Shire of Mundaring
7000 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring
Ph: 9290 6666 Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mundaring.wa.gov.au
Your Council
in Action
Senior School Kit
A Local Government School Kit prepared for Secondary School Students
Written and produced for Shire of Mundaring
By Eryl Morgan Publications Pty Ltd (2000)
Telephone (03) 9416 9900
Government - Who Needs It?
We often hear that we are over governed, that politics is something people would rather do without.
Some would go so far as to say that if we did away with governments and politicians, people could
then get on with the important things in life. So why do we need governments? Could we exist
without them?
Without government, life becomes very difficult. By nature people prefer to live in groups or
communities rather than on their own. In order for people to live harmoniously together there must be
an established set of rules about what is acceptable and what is not.
Imagine a group of people shipwrecked on a desert island. In order to survive and hopefully be
rescued, the group would need to set down some rules. Rationing of food, allocation of tasks and
safety precautions would be some of the immediate concerns for this group. If everyone was left to
their own devices the weak or sick would probably die, with only the strong surviving.
On the desert island the group may choose a leader or one person might seize control. The person
seizing control would need some means to make the rest obey, perhaps by withdrawing food
or threatening physical harm. The leader chosen freely by the group has more chance of being
followed without having to threaten the group. This is referred to as legitimate power. When we elect
governments to make decisions on our behalf this is also known as legitimate authority.
If There Were No Rules
In our community, if people were able to do exactly what they pleased with no concern for anyone
else then the same thing would happen. Imagine your own household, school or a game of basketball
without rules. Picture the chaos and accidents on our roads if we had no road rules. Therefore,
we have governments to make decisions concerning what is best for the general welfare of our
community. Governments do not only make
decisions concerning what members of the
community can and cannot do, they also make
decisions on how best to use the resources
available to provide the best possible lifestyle
for members of that community.
In Australia we have three spheres of
government making these decisions,
Commonwealth, State and Local
Governments. For all spheres of government
we have regular elections so if people are not
happy with decisions the current government
is making, they have the opportunity to vote
in another group of people to form a new
government.
Between elections, groups and individuals
will often be active in trying to convince
governments to change suggested policies or
create new policies if they are not happy with
the current situation.
Government - Who Needs It?
Politics is All Around Us
‘Politics’ is a fact of life. Whether we like it or not, it is happening at every moment and in every
aspect of community life. Politics is about making decisions. It is about power and influence.
Take the case of two young children squabbling over the one toy. The bigger child gets the toy, the
younger one misses out. In this case, strength decided the issue. On the other hand, if the parent
sees the dispute both may miss out with the toy being put out of reach. As a compromise the parent
may suggest some method of taking turns. The parent is using power and influence to resolve the
matter.
In the decision making that takes place in your household, such as who takes the rubbish out, looks
after the younger members of the family, walks the dog or which show on television will be watched,
power and influence or politics will be taking place. Generally, for the sake of peace, compromises
are made along the lines of, “I’ll put the rubbish out, if you walk the dog”.
Decisions Usually Mean Compromises
Similarly when governments make decisions they are continually making compromises. You cannot
please everyone all of the time. Pleasing the majority most of the time is the best that can be
expected.
Our system of government is often described as being a democracy. To be precise, we are in fact a
parliamentary democracy. Democracy means ‘rule by the people’. However, because it would be a
very slow and costly exercise for people to vote on every single issue, we elect individuals to decide
such matters on our behalf. We elect representatives for each of our three spheres of government Commonwealth, State and Local Government.
Things for Further Investigtation
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find out who is eligible to vote in Federal, State and Local Government elections.
When will you be required to enrol to vote? It is up to each individual to ensure they are enrolled to vote. Find out how you enrol to vote.
In Australia, for State and Federal elections, voting is compulsory. What are some of the main arguments for and against compulsory voting?
Is it compulsory for people to vote in Local Government elections?
Shire of Mundaring as an Information Resource Point
Mundaring’s Library Services provide information to the community in a variety of forms including
books, magazines, DVD/CDs and internet services. You can access the library online at www.
mundaring.wa.gov.au/YourCommunity/ShireLibraries, visit them in Scott Street Greenmount and
Nichol Street Mundaring, or phone them on 9290 6755 and 9290 6780. The libraries are open
Monday to Thursday 9am to 7pm, Friday 9am to 5.30pm and Saturday mornings from 9am to
12noon.
