Cr Kaara Andrew, Shire of Capel | Other
Cr Kaara Andrew, Shire of Capel
Phone: +61 433 802 192
Reviews
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25.01.2022 With the Shire's report into the fire incident which saw a volunteer fire brigade officer injured, I can now publicly comment on my thoughts and opinion on the report. Firstly, it is my understanding that the report itself has been categorised by DFES as not a report into the incident but a review of the procedures in place at the Shire and I agree with this summation. When the then Acting CEO instructed an inquiry be undertaken and a report written, assistance was sought fr...Continue reading
25.01.2022 https://fb.me/e/1CuYk6sx8
24.01.2022 Yesterday, the Member and parties attended the Asphalt Plant in Malaga to observe an asphalt plant in action. The Member and parties then proceeded to Lot 3 Allendale Road. They then progressed to Lot 27, noting the bunting, vegetation and traffic. The proposed BORR route was identified. They then proceeded to visit BCGS, again noting the local traffic and local area. There is now discussion regarding the noise, odour and particles that was observed in Malaga.
23.01.2022 Today I was honoured to attend the campaign launch for Kieran Noonan’s tilt at being elected to the Legislative Council at next year’s State election. With Labor replacing south west based Adele Farina with Alana MacTiernan, Sally Talbot and Hannah Beasley, the south west needs local representation; Not candidates based in Perth and who merely grace the south west region during long weekends and holiday season. We deserve candidates who live, work and play in the south west ...region, who understand local issues affecting the communities we live in. The Western Australian Party - a centrist political party based in Western Australia who is the only party championing policies that are in the best interests of Western Australia. Best of luck Kieran Noonan! https://www.facebook.com/Kieran4SouthWest/
23.01.2022 The proposed southern BORR route through the Gelorup corridor is currently open for both the State and Federal environmental assessment process. Come along to our community event this Saturday 3pm at the Gelorup community centre on Hasties Road, where we will provide support to write effective submissions based on the facts. There will also be some templates made available online from next week, so please stay tuned.
23.01.2022 We will be reconvening at 1.15 with the planners giving evidence
22.01.2022 McLeods have produced a series of maps showing the location of the other WA Asphaltech plants being in industrial/light industrial zones areas. McLeods has raised the odour issues and the air contamination given the requirement of Gelorup residents need to have rain water tanks and collect rain water off their roofs. The Member definitely noted that second point down. McLeods raises the fact with the Asphaltech’s planner that he has used the phrase several times that an asphalt plant would have negligible increase in adverse impacts for residents. He stands by his comments and claims that odour and particulates can be managed.
21.01.2022 Asphaltech’s Solicitor - re. Amenity of the Area - rural zones were established with a known proximity to the quarries and extractive industry. Shire Planner - considers the application for an asphalt plant is a completely different to an extractive industry based on the evidence/reports of the odour and noise experts, in addition to complaints received from residents regarding the current extractive industry activity and the memorials on several Certificates of Title listin...g issues with vibrations from the quarries. Asphaltech’s Solicitor raises the activity of screening and limited processing that already occurs at the sites. In addition that the trucks, noise, dust and vibrations already create amenity issues for the area and that the plant will only negligibly increase those amenity issues. Shires planner - raises the issue of the cumulative affect of noise, traffic and odour. (Own comment - will be raised more with experts). Asphaltech’s solicitor - discussing how the current preferred BORR alignment will change the amenity of the area and compromise the environment with its design and access roads. Also how the access point off Hasties Road will be upgraded and capable of accomodating the increase in traffic. McLeods has objected to the comments and questioning. Asphaltech’s Solicitor has rephrased. Shires planner says he isn’t a traffic expert, Asphaltech’s planner says the Hasties Road upgrade will benefit residents living along Hasties Road. He is not sure what residents are unhappy about and referred to the signs in people’s front yards that they saw yesterday.
