2003 ANNUAL REPORT
GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
2003 Annual Report
Goldfields Esperance Development Commission
Contents Page
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE ...... 5
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT...... 6 The Goldfields Esperance Development Commission ...... 9 The Goldfields-Esperance Region ...... 9 Goldfields-Esperance Region Map ...... 11
OVERVIEW ...... 12 Major Achievements in 2002 - 2003...... 12 Planned Initiatives for 2003 - 2004...... 14
REPORT ON SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES – 2002-2003...... 16 Output 1 – Policies, Strategies and Plans...... 16 Output 2 – Industry and Enterprise Development...... 20 Output 3 – Coordination of Infrastructure Identification ...... 35 Output 4 – Regional Promotion...... 41
GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STRUCTURE ...... 51
CORPORATE STRUCTURE ...... 51
CORPORATE STRUCTURE ...... 52 Enabling Legislation and Policy ...... 52 Legislation impacting on the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission’s activities...... 52 Responsible Minister ...... 52 Vision...... 52 Mission ...... 52 Objectives and Desired Outcomes...... 52 Outputs (goods or services) provided to the public sector in WA...... 53
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT ...... 55
STAFF ...... 58
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES...... 60 Human Resource Management ...... 60 Public Sector Standards...... 60 Staff Training and Development...... 60 Workers Compensation...... 60 Records Management...... 61 Publications ...... 61
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ...... 61 Contracts with Board Members or Senior Officers...... 61 Changes in Written Law ...... 61 Ministerial Directives ...... 61
2 REPORT ON EQUITY, ACCESS AND CUSTOMER FOCUS ...... 62 Reports on Customer Outcomes...... 62 Disabilities Service Plan Outcomes ...... 63 Equal Employment Opportunity Outcomes...... 64 Cultural Diversity and Language Services Outcomes ...... 64 Youth Outcomes...... 65
REPORTS ON OTHER ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES...... 67 Information Statement...... 67 Advertising and Sponsorship ...... 67
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC SECTOR STANDARDS ...... 68 Compliance with Human Resource Management Standards...... 68 Statement of Compliance with Public Sector Management Act Section 31(1)... 68
GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE – A PRODUCTIVE REGION...... 69 Gross Regional Product ...... 69 Production by Industry Sector ...... 70 Employment and Unemployment...... 71 Demography...... 71
CERTIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS...... 73
OPINION OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL (KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS)...74
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ...... 75 Efficiency Indicators ...... 75 Effectiveness Indicators ...... 76
CERTIFICATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS...... 78
OPINION OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL (FINANCIAL STATEMENTS) ...... 79
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE...... 80
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION...... 81
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS ...... 82
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ...... 83 Employee expenses...... 87 Supplies and services ...... 87 Depreciation expense...... 87 Administration expenses ...... 87 Accommodation expenses ...... 87 Grants and subsidies...... 88 Capital User Charge...... 88 User charges and fees ...... 88 Grants and contributions ...... 89 Other revenues from ordinary activities ...... 89 Revenues from Government ...... 89 Receivables...... 89 Amounts receivable for outputs...... 90 Other assets ...... 90 Works of Art...... 92 3 Payables...... 92 Provisions...... 92 Other liabilities...... 92 Equity...... 93 Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows ...... 93 Commitments for expenditure ...... 94 Contingent Liabilities ...... 94 Events Occurring after Reporting Date ...... 94 Explanatory Statement...... 94 Remuneration of Auditor ...... 97 Additional Financial Instrument Disclosures ...... 98 Related Bodies ...... 98 Affiliated Bodies...... 98 Supplementary Financial Information...... 98
4 STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Hon Tom Stephens BA MLC Minister for Local Government and Regional Development; Heritage; The Kimberley; Pilbara and Gascoyne; Goldfields-Esperance 11th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005
Dear Minister
In accordance with Section 66 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, we submit for your information and presentation to Parliament the report of the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission for the year ended 30 June 2003.
The Report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985.
Kath Finlayson CitWA Chairman
Colin Purcell Chief Executive Officer
August 2003
5 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
It is with a touch of sadness that I write the Chairman’s Report for the Annual Report 2002. This will be my final journey through the achievements of the GEDC as I have made the decision to retire in October 2003.
The journey over the past nine years has been exciting, rewarding and a challenge; it has also been, at times, disappointing, frustrating and demoralising.
As Chair of the GEDC, with the support of the Board, I have always fervently believed in our strategic plan and policy direction to ensure the sustainable development of our region. The frustration and disappointment has eventuated from the region not always receiving the support of governments in the area of infrastructure and development opportunities. Admittedly the wish list has been extensive but it is an essential component of the overall plan for the region’s future.
Regional Australia, and particularly the Goldfields-Esperance region, is the powerhouse for wealth creation and as such guarantees the future of our nation. The expectation of the community is justified in believing that a reasonable amount of the royalties that are paid should be returned to secure their future. All too often we are bypassed by the inclination of governments to spend the capital in the metropolitan and urban areas. Whilst it is understood that this is an essential part of the role of government it is still often a hard ‘pill to swallow’.
The region does however continue to achieve with the latest Gross Regional Product figures (2001-02: $4.93 billion) showing that the Goldfields-Esperance region is still one of the State’s most productive.
The launch of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail and it’s continuing success has been the highlight of the year for the GEDC. The guidebook has been described as the benchmark for future trails and there have been many accolades from industry, government and colleagues on the professional approach and notable achievements of the finished product. This project alone has the ability to ensure a broader economic base on which the region can go forward.
Congratulations to the staff and Board members who have succeeded so magnificently in completing a world class tourism attraction that will bring joy to many over future years. It has been a privilege to be associated with this project and I know that the visionary dreams that saw the emergence of the Trail will lead to other legendary projects.
The Regional Economic Modelling project that the GEDC commissioned has seen many activities able to be monitored to show the economic spin-off to the region. This is an invaluable tool that provides hard data to support the projects, which the Commission has chosen to pursue during the year, and offers essential ‘economic science’ for better regional planning. This has shown the estimated employment outcome of major developments and whether existing infrastructure will be adequate. Initially I was very sceptical of the benefits of this modelling tool, but am now convinced of its value in future decisions.
6 The issue of an alternative water supply to the region has not been resolved and discussions are at present being held between United Utilities and the Water Corporation. It is to be hoped that an affirmative decision will be forthcoming in the near future as this is an integral cog in the wheel that will drive industry and development forward to secure a broader economic base across the region. I am still an ardent proponent of the need for a comprehensive National and State Water Strategy to be developed as a matter of urgency. As a nation we cannot afford to gamble with our most precious resource.
With Stage One of the Heritage Trails project complete, planning and implementation for the Dundas Woodlands Trail and Esperance Explorers Trail are underway. It is when you stop and look at projects such as these that you get to truly appreciate the value of strong, supportive and effective partnerships. Without the support and involvement of our key stakeholders such as Local and State Government agencies, industry, Indigenous and community groups the realisation of these projects would be a lot harder to achieve.
Projects such as the South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team, Esperance Career and Course Opportunities, Ravensthorpe Blueprint Implementation Group, Esperance Power, Leonora Gwalia Museum Precinct, Indigenous People in Mining, Value-adding, Leonora collocation and Leonora Childcare Centre are all examples of GEDC working in partnerships to provide economic and social benefits to the Region. My sincere thanks to those who have supported GEDC in the past and I wish you well for the future.
