Shire snippets
B y A ma n da O ’ H a l l o ra n E x e cu t iv e M a n a g e r W es t e r n O p e ra t i o ns
August 2010
I’m Baack! Thanks to Wayne, Jenny, Casey, Megan, Ken and Ian for holding the fort while I was away! I had a wonderful time touring New York, London and Paris and have bought back many ideas to share with you all!! And no I wont be
scheming to build an Eiffel tower on the foreshore!!
August as usual in Onslow has been a busy time with a number of events and visitors to town! Council passed the
2010/2011 budget today and so now the works begin with a huge capital infrastructure plan for this year! Its man your
action stations at the Shire—Welcome also to Jane Hathaway who has joined the Team as Customer Service Officer!
Please be kind to Jane as she learns the ropes. Casey has been promoted to Finance and Administration Officer and will
quickly whip the Office into Shape I’m sure! A very Special thankyou to the Onslow Shire Team for your hard work and
dedication over the Onslow Basketball Carnival Weekend! It is a labour of Love and I personally thankyou all very much
for your Community Spirit! Thanks also to all our other helpers and supporters! Cant wait for next year!!!
S hi re s n ip pe ts
ONSLOW MULTI PURPOSE COMPLEX
The Multipurpose facility will reach lock up stage this month with the external
cladding of the facility being finalized. Roofing works to the main sports hall
area have been marginally delayed due to the high winds in the area recently.
The installation of windows, shutters and doors is in progress.
Internally the facility is really starting to take shape. All rooms have been installed with service cables, piping, ducting, internal wall frames and ceilings.
Internal décor features have been selected and tiling will commence shortly,
together with internal door and window fittings. Internal cabinet works are being
fabricated and are due for installation in September, together with fit out of
plumbing and electrical appliances.
The upgrade to the Horizon Power supply and water supply connections are
also scheduled for completion over the coming month. These service supply upgrade works don’t come cheap at around
$150,000.
One of the major additional cost components of the facility (around $300,000) will be the construction of the facilities
―FESA compliant fire fighting system‖ which will consist of two large 130Kl storage tanks plus a dual high pressure pump system with ring mains that allow
emergency access to pressurized water from a number of locations internally
and externally.
Works are still on schedule and by next month we should see the internal shell
complete. This will allow commencement of internal fit out of the remaining
cabinetry, painting, sporting fixtures, security systems, etc.
External retaining walls, access roads, paths and parking will be planned to
commence in September.
Any queries about works can be directed to Geoff Shoemark the Shires Project
Coordinator on phone 0439 649 430
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS — NEWS
Tennis court & Oval Lighting
Resurfacing of the tennis courts is due to start late September. Sports surfaces have being awarded the contract.
Sports surface is a company which has had extensive experience in working in remote areas and is very familiar with the
town of Onslow. Once the courts have being resurfaced and
the new lighting & coin operated lighting system (so courts
can be utilised at night) installed, the area will then be beautified with new landscaping and seating.
Onslow ‘Water Spray Park’ planning underway
The Onslow Water Spray Park design phase is now well
underway with the kids of Onslow Primary School putting
forward their ideas for the park at a design workshop last
week.
Water Features by Design have taken on the project along
with Tony Jones and they have some big ideas for the park
which will capture the lifestyle of Onslow, complimenting the
town. The park will incorporate a water spilling bucket which
will look like the front end of a loader and also a bilge pump
that will allow users to manually pull water from the catchment tank straight to an overhead shower— are just a few of
the design ideas which have been planned so far.
There is much anticipation for the park from all Onslow residents. The recreational facility will be a highlight for the town,
especially during the summer holidays.
Boat Ramp
As you will notice installation/construction of the new fish
cleaning table has commenced. You will also notice in the
next couple of months the installation of a new fish offal composting unit which is going to be trailed in Onslow. The fish
offal unit is designed to replace the stinky bins currently used
at the boat ramp. Onslow is one of the first towns in the
North West to trial these units.
The fish composter is basically a giant fly trap, with maggots
and microbes breaking down the fish offal and bait. Flies are
attracted to the unit, but once inside the pit a gauze covering
prevents their escape. The idea is to maximise the heat
within the unit and therefore maximise composting efficiency.
Were hoping the fish offal unit will provide a safe, hygienic
way for disposing of fish offal and unwanted bait.
New Public Toilets—Town Oval
Design faze for the new ablution block going on the oval between the play ground and the water spray park has being
completed. Pindan are expecting to start pouring the pad by
mid September.
S hi re s n ip pe ts
Onslow Basket Ball Carnival 2010
The Onslow Basketball Carnival was once again a fantastic
success! Teams travel from all around the Pilbara to compete and the competition was fierce!! There were 26 teams
in total with 1 0 Snr Mens, 4 Snr Women, 6 Jnr Mens and
Women.
With 29 hours of basketball played there was much fun and
competitiveness had by all and with no injuries apart from a
few bruises and very sore muscles!! Teams came from
Tom Price, Karratha, Port Hedland, Yandeyarra, South Hedland and Roebourne.
Thank you to all the players, coaches, referees and helpers,
without you all the carnival would not have been possible.