21.01.2022 https://www.capel.wa.gov.au/community/youth/drive/
21.01.2022 https://facebook.com/events/s/hard-waste-collection/947896609063527/?ti=icl
20.01.2022 We have reconvened and the planners representing the Shire and Asphaltech will be answering questions from the Member and Solicitors. Both have provided statements which have been tendered. Solicitor from Asphaltech has addressed Asphaltech’s planner questioning his understanding of the Shires planners report, the Shires planning scheme and zoning table. The planner has responded that the amenity that is expected in rural land use is somewhat incompatible with the zoning tab...le. The zoning table by permitting piggery’s, chicken farms, abattoirs, horse stables gives an indication that the area is meant to be ‘productive’. The heart of their argument appears to be that the Asphalt plant should be considered industry and as a prescribed use and that the fact that it is noxious shouldn’t exclude it from being permitted as any other industry permitted/prescribed land use. The Shires planner rebuts that their assessment of applications also considers emissions and it’s categorisation as industry noxious makes it incompatible with the surrounding rural area. Asphaltechs planner - Looking at the map of the area that highlights the available raw materials and quarries in the area and has highlighted Councils decision to recently permit the quarry on the Lot to recommence and that that decision highlights the industrial nature of the area. As does the Council decision to grant a 20 year staged quarrying/extraction licence. The Shires planner rebuts that saying that the processing of those raw materials is different to straight extraction and transportation and therefore needs to be assessed differently to the extraction of raw materials. Also makes the point that the Asphalt plant is a new type industry and is required to be assessed differently to the extraction of raw materials which has been occurring for decades. In his opinion, the GBRS only considers extraction and not processing.
19.01.2022 Definitely a local facility/venue worthy of an upgrade and facelift
18.01.2022 Volunteers are essential to building good communities!
18.01.2022 McLeods turn. The GBRS does not extend the definition of extractive industry to the processing of the material. *shock Asphaltech’s planner disagrees with the statement* says that he interprets the scheme to include ALL aspects of extractive industry and its processing. Discussing extraction boundaries on Shire maps and whether the asphalt plant would constrain the future expansion of residential land in a way that the extraction of raw materials doesn’t with the prescribed... separation distances. Asphaltech’s planner doesn’t see what the impacts an asphalt plant would have on residents that don’t already exist with the extraction of raw material. (Own comment - perhaps the noxious gases , hence its term as a noxious industry) Apparently a piggery is also a noxious industry! Who knew! Now I understand the constant referencing to piggery’s! Has gotten the Asphaltech’s planner to concede that the current area that has extractive licences would never be able to be changed to an industrial land use because its unsuitable due to the surrounding area. However, you have to consider current local land use and that it’s appropriate that ‘discretion’ should apply in this application because of the current extractive industry activity at the site. Has also gotten the Asphaltech’s planner to concede that but for the extractive industry activity, the application wouldn’t have even been permitted to be submitted in that land use area. That the only reason it may be permissible is because it’s an add on process to the extractive industry......but they’re not being opportunistic. McLeods raise the issue that a piggery, as keeps being raised, for example wouldn’t be placed in an industrial area, because by its nature as food production, piggery’s would be located in rural areas. An asphalt plant isn’t a part of food production and that’s the differentiating fact between the two noxious industries.
15.01.2022 It appears a Motion put forward by President Southwell for the community to engage in a conversation regarding the name Shire of Capel has caused quite a stir. What I will say is that I personally don’t think it should be renamed the Shire of Geographe. I think the word Geographe has connections to Busselton and the wine region further south from Capel. I think it would be confusing and disorientating for visitors to be called the Shire of Capel despite the fact that the Sh...ire has 23kms of coastline along Geographe bay. But I am happy to engage in a conversation with the community about a name change and/or implementing dual names and what I want to add to the conversation is this: The Capel River was named by John Garrett Bussell, an original settler of Augusta, after his daughter Capel Carter Bussell. From 1844 to 1899, the settlement which is the Shire of Capel was known as Collingnup, meaning meeting place of the birds. John Garrett Bussell and his brothers commandeered the land along the Capel River and carved out an estate exclusively for their own benefit. The Wardandi are the language group within the Noongars whose home territory in south western Western Australia encompasses the coastal land from Bunbury south to Cape Leeuwin. It’s said that the Bussell brothers engaged in the slaughter of Wardandi people with John Molloy, including the 1841 massacre where they chased and killed Wardandi people all the way up the coast from Mollakup (Capel River), through to the Muddy Lakes and up to Australind. In 2007 the State Government adopted a dual naming policy for places which recognises the importance of Aboriginal heritage and encourages its preservation. I’m more than happy to engage in respectful debate but to the keyboard warriors who have pm’d me or emailed me today using expletives or derogatory language, I’ve deleted your messages and won’t be responding.
