I am pleased to be able say that council this year has increased its commitment to local community groups by increasing its annual funding allocation to community grants, service agreements and donations to $160,000. Added to the $35,900 already committed to service agreements it has added an additional $36,300 and made $34,780 available in 2016/17 to new community grants. It also committed to a further three years funding of $41,600 per annum to Bridgetown-Greenbushes Community Landcare to fund the landcare position.
Other amounts are also made available at the discretion of the CEO for hall hire subsidies and other donations, as well as funding to provide rubbish and recycling collection for community events. The council strongly supports the provision of this funding which enables community groups to provide a wide range of services and activities and will support maintenance of community assets.
After several months of consultation and research, council, at its June meeting adopted The Aged Friendly Communities Plan 2016-2020. The council’s Access & Inclusion Advisory Committee is working through the plan and prioritising the action items.
We are continuing the consultation with the youth of the shire after the initial consultation, which was undertaken at each high school, and from which young leaders have been identified to now be engaged in problem solving issues around consultation with disengaged youth or young people that travel away from the region for schooling.
I was extremely pleased and humbled to be asked to unveil the new Somme Park Memorial on the July 23. The Bridgetown RSL and the shire have brought together this memorial which will stand as a reminder to everyone of the sad loss of life suffered in the battles of the Somme in WWI. The memorial on one stone provides a brief description of the Battles of the Somme and the other lists the names of those who enlisted in Bridgetown who were killed in these battles.
Council at its July meeting endorsed a Community Engagement Strategy for the full review of its Strategic Community Plan. This plan provides council with the blueprint for what it is that the community wants to be provided, achieved and planned for the next five years. When the consultation process is advertised, I would urge everyone to be involved and be sure that what you feel is important for the future of Bridgetown-Greenbushes is articulated at one of the community consultation workshops.
– John Nicholas JP