Onslow hopes to see you all back again next year!
Grand Final Results were as follows:
Coming Events
5pm Thursdays Aussie Hoops Program
12 September 2010 Great Northern Clean
Up
28—30 Sept School Holiday Programs
6—8 October School Holiday Programs
8 November Krakouer! Performance
Junior Women’s Division:
Karratha defeated Marley Blues (11 -9)
Most Valuable Player – Bianca Coffin (Karratha)
Junior Men’s Division:
Mayuga Magic defeated Pistons (20 – 14)
Most Valuable Player – Karna Smith (Mayuga Magic)
Senior Women’s Division:
Crusaders defeated Nomads (26 – 25)
Most Valuable Player – Erica Galby (Nomads)
Senior Men’s Division:
Team Magics defeated Hawks (16 – 12)
Most Valuable Player – Mark Flatfoot (Falcons)
Thanks to our Sponsors—Thalanyji, Chevron, DSR, Gandawa,
BHP and DCP, an event like this doesn't happen with out your
support.
Throughout the weekend there
were some very close and exciting
contests including all of the Grand
Finals with the Senior Women’s
Game going into overtime. Team
Magics winning back to back ensured everyone that they would be
back next year to defend their title!
4 December Carols by Candlelight and
Today at special meeting of Council, the 2010/2011 budget was passed. This means your rates will be send out in
the mail very soon! Key items for Onslow include—
Construction of 3 units in Second Avenue
Onslow Drainage Works
Onslow Foreshore Planning
Municipal Heritage Study
Completion of the Onslow Multi purpose Centre and sporting precinct—Lighting upgrade at town oval, water
spray park, Onslow public toilets, upgrade of Onslow tennis courts
Completion of the Onslow Cemetery Project.
First Stage of Onslow Aerodrome Upgrade—Light Industrial Subdivision and design of airstrip.
Onslow Town Centre Development and Upgrade
Footpath Construction as per Bike and Footpath plan
Planning continues on Onslow Waste relocation
Tiling of the Lesser Hall at RM Forrest Hall
Completion of the Onslow office expansion
Sealing of the Boat ramp car park
Capital Upgrades to the Carinya units, (painting, floor coverings, air conditioners.
Four Mile Creek Upgrade
Onslow Boardwalk refurbishment
Onslow Street Lighting
It is a shame to see that after several discussions with relevant members of the community about their requirements and responsibilities of owning a dog under state legislative requirements that the same dogs are spotted wandering about our town. We are
still receiving complaints from members of our community about certain dogs wandering in numbers either along our front beach or in our streets and therefore are not under
effective control, this will not be tolerated!
It is an offence committed by a dog owner if they allow their dog to wander outside their property. In addition to this you
must walk your dog on a lead in town and along the applicable signed beach areas and if you do not adhere to these
requirements you are committing an offence under the Dog Act 1976. I can ensure re-offending dog owners that infringements will be issued if this behaviour continues. A photo will be taken of the roaming dog which will lead back to
identification of the owner and a fine will be issued to the dog owner.
Beach driving or motorbike riding has also become an issue along the front beach area! I was very disappointed recently to see a motorbike rider sitting at the top of the boat ramp entry off First Avenue who looked straight at me and
still proceed to speed down onto the boat ramp and take off up the beach toward the salt jetty. Apart from this person
being totally disrespectful it is an offence to drive your 4WD or ride a motorbike on the beach from the salt jetty around
to the Beadon Creek groyne and infringements will be issued to offending parties.
It is also noticeable and has been seen from a distance by myself that motorbikes are riding on airport grounds. It is in
your best interest to keep your motorbikes off airport property, it is an offence as detailed in Council Local Laws however if you happen to hit an aircraft that is either taking off or landing you will be in serious trouble and you will end up in
court. You would also no doubt be living with and paying off costs associated with such an incident for a very long time!
It has come to that time of the year where I will be looking at residential and industrial blocks in the community to determine whether they meet the requirements of the Bush Fire Act 1954 that is there are requirements to keep blocks
slashed down so as to reduce fire hazards. Please see the following information relating to the requirements of all land
owners in relation to hazard reduction in our community.
What a big weekend it was for the Basketball Competition, it was good to see such a big event go off with minimal issues in terms of wandering dogs and litter matters!
If you need clarification on any of the above matters please give me a call at the Shire office on 9184 6001.
2010 GREAT NORTHERN CLEAN UP 12 SEPTEMBER 2010
This year is the 20th anniversary of Clean Up Australia Day. Meet us at Front Beach 9.00am.
The event is aimed at providing an opportunity for communities, schools and businesses within the
northern parts of Australia to participate at a time more suitable to their climate.
The generally cooler and drier month of September will be a great opportunity to clear up all
that accumulated rubbish that creates so many new problems when it gets into the waterways during
the cyclone season. Help make the 20th Anniversary of
Clean Up Australia Day the most successful ever. Picking
up just 1 piece of rubbish can make a difference. Thank
you for your support and we look forward to having you
on board for the 2010 Great Northern Clean Up!
Shire of Ashburton Onslow Office is open
Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm.
Phone 91846001 Fax 91846107
email [email protected]