On the 27th June a Cabinet reshuffle resulted in a change of the Minister for the Region, with the Hon Tom Stephens BA MLC replacing the Hon Nick Griffiths LLB MLC. I would like to thank Minister Griffiths for his support and guidance during has time as Minister for Goldfields-Esperance and welcome Minister Stephens to GEDC. Minister Stephens’ other portfolios of Local Government and Regional Development; Heritage; the Kimberley; Pilbara and Gascoyne have many synergies with the Goldfields-Esperance Region that will provide a strong foundation for future growth and development.
As the Chair of a Government agency one often has to respond to negative, unjustified criticism of the achievements of the organisation. I have learnt that this is a common event instigated by a lack of understanding of the process of government. The Commission staff often achieve tremendous results that are not common knowledge and they do not receive deserved accolades, but as the true professionals that they are, the staff continue to perform very effectively and efficiently regardless of unwarranted criticism. I have had the privilege of working with a very dedicated group of individuals whose work ethics produce professional results. Their achievements are many and varied and have resulted in very positive outcomes for the region. To have worked with them, to see their attitude to work, to experience their passion for the region and to be a part of their driving force has been an honour and a very special part of my own personal development.
As a unit they are led by the CEO, Colin Purcell, who has brought to the team a sense of confidence and belief in themselves as achievers. This has enhanced the attitude and professional work ethics that exist at the GEDC. I would like to congratulate Colin and his staff on the standards they have reached as a very accomplished unit that has worked effectively with the Board and myself.
7 I have been blessed with a husband and family who have always totally supported me in my endeavours. Without their love and support I would not have had the opportunity to be so committed to the GEDC and to the challenges it delivered.
To simply say thank you, seems so inadequate, but is said with all sincerity.
As I reflect on my time at the helm of the Commission I am proud of the successes. It has been made possible by working with the support and determination of a very special team, the staff and my family. When the door closes on this chapter of my life I will know one thing.
It has been a wonderful journey.
Kath Finlayson CitWA Chairman
8 OVERVIEW
The Goldfields Esperance Development Commission
The Goldfields Esperance Development Commission (GEDC) is a statutory authority of the Government of Western Australia, established in 1993 to encourage and promote balanced social and economic development in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. GEDC is one of nine Regional Development Commissions in Western Australia.
GEDC was responsible to the Minister for Racing and Gaming; Government Enterprises; Goldfields-Esperance, the Hon Nick Griffiths LLB MLC until 27th June 2003. Following a Cabinet reshuffle on the 27th June 2003, the Hon Tom Stephens BA MLC was appointed the Minister for Goldfields-Esperance. Minister Stephens also has the portfolios of Local Government and Regional Development; Heritage; the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne.
A Board of Management comprising ten members, including Local Government, Community and Ministerial appointees, sets GEDC’s overall strategic direction and goals. The organisation receives an annual budget from the State Government to carry out its activities.
GEDC is based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, with branch offices in Esperance and Leonora.
The Goldfields-Esperance Region
Geography
The Goldfields-Esperance region is located in the South Eastern corner of Western Australia and incorporates nine local government authority areas – the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Shires of Coolgardie, Dundas, Esperance, Laverton, Leonora, Menzies, Ngaanyatjarraku and Ravensthorpe.
It is bounded geographically by the Sandy and Gibson deserts to the North; the Wheatbelt region to the West; the Great Australian Bight to the South; and the South Australian and Northern Territory borders to the East.
A land area of 771,276 km2 makes the region over three times the size of the State of Victoria, and just under a third of Western Australia’s total land mass. It is the largest region in Western Australia.
Population
At June 2002 the Goldfields-Esperance region had an Estimated Resident Population of 54,855 (2001: 55,255; 1996: 56,411; 1991: 52,622). Between 1991 and 1996 the Estimated Resident Population increased by 1.4% per annum, but decreased by 0.4% per annum between 1996 and 2002.
Just under 9% of the region’s population is of Indigenous descent, compared with just over 3% for Western Australia as a whole. Ngaanyatjarraku (82%) and Menzies (47%) are the local government areas with the highest proportion of Indigenous residents.
History
9
European contact with the Region was first recorded in 1792 when two French frigates mapping the southern coastline of Australia took shelter in Esperance Bay. The first settlers, the Dempster brothers, arrived in the Esperance area in 1863. Following the discovery of gold at Coolgardie in 1892, Esperance became the region’s principal port. However, with the opening of the Perth-Coolgardie railway in 1896 Fremantle become the preferred part and Esperance became a fishing and holiday town, servicing a small agricultural hinterland.
Coolgardie, Boulder and Kalgoorlie developed rapidly after gold was discovered. Coolgardie became the largest town in the Goldfields during the 1890s boom, with the population reaching 15,000 by 1898. The rush to Kalgoorlie began in 1893 with the discovery of gold by Hannan, Flanagan and O’Shea. Kalgoorlie in the 1890s was a town of canvas tents, hessian huts and galvanized iron homes, with a population of about 11,000. Water was scarce, being distilled from bores and dams, and transported by camel to wherever it was needed. The Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply, CY O’Connor’s famous pipeline, opened in 1903 and remains the conduit for water supply to the Goldfields to this day.
Kambalda was originally a gold town and boomed between 1897 and 1906. When the gold ran out, the town lay abandoned until the accidental discovery of nickel in the 1950s. In 1966 Western Mining Corporation began development of a nickel mine and Kambalda was reborn.
Menzies, Leonora and Laverton’s development were also based on gold mining activities, with the new town of Leinster established in the 1970s to service a nickel mine. Gold was first discovered in the Norseman area in 1892. Central Norseman Gold Corporation (now owned by Croesus Mining) is the longest running gold mining and processing operation in Australia having been established in 1935.
The Goldfields sub-region is one of the world’s most productive mining provinces, based on the extraction and processing of gold and nickel.
The South East sub-region is on the threshold of a new era with traditional agriculture industries to be supplemented with new aquaculture ventures and nickel mining operations.
Natural environment
There is a stark, sunset-red, beauty about the Goldfields region. The region’s early mining history appears everywhere in the shape of flat-topped mullock dumps, headframes over the entrances to underground shafts and the grand public buildings of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie.
In contrast, the south coast is characterised by long, low curving white beaches, with rocky headlands and the offshore islands of the Recherche Archipelago. The coast is backed by a rich agricultural hinterland.
To the east, the Nullarbor landscape is flat, and the climate arid. There are striking sheer cliffs to the east of Esperance, with extensive sand dunes towards the South Australian border.
10 Economy
The Goldfields-Esperance Region makes a vital contribution to the Western Australian economy and is well positioned for further growth. Mining is the predominant sector in the central and northern parts of the Region, with a well- established agricultural sector in the south. The Department of Local Government and Regional Development estimates show that the 2001/02 Gross Regional Product of the Goldfields-Esperance Region was $4.9 billion.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance are the principal commercial centres in the Region. In 2001, 16.6 per cent of the working population were engaged in wholesale and retail activity with education, health and community services accounting for another 12.5 per cent. Retail turnover in 2001/02 was estimated at $469.5 million.
There are two distinct tourism areas in the Region - coastal Esperance and the outback Goldfields. There were 553,000 overnight domestic and international visitors to the Region in 2002. Domestic expenditure was estimated to be $231 million.
