News and media desk

As part of the Mundijong Road Extension project, the City of Rockingham is required to obtain approval from the Federal Minister for Environment to clear Black-Cockatoo habitat under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.

As students in the City of Rockingham go back to school head back to school, motorists are reminded to be extra cautious when travelling in school zones.

Entries are now open for the 2012 Castaways Poetry Competition; open to all ages submissions close on 13 March 2012, with almost $500 available in prizes for the top three entries.

Last year more than 565,510 volunteers cleaned up around 16,464 tonnes of rubbish across Australia, in the largest community participation event in the country.

Do you know how to tell the difference between the pest European Wasp and a native Paper Wasp?

The City’s hugely popular accessible beach matting is now available at Waikiki foreshore in response to community requests.

New Year’s Even in Rockingham was a huge success in 2011 with as many as 20,000 revellers converging at Churchill Park on Rockingham foreshore to see in 2012.

Next time you visit the Millar Road Recycle Facility, keep an eye out for its unique new landmark, a giant pelican made of items found at the Landfill such as a kayak for a beak, a chest made of a car bonnet and ceiling fan ‘feathers’.

City of Rockingham Council this week adopted a Submission to the Local Government Metropolitan Review Panel.

Ten impounded dogs got an unexpected treat last week when doggie indulgence creators Norma and Alysia from Barkday Paw-ty arrived to host a special doggie Christmas Party at the pound.

On Thursday 1 December, the City of Rockingham celebrated International Day for People with Disability (IDPD) with a free community barbeque from 11am to 2pm at Churchill Park, on the Rockingham Foreshore. 

To coincide with the Rockingham Funstation’s re-opening celebrations and rebranding as the Playground, up to 20 local artists have registered to compete for public recognition in a four-day Urban Art Expo to decorate the new improved venue.

Lot 401 Civic Boulevard, Rockingham

Section 3.58 of Local Government Act 1995

Daniel Kelley Skate Park at Rhonda Scarrott Reserve in Golden Bay will be launched this Saturday 22 October.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) gets bigger every year and this year the Gary Holland Centre will host a five-hour writing marathon; the Night of Writing Dangerously, from 5-10pm Saturday 12 November.

Nine candidates competed for five vacancies in this year’s Local Government election, with results announced late Saturday night.

City of Rockingham Mayor, Barry Sammels spoke this morning about the new Carbon Tax, which was passed through Parliament’s Lower House this week:

There is still time to vote in the 2011 Local Government Elections. Postal votes needed to have been mailed by Monday 10 October. However, people can still drop votes into the City’s Administration Building in person until Friday 14 October at 4:30pm or on Election Day, Saturday 15 October between 8am to 6pm. The Ballot box is located at Reception’s front counter.

 

City of Rockingham Mayor, Barry Sammels congratulated the 12 winners of this year’s rate’s prize draw at a special presentation on Thursday 6 October last week. Each winner was presented with a $500 cheque for paying their rates in full by the 22 August due date.

If you require the City to issue a permit to burn, please telephone the City on 9528 0364 or 9528 0344. 

The Act Belong Commit PhotoVoice Awards were a highlight of the week at the City of Rockingham.
Winners of this year’s competition were announced at a special ceremony held Wednesday night 28 September.

Since 1998 the City of Rockingham has been working in partnership with local schools, creating colourful and memorable banners to adorn Read Street, one of the main thoroughfares of Rockingham.

City of Rockingham Mayor Sammels launched a new five year Youth Strategy for the region last Thursday 29 September.
Speaking about the launch, Mayor Sammels said it was important to develop a targeted youth strategy that reflects the identified concerns of young people and offers a framework to create solutions.

“We consider the support and development of our young people as intrinsic to a successful future. Their attitudes and achievements will impact all sectors of the community as they transition through life to maturity.

“According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census figures from 2006, young people aged 12 – 24 comprise up to 19% of the Rockingham community. We believe the potential of young people is one of our most valuable resources.

“Rockingham Council believes partnering with the community to deliver measurable results on shared goals and priorities is fundamental to shaping our region and guiding the priorities of Council.”

Developed following extensive consultation with community representatives, local service providers, youth advisory councils, parents and high schools, the strategy will focus on delivering youth friendly spaces and programs that offer opportunities to engage and empower young people.

