Friday, 25 November 2016
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Health Minister John Day said National Asbestos Awareness Week, which runs from November 21-25, 2016, was a timely reminder for people to assess their homes and be 'asbestos aware'. "Asbestos-related diseases continue to claim West Australian lives, so it is crucial people are aware of the dangers of disturbing asbestos containing products and take proper precautions to reduce their risk of exposure," Mr Day said. "Most people know that asbestos may be contained in cement sheeting in roofs, fences or older style houses. However, asbestos can also be found in many common household items such as paper backing material on sheet linoleum, backing panels in meter boxes and vinyl floor tiles." Commerce Minister Michael Mischin said owners of homes built before 1990 should not be concerned or alarmed, but should be aware. "Asbestos containing products can be difficult to identify just by looking at them," Mr Mischin said. "So, if in any doubt, put safety first and treat suspect material like it is asbestos. "Being 'asbestos aware' is more than just being aware of asbestos products in your own backyard, it is also about being aware of it in the community and reporting illegal dumping of asbestos containing products to your local government, for your safety and that of others." Asbestos containing products pose little risk to health when in good condition and undisturbed but are dangerous when released into the air and inhaled. Fact File
Commerce Minister's office - 6552 5600 Homeowners should follow these tips to ensure they are 'asbestos aware':
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Sport and Recreation Minister Mia Davies attended the carnival and encouraged students to join local sporting clubs as a way to stay fit and make new friends. "This carnival is important for a number of reasons," Ms Davies said. "Playing a sport or becoming a member of a club not only has enormous health benefits, it also plays a vital role in cultural inclusion and increasing the connectedness of young people to their local community." Students from the Australian Islamic College campuses in Thornlie and Kewdale, the Fountain College and Lynwood Senior High School's Intensive English Centre took part in the carnival. They had the opportunity to play cricket, AFL, basketball, volleyball and football at Coker Park in Cannington. Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Nahan said events such as this offered an important opportunity to engage with children from diverse cultures. "The annual Communicare Multicultural Schools Cup brings together children from different cultures to learn new sporting and social skills, and to build on the strengths of our diverse community," Dr Nahan said. The Department of Sport and Recreation funds Communicare, as part of its Active Schools Project, to run the carnival. The Active Schools Project uses sport to develop personal wellbeing, healthy living and to promote a greater sense of social inclusion and community belonging for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse youth and their families. "Being active not only improves a young person's ability to learn, it also develops greater self-confidence and in the case of many of these students, has the added bonus of developing their English language skills," Ms Davies said. "A carnival like this is a celebration of their newly attained sporting skills with plenty of healthy Aussie competition thrown in." Fact File
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Environment Minister Albert Jacob said five individuals would go to the Parks and Wildlife-managed Dryandra Woodland near Narrogin. The remainder would be released at the 7,800 hectare Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Mid-West region, which is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. The release of the Perth Zoo animals is part of the State Government's recovery program to arrest the decline in the numbers of this endangered species. "This is the first time zoo-born numbats will be released into Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary," Mr Jacob said "Just like State Government sanctuaries such as Perup near Manjimup, Mt Gibson has a predator proof fence that protects a variety of threatened mammals. "Removal of threats, including feral cats and foxes, is the key to the survival of the numbat and sanctuaries are effective at providing protected areas for species to breed." Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary is home to an expanding population of numbats that have been sourced from Western Australia and bred at an Australian Wildlife Conservancy sanctuary in New South Wales. "I hope the zoo numbats will breed with these individuals, to add genetic diversity and build an insurance population against extinction," the Minister said. "Perth Zoo is the only zoo in the world breeding numbats. In collaboration with the Department of Parks and Wildlife, more than 200 individuals have been released to the wild, re-establishing four populations of numbats within their former range." The numbats have been fitted with small radio collars to enable researchers to learn more about their movements and help field staff recapture female numbats post-mating season to determine if they have reproduced. Fact File
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the latest annual Arts Monitor survey focused on attendance levels for arts and cultural activities, public support and attitudes, and the role of culture and the arts in WA communities. "The State-wide survey found 95 per cent of respondents supported the role of arts in the school curriculum, while 81 per cent supported government investment in the arts," Mr Day said. "In addition, 75 per cent agreed that the arts have a positive impact on individual wellbeing, with 60 per cent and 62 per cent respectively agreeing that arts and culture play a valuable role in contributing to the State's identity and sense of community. "Event attendance trends in recent years reflect a consistently strong support for the sector that goes beyond the impact of major events such as The Giants in 2015." Arts Monitor 2016 was commissioned through the Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA), with the results providing data and trend indicators that will inform the work of the State Government, DCA and key agencies such as Lotterywest, Tourism Western Australia, and the departments of Education and Health. "It is a valuable source of information for WA arts organisations and peak industry groups," the Minister said. "The figures and trends will also assist the Government to support and plan for a sustainable culture and arts sector across the State." Fact File
24/11/2016
Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Lewis said $12 million of Royalties for Regions funding had been allocated to a grower adjustment package. "Western Australia's potato industry was deregulated on September 30, 2016, providing growers with greater choice and flexibility to pursue higher value markets and value adding opportunities," Mr Lewis said. "This package recognises significant changes to individual businesses may occur as a result of deregulation, and will support growers moving forward." Mr Lewis said eligible growers had until December 8, 2016 to apply for funds under the package. The allocation of funds is based on recommendations from a working group, which included the Potato Growers Association, Potato Marketing Corporation and the Department of Agriculture and Food, as well as industry feedback. Adjustment payments will be based on growers' average production for the domestic market over a three-year period, and compliance standing with the Potato Marketing Corporation. Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the package would provide critical funds for individuals to adjust to the new market conditions. "Growers may consider using the funds to improve existing infrastructure to increase production and productivity, develop strategies to increase market share, or transition out of the industry," Mr Redman said. "An additional $2 million has also been made available, under a co-funding arrangement with the Potato Growers Association, for industry development in WA, including investments in research and development, marketing and retaining access to varieties." Fact File