The Goldfields-Esperance Region offers excellent infrastructure with north-south- east-west connections by road and rail, a regional port capable of handling ships with a capacity of 180,000 dwt, natural gas and a competitive energy supply, well equipped education and training amenities, and high quality recreation facilities.
Goldfields-Esperance Region Map
Goldfields Esperance Development Commission NGAANYATJARRAKU Regional Area (S)
Warburton
LEONORA LAVERTON (S) (S)
Laverton Leonora MENZIES Menzies (S)
Kalgoorlie- Boulder KALGOORLIE-BOULDER Coolgardie (C) COOLGARDIE LEGEND (S) DUNDAS Regional Boundary Norseman (S) Local Government Boundary Regional Development Commission Office RAVENSTHORPE ESPERANCE (S) (S) Town or City Ravensthorpe C – City ; S - Shire Esperance
11 OVERVIEW
Major Achievements in 2002 - 2003
Output 1 – Policies, Strategies, and Plans
Ensured that activities were conducted according to an ethos of ‘responsive government’. Provided a grants information service to local government authorities, government agencies and community groups. Managed the development of planning studies for the Dundas Woodland Discovery Trail and the Esperance/South Coast Heritage Trail. Managed the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Development Fund. Provided strategic advice to government and monitored government policy and commitments to the region. Progressed the development of Regional Economic Modelling in the Goldfields- Esperance region. Continued to partner the Shire of Menzies to progress the Niagara Dam development as part of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail.
Output 2 – Industry and Enterprise Development
Supported the Shire of Ravensthorpe and Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations to prepare the town for nickel mining. Co-ordinated the successful ‘Indigenous People in Mining’ project. Facilitated Indigenous business enterprise development. Encouraged and supported the proposal to develop the ‘Waste to Energy’ project at the Mungari Industrial Estate. Processed twenty Regional Sponsored Migration Fund applications. Continued to work towards attracting new businesses to the Mungari Industrial Estate. Continued to strengthen partnerships with Local Government Authorities in the region. Continued to facilitate the Industry Development Centre, including the provision of information to businesses interested in relocating to the Goldfields-Esperance region. Facilitated diversification and value-adding opportunities, such as aquaculture industries. Supported, funded and monitored the outcomes of the Young Achievement Australia program. Continued to enhance opportunities for Indigenous business, arts and heritage development, thus expanding Indigenous employment opportunities.
12 Output 3 – Coordination of Infrastructure Identification
Continued to assist Government to identify feasible options for an alternative sustainable supply of water to the region. Facilitated energy issues in Esperance, in particular the development of a new power station and the Kambalda to Esperance gas pipeline. Lobbied for the extension of CDMA coverage throughout the region. Encouraged the development of tourism infrastructure including the Outback Highway, the Golden Pipeline and the Gwalia Precinct. Investigated the provision of services to Eucla. Finalised the outcome of the public consultation phase for the proposed rail line rerouting around Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Continued to promote the upgrading of transport infrastructure in the region. Continued to support the Shire of Ravensthorpe and other agencies seeking to improve electricity supply to Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe. Facilitated equitable access to telecommunications and other infrastructure. Continued to encourage the development of tourism infrastructure. Continued to pursue the provision of mains power to Widgiemooltha.
Output 4 – Regional Promotion
Continued to raise the profile of the region through the Australia Unlimited Taskforce. Continued to facilitate initiatives to attract and retain professional staff to the region (particularly medical staff). Promoted the region’s activities by producing quarterly newsletters and updating GEDC’s website. Coordinated the development of the 965km Golden Quest Discovery Trail, which was opened in March 2003. Continued to promote the region and lift its profile through activities undertaken by the Australia Unlimited Taskforce. Continued to monitor staff shortages in the region and undertake projects to address the situation where appropriate. Encouraged opportunities for training and skills development in areas such as information technology and community leadership. Provided comprehensive and accurate information on the region through publications and statistical information.
13 OVERVIEW
Planned Initiatives for 2003 - 2004
The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission has been allocated State Government funding of $1.567 million in 2003/2004 (including $250,000 Kalgoorlie- Boulder Development Fund allocation). This funding will enable GEDC to implement the following programs and initiatives to achieve ‘An environment which is conducive to the balanced economic and social development of the Goldfields-Esperance region’.
Output 1 - Policies, Strategies and Plans
Provide strategic advice to government and monitor government policy and commitments to the region. Develop a Goldfields-Esperance Regional Strategy. Research and disseminate information on funding and grants availability. Finalise the development of Regional Economic Modelling for the Shires of Ngaanyatjarraku, Dundas, Esperance and Ravensthorpe. Facilitate the delivery of grants through the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Development Fund. Monitor the implementation of the Regional Policy Statement and the State Sustainability Strategy.
Output 2 - Industry and Enterprise Development
Endeavour to attract new businesses to the Mungari Industry Estate. Support investigations into the establishment of an Industrial Park in Esperance. Continue to enhance partnerships with Local Government Authorities in the region and to assist them in progressing local projects that contribute to the social and economic development of the region. Partner the Centre for the Management of Arid Environments in the Desert Knowledge Australia project. Continue to facilitate the Industry Development Centre, including the provision of information to businesses interested in relocating to the Goldfields-Esperance region. Facilitate diversification and value-adding opportunities, such as aquaculture industries. Monitor the outcomes of the Young Achievement Australia program. Continue to enhance opportunities for Indigenous business, arts and heritage development, thus expanding Indigenous employment opportunities. Promote the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. Coordinate an Investment Tour for the Region. Support projects that improve social infrastructure and general quality of life through projects that include the Goldfields Football Academy, Youth Driver Development Program and Capacity Building.
14 Output 3 - Coordination of Infrastructure Identification
Monitor the Goldfields-Esperance water situation. Facilitate the Goldfields-Esperance Infrastructure Projects Workshop. Support the development of a Department of Justice Workcamp in the Northern Goldfields. Continue to promote the upgrading of transport infrastructure in the region. Support the development of the childcare facility in Leonora. Facilitate equitable access to telecommunications and other infrastructure. Continue to encourage the development of tourism infrastructure. Continue to pursue the provision of mains power to Widgiemooltha and Eucla. Facilitate the Leonora Collocation project. Support the development of Laverton’s “Great Beyond” (Explorers Hall of Fame) project.
Output 4 - Regional Promotion
Partner the Golden Quest Trails Association in the future management of the $1.14million Golden Quest Discovery Trail. Monitor staff shortages in the region and undertake projects to alleviate the situation, such as a promotional seminar in Perth. Provide comprehensive and accurate information on the region through publications and statistical information. Continue to encourage and support community actions that positively contribute to the quality of life in the region. Encourage permanency of the Inside Australia display in Menzies.
15 REPORT ON SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES – 2002-2003
Output 1 – Policies, Strategies and Plans
Output description: To provide advice on opportunities, policies and strategies for the economic and social development of the region and facilitate the planning and implementation of regional and local development initiatives.
Goldfields-Esperance Regional Planning and Infrastructure The Goldfields-Esperance Regional Planning and Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (GERPICC), a committee constituted under the Western Australian Planning Commission, has responsibility for prioritising regional planning and infrastructure issues and monitoring the implementation of the strategies contained in the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Planning and Transport Strategies documents. The Goldfields-Esperance Regional Planning and Infrastructure Working Group, consisting of state agencies and local government representatives, provides technical support to the Coordinating Committee. The GEDC is represented on both bodies.