Brochures and other information about Council activities can be obtained from the Administration
Centre located at 7000 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring. Telephone 9290 6666, or visit the
website at www.mundaring.wa.gov.au.
Our Three Spheres of Government
If we accept governments are necessary in order for us to live harmoniously as a community, why
does Australia have three separate kinds, or spheres, of government? We have one National or
Commonwealth Government, six State Governments and 560 Local Governments (at the time
of printing). In addition, we have two territory Governments, the Australian Capital Territory and
Northern Territory, which have similar roles to those of State Governments. The reason why we have
the three spheres is largely due to our historical development.
Constitutional Development
The British established the first European colony in Australia at Botany Bay in 1788. Shortly after
this, colonies were established in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. The Colony of
New South Wales, as Botany Bay was known, was originally the whole of the east coast of Australia.
Later, Victoria and Queensland seceded as separate Colonies.
During the 19th century the six Colonies won self government. Following the British system of
government, they established Local Governments. In Western Australia, most Councils began as
District Road Boards. The Perth Town Trust was the first form of Local Government in Australia set
up in 1838.
As the Colonies developed and increased in population, people began to recognise a growing
number of areas of common concern. Issues such as trade between the Colonies, the need for a
common immigration policy, and the desire for such questions to be decided by those they affected,
not the British Government on the other side of the world, led to a call for the young Colonies to join
together as a single nation.
After lengthy discussions involving the six Colonies and the British Government, the Colonial
Governments agreed to give up some of their powers seen to be of common or national interest to
a new Federal Government. The Colonial Governments, at the time of Federation in 1901, became
known as State Governments. The State Governments retained most of the powers they had as
Colonial Governments, including Local Government.
Division of Powers Between the Spheres of Government
The establishment of our federal system of government is embodied in the Australian Constitution Act
(1900). Known as the Australian Constitution, this document sets out the division of powers between
the Federal and State Governments.
In joining together as the one nation the Colonies, which became State Governments after
Federation, handed very few powers to the new Federal or Commonwealth Government. Those
they did relinquish were matters seen to be of common interest, such as relations with other nations,
immigration, the minting of money and defence.
Some powers are shared by these two spheres of government. However, if differences arise then
Federal law prevails over State law. Any powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, called
residual powers, are under the control of the States. Any disputes between the Commonwealth and
State Governments over areas of responsibility are decided by the High Court.
Our Three Spheres of Government
As a number of the powers are shared, duplication and overlap occurs. In addition, over the years,
the Commonwealth Government has been able to increase its powers at the expense of the States.
This has largely been due to its superior position in regard to revenue-raising. The States rely heavily
on finance from the Commonwealth Government. Quite often the Commonwealth Government
provides the finances, while the States administer the service. With the introduction of GST, this
balance has shifted to some extent back to the States.
Areas of State responsibility generally include its police force, hospitals, public transport, education
system and road laws.
State/Local Government Relations
Local Government is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, so as a residual power it
belongs to the State Governments. Local Government in Australia derives its authority from a State
Government Act. The relevant State Government has ultimate power over all Councils in that State.
In Western Australia this is the Local Government Act (1995).
So long as Local Governments act within the provisions of the Local Government Act, the State
Government is unlikely to interfere. But if things go wrong in an individual Local Government, such as
allegations of corruption or gross mismanagement, the State Government may dismiss the Elected
Members and appoint Commissioners to sort out the problem. Such action usually occurs following a
legitimate complaint by residents to the State Minister responsible for Local Government.
Under the Local Government Act (1995) and other State legislation, such as the Town Planning and
Development Act, Health Act, Dog Act and Bushfires Act, Local Governments are empowered to
look after local matters. These include local roads, footpaths, rubbish collection, parks and gardens,
libraries and swimming pools. Local Governments also have a planning and coordinating role in the
provision of community services. In Western Australia, we have 139 Local Governments. Their size
varies, both in area and population. Local Governments are generally referred to as Councils.
