Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council directs officers to firm plan for Gracetown with April deadline

Councillors have instructed the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River to ramp up its place-based approach to working with local communities as residents voice exhaustion at endless talkfests and little action.

The move comes in response to a motion at last week’s council meeting where Cr David Binks sought to address long-running concerns voiced by the Gracetown-Cowaramup Bay Community group about the lack of action on a long list of their concerns.

Their hopes to see a hit-list of projects fast-tracked were doused last year when their officer contact ceased working for the Shire and progress stalled yet again.

Cr Binks’ motion included works slated for Gracetown Hall, improved disability access as well as a playground and barbecues for Cowaramup Bay, and environmental and bushfire-safety projects, plus road and pedestrian safety works.

Chief executive Arthur Kyron would now be required to produce a report by April 24 in collaboration with Gracetown volunteers identifying key projects, priorities, costings and possible funding sources.

In presenting the motion, Cr Binks said it represented a greater chance for the Shire and community groups like Gracetown to work together.

“I’m really quite excited about this, actually,” he said.

“I hope we start to see this with some of the others out there.

“It also provides the communities an opportunity to draw together too.”

Cr Binks said he wanted to see the Shire and groups working “side by side” to take action within reasonable time frames.

Speaking on behalf of GCBC president Richard Muirhead, Gracetown resident Jenny Barr said the group produced a 2021-22 priorities report to speed up the local government process and pointed to volunteers ready for Shire support.

“In many ways, we are feeling talked and consulted out,” she said.

“We need to see action.”

In backing the proposal, deputy shire president Paula Cristoffanini sought reassurance a report with tangible instructions could be produced by the April deadline.

“One of the things I’m concerned about is what I’ve heard today — we’ve had lots of discussions about Gracetown,” Cr Cristoffanini said.

Shire president Julia Meldrum said the pending midyear budget review was a prime time to consider projects.

“Councillors, just be mindful, we need to deliver funds to whatever we agree to,” she said.

Cowaramup-based councillor Ian Earl said localities like Gracetown had a long history of residents establishing infrastructure.

He said some of the projects on the community group’s radar — such as the dual-use path connecting Cowaramup Bay through to the township as well as parking at Gracetown’s boat ramp — were “a serious challenge”.