The Transport Advisory Group (TAG) was disbanded in favour of the GERPICC structure, a model that is being used as a trial for regional WA by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and the GEDC. Membership of the Committee is currently being finalised.
The GERPICC has conducted audits of the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Planning and Transport Strategies and is developing criteria, based on sustainability, for setting and allocating priorities for the projects and actions contained in the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Planning and Transport Strategies. Major regional planning and infrastructure issues considered by the GERPICC included:
Upgrading of the Goldfields Highway at Lake Raeside and the Wiluna to Meekatharra link and other possible more direct road links to the Pilbara Region. Impact of Native Title on infrastructure outcomes in the Goldfields-Esperance Region. The proposed Federal Government AusLink program. Goldfields Esperance Water Supply Strategy. Koolyanobbing Iron Ore Expansion. 2003/04 State budget implications for Goldfields-Esperance Region infrastructure projects. Population projections for the Goldfields-Esperance Region. Esperance Port Access Corridor Review. Esperance Industrial Park.
Responsive Government GEDC reports to the Minister for Goldfields-Esperance and provides advice and assistance to the Minister and his staff. This includes drafting correspondence, organising visits and meetings, and briefing the Minister on regional issues.
GEDC is frequently called upon to provide comments to other State Government agencies on issues that will affect the Region. In 2002/2003 GEDC submitted comments on the Community Leadership Program, draft State Sustainability Strategy, draft Regional Policy Statement, WATC Regional Tourism Zones concept,
16 Disability Services Commission review, WA’s Citizenship Policy and Strategic Plan and the Department of Sport and Recreation Strategic Directions: 2002-2005.
GEDC also develops itineraries and facilitates visits to the region by dignitaries and industry representatives.
Website GEDC’s website is at www.gedc.wa.gov.au. The website was regularly updated during the year. The website provides information on the organisation and its staff, regional statistical information, relevant regional links and updates on regional projects in a ‘What’s New’ section. A recent initiative was to provide online job descriptions and other information for vacant positions. In the first half of 2003-2004 the website will be redesigned to reduce the amount of time required on maintenance.
Regional Development Council The Regional Development Council (RDC) is an advisory body to the State Government on regional development issues. RDC membership includes Mr Ian Taylor as the Chairman, the Chairs of the nine Regional Development Commissions, a representative of the Department of Local Government and Regional Development and two representatives of the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA).
The Council provided advice to the Cabinet Standing Committee on Regional Policy on a range of issues. Issues impacting on Regional Development such as State Water, Power and Telecommunications, staff attraction and retention, are discussed. The major items discussed in 2002-03 included the draft Regional Policy Statement, draft State Sustainability Strategy, draft Building on Prosperity policy (that looks at industry development) and the Regional Indicators project.
GEDC is represented on the Regional Development Council by its Chairman, Mrs Kath Finlayson Cit WA JP. The GEDC CEO attends the meetings as an observer. Meetings are held six times a year, with one meeting being held in a regional location.
Regional Development Policy Statement During the year GEDC was actively involved in the working party reviewing the Regional Development Policy statement.
The amended policy was released for public comment in 2002, after the original policy was revised and an overarching statement of policy direction that builds on, and is complementary to, the policy was included.
Work continued during the year on the development of a set of ‘Regional Indicators’ that will be used to measure ‘regional progress’ including levels of service delivery, economic performance and quality of life. The report ‘Indicators of Regional Development in Western Australia’ was released in March 2003 and will make possible region-to-region comparisons on a wide variety of issues, as well as enabling historic assessment of the ‘progress and performance’ of the Goldfields- Esperance region.
17 Investment Tours Investment Tours “bring regional business operators and investors and financiers together” in order to “give regional business operators the opportunity to promote their goods and services, attract investment and also develop an understanding of what investors are looking for and how the finance and investment industry operates”.
GEDC coordinated pre-tour briefings in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kambalda, Leonora, Norseman, Esperance and Ravensthorpe in May 2003. The pre-tour briefings were organised so the project proponents could prepare for the Investment Tours that are scheduled for August 2003.
Niagara Dam More than a century old, heritage listed Niagara Dam (in the Shire of Menzies), together with the nearby townsite and graveyard of the same name, is an important tourism icon in the Northern Goldfields. However the overall site needs development to enhance and exploit its tourism potential, and to address visitor safety issues.
The Department of Conservation and Land Management, with assistance from the Department of Land Administration, has vested in the Shire of Menzies the reserve on which Niagara Dam is located.
The Shire of Menzies has a ‘Masterplan’ for the development of Niagara Dam, which addresses public liability issues, as well as maximising the public’s enjoyment of the location. Niagara Dam was one of the sites where interpretation was installed for the Golden Quest Discovery Trail.
During the year GEDC worked closely with other agencies to progress the implementation of the Niagara Dam Masterplan. This included organising and assisting with an archaeological assessment of the site and ethnographical consultation and liaison between the Shire of Menzies and consultants developing the Golden Quest Discovery Trail.
In March 2003 the Masterplan was implemented and works completed in time for the launch of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail.
The GEDC also assisted the Shire of Menzies with an application to Lotterywest for funding to conduct a conservation report on the Dam. This application was successful and the GEDC worked with the Shire of Menzies and consultants to complete the fieldwork for the plan in June 2003.
Leonora Gwalia Museum Precinct The Gwalia Precinct project includes the development of Hoover House as a Guesthouse, Function Centre and Tearooms facilitating the long-term financial sustainability of the Leonora Gwalia Historical Museum Ltd. The Museum is responsible for the maintenance, development and promotion of the Gwalia Historical Precinct as a tourist attraction.
Through its Northern Goldfields office, GEDC works closely with Leonora Gwalia Historical Museum Ltd (particularly Manager Tim Hewson) on all of the above elements.
18 During the year the museum was successful in securing $76,000 from the Goldfields Esperance Regional Development Scheme to complete the final stages of renovations to Hoover House.
GEDC also assisted the Museum to prepare a grant application to the Commonwealth Regional Assistance Programme. The application was successful and funding of $75,801 was allocated. In addition, the GEDC assisted the Museum to prepare a successful application to the West Australian Regional and Rural Marketing Assistance Scheme.
The renovations to Hoover House will be completed and licences secured for it to begin operating as a Guest House, Function Centre and Tea Rooms in October 2003.
Regional Economic Modelling Regional economic modelling can be used to evaluate likely growth within regions as well as the potential impact of infrastructure and business investment upon the region. It provides a tool for the GEDC to generate predictive data and to be in a better position to be proactive in providing for the region’s economic development. It can assist in identifying growth in relation to any new requirements; and assist with economic planning for the region by helping to identify opportunities and potential new projects.
The GEDC was successful in obtaining funding to conduct a pilot economic modelling study of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and the Shires of Coolgardie, Menzies, Leonora and Laverton. The Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities was awarded the tender to conduct the study.
The study included a business survey, progress briefings and training on the REMPlan software for GEDC staff members. An economic profile of the LGA’s involved in the pilot study was completed and a paper based on this work was presented to the ABARE Conference held in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder on the 2nd October 2002.
The REMPlan software was utilised for the following case studies:
Modelling of population trends in and around the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for the next twelve to twenty-four months for a paper to the WA Electoral Commission. Modelling, in very broad terms, of the impact of the potential loss of local government agencies ceasing to purchase local goods and services. Modelling of the economic impact on the region of the potential loss of 224 jobs from the Bulong Nickel Operations. Modelling of the economic benefits of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail for the region.