Things for Further Investigation
1.
Under the Local Government Act, Councils have regulatory functions and service functions. Explain the difference and find examples of each.
2.
How does the relationship between Commonwealth and State Governments differ to that of State and Local Governments?
Local Government at Work in the Community
Shire of Mundaring is one of the 139 Local Governments in Western Australia. They all provide
government of the local area by local people. Originally, the major responsibilities of Councils in
Western Australia were constructing local roads and sanitation. As local communities grew so did the
demand for additional local services. Local Councils took on an expanded role in providing services
to meet the needs of the local community. Today these areas include recreational, social, cultural and
environmental matters, but today’s Councils do much more than this.
Government Closest to the People
Because Local Government is government of the local area by local people, it is often described
as the sphere of government closest to the people. As a community government, its activities will
largely reflect local needs. Much of Council’s decision-making is an expression of new and ongoing
community needs.
Services required by a fringe urban Local Government, such as Mundaring, with a mix of rural and
urban residential areas will be different to those of an inner city Local Government, and likewise a
remote rural Local Government. The demography or population breakdown of the local area is the
key factor here. For example, fast-growing urban areas such as the nearby City of Swan attract many
young families so there is a heavy demand for family and children’s services and youth services.
Although all Local Governments provide these services to a degree, those with rural areas usually
have a much larger road network to look after and they offer additional services such as fire and
emergency services. As a centre of ecotourism, Shire of Mundaring plays a role in tourism and
economic development. The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail is an example of this.
It has often been said that Local Government’s role could be described as the three ‘Rs’ - roads,
rates and rubbish. It is true that these are important areas of the work undertaken by Councils;
however they do much more than this.
The Western Australian Local Government Act (1995) provides framework for:
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Quality decision-making
Community participation in decisions and affairs
Accountability to local communities
An efficient and effective system of Local Government
Types of Local Governments
In Western Australia, Local Government may be known as Shires, Cities or Towns. They may also
be referred to as Councils.
Mundaring’s Elected Members
In Mundaring, Elected Members represent one of four Wards (West, Central, South and East Wards).
Each Ward has three Elected Members elected for four years. Every two years, half the Elected
Members may stand for re-election. The Elected Members elect one of their number to be Shire
President and one to be Deputy President.
Elections are held on the third Saturday in October every alternate year. Mundaring uses postal
voting to elect its Elected Members.
Local Government at Work in the Community
The Role of Elected Members
The Elected Members are responsible for making decisions about local issues ensuring the efficient
and effective operation of the local area. Sometimes this requires the making of policies, such as
use of play areas, parking local laws or the riding of skateboards in public places. However, most
decisions concern how best to use the resources available for services and improvements in the
area.
Should a footpath be replaced, what about a new skateboard ramp, a child care centre, more books
for the library, a bicycle path, ramps to assist people in wheelchairs, provision for open space and so
forth - Elected Members continually face these questions. Their decisions must reflect the wishes of
the majority but at the same time they must try to be fair to all groups in the community.
With some issues, groups in the community may actively try to convince Council to make a particular
decision. For example, bicycle users might want bike paths made or a group of residents may
be concerned about plans to remove some trees. Some of these community groups are highly
organised, permanent groups, while others are less formal, forming over a particular issue then
disbanding once the matter is resolved.
Elected Members are not paid a salary but receive an allowance to help cover expenses, such
as telephone bills, in fulfilling their role on Council. They generally carry out their Council duties in
addition to their full time job in the workforce and/or commitments in the home. Every second year,
the Elected Members elect one of their number to be Shire President or in City Councils the Mayor.
He or she presides over Council Meetings, represents Council at formal functions, and is in charge of
Council affairs between meetings. In some Councils, the Mayor is directly elected by the electors.
What the Local Government Staff Do
Elected Members cannot be expected to know all the details required for every issue discussed by
Council. Nor have they the time to research all matters for themselves.
Local government staff are paid workers with qualifications and skills to provide detailed information
and advice to assist Elected Members when making their decisions. Staff provide reports to Council
to assist Elected Members in their decision making. For example the Engineers have the expertise
to provide information on which roads require maintenance works, the cost of this work in the current
financial year and how much more it could cost if this work were to be delayed.
