Published on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 at 1:30:00 PM
Below is the Shire President’s Recap of the Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM) that was held on Wednesday 22 April 2026.
Click the buttons below to jump to the item covered in this Recap:
Item 9.1.1: Donnybrook Transit Park – Upgrades & Remedial Works
Items 9.3.1 & 9.3.2: Reference Group & Panel Member Appointments
Item 9.3.3: Amended Start Times for 2026 Council Meetings
Item 9.3.4: CEO Performance Review Committee – Panel Members
Item 9.3.5: Save Preston River Valley – Request for Support
Item 9.1.1: Donnybrook Transit Park – Upgrades & Remedial Works
What did Council receive?
The Donnybrook Transit Park is owned and managed by the Shire, and is an important asset for tourism and visitor experiences that contributes to the local economy. Over the past 2 years, there has been noticeable decline in the condition of doors and frames to the guest facilities at the Transit Park. On several occasions the plastic water pipes have failed, causing inconvenience for guests and requiring urgent maintenance works – often after hours.
The long-term effects of this water ingress have surfaced with corrosion of door frames and delamination of doors. While the root cause was assumed to be a result of the plumbing leaks, further investigation has identified a combination of issues relating to poor water proofing practices and not fit for purpose plumbing, including:
- Water ingress due to failed waterproofing methods to shower tiling in way of corners, to shower tiling joints not sealed and in way of floor to wall tiling joints.
- Not fit for purpose shower curtain and wall tiling to prevent moisture ingress to adjoining walls in shower area.
- Not fit for purpose plastic water piping to commercial amenities and exposure to radiated heat (from the sun).
- Low quality plumbing hardware and no seal in way of penetrations to wall tiling.
To address these failures, the best practice is to remove and replace the damaged walls, renew plumbing pipes, renew hardware, renew tiling, extend tiling and avoid reliance on shower curtains. In addition, the works will include 6 new doors equipped with with remotely managed digital locks.
What was the outcome?
As Donnybrook does not have a commercial caravan park operator, the Shire is responsible for maintaining the facility to ensure it remains a safe and viable option for campers and recreational vehicle users. The proposed works are essential maintenance and will be carried out during the off peak season to minimise disruption. Local contractors will be used, and the works are designed as a long-term, best-practice solution rather than a quick patch up.
The need for these works is unplanned and reactive, arising from previously undetected (latent) conditions. The Shire will investigate whether insurance may apply, however coverage is unlikely as the issues relate to building and maintenance failures.
Quotes have been obtained for the following:
- Remedial works: $39,600 + GST
- Remote access control system: $15,000 + GST
- Subtotal: $54,600 + GST
- Contingency (20%): $10,920 + GST
Total estimated project cost: $65,520 + GST
Previously, in December 2025, Council approved $30,000 in unbudgeted funds to investigate these repairs. At this OCM, Council approved a further $in unbudgeted expenditure to allow these important repairs to proceed. Funds will be sourced from an underspend in the existing capital works budget. Updates on the availability of the Donnybrook Transit Park and progress of repairs will be shared regularly – follow us online to be informed.
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Items 9.3.1 & 9.3.2: Reference Group & Panel Member Appointments
What did Council receive?
- 1 x vacancy in the Warren Blackwood Climate Alliance Reference Group (CARG) – item 9.3.1
CARG membership supports collaboration, enhances Council’s awareness of climate-related initiatives, and ensures the Shire’s interests are represented within the Committee’s activities.
- 1 x vacancy in the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) – item 9.3.2
The DAP determines outcomes for development applications that meet a certain threshold value, with Shire representation required under Regulation 24 of the Planning and Development (Development Assessment Panels) Regulations 2011.
What was the outcome?
The Elected Members appointed to represent Council, addressing the vacancies, are as follows:
- Warren Blackwood CARG: Cr Lindemann
- DAP (Ministerial Appointment): Cr Wringe
Council Committees & Reference Groups
Item 9.3.3: Amended Start Times for 2026 Council Meetings
What did Council receive?
In the past, Agenda Briefing Sessions and Council Meetings were traditionally scheduled to commence at 5:00pm. At the OCM held in November 2025, Council resolved to trial a revised 3:00pm start time to enable meetings to conclude earlier, in recognition of the overall workload of Councillors and staff across the day, Councillors’ external employment commitments, wellbeing considerations, and the cost associated with staff attendance outside standard working hours.
In addition to Agenda Briefing Sessions and Ordinary Council Meetings, Council regularly conducts workshops to keep Councillors informed of current issues and to facilitate informal discussions on matters of interest. These workshops are generally scheduled for the first two Wednesdays of each month, following similar timing to Council Meetings.
Feedback received during a Council workshop held early in April 2026 indicated that the earlier commencement time created challenges for Councillors and community members who work standard business hours.
What was the outcome?
As a result of the feedback and discussions held at the abovementioned workshop, Council Meetings have reverted to a 5:00pm start time to support improved participation. This change will be published to the Shire website and supported through existing communications shared through our other official pages/platforms.
Any additional staffing costs or impacts associated with time off in lieu will be managed within existing budget allocations, with attention given to workload management and the health and wellbeing of Councillors and staff.
Item 9.3.4: CEO Performance Review Committee – Panel Members
What did Council receive?
The CEO Performance Review Process was developed collaboratively between Council, the CEO, and governance staff in 2025 and has been used to inform the 2026 process. It outlines a structured annual review cycle, including key dates, responsibilities, and methodology, and provides a framework for appointing an external reviewer to support an impartial and compliant review, in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1995 and the Local Government (Administration) Regulations 1996.
The CEO Performance Review Panel will comprise up to three Elected Members, of which one will be the Shire President, and an external reviewer who will provide independent oversight of the process, including auditing the process for compliance and preparing the necessary documentation for Council consideration and endorsement.
What was the outcome?
Council resolved to adopt the proposed CEO Performance Review Process for 2026, and appointed the Shire President and Cr Patrick to the CEO Performance Review Panel.
Item 9.3.5: Save Preston River Valley – Request for Support
What did Council receive?
Save Preston River Valley (SPRV) commenced discussions with the Shire in March 2026, and at a recent meeting between SPRV and a Council representative, community members sought Council’s support for a planned SPRV application to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum seeking an exemption for the Preston River and selected adjacent Crown-managed land under Section 19 of the Mining Act 1978. Further, SPRV is seeking support for a Preston River revitalisation and management plan focused on the upper and middle reaches of the river.
What was the outcome?
Council resolved to proceed with providing a letter of support to accompany the SPRV application – details of the request and associated justification are available in the report and corresponding attachments of this OCM item.
Thank you for reading this Recap of key items from the April 2026 OCM. You can browse information and documents related to Council Meetings via the Shire website. For further details on the items mentioned above, please refer to the reports and corresponding attachments within the Minutes of this Meeting.
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