Additional funding has been secured to allow the outstanding Shires of Ngaanyatjarraku, Dundas, Esperance and Ravensthorpe to be modelled and the aggregation of the outcomes of the two studies so as to present an overall Goldfields Esperance Regional Economic Model.
19 Output 1 Policies, Strategies and Plans
Output Measures 2002/2003 2002/2003 Reasons for significant Target Actual variation between Target and Actual Quantity Chargeable Hours 4400 4072
Quality Customer satisfaction by client 85% 81% survey
Timeliness Customer satisfaction by client 85% 81% New methodology survey applied to measuring this indicator in 2002/03
Cost Cost per hour $102 $96
Output 2 – Industry and Enterprise Development
Output description: To assist industry, business and commerce to contribute significantly to the region’s economy, employment and population base.
South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) SCRIPT represents all catchment, landcare and other Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups along the South Coast. GEDC is a member of SCRIPT’s Management Committee.
During the year SCRIPT negotiated a funding agreement with the National Heritage Trust to develop the South Coast Regional Natural Resource Management Strategy. The Strategy is expected to be completed by January 2004.
Following a $660,000 funding cut for the region’s facilitators and coordinators, SCRIPT developed a submission to the Joint Commonwealth State Steering Committee. This involved extensive consultation with the community and State Government agencies and negotiation with all the existing coordinators to accept a total salary limit of $50,000. All existing positions in the region were retained in the new submission except for the Biodiversity Conservation Officer based in CALM Albany.
Training and Skills Development
Residential College Group
In 2002 the GEDC was a member of the Residential College Group, a group chaired and managed by the Goldfields District Education Office. The group actively promoted educational opportunities at both government and non-government schools, through the development of a survey, television campaign and educational show-bags that promoted what the Goldfields has to offer. The GEDC contributed to the development of the television campaign and survey. The overall aim was to explore the potential of a new educational residential facility for the Goldfields. 20
GEDC, with Curtin University and other agencies, is actively assisting a Leonora- based organisation, Aboriginal Group Holdings to set up a TAFE style college in Leonora with residential facilities for up to 40 students, aimed at providing vocational and tertiary training for young people aged 15 to 25 in the North-Eastern Goldfields.
Curtin University Vocational Education and Training
GEDC took part in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Regional Forum ‘Shaping our Future – Creating the National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training 2004 – 2010’ and maintains contact with Curtin’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer and other Curtin University staff as appropriate.
GEDC assisted in seeking placements for work-based traineeships for Indigenous students undertaking business studies. These students work 18 hours per week at workplaces through the calendar year, and spend the rest of the week at Curtin’s ‘Practise Firm’ learning the various elements of running an office, including reception and customer services, accounts payable and receivable, inventory, information technology and marketing.
Esperance Career and Course Opportunities (ECCO)
The ECCO project evolved from a pilot project that explored ways to provide support to students undertaking tertiary education in Esperance. GEDC assisted the ECCO steering committee to successfully apply for funding through the Regional Solutions Program to employ a part-time Coordinator for two years. The Coordinator will:
Improve community access to post compulsory education using technology and mentor support. Assist students to successfully complete their studies from any education and training provider in Australia using flexible delivery modes. Develop networks with other organisations and institutions to improve access to the range and scope of education and training available in Esperance.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme GEDC is a Regional Certifying Body for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS), a Commonwealth Government migration program. In 2002/03 GEDC’s certification role was expanded to cover the Regional Business Migration Scheme for 1066 applications.
GEDC receives monthly updates to the Regional Skills Matching Database, which lists those people still living overseas seeking to migrate to a regional area in Australia. This database is a reference point for employers seeking suitably skilled people to fill vacancies that cannot be met by the local labour market. In addition to the database the RSMS can be offered to people on other visas such as the Employer Nominated Scheme or working holiday visas offering businesses options for retaining and attracting employees.
During 2002/03 GEDC certified 20 RSMS applications. These included four surveyors, a metallurgist, electricians, diesel mechanic, fitters and one application under the Regional Business Scheme.
21 Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry GEDC is a member of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is represented on the Chamber’s City and Regional Development Sub- Committee.
Issues considered during the year included the Goldfields water supply, Fly-In-Fly- Out, Goldfields to Pilbara Highway, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Transport Hub, WATC Tourism Zone Review, cash flow difficulties for those companies providing goods and services to mining companies, AusLink, Bulong Nickel Project, State electricity reform, the regional portal, town planning issues, rail infrastructure, zone rebates, and ‘flow-through share schemes’ to re-invigorate the exploration sector.
Early in 2002 the North Eastern Goldfields Chamber of Commerce held it’s first meeting, assisted by the GEDC. Since that time the group has continued to grow and accepted its constitution in June 2003. The GEDC continues to work closely with the fledgling Chamber and with the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is acting as a mentor and absorbing some of the administrative costs.
GEDC facilitated a workshop for the Esperance Chamber of Commerce and Industry to determine the Chamber’s work priorities for the next 12 months and how the Chamber can generate more income. Since then GEDC has provided assistance to the Chamber on small tasks relating to revising administrative processes.
Goldfields Esperance Area Consultative Committee (GEACC) GEDC’s Chief Executive Officer is a Board member of the Goldfields Esperance Area Consultative Committee.
GEACC continued its good work hosting the Indigenous Employment Forum (IEF), and this resulted in Coles Supermarket in Kalgoorlie-Boulder offering traineeships to young Indigenous workers. This initiative is understood to be the first time this major employer has implemented this strategy. GEACC is advocating similar traineeship arrangements to other companies in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
During 2002/03 building of a Business Incubator in Kalgoorlie-Boulder occurred and the GEACC is now collocated with the Goldfields Business Enterprise Centre and the Business Incubator at the new Piccadilly Street Centre.
Liaison with Local Government Authorities
Northern Goldfields
GEDC’s Northern Goldfields office, located in Leonora, has a particularly strong partnership with the four local government authorities in its sub-region; Menzies, Leonora, Laverton and Ngaanyatjarraku.
The Shires of Leonora, Laverton, Menzies and Ngaanyatjarraku support the operation of the office by providing a vehicle, telecommunications and office facilities. GEDC’s Leonora-based project officer attends selected Council meetings and participates in relevant forums and events. Monthly reports and minutes of the GEDC’s Board meetings are provided to these local government authorities, which regularly receive assistance from GEDC staff on a variety of projects, including cross-regional initiatives.
22 During 2002-03 collaborative work between GEDC and Northern Goldfields Local Government Authorities included the, Leonora Childcare Facility, Leonora Collocation Project, Lake Ballard – “Inside Australia”, Leonora Main Street Upgrade, the North Eastern Goldfields Tourism Working Group and the Golden Quest Discovery Trail.
Central Goldfields
In Kalgoorlie-Boulder GEDC is represented on the ‘Mayor’s Leadership Group’, which has representation from the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (Eastern Regional Council) and all local politicians, State and Federal. The meeting is an opportunity for the leaders of ‘peak groups’ in Kalgoorlie-Boulder to discuss strategic issues that may impact on the development of the Goldfields.