Decision Making
Ultimate decision-making power is in the hands of the Elected Members. The staff are responsible to
the CEO who in turn is responsible to the Council and the Elected Members are then responsible to
those who elected them. In this way it is the whole community which is responsible for the decisions
and tasks carried out in their local area. Most Councils undertake extensive community consultation
to find out what residents and ratepayers want. By talking to residents and community groups about
what is needed to be done in the local area, Elected Members are able to make decisions which best
meet the needs of the whole community.
Once Council makes a decision as to what is to be done it then hands responsibility to the staff to
carry out the task. Staff are qualified or have the necessary skills to undertake such work.
Local Government at Work in the Community
Things for Further Investigation
1.
Find out who are your local Federal and State Parliamentary representatives. How many
people do they represent? Find out how many people reside in Mundaring. With 12 Elected
Members, on average how many people does each represent?
2.
Look in the local papers to see which groups are presently putting pressure on Council to
make a particular decision. Follow the issue over several weeks. Collect cuttings and write a
short article, including a description of the group, what action those involved want Council
to take and what methods are they using to achieve this. Are there any other groups opposing
their views?
Shire of Mundaring
Overview of Shire of Mundaring
In 2014 Mundaring’s estimated resident population was 40,046 people. The Shire covers an area of
approximately 644 square kilometres. It includes national parks, state forest and numerous ‘villages’
dotted among the leafy hills as well as urban areas. The Shire is divided into four Wards, each
represented by three Elected Members. With an annual operating budget of $50.5 million (2015-16),
Council provides numerous services for its residents.
History of Mundaring
European people began settling in Mundaring towards the middle of the 19th century. The earliest
settlers came to harvest timber for the growing town of Perth. Some planted vineyards and other
crops. During the period of gold discovery other settlers came. The Great Eastern Railway line, built
in the 1880s, brought more settlers.
Many of the towns that make up Mundaring’s main population centres grew up along the rail route
developing their own individual character. In 1903, the Mundaring Weir was built to provide water for
Perth and the goldfields.
As in most places in Australia, Local Government in Mundaring commenced as a Road Board. The
Darling Range Road Board was established in 1895 and later became known as the Greenmount
Road Board, and then in 1960 was proclaimed Shire of Mundaring. In 2003 Shire of Mundaring
celebrated its centenary, 100 years after the Greenmount Road Board was established.
The development of the Shire was largely influenced by the tough nature of the rugged and hilly
terrain. Communities remained separated and individual due to the difficulties of road travel.
The Shire aims to preserve the diversity and individuality of these communities, protecting the natural
environment, enhancing our built heritage and improving lifestyles.
Council at Work in the Community
At the start of the 21st century, Shire of Mundaring has many more duties to undertake than it did
100 years ago. These include providing youth services, environmental management, economic
development, child care services, services to assist aged persons and bushfire prevention.
Council also provides recycling, rubbish collection, road and footpath maintenance, drainage, cultural
and recreational activities. It is responsible for local swimming pools and other recreational facilities.
Council also manages Lake Leschenaultia. This park provides passive recreation facilities in a
scenic setting for local people and visitors.
Council’s many and varied responsibilities can be divided into three areas: services to maintain or
improve our local environment; services to assist people; and activities which provide the means to
raise and spend money necessary to pay for these services.
Council has been involved in the development of the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail. Tracing the
track of the old Eastern Railway built in the 1880s, the Trail runs from Fremantle to York. It is popular
with walkers, bike riders and horse riders of all ages.
As well as developing new projects, Council must ensure that local buildings, roads, footpaths and
facilities are maintained and upgraded to meet community needs.
Shire of Mundaring
Corporate Management
Many of Western Australia’s Councils are large organisations with very large budgets, and which
employ hundreds of people. In size and budget, a number are included in the top 100 corporations in
the State. Mundaring has adopted corporate management as an efficient means of ensuring quality
service. Corporate management is used extensively in the private sector. More recently the public
sector has adopted this approach as well. The corporate approach means that the organisation
establishes common goals, then works to achieve these goals. Rather than each of the divisions
within the organisation working in isolation, all work toward achieving the one result.
