The inquiry followed 11 months of monitoring by Perth local government officials after a formal warning that the shire had shown “not only a lack of understanding of the provisions of legislation also a propensity to misinterpret other legalities and procedures”.

THE MINISTER authorised the inquiry to examine:

• the adequacy of and adherence to council policies and procedures by elected members and administration staff;
• enforcement actions undertaken by the Shire of Toodyay;
  the function of the audit committee;
• declarations of interests by elected members;
• the culture within the shire, and
• any other matter that comes to the person’s attention during the inquiry.

The investigation included the loss of more than $570,000 of ratepayers’ money in a failed legal action against two former shire leaders, other botched court cases that cost tens of thousands of dollars, unlawful rates, a failed bid to sell O’Reilly’s Cottage for $530,000 and the resignation of former Cr Di Granger amid allegations of bullying.

Investigators attended council meetings, examined shire records and questioned witnesses during their probe.

A draft report on the findings was sent to the State Solicitor’s Office earlier this year to decide if any prosecutions should occur.

A confidential edited version was sent to councillors in July for comment before a final report was forwarded to the Minister.

The State will publish the findings when they are tabled in Parliament.

New Shire CEO Suzie Haslehurst said it was likely the findings would also be published on the shire website.

Anyone now wanting to light a fire – no matter how small – must first obtain a shire permit with strict conditions which must be adhered to.

Permits generally require at least two independent sources of pressurised water – such as a mobile firefighting unit on the back of a ute.

For example, a single hose supplying water from an electric pump connected to a mains electricity supply is insufficient because a power cut will stop the flow of water.

People who obtain permission to light fires this month are required by law to ensure it is

done correctly – failure to do so may result in an infringement notice or prosecution.
All fires must be carefully watched and managed at all times until they are completely extinguished.

This is particularly important for people with small ‘lifestyle’ bush blocks who may live elsewhere and visit Toodyay only on weekends and holidays.

Most local farmers will have already completed their burning-off and we find it is generally smaller landholders who want to burn at this time of the year.

Volunteer firefighters have arrived at bushfires in recent years to find a locked gate and the owner gone after leaving the smouldering remains of a fire that later re-ignited and burnt out of control.

Police involvement is likely in such cases of negligence.

Bush fire control officers appointed by the shire will assess all applications for permits in line with local conditions.

If issued, a permit lasts up to seven days but that doesn’t automatically mean that a fire can be safely lit at all timMinister gets final report on Toodyay inquiry findingses during that period.

It is essential that anyone with a permit to light a fire should first check local weather conditions before starting.

Local wind forecasts need to be checked to ensure they remain light for the duration of a fire and that no change of direction is predicted.

Some people mistakenly assume that a forecast of rain means it is safe to light a fire but in fact it usually indicates strengthening winds and a change of direction.

Look for low and consistent winds over the entire period of a fire.

I highly recommend that people use the Bureau of Meteorology’s MetEye online weather forecasts to check three-hourly predictions for wind strength and direction, relative humidity and temperature.

Burning should occur according to conditions – not the calendar.
If in doubt, it is better not to burn at all and wait until conditions improve.

I would also like to remind all local property owners that they have until Saturday November 1 to ensure their properties comply with the Shire of Toodyay’s annual Fire-Break Notice.

Perimeter firebreaks are not designed to prevent fires from spreading but to allow safe and ready access for firefighting vehicles responding to emergency callouts.

Firebreak notices also include other requirements such as removing overhanging branches from buildings and maintaining low fuel areas around buildings.

Shire rangers will start checking properties from Sunday November 1.
Ratepayers and occupiers risk fines if they are found to be in breach of their firebreak notices.

Everyone is urged to play their part to help our community prepare for this year’s fire season.

This includes preparing your property, discussing your fire plan with your family and keeping abreast of restrictions, alerts and warnings.

Visit emergency.wa.gov.au and listen to ABC local radio to stay abreast of Total Fire Ban information, alerts and warnings.

The shire’s free SMS service provides information on harvest, vehicle movement and hot works bans, other restrictions imposed by bush fire control officers or changes to prohibited or restricted burning periods – simply SMS the word BANS to 0408 017 439 to subscribe.

Your efforts can greatly help our dedicated volunteer firefighters to keep our community safe and protect lives and property.

Anyone interested in joining a volunteer bush fire brigade to learn valuable new skills with a great team of like-minded people should contact their local brigade or the shire.

More information is available on the shire website at toodyay.wa.gov.au and the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services at dfes.wa.gov.au.

A large new wading pool under shade for young families to cool off during Toodyay’s hot dry summer months.

 

Four new multi-purpose basketball and netball courts with pavilion and changeroooms behind.

Pavilion view of four new multi-purpose basketball and netball courts.

Builders check plans inside spacious new community pavilion and changerooms.

Anyone for tennis? There’ll be plenty of room for everyone on Toodyay’s four new synthetic courts.

Chamber committee member Bob Schrader said the remaining funds would be used to promote the chamber’s Toodyay Dollars campaign to encourage more people to buy locally in the shire.

The chamber’s Facebook video was launched on August 22 and reached nearly 10,000 people in the first three days.

It was shared 100 times, including by the WA Regional Chamber of Commerce, which encouraged its 7500 members to share the Toodyay video with thousands more online viewers across the state.

The video is also being promoted on Facebook by Targa West, which has 13,500 online subscribers and is running its annual car rally through Toodyay on Saturday October 24.

Mr Schrader said the new campaign is aimed at people who live within a 75km radius of Perth’s central business district.

“We aim to encourage more people from the greater metropolitan area to take a one-hour trip to experience Toodyay,” he said.

The September promotion is being run alongside the chamber’s Toodyay Dollars campaign which was launched in 2018 and has attracted more than $10,000 in sales for the chamber’s 50 local business partners.

Toodyay Dollars can be bought – dollar for dollar – across the counter at the town’s Bendigo Bank in Stirling Terrace for use as gifts and prizes to be spent at local shops and businesses throughout the shire.

Traders can return spent Toodyay Dollars to the bank for the amount to be credited back to their accounts.

Toodyay Dollars are available as $10, $20 and $50 notes but can’t be exchanged at shops for cash.

New participants wanting to join the Toodyay ‘buy local’ scheme can do so free of charge simply by joining the chamber.

Mr Schrader said the program is being managed by local bank manager and chamber treasurer Kirsten Barrack and is separate to normal banking business.

He said Toodyay business activity had “certainly picked up” since the end of the pandemic lockdown in July, as shown by the increased numbers of weekend visitors spending their money in local shops and at other tourism outlets.