Commissioner Update #3, Jeff Gooding PSM, JP

This month I held my first Ordinary Council (Commissioner) Meeting in Fitzroy Crossing, on Thursday 22 May at Karrayili Adult Education Centre. Hosting these meetings in Fitzroy Crossing is a priority and allows me as Commissioner to engage with the public, answer any questions and catch up with our staff members based in Fitzroy Crossing. The meeting addressed a range of governance, financial and community matters in order to continue our ongoing service delivery to Derby and Fitzroy Crossing.

At the meeting, I made a number of announcements designed for Fitzroy residents to better understand my role. I emphasised my intent to maintain a practical and transparent approach to being Commissioner. My aim is to regularly meet with and work alongside the Fitzroy Crossing community, as well as local organisations and key government agencies. During the meeting, there were a number of questions that were addressed, including submissions from community regarding the ongoing Homemakers project in Fitzroy Crossing, a request for an update on Madi’s Park and a concern to keep the maintenance of the cemetery up to scratch. For full details on the submissions and the associated answers, visit the Shire’s website to view the minutes or the recording of the meeting.

Also, acting as the Council, I received and endorsed regular monthly financial statements and accounts for payment, as well as deciding the important schedule of fees and charges for 2025/26, which will guide the Shire’s services for the upcoming financial year. Additionally, the WA Electoral Commissioner was formally endorsed as the returning officer for the Local Government Elections occurring later this year in October. These will be important elections following the period of Commissioner involvement. I will have more to say on this to the Community as we approach October. Other community matters such as The Draft Local Heritage Survey 2025 and Draft Heritage List 2025 were considered and we will now kick off a formal public comment process to recognise and protect places of cultural significance across the Shire. There will be opportunities for your views to be considered.

In addition to the meeting in Fitzroy Crossing, I also met with our Recovery staff in Fitzroy Crossing (Community Recovery Officers) to look at the significant progress that is still ongoing through recovery works. I was able to visit the recently completed Homemakers Centre in Bungardi Community which was recently fitted out through a collaboration between the Department of Communities and the Shire. These are important facilities located in the heart of communities, providing a wide range of practical facilities that target the specific community needs of the residents living there. Well done to the staff involved in bringing those centres into operation.

The community may also be interested to know that I maintain a sharp focus on the Shire’s finances and intend to be in a position to finalise a Budget for 2025/6 in late June. Importantly, that has meant extensive discussions with senior officers of agencies and Ministers, particularly the Ministers for Kimberley and Tourism. I am also planning another engagement with the Minister for Local Government in the coming days.

In addition, I continue to speak to and meet with Community members and groups and can report a good engagement with senior staff at Emama Nguda Aboriginal Corporation in Derby, as we explore areas of mutual co-operation, particularly with the delivery and targeting of local community services.

I remain very busy with the work of the Shire and again want to recognise and thank Shire staff for the highly enthusiastic and capable way they have supported me.

Jeff Gooding

Commissioner