commission will conduct a postal ballot of all Toodyay voters with a bulk mail out of candidates’ statements and voting forms starting Thursday July 2.
The electoral roll closes on Thursday June 25.

Property owners who live outside the shire should check if they are still on the electoral roll under voting rules which require their details to be updated every 12 months.

A heavy excavator uproots a giant tree (above) which was part of Toodyay’s historic Catholic Precinct near the town entry.

The trees have been cleared to allow for a new road to access some of the new blocks being created as part of the subdivision.

The Archdiocese of Perth submitted an application for the subdivision to the WA Planning Commission (WAPC) on 13 September 2017 and final approval was granted on 15 June 2018.

Sometime between these two dates, the subdivision application was sent to the Shire of Toodyay for a report into how the application took into account the provisions of Toodyay’s local planning scheme.

A report was provided by the Shire of Toodyay and sent to the WAPC.

Unfortunately, the report was made by staff of the shire under what is known as “delegated authority” which meant that the people of Toodyay, including the councillors, did not know that a subdivision had been proposed and there was no opportunity for public comment.

The practical results of that subdivision approval are now being seen and felt in Toodyay.

On 5 December 2018, the Catholic Precinct was placed in the State Register of Heritage Places as an important historical landmark with a striking architectural presence on the main street of Toodyay.

This register provides the highest level of heritage protection available.

Now the future of the precinct is further at risk because the shire  has received a development application (public notice Page 8, June Herald) for the demolition of one of the buildings in the precinct.

This would mean that the destruction that has begun with the felling of the trees may continue with the destruction of one of the buildings.

John Clarke (left) and Mick McKeown in the Garden of Peace with the covered brick walkway behind – both heritage areas face demolition.

The building in the firing line is the covered walkway (see above) from the rear of the church to the convent .

The walkway is a 20-metre-long brick passageway that links the convent to the church next to the Garden of Peace, which also faces demolition.

When the church was opened in 1963, the Beverley Times newspaper reported that a chapel inside the Church was “connected to the Convent by a covered way” and was for the exclusive use of the Sisters of Mercy.

The walkway provided safe and secure access by the Sisters to their chapel at all times and in all weathers.

The State Heritage listing states that in 1963, the walkway was considered innovative and unique.

Nearly 60 years have passed since the walkway was built and the passage of time has not decreased its rarity or uniqueness, rather its importance has been enhanced by its long association with the work of the Sisters of Mercy in Toodyay.

The Archdiocese of Perth has lodged an application to demolish this walkway.

Now is the time for the people of Toodyay to stand up for the future of the historic buildings of which we are so proud.

The demolition of the walkaway and adjacent Garden of Peace should be opposed, so please do this by responding to the advertisement regarding the demolition on this page.

Widespread community opposition will reinfornce the importance that we in Toodyay attach to our history.

The Toodyay Shire Council voted last month in favour of Cr Paula Greenway’s motion that the shire staff must notify council regularly of any changes that affect the Catholic group of buildings.

A widespread community response in this case will also send a signal that this good beginning must be followed by increasing the protection of the precinct by removing the delegated authority and guaranteeing that the elected Council of Toodyay is the appropriate body to determine its future.

This would help prevent a “second wave” of infections after earlier restrictions had enabled Australia to “very successfully flatten the curve” of new Covid-19 cases, particularly in WA.

Toodyay residents are also being urged to seek clinical help for virus-related anxiety or distress after a 20 per cent increase in referrals to psychological support services.

Local cafes and shops showed a big increase in trade from Perth visitors in the last two weekends of May when the State government ended its Wheatbelt lockdown and eased social distancing rules.

However, many visitors appeared to be ignoring social distancing rules on crowded pavements and in the Charcoal Lane car park.

The virus has killed 370,000 people worldwide and more than 100 in Australia.
WA’s interstate and overseas borders stayed shut at the start of this month but travel to Perth and elsewhere in WA was allowed to resume from the third week of May.

Official figures show that about 10 per cent of Australia’s 7000 known infections were spread locally from unknown sources.

Infected people remain contagious for up to 14 days unless the virus takes hold and develops into a cough or fever.

State health officials say people still need to “keep 1.5m away from others where possible and maintain good personal hygiene” after restrictions ease from June 6.

The Wheatbelt Health Network says Covid-19 can be spread unknowingly by people without symptoms to others who then become contagious without symptoms and can again unknowingly pass to virus onto others who become ill.

“That’s why it’s important to maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres and continue to wash hands regularly – it’s a silent risk,” a Wheatbelt Health spokesman said.

“That’s also why it’s important for everyone with a smartphone to download the government’s COVIDsafe app so the virus can be traced through potential contacts and people at risk tested and, if necessary, isolated to prevent further spread.

“Six million people have done it so far.

“Healthy people with strong personal immune systems will defeat the virus after two weeks unless it develops into a cough or a fever,” the spokesperson said.

“Anyone who feels unwell should stay home and self-isolate to stop any potential spread and call a doctor for advice.”

The spokesperson said one good outcome from social distancing restrictions was a “phenomenal” drop in the number of people seeking medical treatment for common colds and influenza.

“A lot more people this year also had flu vaccinations, which helped to reduce the number of reported cases at clinics and hospitals,” the spokesperson said.

However, the virus has caused a 20 per cent increase in the number of Toodyay people seeking clinical help to deal with emotional distress, including anxiety about financial concerns and personal relationships.