Under the Local Government Act, Elected Members cannot act in their own right. Council can only
act by collectively voting on resolutions presented at its formal meetings. To provide overall general
management of the diverse functions it undertakes, Council employs a Chief Executive Officer.
Assisting the Chief Executive Officer are four Directors each in charge of specific areas of day to day
operations.
The diagram below shows the lines of accountability. Notice that all staff are ultimately accountable
through the Chief Executive Officer to the Council and the Council is accountable to the residents of
Mundaring.
Shire of Mundaring
Things for Further Investigation
See if you can arrange an interview with one of your Elected Members. Consider a class visit or
group interview. Ask the elected member about his or her role on Council and how community
viewpoints are obtained. Design some questions to seek out some of the new services and facilities
this elected member would like Council to consider. Ask the elected member how he or she would
go about having a new program considered by Council and how support to have it adopted would be
sought.
Council in Action
While your 12 Elected Members are responsible for making decisions for the Council, a number of
staff are employed to carry out these decisions.
Staff are not elected and are paid for the jobs they do. Large Local Governments employ many
staff to carry out all the activities and services they provide for their local community. Smaller Local
Governments, such as those covering rural areas, may only employ 10-15 staff. Mundaring has a
staff of approximately 180 full time and part time employees.
Over 600 Different Types of Jobs
Many of the staff have special qualifications to equip them to carry out duties. They have often
completed a course at a university or college. Other staff have been trained on the job or have other
special skills, such as customer service officers, landscape gardeners or construction workers. There
are over 600 separate types of jobs available in Local Government.
Across Australia in 2014 over 188,900 people were working for Local Government.
Because Local Government staff have specific qualifications, they often act as advisers to the
Elected Members on any technical or legal matters. Elected Members act in an honorary capacity
and need have no specific qualifications to be elected to Council. All that is required is for them to be
over 18 years of age, eligible to vote in State and Federal Government elections and enrolled in the
local area. Many Elected Members do have certain qualifications but few would have the full range of
knowledge required to cover all the responsibilities of Local Government.
Local Government staff therefore have a key role to play in the decision making process by ensuring
the Elected Members are fully briefed on all technical or legal aspects of an issue being debated.
Staff provide this information to the Elected Members in formal reports which are presented at
Council Meetings for final decision by Council.
Council Meetings
Most Council business takes place at Council Meetings held each month, but there are also several
advisory and occasional committees who meet regularly.
The full Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. All Council Meetings are
open to the public. They include a Ratepayers Question Time which runs for up to 30 minutes before
the meeting. The schedule of meetings, including agendas and minutes, are available on the Shire
website.
Council in Action
Paying for Council Services
With all our spheres of government, much of the decision making concerns questions about where
money should be spent for the general good of the community and the means through which to raise
the necessary finances to carry out the required tasks.
With all the facilities and services Council provides for in the local community, Mundaring’s annual
budget in 2015/16 is $50.5 million.
Each year in July, Council sets a budget for the next 12 month period from July to June. While
the budget is being prepared all ongoing and new projects are fully costed. When all this is done
Council decides what will be included in the budget for the next financial year. Some projects will be
accepted in full, some in part, some held over to a later time and some will be rejected outright.
Setting Priorities
As with the other spheres of government, many of Council’s decisions involve the important issue of
deciding priorities and allocating resources. During the process of setting the budget your Elected
Members are simply setting down priorities. To proceed with all proposed projects at the one time
would cost the community far too much money.
There are certain things which must be included automatically, such as regular inspection of food
handling premises and rubbish collection, and the community would not accept the loss of such
a service. However discretionary projects, such as building a new sports centre for example, may
mean that the reconstruction of certain footpaths or the development of a new child care centre
cannot be undertaken at the same time. It all boils down to deciding what things have the highest
priority.
In deciding priorities Elected Members seek the views of residents and community groups to ensure
a final decision reflects what is best for the community. A further major consideration is how much
money Council would need to raise to pay for these projects.
How Council Raises Money
Local Government raises revenue from four major sources: rates, charging fees, grants and loans.