The research underpinning the Youth Strategy also considered international, national, state and local trends. Local surveys had much in common with all respondents emphasising the need for an iconic attraction such as theme park or adventure park, large music festivals, legal graffiti walls and a Youth Centre.

Young people were concerned in general about the City’s reputation, graffiti and transport. Their personal concerns were centred on peer pressure, bullying, alcohol use, school pressure and relationships.

Mayor Sammels said: “The strategy will focus on retaining popular existing youth programs
Such as Gone Fishing, the Schools Banner Competition, annual Youth Festival and Junior Council, while working with service providers to build the capacity of young people to become connected and contributing members of our community.”

“Long-term goals include the provision of community facilities and services that are well utilised, accessible and cost effective, and where appropriate, multi-functional.”

 

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels has reminded people to be responsible dog owners following a dog attack that occurred On Smythe Street Rockingham at about 5.30pm on Wednesday 14 September:

Local Member of Federal parliament Gary Gray yesterday announced that the City of Rockingham will receive $5.57 million to construct a library and community centre in Baldivis.

City of Rockingham Mayor, Barry Sammels yesterday launched six new pieces of free fitness equipment, which has been installed at the request of community members at three sites around the lake at City Park, Rockingham.

The City of Rockingham is currently reviewing its Community Security Service, a 24 hour response service providing security patrols throughout the City of Rockingham. A component of the review includes a short community survey about the service.

Hearing Awareness Week is from Sunday 21 to Saturday 27 August. Members of the Autumn Centre, Rockingham, will have the chance to see Australian Hearing Ambassador and television personality, Doctor John D’Arcy speak about hearing in a unique question and answer session on Wednesday 24 August from 9.30am.

The City last night hosted the Celebrating Rockingham Awards 2011, which offer a unique opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution and achievements of individuals, groups and organisations for their work in developing a strong, connected, healthy and safe Rockingham community.

Naragebup’s Environmental Centre staff together with Green Group members braved the rough weather conditions on Thursday 28 July, to remove invasive weeds and plant 300 sedge and melaleuca plants at Bungaree Drain, with another 700 expected to go in this week.

The City of Rockingham will today celebrate National Aborigines and Islanders  Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week with a flag raising ceremony, cultural performances, story-telling, and stallholders who will showcase services for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Under the 2011 Act-Belong-Commit Sponsorship Initiative, five women’s winter sporting teams have received $1000 each to go towards new team uniforms.

In a first for the City of Rockingham, youth targeted DVD The Gathering was screened to about 65 attendees from 22 local schools at Ace Cinemas on Wednesday 22 June.

Speaking from Canberra yesterday morning City of Rockingham Mayor, Barry Sammels welcomed the announcement from Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith MP, that the Department of Defence will review the geographical positioning of the nation’s defence resources.

The City is seeking expressions of interest on a library bus service from community members who are unable to get to Safety Bay Library or Warnbro Community Library.

Entries for the third annual Act-Belong-Commit PhotoVoice Rockingham amateur digital photography competition are now open.

Special meetings of the Corporate and Engineering Services Committee and Council will be held to consider the adoption of the City of Rockingham Budget for 2011/12.

As of 1 July 2011, a mattress brought to the Millar Road Landfill will incur a $16.50 fee.

There is nothing quite like settling in for some cinema on a cold night, and for the first time this year, the City of Rockingham together with In the Bin is offering the community a unique winter film event to entertain, inform and delight audiences with 14 international and local short film creations.

The winners of the City of Rockingham’s first Short Fiction Awards have been selected.

With the winter season upon us, now is a great time to prepare your property for storms and winter rains.

The hunt is over for the City of Rockingham’s Waste Services Department. They have found a new Waste Mascot to champion the Reduce Reuse and Recycle message.

The City of Rockingham yesterday launched a new online mapping tool for use by the community.

 

The City of Rockingham will today launch a new online mapping tool for use by the community.

Friday 20 May 2011 is National Walk Safely to School Day. Children throughout Australia are being asked to walk to school today with their parents or carers, while learning about being be safe, active and healthy.

This April, residents got to know their neighbours with 15 City supported Community BBQs taking place throughout the region.