Good Morning! The Shire of Manjimup has asked us to help circulate the attached Expression of Interest information for the design and installation of a significant public artwork to serve as a road-side entry statement to the town of Manjimup. Click the button to be taken to the website or Click the file to start downloading your own copy
Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Premier Colin Barnett said the final session of the Legislative Council last night signalled the end of business in both houses of this session of Parliament, meaning Bills not passed by both houses must be reintroduced in the next session. Mr Barnett said until the State Government went into caretaker mode - likely in early February 2017 - it would be Government as usual. "The Liberal National Government and the public service will keep working hard on Government business right up to the time when caretaker provisions are invoked," he said. The Premier said he believed legislation passed by State Parliament in its current term would make life safer for many West Australians. "The Government delivered tough new laws making it easier to permanently confiscate vehicles of hoon drivers, introduced minimum jail terms for offenders for serious physical or sexual assault during a home burglary and mandatory sentencing for people who assault police," he said. "Landmark legislation overhauling family violence laws will also ensure victims of family violence will be better protected by our justice system." Mr Barnett said another key achievement of the 39th Parliament was expanded compulsory third party insurance to care for people catastrophically injured in motor accidents. During the course of the 39th Parliament, 83 Acts were repealed. Many of these were repealed during the State Government's red tape reduction week while some were repealed because they were replaced by more modern legislation. The Premier acknowledged the hard work and contribution of several members who were retiring from State Parliament including Dawesville MLA Kim Hames, Bunbury MLA John Castrilli, Wagin MLA Terry Waldron and Kalgoorlie MLA Wendy Duncan. Fact File
Wednesday, 23 November 2016
"The Liberal National Government recognises the importance of this bridge to the region's growth and development," Mr Marmion said. "With its four lanes and separated, five metre-wide pedestrian facilities, the new bridge will improve journey times, traffic capacity and safety for all road users. "This significant project has been made possible by $40 million from Main Roads, $8.8 million from the State Government's Royalties for Regions program through the Growing our South initiative, and $3 million from the City of Mandurah. "More than 200 jobs have already been created during construction of this impressive bridge." The project design retains sections of the old bridge to build fishing platforms for use by the community for fishing, crabbing and prawning. Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the project would strengthen Mandurah as a regional hub. "Enhancing the region's transportation network will support economic development and enhance the social wellbeing of residents," Mr Redman said. "I look forward to seeing the completed bridge and the benefits it will bring." The old bridge carries more than 24,000 vehicles per day and is load limited to 17 tonnes because of its age and condition. The restriction will remain in place until the new bridge is completed and operating in late 2017. Fact File
23/11/2016
Premer Colin Barnett said while the recovery process for Yarloop was transitioning to the Shire of Harvey, the State Government would continue to lead and fund some key initiatives which were vital to the town's future. "The State Government has committed $700,000 to the Shire of Waroona to extend its waste facility for the disposal of fire-affected waste from commercial property owners in the shires of Waroona and Harvey, free of charge," the Premier said. "In addition to the potential contribution of $800,000 from the shire to a new community centre at Yarloop, the Government will provide additional funding and has also confirmed that the land on which the previous hospital was located can be transferred to the shire for this purpose, if required. "Through the Department of Regional Development, an additional one-off payment of $50,000 has already been made for the temporary re-location of the existing Community Resource Centre, which is expected to be eventually housed within the new community centre." The State Government will also provide $25,000 towards the development of a town plan for Yarloop, an initiative which will be managed by the Shire of Harvey. The Department of Transport will develop a business case to remediate Yarloop's rail platform and associated works, which are expected to cost up to $700,000. Other matters still being finalised by the State Government include:
Discussions are continuing between the shire and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services on a replacement shed used by the Volunteer Bushfire Brigade. Fact File
Tuesday, 22 November 2016
Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the two-week-long survey, conducted by the Department of Parks and Wildlife, had shown western ground parrots had been breeding in the wild following bushfires in late 2015. The Minister said feral cat baiting in the national park, under the Liberal National Government's flagship Western Shield wildlife conservation program, was also protecting the parrots from feral cat predation. It is believed there are as few as 150 western ground parrots in the wild, in reserves and national parks along the south coast of Western Australia. "Parks and Wildlife carried out another round of baiting this spring to provide extra protection for these critically endangered birds during the breeding season," Mr Jacob said. "This was particularly important to protect recently fledged birds from feral cats in Cape Arid National Park, following the impact on the species from the large bushfires in late last year. "Baiting across more than 145,000 hectares of the park has reduced feral cat predation, which was essential considering the bushfires impacted about 90 per cent of the parrot's habitat. "However, the most exciting discovery was the calls of young western ground parrots in two core areas that were not burnt. These calls show the population is producing young parrots. "This confirms the Liberal National Government is on the right track with integrating the use of the feral cat bait Eradicat with fox baiting across conservation reserves and State forest." The Minister said automated recording units would monitor sites where the birds were heard and at sites further east in Cape Arid National Park. Parks and Wildlife will continue to monitor the birds' habitat as part of the recovery plan for the species. Fact File
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