Population growth in hamlet driving need to work ‘hand in hand’ with volunteer groups

Population growth in outlying communities is heaping pressure on the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River to deliver more facilities without breaking the budget.

Working more closely with local voluntary committees — with more action and less talk — was flagged by elected members last week in response to a push to do more for Gracetown.

Councillors unanimously backed the motion from Cr David Binks to develop a proactive and shovel-ready plan for Gracetown after years of meetings and projects going off the radar due to staff changes.

And extending that hands-on approach to communities such as Witchcliffe, Cowaramup and Augusta was cited as part of councillors’ support for the plan.

Councillors including Cr Binks at last Wednesday’s meeting expressed optimism the new approach would serve Margaret River’s fast-growing hamlets as well as Augusta.

Witchcliffe Community Association president Todd Giles said there was a disconnect between the Shire and residents in part due to the lack of a wards system, meaning no individual councillor represented outlying areas.

Like other groups, Witchcliffe volunteers were unimpressed by years of meetings that had still not delivered projects, such as a coveted children’s playground.

“I’m in my 16th year as president of the Witchcliffe Community Association and a comprehensive playground central in the original Witchcliffe townsite (plan) has pretty much been on our agenda for that period,” he said.

“We were sent plans for a playground in 2018 for our perusal and choices of location and type.

“We held meetings and gave feedback only to be told we weren’t meant to be sent those plans.”

Mr Giles believed communities outside of Margaret River deserved investment of ratepayer funds.

He also said developer contributions were being stockpiled instead of spent.

Margaret River Coastal Residents Association chair Adrian Wilson said recent meetings with acting chief executive Arthur Kyron and Shire president Julia Meldrum were positive and augured a more proactive approach to coastal issues after “a difficult period” getting responses to questions put to shire staff.

Parkwater Residents Association committee member Lisa Bell believed things were turning around in ratepayers’ relationship with the local government from recent activism.

“It feels like Cowaramup and Gracetown have been a low priority for the shire,” she said.

“It has taken many years to get any traction on road safety in our town.”

Gracetown-Cowaramup Bay Community president Richard Muirhead welcomed the new plan with a firm April deadline.