Regular meetings occur between the Chief Executive Officers of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry and GEDC to ensure that the organisations close working relationships remain and that a collaborative approach can be applied to issues in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
GEDC works closely with the Shire of Coolgardie on issues such as the development of the Mungari Industrial Estate and the attraction of potential businesses to that estate. In 2002/03 GEDC chaired a community forum to discuss the future of tourism in Coolgardie and also assisted with community consultation in relation to the proposed waste to energy project for the Mungari Industrial Estate.
South East
GEDC chairs the Blueprint Implementation Group comprising the Shires of Esperance, Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup. The group was formed to implement the recommendations of the Blueprint For The Future.
The Blueprint addresses issues relating to the likely impact BHP Billiton’s proposed Ravensthorpe Nickel Project will have on these local government authorities.
The Blueprint Implementation Group has initiated a draft tourism strategy that looks at opportunities that may arise in the southeast coastal region if the nickel project goes ahead. It is also looking at health, education, and land and power issues in the region.
GEDC is a member of the Esperance Shire Council’s steering committee that identified a number of areas of land to be considered for an industrial park. GEDC provided funding for an environmental assessment of the preferred site at Shark Lake, about 15km north of Esperance.
Young Achievement Australia GEDC continues to encourage participation in Young Achievement Australia activities that give secondary and tertiary students the opportunity to be exposed to the real world of business by actually establishing and operating their own company.
In the program, groups of students form their own company; a process which involves selling shares to raise capital, elect a board of directors, undertake market research and develop a product which the students then manufacture and sell in the general community. At the end of the program the company is liquidated, and in most cases returns a profit to the shareholders.
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By dealing with real money and real products, students gain hands-on business expertise and develop invaluable life skills in a fun environment. Through the program students attain all the competencies necessary to make them more 'work ready' committed and knowledgeable members of the workforce.
In 2002/03 a Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme grant assisted Eastern Goldfields Senior High School, Curtin University – Kalgoorlie and two groups from John Paul College to participate in the Young Achievement Australia Business Skills program. Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie and O’Connor Primary Schools along with the Goldfields Baptist College and Eastern Goldfields Senior High School are also benefiting from the Business Enterprise program.
As a result of YAA’s success in 2001/02 a coordinator based in Kalgoorlie has been appointed to oversee the program in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
Goldfields Tourism As a result of the visit by Advanced Tourism in 2001/02, the Goldfields Tourism Association has identified the best way forward for the industry in the Goldfields and a number of changes have been made in the Goldfields Tourism structure and its operations to ensure that tourism continues to expand and develop.
The development and opening of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail has given the Goldfields Tourism Association and the industry a major attraction to use as a ‘drawcard’ and a marketing point. GEDC were successful in obtaining funding to employ a Trails Officer based at the Goldfields Tourism Association. This position has been hosted at GEDC during 2002/03 and has further strengthened the relationship between the agencies.
In 2002/03 the review of the Western Australian Tourism Commission zones also occurred prompting lively input from the Region on the proposed new alignments across the State. A final decision on the zones is expected in early 2003/04.
Inside Intelligence Program In 2002/03 GEDC worked towards completing the database required for this program, however due to restrictions encountered in the database the inclusion of only a limited number of Centres from the Region was possible. GEDC considered existing and upcoming projects that were being undertaken such as Regional Economic Modelling, Investment Tours and the updating of the Economic Perspective would provide comparable, if not better outcomes. As a result it was decided that the resources required for the Inside Intelligence Program could be better utilised elsewhere.
GEDC is very keen to promote the Goldfields-Esperance region as an attractive location for investment and will ensure that the other projects continue to promote the benefits of the Region.
Industry Development Centre (IDC) GEDC took over responsibility for the IDC in November 2001 following the expiration of the funding arrangement between the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kalgoorlie- Boulder Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the GEDC. Its principle role is to attract new industries and businesses to the region, while supporting existing businesses in the region to expand. The IDC website at www.idcgold.org.au contains an interactive database of the region’s businesses which is updated on a six
24 monthly basis. This resource provides a ready reference for project managers of the range of goods and services available within the Goldfields-Esperance Region, and provides links to other relevant websites such as the WA Government’s “e-commerce Entry Point” and “Tender Alert” on the Government Electronic Marketplace (GEM) site.
The IDC fielded queries from various businesses regarding regional opportunities and provided information material and relevant contacts as required.
Aquaculture GEDC initiated meetings between the MG Kailis Group and the Esperance Marine Institute (EMI) that resulted in the Institute undertaking a research project near Remark Island in the Recherche Archipelago, about 18 nautical miles south of Esperance. EMI is measuring water temperature, salinity levels, water turbidity, swell, wave and weather conditions at the site. The project will last 12 months and will be completed in November 2003.
Depending on the results, MG Kailis has indicated that it may trial tuna farming in the Recherche after extensive community consultation. If the trial goes ahead the company would establish a base in Esperance.
GEDC supported Curtin University to identify a suitable site to undertake aquaculture courses in Esperance by negotiating with a local company for Curtin to use some existing facilities at the Bandy Creek Boat Harbour. Fourteen students are currently enrolled in the course and other courses are planned.
Seed Potatoes During the year the Esperance-owned WA Certified Seed Potato Company constructed a large facility that provides storage and grading services for all Esperance seed potato growers.
GEDC assisted the company to source funding from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to build innovative ‘storage cells’ in the facility. These storage cells use temperature control to shorten the dormancy of the seed. This will provide a significant advantage to seed potatoes growers in Esperance when ‘bulking up’ new varieties of potato and provide a competitive advantage over other seed potato producing locations.
Value Adding Grain Group GEDC provided assistance to a Grain Value Adding Group in the South East Region. The group commissioned a pre-feasibility study into grain value-adding opportunities in 2001 and following the results of that study explored the feasibility of a large, centrally located, grain drying and cleaning facility.
Funding was sourced through the Goldfields Esperance Regional Development Scheme to develop a business plan for the proposed facility. However, with the opening of two large privately owned facilities in Esperance, the development of the proposed facility has been put on hold.
South East Forest Foundation South East Forest Foundation (SEFF) aims to develop a sustainable farm forestry industry in Esperance. The Foundation includes representatives from producers, plantation companies and government agencies.
25 During 2002-03 SEFF organised a Master Tree Grower’s Course, held field days and maintained trial plantations in the district. SEFF is in the process of developing a strategy for farm forestry in the Esperance region and GEDC has assisted in the early planning stages of the strategy.
Rangelands The GEDC supported the Agriculture Department of Western Australia in it’s application to the Natural Heritage Trust Round 2, for funding of Natural Resource Management (NRM) Facilitators. This application was successful and officers were appointed in early 2003.
The GEDC sponsored the Australian Rangeland Society Biennial Conference 2002, which was held in Kalgoorlie on 2-5 September 2002.
The GEDC continues to work with the Agriculture Department of Western Australia in its coordination of Land Conservation District Committees and in determining how these will function under the new Natural Heritage Trust Funding structures.
The GEDC is a member of Desert Knowledge Australia, a body which seeks to “establish networks of people to undertake the research, product development and marketing needed for thriving desert knowledge economies”. The footprint of Desert Australia, as defined by this group, covers the entire Goldfields Esperance Region but is particularly relevant to the Rangelands. As a part of the GEDC’s involvement in this project, a close working relationship with the Centre for the Management of Arid Environments is maintained.
Vertical Opening Inspection System (VOIS) The GEDC assisted Curtin Consulting Services in accessing $145,000 from the Federal Government’s “Rail Reform Transition Program” to develop new technology for the remote controlled inspection of mine shafts. The developmental work has been contracted out to CSIRO in Queensland.