14.01.2022 That is the end of day 1, the Hearing will definitely run till Thursday :-)
13.01.2022 It is my opinion that the anonymous article in this months Gelorup Gazette regarding tomorrow nights Agenda Motion 11.1 seems to disregard all facets of natural justice and appears to be a public smearing campaign of local volunteers. It is also my opinion that the anonymous article contains several facts which I consider misleading and/or lacking context. It is my opinion that all forms of publication require journalistic integrity, which this article appears to be lacking. It is my opinion that the incorporation of the anonymous article in a community newsletter, which is partially Shire funded is misguided and lacks decorum.
11.01.2022 The most pleasing Item that got carried at Wednesday nights OCM was the Cash for Grassroots Groups and Clubs Designed to fund a one-off community donation scheme to support all clubs, associations and sporting bodies within the Shire, to help them overcome the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. The no-strings attaches cash amount to each applicable group will be calculated at $50 per member.... Shire staff estimate that the scheme will deliver around $150,000 across all the community groups and sporting clubs operating within the Shire. The Shire conducted a community recovery and support survey during phase two COVID-19 restrictions to understand the effect of the pandemic shutdowns and social gathering restrictions on local community groups and clubs. Most arts and sports activities ceased temporarily, resulting in financial difficulties for a reported 33% of sporting clubs and 20% of community groups. Covid has meant many groups and clubs did not receive revenue from normal sources, such as membership fees or fundraisers. This has resulted in the absence of many arts, cultural and sporting programs, which provide critical avenues for the community to connect. The financial boost is hoped it will assist clubs to reconnect with local community members and improve overall community wellbeing. Community groups and clubs can register for the one-off donation at the Shire’s website capel.wa.gov.au from 1 September 2020, with the application period closing on 30 November. We also increased Council transparency by voting to record the votes of all members present as a matter of course and to continue the streaming of meetings post Covid. Although I support Councils decision I voted against the recommendation to waive the payment of Shire rates for the Capel Golf Club. As a club that has a very large member base, the opportunity to raise income through their restaurant and that has unused land assets which they are able to sell to raise capital, two ways of raising revenue which the large majority of sporting clubs and organisations don’t have, I felt that they should pay their Shire rates as levied. I am also pleased that Ramsay Road in Stratham is going to be nominated for a much needed upgrade.
11.01.2022 Dalyellup Christmas Festival, Sunday, 3pm till 8.30pm
09.01.2022 From my family to yours, wishing everyone a very merry and safe Christmas and New Year holiday season. Finger crossed for a much more peaceful and normal 2021!
09.01.2022 A new train is greatly needed. The economic benefits and population growth that it would bring to the south west region would be great.
09.01.2022 It was an incredible honour this morning to help welcome 47 new Australian citizens to our fabulous Boodja.It was an incredible honour this morning to help welcome 47 new Australian citizens to our fabulous Boodja.
09.01.2022 It is day one of the SAT Hearing regarding the appeal against Council’s decision to not permit the Asphalt Plant in Gelorup. I will be posting regular updates throughout the day. Hearing starts at 10am
09.01.2022 Highly recommend logging on to the Shire’s YouTube channel and watching last nights event regarding women and the significance of language and culture on resilience. I had the pleasure of attending and all the women that spoke were amazing!