Just over half of Council’s revenue is raised through rates. These are taxes placed on land values.
Each year the owners of houses and other property in the area pay rates to Council.
The amount of rates paid depends on the value of the land. Some organisations do not have to pay
rates for their properties, such as churches, charities and the State and Federal Governments.
Council also raises money by charging fees for some of the services it provides. Entry to the
Swimming Pools, hiring of Shire facilities and dog registrations are just some charges Council uses to
raise revenue.
Council in Action
Money also comes to Council by way of grants from the State and Federal Governments. These
Governments raise a large percentage of the total taxes paid by the community so some is handed
over to Local Government to spend in the local area. Sometimes the grants are given for a specific
purpose such as to build a child care centre. This money, called a ‘tied grant’, cannot be used for
anything else. Other grants are for general purposes, meaning Council can decide how it wishes to
use the money.
Council is able to raise money through borrowing necessary funds. Such loans enable Council to
proceed with projects now and to pay them off over a number of years. However, interest must be
paid as well as the original amount borrowed.
Council does not provide all services itself. It works with various community organisations, and the
public and private sector, to provide new opportunities for growth and service development.
Things for Further Investigation
1.
What are some of the new initiatives Council has introduced this year to meet community
needs? Find out when the next Council Meeting takes place. Go along to find out what
proposals are currently being considered.
2.
From Council’s annual budget, find out what percentage of revenue for the last financial year
was raised through each of the four main revenue sources.
Careers in Local Government
Once Council makes a decision on behalf of the community, the task of carrying out that decision is
handed over to the staff to implement.
Staff report to Council on the progress of projects being undertaken. This means Council is
ultimately responsible for work done and answerable to the community for how their rates are being
spent.
Some of the specific roles carried out by staff include the following:
Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for ensuring the total organisation runs smoothly and
provides the best possible service to the local community. He or she is in charge of the day-to-day
operations of the organisation. All staff are ultimately responsible to the Chief Executive Officer.
Building Surveyors
Building surveyors are available to assist owners to ensure buildings are safe and properly built.
Owners must get all required approvals for work carried out from Building Services.
Environmental Health Officers
Public health services are the responsibility of the environmental health officers. They ensure that
Mundaring has a healthy environment in which to live. They provide advice on control of pests such
as mice and rats. They inspect public housing and boarding houses to ensure these are always of
a high standard. Testing of water quality in public swimming pools and spas and regularly checking
businesses where food is prepared are some of the other important tasks of those officers.
Engineers
Any public works carried out by Council, such as road works, footpaths, bridges and building
roundabouts are the responsibility of staff in Infrastructure Services. They advise Council on any new
work or maintenance work that is required and are responsible for ensuring the work is carried out
correctly.
Traffic engineers are responsible for ensuring traffic flows efficiently. For example, designing traffic
calming devices, including speed humps, pedestrian crossings and traffic islands, helps slow traffic in
residential and shopping areas.
Finance Manager
The Finance Manager is responsible for Council’s finances and provides Council with financial
management advice. The Finance Manager also help prepare the annual budget and statutory
financial reports utilising modern technology.
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Careers in Local Government
Town Planners
Council controls and regulates land use in the Shire. Planning staff make sure all proposed new
buildings, such as an office block or retail outlet, are suitable for a particular area. Land is zoned to
ensure similar activities are confined to one area. For example, commercial activities are usually
carried out in areas separated from residential areas. Similarly, rural and open space areas continue
to be protected.
New residential developments in Mundaring require permission from Council. People owning nearby
properties and those who may be affected by the proposed development are given the opportunity to
consider major proposals. If they have any objections, they make Council aware of their concerns.
Information Technology Officers
These officers are responsible for the computer based services which assist staff in all areas of
their work. In the last 10 years information technology has changed significantly and staff in the
information technology area must be aware of the latest developments and innovations which could
assist in improving the delivery of services to the community.
They are responsible for utilising hardware and software. This includes programs to manage finance,
geographical information systems to demonstrate the layout of the Shire’s infrastructure, and internet
and email facilities to gather and share information.
