Only two people have nominated for the 15 available positions.

ABC [read this story]

You can read a media release here:

Do you know someone who’s gone above and beyond?

Has your business exceeded all expectations?

Does an environmental group or community organisation deserve a pat on the back?

Why not nominate them into the 2012 Regional Achievement and Community Awards!

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley is a proud sponsor of the 2012 Regional Achievement and Community Awards to be officially launched by the Shire on Wednesday 30 May in the Lovell Gallery, 114 Konkerberry Drive, Kununurra from 10:30am – 11:30am.

The invitation is open to the community to attend the launch, and to find out how they can nominate their business, service club, environmental group, community organisation or someone they know that deserves a pat on the back for their community contribution.

Wendy Duncan MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development; Lands will officially call for nominations.

An invitation and a list of the categories can be downloaded from www.swek.wa.gov.au.

More than half of this is to be spent on the Ord River irrigation expansion, with the remainder going to projects in Kununurra, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby and Broome.

You can read a government media release here:

State Budget 2012-13: Building the State; Supporting our Community – $213.8million for Kimberley

• $115m from the Royalties for Regions Program for the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project
• $14.1million for various water supply works
• $12.1m for ongoing improvements to power services within Broome &  Kununurra
• $11.7million for continued construction of Kununurra Courthouse
• $11m from Royalties for Regions Program for improvements to Derby High School
• $10million for completion of the West Kimberley Regional Prison
• $7.2m from Royalties for Regions Program for improvements to Broome SHS
• $2.7million for the Broome Mental Health Facility
• $2.5million to commence construction of the Fitzroy Crossing Courthouse

The Kimberley region is set to benefit from more than $213.8million provided in the 2012-13 State Budget to build and support the community.

Treasurer Christian Porter said the Kimberley region would gain from significant and sustained investment by the State Government in infrastructure and social initiatives.

“The Liberal-National Government recognises the important contribution the Kimberley region makes to Western Australia and is committed to improving the standard of living in regional WA,” Mr Porter said.

The Treasurer said the $196million surplus provided in the State’s Budget for 2012-13 reflected the Liberal-National Government’s strong leadership and disciplined financial management.

“This Budget helps ensure the continued growth of the Kimberley region and is part of a longer term plan by the Government to maintain and strengthen the vibrancy of regional WA,” he said.

“At the same time, the Government is supporting our community through targeted programs to assist those most in need.”

Record investment in regional WA is also set to continue with a total of $1.1billion budgeted through the Royalties for Regions program in 2012-13.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said that since the introduction of the Royalties for Regions program in 2008, more than 2,000 programs and projects, large and small, had been or were being implemented across the State.

“These include transformational programs such as Pilbara Cities; Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project; Mid West Investment Plan; Gascoyne Revitalisation; GROH Housing program; and the Southern Inland Health Initiative,” Mr Grylls said.

“After three continuous years of unprecedented Government investment, Royalties for Regions is making regional WA a better place to live, work and invest than ever before.”