The initial design concept has been centred on the use of low cost and off the shelf video components integrated with emerging communication systems through an intelligent software program. VOIS obtains digital images, utilising its forward and side view cameras; and combines this with location data when lowered along a shaft or ore pass. The data is then transmitted to a control station where results are compared with previous surveys and any changes detected.
The overall aim of this project is to create new jobs through the development of a Kalgoorlie-Boulder based consultancy service providing shaft and ore pass monitoring for the mining industry, as well as training in the effective use of this technology.
Ravensthorpe Nickel GEDC, acting with the Shires of Esperance and Ravensthorpe, successfully applied for funding from the Federal Government’s Regional Solutions program to review the potential impact and opportunities associated with BHP Billiton’s proposed Ravensthorpe Nickel Project (RNP).
BHP Billiton is expected to announce whether the $1 billion project will go ahead in the first quarter of 2004. The mine has an estimated 20-year life and the nickel and cobalt product processed at the mine site will be shipped through the Port of Esperance to the Yabulu Nickel Refinery, north of Townsville in Queensland.
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The Blueprint for the Future outlines a significant number of issues that will impact on the local communities particularly a significant population increase due to BHP Billiton’s desire to employ a local workforce. This will have an effect on the region’s hospitals, schools, and the natural environment. Issues relating to the availability of land for housing and industry and power supplies also need to be addressed.
GEDC chairs a Blueprint Implementation Group that is considering these and other issues.
Mungari Industrial Estate The Mungari Industrial Park Coordinating Committee considers business development issues, marketing, and infrastructure and planning matters. GEDC is represented on this Committee and as a result of the Committee’s work there were several requests received during the year for information on the Park and a number of parties making initial inquiries have continued to show interest.
LandCorp has developed a number of innovative tenancy models, without the requirement for a headworks charge to be paid. This will allow the occupation of sites in the Park on a lease basis, provided there is no requirement for mains power, water or gas. The aim is to allow companies the lowest possible entry costs into the Park.
Waste to Energy project GEDC continued its involvement with Green Enviro Technologies Pty Ltd’s push to establish a Waste to Energy plant (using Pyromex technology) at the Mungari Heavy Industrial Park located in the Shire of Coolgardie.
Presentations on Pyromex technology were made to public consultation meetings in the Shire of Coolgardie and City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Relevant government agencies, political representatives and industry bodies have also been provided with briefings in order to raise awareness of the technology and its benefits.
Green Enviro Technology Pty Ltd is continuing to gather data on the waste streams that are available in Western Australia. The company plans to pursue the establishment of a Waste to Energy plant at the Mungari Heavy Industrial Park. GEDC will continue to facilitate this project.
Ministry of Justice Workcamps The Shires of Menzies, Leonora and Laverton are all keen to see a Ministry of Justice workcamp established in the Northern Goldfields. Workcamp inmates could assist on a number of local projects and would thus have the opportunity to develop a wide variety of work-related skills.
The GEDC continues to facilitate progress toward making this project a reality.
In May 2003 the GEDC hosted a visit to the Northern Goldfields by the Superintendent, Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison and the Department of Justice’s Manager, Work Camps.
The Manager, Work Camps will be writing up a business case for the proposed camp, which will be completed by December 2003.
27 Esperance Industrial Estate The Esperance Shire Council identified the need for an industrial park to be located near the town to accommodate general industrial activities. In 2002, a record 6.2 million tones of cargo was shipped through the Port of Esperance, up 1.9 million tonnes from 2001. The trend is expected to continue.
In recent times a number of studies have been undertaken to find a suitable industrial site to meet the region’s future needs.
A steering committee comprising the Shire, Esperance Port Authority, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and GEDC investigated a number of sites and has had environmental assessments undertaken at several of these.
Currently the committee is considering a 400-hectare site at Shark Lake, about 15km north of Esperance. An environmental assessment of the site has been completed, community and key stakeholder consultation undertaken, and the Shire and Port Authority have negotiated an option to buy the land following further environmental studies at the site.
Business Enterprise Centres During the year monthly meetings of the Goldfields Business Enterprise Centre (GBEC) were held. GEDC is represented on the Centre’s Management Committee. The ‘core business’ of the Goldfields Business Enterprise Centre is to facilitate the successful establishment of new small businesses in the Goldfields.
During the year the GBEC moved to be collocated with the new ‘Business Incubator’ and the Goldfields-Esperance Area Consultative Committee in Piccadilly St, Kalgoorlie.
GEDC is active on the Esperance Business Enterprise Centre’s (EBEC) management committee that meets monthly.
During 2002 – 2003 EBEC dealt with 1407 clients, which led to 40 new businesses starting. The Centre provided assistance to 60 expanding businesses and 20 businesses that required information vital to their survival. An estimated 34 full-time and 19 part-time jobs were created through business start-up and expansion.
During the year EBEC provided administration assistance to the Indigenous Employment Forum and successfully applied for funding through the Small Business Enterprise Cultural Program to run workshops to assist businesses to plan for the changing economic environment.
EBEC moved premises to a ground floor office in the Esperance Business Centre in May 2003. It is expected that the new location, which has more passing traffic and is more visible, will increase the number of clients that access the service.
EBEC also provided a position for Structured Workplace Learning to a school-based trainee who is undertaking Certificate 2 in Business.
28 Indigenous Economic Development In 2002-03 GEDC continued to work in the area of Indigenous economic development, focusing on:
Assisting Indigenous business enterprise development Coordinating the Indigenous People in Mining group Developing Indigenous arts Developing Indigenous tourism and cultural heritage.
In the later half of 2001-02, the part-time position of Aboriginal Economic Development Officer was re-negotiated with the Office of Aboriginal Economic Development and was subsequently advertised as a full time position in July 2002. This position was filled in mid August with the officer working to further develop the above projects.
Considerable time was spent providing information and reports to various State and Commonwealth Government departments and in responding to recommendations of the Gordon Inquiry. GEDC was actively involved in the Indigenous Employment Forums in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and in Esperance and assisted the Department of Local Government and Regional Development to contact Aboriginal community leaders in three shires to take part in the WA Community Leadership Program to be delivered across the State in 2003-04.
Indigenous business enterprise development GEDC worked with other State and Commonwealth government agencies to assist the development of Indigenous business enterprises in the region by providing information and assistance to access training, business networks and mentoring programs. Assistance with specific issues was also provided to Indigenous business operators in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Goldfields region. This included:
Referrals to courses and seminars including; introductory mining courses, dealing with bad debts, financial management, working with community groups and computer training. Assistance in starting new businesses Assistance in preparing funding applications Referrals to develop business plans Assistance and referrals to resolve financial queries Marketing assistance Referrals to the Regional Investment Tour
Indigenous business operators were also encouraged to join relevant business organisations such as the Kalgoorlie-Boulder or Northern Goldfields Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Indigenous People in Mining (IPiM)
‘Indigenous People in Mining’ is an informal group established in 1998, when a number of Goldfields-based Indigenous business people, representatives from mining companies and various government agencies came together with a general aim to increase the participation of Indigenous people in the mining industry.
29 The major project for 2002-03 was to identify and coordinate the promotion of Indigenous businesses providing goods and services to the mining Industry in Western Australia. The main focus of this promotion was presentation of a combined exhibit at the Goldfields Mining Expo (GME) held in October 2002.