Local clinical psychologist Richard Taylor said people experiencing anxiety or distress could call Toodyay’s Alma Beard Medical Centre for a doctor’s referral to his bulk-billing practice to get tele-help support at home via a smartphone, tablet or computer, or visit his clinic.

“This makes it much easier for people living in rural areas to get help, he said.

“A lot of my work is now done this way.”

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Shire President Rosemary Madacsi earlier declared a proximity interest and left the chamber because she owns a property adjoining an impassable 110m section of North Street that is currently closed to traffic.

Shire Deputy President Beth Ruthven chaired the debate among the remaining seven councillors (one seat vacant) which resulted in what was initially recorded as a 4-3 decision to open and upgrade the road.

However, the motion was later declared lost because the decision to spend unbudgeted money lacked an absolute majority.

Cr Bell said the council was trying to cut costs and did not need to spend an extra $95,000 on a road that was already closed.

Cr Susan Pearce, whose motion to re-open North Street was seconded by Cr Brian Rayner, said successive councils had debated the issue for 20 years and a decision was needed.

Cr Ruthven later served a notice of motion for this month’s council meeting at 4pm on Tuesday June 23 that North Street’s temporary closed status between Fitzgerald Terrace and Collett Way be removed and that $95,000 be considered in the shire’s 2020-21 budget to surface it with gravel.

She replaces former Cr Bill Manning, who resigned last month to move to Tasmania.

Audit Committee Chair Beth Ruthven (shown left being sworn in by Cr Brian Rayner JP) was elected new shire deputy president.

Cr Therese Chitty ran unsuccessfully for shire president in her third failed attempt in four years after saying publicly last February that she wouldn’t run again.

Cr Paula Greenway lost her second bid since 2017 to be elected deputy.

It is understood Crs Manning, Ruthven, Madacsi, Susan Pearce and Phil Hart voted for Cr Madacsi, and Crs Brian Rayner, Ben Bell, Chitty and Greenway voted for Cr Chitty.

Councillors voted 5-4 similarly to appoint Shire of York Corporate and Community Services Executive Manager Suzie Haslehurst (below) to be Toodyay’s new shire CEO.

It is understood Ms Haslehurst was one of four shortlisted candidates interviewed by councillors last month after the job attracted more than 20 applicants.

The result was a win for five new councillors who were elected last year for the first time by all Toodyay voters, and a defeat for a veteran minority (excluding Cr Bell) who were elected in 2017 under now-abolished rules that barred most Toodyay voters from having a say in their elections.

Nobody voted for Cr Rayner because he was the only candidate to nominate in the now-abolished North Ward.

Ms Haslehurst replaces former Shire CEO Stan Scott, whose contract was terminated last month after he failed to convince councillors last year to let him keep his job for another three to four years.

Mr Scott’s last day is Tuesday May 12 but he has been on extended sick leave for three months and is not expected to return to work.

The shire is currently awaiting the outcome of a year-long State Government inquiry into its operations and affairs, and “reasonable suspicion” that the council may have breached local government law.

The new shire CEO will be expected to manage a response to any recommendations arising from the inquiry, the result of which has yet to be released by WA Local Government Minister David Templeman.

His department sent a draft to the State Solicitor’s Office last December to decide if any part should be withheld as evidence for prosecution before the findings are made public.

IT IS understood the inquiry was reopened last February to examine a new $1.1 million shire contract awarded last year without calling for public tenders.

In answer to a public question in March, former shire president Manning said it was not advertised because the previous council had voted 8-0 last August for Mr Scott to “source a suitable contractor” under a State Government ‘common use agreement’.

It is understood the fresh investigation has delayed the release of a final inquiry report.

The council has appointed Shire Corporate Services Manager Chileya Luangala as Acting CEO to manage the Covid-19 emergency and budget review until Ms Haslehurst starts work in June or sooner.

Ms Haslehurst has worked for four years at the Shire of York, including earlier this year and previously as acting CEO.

She was previously Acting Director of Community and Economic Development and Manager of Community Development for four years at the Shire of Broome.

Ms Haslehurst also has a background in arts administration, chaired Country Arts WA for a total of eight years, was CEO of Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation for 11 years, chaired the Performing Arts Touring Alliance for two years, was national president of Regional Arts Australia for two years and Buzz Dance Theatre general manager for four years.

She holds a University of South Australia graduate diploma in management and studied at Mt Eliza Business School.

It is understood Ms Haslehurst has signed a four-year contract with an initial six-month trial and has started making plans to move to Toodyay.

From the photos, phone calls and messages we have received, even with the disappointment felt over the cancellation of services due to the Covid-19 no gatherings rule, most (including Toodyay Fire and rescue volunteers (right) and regular Anzac Parade leader Warren Hall (below) were able to commemorate this day in unique yet safe ways while adhering to the restrictions.

 

The sub-branch is very impressed and grateful with the way our members and the wider community embraced the driveway vigil and altered commemorations.

We look forward to the day we can meet again and share the camaraderie that would normally accompany this day.

Until then, take care and stay safe.

Our sub-branch would like to sincerely thank the Toodyay Country Women’s Association ladies for their generous and timely donation of freshly baked Anzac biscuits.

Due to Covid-19 social-distancing regulations, the wood raffle on Friday and Saturday May 15 and 16 outside the IGA has been cancelled as has the RSLWA Congress in June.