08.01.2022 A prerecorded interview I did with Lacquie Lynch of ABC Radio should air tomorrow morning. We discussed the original Council decision to not support the proposed Asphalt Plant application, what lead to Asphaltech’s decision to head to the SAT, what occurred yesterday at SAT and what the remainder of the SAT Hearing looks like. I made it clear that Council unanimously denied the Asphalt plant application based on health and environmental concerns. That what was proposed was si...gnificantly different to the extraction of basalt that currently occurs at Lot 3. We spoke about traffic implications, particulates, odour and noise. We discussed the recommended buffer distance of 1000m, the fact that BCGS and many homes are located within that recommended buffer zone and that the odour from Asphalt plants can travel up to 1.8km. If the wind is blowing right, that will take the stench right across Dalyellup or to Boyanup. And I made the final point that Steve Allerding conceded yesterday in his evidence that there would be an increase in negative impacts for local residents but that those implications would only increase negligibly. Well, what someone considers negligible, someone else may consider quite an impost. At the end of the day, the asphalt plant isn’t going in Steve Allerding’s backyard, it’s going in the backyard of the people who live in Gelorup.
06.01.2022 The Shire is taking applications from Dalyellup residents to be a part of the Working Group for the new community centre if anyone is interested!
04.01.2022 Opening submissions and tendering of evidence. McLeods has raised with the member that she should consider the matter from the noxious industry lense rather than tailing onto the permissibility of the application based on the loose definition of the Shires current planning scheme and the overlay with the GBRS and has questioned the suitability given that the extractive industry zone is located within a rural area and doesn’t comply with the recommended separation distances. ... McLeods has also raised the large number of public submissions against the application, they have been tendered as evidence. McLeods is going to call planning, odour and noise experts over the next few days. The matter appears that it won’t be concluded until Thursday. Solicitor for Asphaltech has raised the appropriate use issue and the difficulty with the Planning Scheme and the terms used within it that are undefined in environmental legislation. Claims that an Asphalt plant is a prescribed use and shouldn’t be considered any differently to any other prescribed use permissible under the Scheme, such as a piggery or milk production plant. Claims that an asphalt plant will add ‘negligible’ increase to the noise, odour and traffic already created by the quarries and because of the BORR and the approval received by DEWR that no further special land uses in the area will be able to be established and that the rural aspect of the area has already been compromised.
03.01.2022 Asphaltech’s planner has said that the GBRS, having being approved by WAPC, indicates that the State government wants the raw materials in the area fully realised and extracted. He further states that Local Council apparently has a responsibility to adhere to the intentions of the GBRS and Strategic Minerals Policy in regards to the extraction and development of raw materials (Own comment - funny that Council does but Main Roads don’t!).
02.01.2022 Massive win for the community today with SAT emphatically rejecting the appeal lodged against the Councils decision to reject an application for an asphalt plant in the middle of Gelorup! Huge thanks to Shire staff and our lawyers for their hard work and effort in making this possible!
02.01.2022 For anyone with mobility issues that’s interested in wheelchair basketball! Wheelchair Sports South West are bringing some fantastic sporting opportunities to the South West for people with mobility issues - basketball, tennis, surfing - lots of fantastic opportunities for people of all ages and abilities!
01.01.2022 For those that can’t attend Black Lives Matter marches, or those that can and do but would also like to offer additional support - please consider donating to one of several charities that work with Indigenous people to enhance their lives and offer support to incarcerated women, children and men. Sisters Inside Sisters Inside Fund for Children Aboriginal Health Justice Project Menzies Bridging the Gap Foundation
01.01.2022 Asphaltech’s Solicitor - Discussing BCGS and the fact that they were established post original extraction licences being granted and so there was a requirement that that application be compatible with other nearby land uses. Seems to be inferring that the application for the school should never have been permitted in an area with industry land use and that because it was permitted, the location of the school now can’t be used (or any possible future expansion) as a reason to not permit further industry uses in the area.
01.01.2022 If anyone is looking for a family friendly event for this afternoon!
