Annual Report
Annual Report 2006-2007
My sincere thanks to fellow Councillors and our hard working administration who continued throughout this past year to pursue a number of initiatives to improve the long term social and economic outlook for our Shire. Whilst we soldier on with some of those initiatives, others have finally borne fruit and this is in no small part due to the community support we have received.
The most notable achievement has been the commencement of the Ozjet direct jet air service Perth/ Derby which commenced early in March, 2007. The service has breathed new life into our Shire and is well patronised from both ends. Another major development was the announcement in April, 2007 by the Minister for Corrective Services of a $93M prison to be located at Derby in response to the recommendations of the Kimberley Custodial Plan. The location of a Regional Prison in Derby will bring significant economic benefits to our Shire in the form of increased local employment opportunities both in the construction and operation of the facility. The prison is expected to be operational by 2011. Building of the new hospital at Fitzroy Crossing commenced early in 2007 and expected completion date is November, 2007. On the housing front, a very exciting development for Derby was the adoption by Council of a Development Guide Plan for our first ever private subdivision on the corner of Ashley and Fitzroy Streets, Derby. Additional land was also released in Fitzroy Crossing with 8 residential lots becoming available. These were snapped up quickly at auction and whilst more land is desperately needed, the release has gone some way to easing the shortage. On the roads front, an injection of $3.25M Federal Government funding toward the cost of improvements to the Gibb River Road was announced in May, 2007 which will see the badly degraded section between Blina and the Lennard River receive some very welcome upgrading. Main Roads WA are to oversee the works. On the cultural front, our 2006 Kimberley Art Prize was once again a resounding success with record entries and an increase in sponsorship. Community support for this prestigious event continues to be outstanding and is sincerely appreciated. Following an Extraordinary Election in September, 2006 Councillor Andrew Twaddle of Fitzroy Crossing was elected to fill a vacancy on Council and brought up to 2 the number of Councillors located in that town. Staff turnover remains a concern and we are thankful to the community at large for bearing with any delays on our part. 2007/08 promises to be exciting and very challenging and we are ready to meet those challenges head on with your support.
Elsia Archer
SHIRE PRESIDENT
Documents
| File Type | File Size | File Name | File Description |  | 7.36 Mb | Annual Report 2006-2007 | 2006-2007 Annual Report for the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley |
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