Community Engagement Staff
Officers who work in community engagement are responsible for ensuring the provision of
appropriate, quality community services within the Shire. This includes services in the areas of
aged care, youth, disability and family support. Officers working in these areas liaise with other
government agencies and community based agencies.
To learn more about employment at the shire, go to www.mundaring.wa.gov.au
Council Programs & Services
Mundaring, like other Local Governments, conducts special programs and projects to meet the
varying needs of the people of Mundaring.
Environmental Management Plan
In 2012, Mundaring developed its Environmental Management Plan. This was prepared by the
Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council for the Shire of Mundaring..
The aim of this Plan is to guide the Shire’s enviornmental activiteis over the next ten years in order
to protect and enhance the local environment. The Plan’s vision is to establish a sustainable Shire
that demonstrates our corporate and community commitment to the environment and reflects our
responsibility to its natural assets for future generations. The Shire strives to be a leader in local
government sustainability and environmental management.
The Plan is backed up by an education program enabling everyone in the community to be involved
in ensuring Mundaring retains an attractive and sustainable environment.
Trails in Shire of Mundaring
Council has committed significant funds to upgrading the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail linking the
Shire from west to east along the route of the old Eastern Railway. This trail provides recreational
activity in combination with heritage preservation and environmental appreciation.
In addition to cycling, the Trail is suitable for walking and horse riding. Visitors can also experience
the flora and fauna of the region. Parks containing picnic tables, toilets and other amenities are
dotted along the Trail.
The Shire of Mundaring has many other trails for visitors and residents to explore, and Trek the Trail
has become a popular annual community event.
A Thriving Arts Community
Mundaring has been home to many famous authors, artists and musicians. Council supports this
vibrant arts community providing funding support for such projects as the Mundaring Arts Centre
located in the former Mundaring Post Office.
Council also supports the Bus Shelter project. Here students, youth and established artists work
together to create interesting and attractive designs on various Council facilities.
Youth Services
Shire of Mundaring fund Parkerville Children & Youth Care to deliver a youth prgram to the
community called Seen and Heard. This FREE service is available for young people aged between
12 and 20 years who reside in the Shire of Mundaring. Seen and Heard staff work with young people
to create local events and recreational activities whilst developing confidence and skills. Seen and
Heard staff can provide support with relationships, school, work and health and are able to make
referrals when appropriate.
The Swan View Youth Centre is a purpose built youth facility which opened in September 2011. The
centre provides a safe environment for local young people to engage in recreational persuits and
access services, as well as a place to ‘hang out’.
Strategic Direction
The community vision for the Shire of Mundaring is
“Connecting community and enviornment ”
The key elements that make up this vision and the community’s themes are:
Strategic Direction
Council’s Vision for the Organisation
“A professional organisation where we enjoy
working together with the community”
Council’s Values
Excellence in Customer Service
Building the relationship by effectively meeting the need of
internal and external customers
Innovation and Continuous Improvement
Willing to listen and try new ideas to do things better
Integrity, Respect and Team Spirit
Working with the community and each other in a fair, honest and respectful manner
Shire of Mundaring’s Strategic Community Plan 2013 - 2023
The Strategic Community Plan is the first part of the Shire’s fulfilment of the Integrated Planning and
Reporting Framework. All local governments in Western Australia are required to implement this
framework by 1 July 2013. The Strategic Community Plan was adopted by Council on 22 January
2013 and takes effect from 1 July 2013.
Key Points of the Plan
• Continued delivery of existing services
• Renewal and upgrade of community facilities at Mt Helena, Glen Forrest, Sawyers Valley, Boya
Oval, a Mundaring Civic Precinct Master Plan and library replacements
• Investigation of an indoor sports facility
• Consideration of community ownership and management models for Chidlow Hall and Mahogany
Creek Hall
• Promoting and supporting shared responsibility for protection of our natural environment (bush
fire prevention, weed and pest control)
• Progressive move towards locality based planning and action
• Resolving sewerage capacity constraint in the Mundaring Town Centre
• Balanced development (protecting environment and maintaining hills/village lifestyle)
• Investigation of a cost-effective trail link across Morrison Road on the Railway Reserves Heritage
Trail in Swan View