Fact File Major State Budget initiatives that will benefit all of regional WA include: Health $151m over 3 years (with $60m in 2012‑13) for Information & Communication Technology to implement priority projects focused on Fiona Stanley Hospital & Albany Health Campus an additional $40m in 2013‑14 for the replacement of priority clinical & diagnostic medical equipment in WA hospitals Education additional funding of $341m (including $43m from Royalties for Regions) over 3 years from 2012‑13 to build new facilities at 29 secondary schools to accommodate year 7 students, to supply an additional 46 buses & retrain up to 525 primary school teachers Transport and Roads $39m in 2012-13 for the $1b Gateway WA project, which will complement the planned consolidation of the Perth Airport, manage road congestion in the area, & enhance & protect the performance of the road freight network in the Kewdale & Forrestfield areas Families introduction of the new $200 Cost of Living Assistance payment from October 1, 2012, which will replace the smaller Supply Charge Rebate $4m over 4 years from 2012‑13 to upgrade 41 family centres & 29 child care centres Seniors extension of the Seniors Safety and Security Rebate Disadvantaged and vulnerable an additional $15m in 2012‑13 and $63m over the 4 years to 2015‑16 to address increasing demand for child protection services funding of $9m over 3 years to provide an additional 16 homes for Mental Health Commission clients who are unable to secure appropriate private housing Community Safety $6m over 4 years to monitor the 16 offenders currently subject to the Dangerous Sex Offenders Act 2006 through the use of Global Positioning System tracking $12m over 4 years to target unacceptable behaviour by public housing tenants under the Government’s Disruptive Behaviour Management Policy Environment and Heritage $15m over 4 years to establish new marine parks in the South-West & Pilbara regions, including management plans and visitor facilities an extra $33m in recurrent & capital funding allocated over the next 4 years to improve the Department of Environment and Conservation’s fire preparedness $1m to upgrade existing oxygenation plants on the Canning River, and a further $1m in 2013‑14 to build a new oxygenation plant on the Swan Canning Riverpark Employment and Training an additional $99m over the 2 years from 2012‑13 for the delivery of training services in WA and to help address the State’s future labour needs Building the State a total investment in infrastructure by the Government of $26.4b over the next 4 years, including $7.6b in 2012‑13 $167m in 2012‑13 to continue development of the inlet & public domain as part of the Perth Waterfront project Royalties for Regions a total of $1.1b Royalties for Regions expenditure budgeted for in 2012‑13 $100m committed in 2012-13 to the Housing for Workers program WA Budget statements are available at http://ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au

]]> http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/2012/05/budget-allocates-213million-to-kimberley/feed/ 0 http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/2012/05/swek-move-to-keep-kids-off-the-streets/ http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/2012/05/swek-move-to-keep-kids-off-the-streets/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 14:29:09 +0000 admin http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/?p=25778 Wyndham East Kimberley shire has a new program to help keep kids off the streets at night.

You can read a shire media release here:

media release

OPERATION SHARP OPERATION SHARP OPERATION SHARP OPERATION SHARP OPERATION SHARP

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley supports the latest initiative to keep our kids safe and off the streets at night.

Operation SHARP stands for Safely Home with A Responsible Person and will work with families to keep kids safe at home every night and at school every day.

“The Shire believes tackling the families and carers is the right thing to do”, says John Moulden Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley President.

“If there is too much alcohol or not enough food in the house then the child’s parent(s) or carers will be put on income management and they’ll have to stop drinking alcohol at their house.

We’re all concerned about the number of kids on the streets at night and have been for some time so the Shire is supporting Operation SHARP by allowing the Youth Centre to be used during the operation, Shire staff will be involved and we’ll be giving DCP and other agencies access to Shire buses.

We also want local business to get behind this initiative by continuing to refuse service to kids during school hours as every child deserves to be safe and have access to an education”.

Operation SHARP will commence Monday June 4 at 10pm until Sunday June 10 concluding at 2:30am.

If you think you can help then there will be a community BBQ June 12 at 5:30pm at Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation.

WAToday [read this story]

Photo by Rod Hartvigsen

Broome shire has removed many anti-gas hub protest signs from around the town.

ABC [read this story]

Broome Community Gas Hub members camping out at Manari Road say they have been issued with move-on notices.

You can read a statement from the group here:

MEDIA ADVISORY

Manari Road campers issued with Warning Notices by the Shire

17 May 2012

This morning, Broome Shire rangers issued around 15 ‘Warning Notices’ to tents currently erected at Manari Road corner.

The warning notices state that the campers have committed an offence under the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act.

The campers are seeking further clarification before deciding on their response.

The West Australian [read this story]

Wendy Duncan MLC

Wendy Duncan MLC says boat ramps at Town Beach and Entrance Point will get $113,000 worth of upgrades.

