The result represents a clean sweep to replace a former Toodyay council publicly discredited by 23 adverse findings against it and a former CEO when the results of a year-long State Government inquiry were tabled in the WA State Parliament last year.

This year’s four candidates were the only nominees for four council vacancies, which means there will be no postal ballot of Toodyay electors this month.

It will be the first time in shire history that all elected members will represent all Toodyay voters after minority ward representation was abolished two years ago.

The council’s two remaining veteran councillors elected under the former ward system – Crs Brian Rayner (shire president 2017-19) and Therese Chitty (deputy president 2015-19) – did not stand for re-election when their terms expire this month.

A third veteran of the abolished ward system, former Cr Paula Greenway, resigned last March.

Cr McKeown was first elected in a postal ballot of all Toodyay voters in July last year after former Cr Bill Manning (shire president 2019-2020) resigned to move to Tasmania.

Cr McKeown and the three new councillors are due to start their four-year terms on Saturday October 16.

A special council meeting has been called for 1pm on Monday October 18 to swear in the four elected members, who will then join the other five sitting members to elect a president for the next two years.

Cr Rosemary Madacsi currently holds that position and is expected to renominate.

Shire CEO Suzie Haslehurst said a five per cent increase would generate a surplus of $80,000 in the current financial year.

Councillor payments would remain the same except for an additional $1000 travel allowance which will be shared by all elected members from a single fund.

Use of Toodyay’s new Recreation Centre facilities – including the swimming pool – will cost five per cent more, as will rubbish collection, hall hire, cemetery fees, planning applications and other costs.

The increases apply from October 1.

The council heard earlier that a four per cent rate rise would leave a $30,000 deficit.
However, the last-minute discovery of a $70,000 double entry in cost allocations would have turned it into a $40,000 surplus.

Cr Susan Pearce said the shire was in a precarious position after the expense of two major storms but needed to be mindful not to over-burden the community with increases.

Cr Phil Hart said roads had been under-funded for years – there was a legal and moral responsibility for future generations.

Shire Deputy President and Audit Committee Chair Beth Ruthven said a break-even budget was too risky “in these unpredictable times”.

“We have little in our reserves and we need to be in a more resilient position with a forward-thinking budget,” she said.

Several powerboats capsized in the torrent and safety marshals had to rescue two contestants after their craft flipped in a tight turn and was swept over the weir.

A new category of powerboats also made an appearance, with some becoming airborne as they cleared the weir.

This year’s entrants in all categories faced stronger currents and higher river flows after weeks of heavy rain in the Avon Valley catchment area.

State Government records showed river levels at nearly two metres for the race.

Locals and visitors were also treated to a fun-filled Saturday festival with lunch and live music at the town’s annual International Food Festival in Stirling Park.

Contestants woke next morning to chilly waters, thick foam and dense morning mist as they set off downstream from the traditional Cobbler Pool overnight campsite.

Several kayak entrants capsized in the rapids, with most recovering quickly.

Some had significant trouble regaining their balance and several lost boats that were rapidly swept away downstream.

One lost his paddle in thick white foam and had to use a collapsible emergency paddle clipped to the front of his kayak to resume the race before again capsizing moments later.

The shire-owned property next door to his home contains a dilapidated timber-framed building (left) that was transported from Cue to Toodyay in 1919 for use as manual training schoolroom before it was again moved to its current site and used as a police station.

The building consists mainly of one large room with an unsewered outdoor toilet at the back.

It is not on the Shire of Toodyay heritage list or municipal inventory and is not State heritage council listed but is noted in council policy as being in the town’s central heritage area and having “some” level of significance.

The land is currently zoned R10 for a single dwelling with plans to increase the zoning to accommodate three strata-titled units.

The current building is not designed to be a dwelling and is unsuitable for family use.

In 2008, the Toodyay Historical Society supported moving the building about 60m to a new site in Clinton Street.

Mr Graham told a July council meeting that he would refer the shire’s proposed land sale to the State Administrative Tribunal and the WA Ombudsman because he said it “breached council policy”.

He said in the chamber after the meeting that the council was “telling lies”.

A shire letter read out at last month’s auction said that local planning policy provided a “presumption against demolition” and that council approval must be sought “should demolition be proposed”.

Prior to the start, Mr Graham began handing out leaflets to about 30 people present, including potential buyers.

Auctioneer Tony Maddox went over to Mr Graham and asked him to stop.

Mr Graham told Mr Maddox that the auction was being held in a public place which meant that he was legally entitled to continue handing out his leaflets.

Mr Maddox said the CWA Hall was on private property and that it was his auction to conduct without interference.

Mr Graham continued arguing and was  told by Mr Maddox that if he did not stop handing out the leaflets, police would be called to remove him from the premises.

Mr Graham was then seen to depart the hall  with his leaflets and return empty-handed.

Mr Maddox said later that the incident was extremely upsetting, and his hands were clearly shaking when he read out the terms of the auction prior to calling for opening bids.

“I’ve been an auctioneer for 27 years and have never experienced anything like this before,” Mr Maddox said.

Mr Maddox said he had earlier received two letters from Mr Graham warning that he risked personal liability for “punitive action” if potential buyers were not given “critical information” that would affect the “price, owners’ costs and all future works”.

It is understood the shire also received several letters and emails from Mr Graham in the weeks and days leading up to the auction.

Mr Graham – who served three terms as Labor MP for the Pilbara from 1989 to 2001 and one term as an Independent MP (2001-2005) – declined to respond to requests on his Facebook page and from The Herald to disclose the contents of his auction leaflet.

Bidding for the Duke Street property opened at $50,000 and resulted in a successful offer of $75,000 from a Perth buyer.

It is understood the new owner plans to use the building initially as a ‘weekender’.

Mr Graham later declined to return  a Herald phone call for comment and texted  the following message on condition it be printed in full or not at all.

“Because of your Facebook posts I no longer have any confidence that you can report objectively.

“The only comments I wish to make are that every claim I made about the heritage of the property was validated.

“A level of disclosure was made that verified both that heritage status and the protections afforded by council policy.

“Without my intervention the council would have acted unlawfully.

“The original advertisements to remove the building from the property were withdrawn because to take that action was unlawful.

“The council still has never been advised correctly that their own policy and town plan protected this property.

“I met the new owner and wished him well.”

Two other shire-owned lots in Telegraph Road – one with a house on it – were sold as a single parcel to local civil contractor Vernice for $265,000.

Last month’s land sales were the first in a series of public auctions of 12 shire-owned residential properties to help pay off shire debt during what local real estate agents describe as a local land sales boom.

There would be “no direct impact to wildlife or significant habitats,” the company said in its latest newsletter.

“Small track-mounted diamond drill rigs would be used to minimise our impact and footprint,” it said.

“These roll over low-lying vegetation and navigate around trees, eliminating the need for mechanised vegetation.

“All drill water and cuttings will be captured in portable containers and removed.”
Chalice says it has spent more than $400,000 in the Toodyay community since announcing last year’s discovery.