On Wednesday 11 May, Minister for Local Government, the Hon. John Castrilli MLA,  launched the City of Rockingham’s new 10-year Strategic Community Plan.

The community, in partnership with Council has developed a clear and powerful vision for the future of the City of
Rockingham under its new ten year Strategic Community Plan.

This vision will guide and assist us with our continuing journey in leading Rockingham’s evolution into one
of the safest, most liveable and sustainable Cities in the nation.

The City is the first Local Government in Western Australia to produce a fully integrated Community Plan, based on the Minister for Local Government's Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework and Guidelines, which were released in October 2010.

Nominations are now open for the Celebrating Rockingham Awards.  The Awards recognise and celebrate the contribution and achievements of individuals, groups and organisations in developing a strong, connected, healthy and safe Rockingham community.

Winners of the region’s most prestigious sculpture competition were announced at the Castaways Exhibition launch on Saturday 7 May.

Wave energy developer Carnegie announced last week the completion of the successful offshore trial of its commercial scale CETO 3 unit.

At its Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday 27 April, the City of Rockingham Council endorsed a new Waste Strategy for the region with a 20 year vision for the future.

Castaways Sculpture Awards 7 - 15 May 2011 Rockingham Foreshore
It’s fun, innovative and highly original. Now in its fourth year the much-anticipated annual Castaways Sculpture at Palm Beach, Rockingham is set to delight, astound and provoke new ways of thinking about recycled materials as art.

The section of Goddard Street between Dixon Road and Chalgrove Avenue will be upgraded to a new dual-carriageway allowing for two lanes of traffic in each direction, with works commencing this week.

The City will be issuing Permits to Burn from Monday, 2 May 2011.

Visitors to this year’s Castaways Sculpture awards can look forward to a newspaper-wrapped megalodon fin cutting through the surface of the sand like a knife; an umbrella made from used fan casings; and a gaggle of free range chooks sculpted from recycled chicken mesh amongst almost fifty sculptures from sculptors around the state.

Last week the City’s Operation Timberfoot project was one of four waste management projects to be awarded a share of $181, 000 in state funding under the Strategic Waste Initiatives Scheme (SWIS). 

City of Rockingham Mayor, Barry Sammels, this week expressed concerns over landowners in Baldivis east of the Kwinana Freeway using unsuitable soil and fill to improve the usability of their land prior to winter.

The latest statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released yesterday rate the coastal haven of Rockingham with the second largest growth rate in the State at 3.9% in 2009/2010.

The City of Rockingham reminds residents and visitors are reminded not to feed wild birds that inhabit wetlands parks and lakes in the area.

Nine Local Governments covering the coast from Cape Peron to Cape Naturaliste in the South West of Western Australia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which pledges cooperation and integration of effort in responding to the impacts of climate change.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Report for the City of Rockingham for the 2009/2010 Financial Year has been adopted by Council.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Electors of the City of Rockingham will be held in the Reception Room of the Council Administration Building on Monday, 4 April 2011 at 6:00pm.

On Wednesday 23 February, the City of Rockingham, together with the City of Mandurah hosted more than 70 high level Local Government representatives from Australia and New Zealand at a special cocktail function for the Chief Officers Group.

Two delightfully eclectic lounges have been radically redesigned by young people to amuse, inspire and beguile with a pre-recorded selection of their stories, thoughts and hopes for the future.

Entries are now open until 10 March for the 2011 Castaways exhibition which showcases art pieces created from recycled materials.

The awards ceremony for the City of Rockingham 2010 Act-Belong-Commit School Banner Competition will be held on Wednesday, 30th June from 4:30pm- 6pm in the Council Administration Building, Reception Room.

With a focus on healthy eating, food budgeting and physical activity the FOODcents® program assists people in making healthier food and lifestyle choices.

Foodcents Workshops Flyer

Have you made a resolution to be more physically active in 2010? Do you enjoy walking in your local area? Would you like to get out more and meet new people in Rockingham while doing something positive for your health?

The City of Rockingham is investigating community interest in the development of a community garden. The City of Rockingham in partnership with Great Gardens will run two free gardening workshops, with presenters sharing their knowledge on the best Western Australian specific Waterwise gardening practices.

The City of Rockingham’s annual Australia Day celebrations are to be held on Tuesday 26 January 2009 from 11:00am – 4:00pm.