You can read her announcement here:

16 MAY 2012

ROYALTIES FOR REGIONS IN RECREATIONAL BOATING INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES

Recreational boating facilities in the Kimberley are to be upgraded with projects funded by the

Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme (RBFS), in an announcement welcomed by Mining and

Pastoral Region MP, Hon Wendy Duncan MLC.

“Of the $6 million allocated to the RBFS in this round, $4.66 million has been allocated from

Royalties for Regions funding,” said Ms Duncan.

Traditionally the RBFS was funded from boat registration fees but last year Royalties for

Regions committed $20 million over four funding rounds of the scheme that resulted in a fivefold

increase in RBFS grant funding available for regional projects.

Two projects in the Kimberley were allocated a total of $113,963 and included:-

 The Broome Port Authority who has been granted $80,213 to restore the southern and

eastern boat launching ramps at Entrance Point.

 The Shire of Broome who will receive $33,750 to plan an upgrade of the Town Beach

ramp to improve the safety of the facility.

A total of 38 projects throughout WA have received funding in the latest round.

“Recreational boating is a significant contributor to the tourism industry across the State, and

appropriate planning for boat access provides greater environmental control of our coastal and

lake shores,” said Ms Duncan.

“The continuation of Royalties for Regions funding to the Recreational Boating Facilities

Scheme will support both the enjoyment and environmental impact control of recreational

boating in these areas.”

Further information about the Royalties for Regions commitment to recreational boating is

available at http://www.rdl.wa.gov.au/grantandfunding/Pages/Recreational-Boating-Facilities-

Scheme.aspx

Barry Haase MHR

Local member Barry Haase says the Gillard Government’s budget does nothing for small business in this electorate.

“The greatest insult from the Gillard Government is the toxic carbon tax.

“Small business will be hit the hardest because their costs will go up and up and up as the carbon price goes up and up and up, and they won’t receive a single cent in compensation,” Mr Haase said.

You can read his statement here:

Barry Haase

Federal Member for Durack

M E D I A R E L E A S E

Carbon Tax and Small Business

16 May 2012

Mr Barry Haase, Member for Durack said the Federal Budget offered little or nothing for small businesses in Durack about to be whacked by the world’s biggest carbon tax.

“The Gillard Government has shown that its got no feel for small business, offering nothing new in the budget to provide immediate relief to struggling businesses with the sector seeing a 48 per cent increase in insolvencies,” Mr Haase said.

“First the Gillard Government broke its promise not to introduce a carbon tax, now it’s broken its promise to cut the company tax rate.

“Carbon tax‐related ‘sweeteners’ in the form of accelerated depreciation allowances rely on small businesses having the ready cash to spend on new capital items.

“The Gillard Government’s abolition of the Entrepreneurs Tax Offset has increased tax for nearly 370,000 of our smallest businesses, including micro, home‐based, independent contractor and start‐up businesses, with incomes of less than $75,000.

Mr Haase said the Institute of Chartered Accountants rightly identifies that 80 per cent of all small businesses have no prospect of gaining any benefit from ‘loss carry back’ as they are not structured as corporations and fewer still could satisfy the complicated eligibility criteria under current trading conditions.

“The local corner shop in Durack is not only going to have to deal with an increase in costs for supplies and electricity, it’s also going to have pressure from consumers looking for a bargain as cost of living pressures increase and unemployment rises as forecasted in the Budget,” Mr Haase said.

“The greatest insult from the Gillard Government is the toxic carbon tax. Small business will be hit the hardest because their costs will go up and up and up as the carbon price goes up and up and up, and they won’t receive a single cent in compensation.”

Mr Haase said the Liberal Party had a clear road map to restore hope, reward and opportunity for small business by scrapping the carbon tax and getting out of the way of business by slashing $1 billion worth of red tape. END

Picture by Rod Hartvigsen

Protestors staged a demonstration outside Woodside’s Perth office yesterday.

The Age says further protests against the proposed gas hub are planned in Sydney and Melbourne today.

The Age [read this story]