Published on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 at 2:00:00 PM
This is the Shire President’s Recap of the Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM) that was held on Wednesday 25 February 2026.
Click the buttons below to jump to the item covered in this Recap:
Item 9.1.1: Amendment to Local Planning Scheme No. 7 (LPS7)
Item 9.2.5: Annual Review of Asset Management and Financial Informing Plans
Item 9.2.6: Budget Review as at 31 December 2025
Item 9.2.7: Community Consultation - Draft Community Engagement Framework
Item 9.3.4: BalingUpcycle Park Proposal - Community Feedback and Petition
Item 9.3.6: Sale of Lot 58 (70) South Western Highway, Donnybrook
Item 9.1.1: Amendment to Local Planning Scheme No. 7
What did Council receive?
The Local Planning Scheme No. 7 (LPS7) serves as a rulebook that guides how land in a local area can be used and developed by setting zoning, outlining what types of buildings and activities are allowed in different areas, and protecting heritage places. It helps the community grow in an organised, safe and sustainable way, whilst still ensuring that development aligns with the Shire’s planning strategies such as the Local Planning Strategy 2024, as well as State planning policies.
Scheme Amendment No. 15 was presented to Council at item 9.1.1 of the February OCM, which includes significant updates that address a number of key planning issues and aligning it with recent State planning reforms relating to short-term rental accommodation, single dwellings, and tourism uses. Key changes include:
- Revised land use definitions, particularly for cabins, chalets and roadhouses
- Amendments to the Zoning table, including the introduction of hosted and unhosted short-term rental accommodation
- Updates to car parking requirements
- Changes to reduce the requirement to apply for residential uses in some areas of the Shire
What was the outcome?
Council approved to initiate and, unless otherwise directed by the Minister, adopt this amendment in accordance with the Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015. The next step is for the proposed amendment to be sent to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Department of Planning, Lands & Heritage (DPLH) for comment. Once the overall process is complete, the Scheme Amendment No. 15 will be implemented, and the changes will be in effect.
Item 9.2.5: Annual Review of Asset Management and Financial Informing Plans
What did Council receive?
The Shire manages around $335 million in community assets, including roads, bridges, footpaths, buildings, parks, and other infrastructure that support everyday services.
The Shire’s Asset Management Plans provide a strategic overview and consolidated financial summary of Council’s asset management planning. It additionally identifies future objectives to continually mature and improve Council’s asset management framework to enhance available information for strategic decision making.
The Asset Management Plans forecast what work is needed, when it should happen, what it will cost, and how it will be funded. They are accompanied by the following Financial Informing Plans:
- Reserve Fund Plan – Shows how money is saved and used across Council’s reserve funds. These reserves help pay for future projects, asset replacement, upgrades, and statutory commitments, reducing the need for borrowing.
- Borrowings Plan – Outlines how Council uses debt responsibly, ensuring borrowing stays within safe limits and is part of a planned, long term financial strategy.
- Rating Objectives Strategy – Explains how rates are set, why they are structured the way they are, and the goals that guide the Shire’s approach. This ensures rates remain fair, strategic, and aligned with community needs.
- Important: The focus of the Strategy is different to that of the Annual Budget – it does not set out expected levels of rate revenue increases/decreases over outgoing financial years. Instead, it focuses on the types of rates to be charged and how the required amounts are fairly and equitably distributed amongst Council’s ratepayers.
Together, these plans form the backbone of the Shire’s long term financial and asset planning, ensuring community infrastructure is well managed and sustainable into the future.
What was the outcome?
Council received and endorsed the latest annual review of these plans, which will inform and guide the development of the Long-Term Financial Plan and Annual Budget.
Item 9.2.6: Budget Review as at 31 December 2025
What did Council receive?
