Outgoing Shire of Augusta-Margaret River acting chief Arthur Kyron says region has issues to face

Departing chief executive Arthur Kyron says he’s feeling torn about finishing up in his temporary role at the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River this week.

In a conversation with the Times, the local government veteran said Augusta-Margaret River was on the brink of an exciting era of opportunity with a highly competent new council willing to push the envelope and advocate for the region like never before.

And he said that was direly needed, with pressures mounting on the local government and ratepayers.

Mr Kyron plugged the gap after Stephanie Addison-Brown’s surprise resignation in December, which triggered a recruitment drive.

Mr Kyron said incoming chief Andrea Selvey had some serious issues to grapple with upon arrival.

These included the housing crisis, underfunded grassroots services, pressure on the local environment and challenges such as youth services and illegal camping as the big ticket items.

There was a “desperate need” for secure long-term funding for several major groups, including Mindful Margaret River, in addition to the shire’s pitch for the State Government to supply a dedicated social worker to the region.

“It’s almost like we have a contraction of Government services,” Mr Kyron said.

“How realistic is that? We have a community that is growing at one of the fastest rates in the State.”

Mr Kyron said the most important thing for the new chief was to listen to the community’s “missing middle”.

He personally believed the shire’s Community Strategic Plan 2040 should be reviewed and brought in line with tangible outcomes and focused on what the shire already knew were residents’ most pressing needs.

Mr Kyron said it was “lazy” to consult residents through workshops which tended to attract the same voices and urged the future leadership to continue direct contact with ratepayers and businesses to keep abreast of the community’s pulse.

“There’s a missing middle,” he said.

“That’s the mums and dads who are working hard, earning a living. We don’t hear from them because we haven’t deliberately tried to connect with them.

“There seemed to be an approach (previously) that said ‘computer said no’ and now I’m confident people are more inclined to say ‘let’s look at the possibilities’.”

He said the shire had been risk-averse and more focused on procedures than meeting the community where it was needed.

Mr Kyron said his six-month tenure saw an overhaul of organisational attitudes, including an internal cultural survey. Coupled with the new council, he believes the shire would be more proactive in chasing external funding opportunities.

He said the shift in attitude was already reflected in the council’s growing advocacy to the State Government.

Mr Kyron will soon head off on an overseas holiday.

Ms Selvey is scheduled to start work on July 15, with shire directors acting in her place until then.