Councillor orders report on Cowaramup multi-sport court upgrade plea

Councillor David Binks has intervened to make sure the Shire’s acting chief executive provide a report on the multi-sport proposal for Cowaramup despite concerns the exercise might be pointless.

At last Wednesday’s Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council meeting, the petition was initially accepted by members and a report was only ordered after Cr Binks amended the proposal.

Cr Ian Earl said the report wasn’t needed because it would tie up officer time when feedback from the draft leisure plan consultation period was already underway.

He also questioned the validity of the Change.org petition because many signatories appeared to be non-residents.

“Less than half of the people, by their postcodes or their addresses … come from our shire, let alone Cowaramup,” he said.

“We’ve got a process we’re going through.

“Rather than perhaps waste a bit of time with the CEO giving us a report (saying) that it (the proposal) will be part of the leisure plan process.”

Cr Binks said he didn’t want to prejudge the content of the report.

“It gives the members of the public the opportunity to understand those particular elements, so I think it’s important,” he said.

The report was anticipated when the leisure plan comes before councillors in April.