A statutory review of the Annual Budget is conducted in the middle of each financial year, being the end of December. It includes a summary of the Shire’s financial performance in the first half of the relevant financial period, reviews the forecast for the outcomes in the budget, and provides further details and estimations on expenditure, revenue and income. For the latest budget review, all proposed amendments culminate in a projected surplus position of $129,846.
What was the outcome?
Council received and adopted this budget review, resolving for the surplus amount to be allocated to the Roads Reserve, which can then be utilised in the 2026-2027 Asset Management Plans.
Item 9.2.7: Community Consultation – Draft Community Engagement Framework
What did Council receive?
Effective and meaningful community engagement is central to good governance and helps build trust between Council, the Shire administration, and the community. The Draft Community Engagement Framework has been developed to create a shared understanding of how and when the Shire engages with the community, and to ensure engagement activities are inclusive, transparent and proportionate. It aligns with relevant legislation, recognises best-practice standards and the Shire’s strategic and policy context, includes the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation, and addresses disability access and inclusion principles. It is intended to guide engagement across a broad range of activities, from local service planning through to major strategic projects.
The Framework has now reached a point where broader community input is appropriate before it is finalised and formally adopted by Council.
What was the outcome?
Council received and endorsed the Draft Community Engagement Framework and will proceed with community consultation. This will be undertaken within the scope of the Draft Framework itself, serving as a live trial and an opportunity for community members and key stakeholders to provide feedback on the content and practical application of the Framework. Consultation will focus on:
- the clarity and accessibility of the Framework;
- whether the principles and engagement approach are easy to understand; and
- whether the Framework reflects community expectations for how the Shire engages.
All feedback received will be reviewed and considered by the administration as part of finalising the document for Council’s consideration and implementation.
Item 9.3.4: BalingUpcycle Park Proposal – Community Feedback and Petition
What did Council receive?
At the OCM held in July 2025, Council received an application from BalingUpcycle seeking support to develop a modern, inclusive, and engaging community playground in Balingup. Council support was sought to enable the applicants to progress an application for external grant funding through the Talison Community Investment Program – at the July OCM, Council provided in-principle support to the project and invited community feedback to inform any final decisions.
The consultation conducted in November 2025 resulted in high community support, and the Shire has also received a number of direct emails from the community in support of the BalingUpcycle Playground Project Proposal. A petition containing 302 signatures was also received at the December 2025 OCM.
What was the outcome?
At item 9.3.4 of the February 2026 OCM, Council received a report of the abovementioned community consultation and provided in-principle support to the proposal, subject to confirmation of detailed project costs and securing external grant funding for the project.
Note: Should this project go ahead, the proposal outlines that no immediate expenditure is required from Council, as construction is to be funded through external grants. However, upon installation, the playground would become a Council asset, and Council would assume responsibility for long‑term maintenance, renewal and replacement costs following the initial externally funded maintenance period. These ongoing obligations would need to be incorporated into Council’s asset management and financial planning frameworks.
Item 9.3.6: Sale of Lot 58 (70) South Western Highway, Donnybrook
What did Council receive?
At the OCM held in November 2025, Council resolved to start the process for the sale of Lot 58 (7) South Western Highway, Donnybrook – locally known as the Bendigo Bank Building – to Donnybrook Capel Districts Community Financial Services Ltd. The proposed sale was made open to the public for comment, and the submissions were presented to Council at this month’s OCM.
What was the outcome?
Council accepted the offer of $625,000 (ex. GST) from the Donnybrook Capel Districts Community Financial Services Ltd to purchase the Bendigo Bank Building, which aligns with the Shire’s strategic objectives for sustainable asset management.
The 2025-2026 Annual Budget was also amended to include this revenue – $20,000 (ex. GST) will be allocated to the legal costs associated with the sale, and the remaining $605,000 (ex. GST) will be transferred to Council’s Strategic Projects Reserve.
Further details are available in the report for item 9.3.6 of the February 2026 OCM Minutes.
Thank you for reading this Recap of key items from the February 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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