Twenty-nine Indigenous businesses were promoted - twenty-one being Goldfields businesses with the balance from the Pilbara and Mid-West regions. The carry over of the majority of Goldfields businesses from the initial promotion in 2000 through to 2002 (despite fluctuations in the mining industry and the general economy) was encouraging.
The Indigenous businesses covered a range of services including exploration and drilling, vehicle hire, trained personnel/staff hire, mechanical services, rehabilitation of mine sites, industrial cleaning, crane hire, retail and vending operations, drilling and mine support services.
The Goldfields Mining Expo provides excellent opportunities for facilitating business contacts between Indigenous enterprises, resource developers, mining contractors and other exhibitors.
Since August 2000, GEDC has provided ongoing coordination and support for the IPiM group, each year assisting individual operators to develop company profiles, coordinating the production of promotional materials such as business cards and posters and compiling an IPiM Business Directory for distribution at the Expo and to mining companies.
Indigenous Arts Development
Support for Indigenous Arts in the Goldfields-Esperance region has the potential to lead to a number of positive outcomes. Apart from being an additional income source for individual artists and communities, arts development enhances cultural heritage and offers Indigenous people a higher profile within their own communities and in the wider community. For the younger people of the region, various performing arts projects offer an opportunity to gain self-esteem and confidence in projects that also strengthen literacy and numeracy skills, problem solving and a wide range of production skills such as lighting and sound.
In 2002-03 GEDC continued to facilitate the establishment of a number of new arts projects and supported several existing projects. These included:
Freefall Theatre (previously Desert Drama) - which offers a range of performing arts opportunities for young Indigenous and non-Indigenous people aged between six and twenty-one. In 2003 the group was awarded an outstanding commendation by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research for its programs assisting the mental health and well being of young people aged six to twelve. A GEDC representative is on the board of Freefall Theatre.
Investigating opportunities and possible outlets to promote and sell Indigenous art and craft work.
Assisting ArtSource and the Artists Foundation to run professional development workshops for artists in Leonora, Laverton and Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
30 Coordinating with the Goldfields Arts Centre Gallery, communities and arts organisations in the Shires of Ngaanyatjarraku, Laverton Leonora and Kalgoorlie- Boulder to prepare an exhibition of works. The exhibition ‘Yaala Pukurlpa Ngurraku’ (We celebrate our home) is to be held from 24th July to 24th August 2003 at the Goldfields Arts Centre to coincide with the annual Diggers and Dealers conference.
Developing Indigenous Tourism and Cultural Heritage
The development of Indigenous tourism ventures provides opportunities for full-time, part-time and casual employment and economic development for Indigenous communities.
The GEDC maintains regular contact with the WA Indigenous Tour Operators Committee (WAITOC) and is a member of the Government and Industry Liaison Committee for Indigenous Tourism (GILCIT), forwarding information on industry and funding opportunities, seminars and workshops to existing and potential tour operators and interested communities.
With the development of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail through the north eastern sector of the region, the GEDC sought the involvement of appropriate Aboriginal organisations and individuals in the ‘dual naming’ of Trail sites, and the collection of information for the guidebook and audio package.
Two trainee CALM rangers, who are undertaking qualifications in Indigenous Tourism, assisted in the collection of much of this information.
Kepa Kurl Interpretive Centre The proposed Kepa Kurl Discovery Centre is a concept that aims to promote the natural and cultural heritage of the south-east coastal region.
A steering committee comprising representatives from the Esperance Regional Tourism Association, Esperance Shire Council, Esperance Chamber of Commerce and GEDC has investigated a number of sites suitable for the construction of a discovery centre.
The preferred site is near the Esperance Tanker Jetty, and a second option is adjacent to the Esperance Historical Museum.
The Western Australian Tourism Commission provided $10,000 for the steering committee to consult with the community over the Kepa Kurl proposal and prepare concept plans. This will be carried out during 2003-04.
Esperance Marine Institute The Esperance Marine Institute (EMI) is a community driven organization that is concerned with the development of onshore and offshore aquaculture and education initiatives relating to those industries. A Board of seven Directors runs EMI. GEDC has an ex officio role on the Board.
GEDC initiated a research project to be undertaken by the Institute for the MG Kailis Group, which has shown interest in trialing blue fin tuna farming near Esperance.
31 During the year EMI arranged for farmers interested in growing marron, yabbies or finfish on their properties to acquire an aquaculture license, and was involved with Challenger TAFE in developing a course relating to the environmental management of caged finfish in WA. The course is the first of its kind in Australia that deals specifically with the environmental aspects of marine aquaculture and will be available for delivery by registered training organizations throughout Australia.
GEDC was involved in negotiations with iron ore miner Portman Ltd to secure funding to build the Institute’s research and development and training facilities at the Bandy Creek Boat Harbour. Portman had provided financial support for the Institute to study the feasibility of having a community-controlled organisation driving the development of aquaculture in the region. Unfortunately, because of issues relating to its mining operations, Portman was unable to commit further financial support. EMI is now looking at other means of developing their site at Bandy Creek.
Meetings – Industry – Goldfields The Goldfields Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) program was absorbed by the Goldfields Tourism Association in 2002, becoming a focus of the overall tourism marketing strategy.
Youth Driver Development Program The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Youth Driver Development Program is committed to reducing the number of young people seriously injured and killed as a result of road crashes in Western Australia. The program comprises a five-module driver-training course for Year 11 students as they prepare to obtain a driver’s license. The program aims to develop sound attitudes towards driving and safety, whilst simultaneously teaching basic driving skills. Since the start of the 2003 school-year, 36 students have completed the program and it is anticipated by the end of 2003, another 24 students will have experienced the benefits provided by the Youth Driver Development Program.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy runs the program with sponsorship and support from the following: • Golden City Motors is providing two cars free of charge. • Fuel for the vehicles is provided by Link Energy. • Water Corporation - Goldfields provides support by the use of mechanical equipment (hoists) and workshop facilities. • Roadwise WA - provided 10 witches-hats.
In addition to the sponsorship, this program is also strongly supported by local businesses and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community. GEDC supported this program with a grant from the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Development Fund in 2000/01 and continues to support this successful youth/industry initiative.
Grants information GEDC provided Local Government Authorities and community groups with information on a range of grant opportunities. GEDC subscribes to an Internet-based grants notification service, and gleans information about grant opportunities from this source, as well as from newspaper advertisements and established networks.
GEDC also provided detailed funding advice to a number of Local Government Authorities and community groups in relation to specific projects.
32 This service provided by the GEDC is regularly used by a host of key stakeholders and community groups and demand for this service continues to grow.
A major aspect of this project was promoting the availability of funding from three grant programs that make up the State Government’s ‘Regional Investment Fund’ – Regional Infrastructure Funding Program (RIFP), West Australian Regional Initiatives Scheme (WARIS) and the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme (GERDS).
Golden Pipeline The Golden Pipeline Project honours CY O’Connor’s legendary infrastructure achievement. The project involved the conservation and interpretation of pumping stations and associated infrastructure along the route of the Goldfields and Agricultural Water Scheme, from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie, incorporating a drive trail. The project was led and facilitated by the National Trust and was officially opened in January 2003. GEDC was involved in two project development committees - the Golden Pipeline Working Group and the Goldfields Planning Advisory Group.
Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme and Kalgoorlie-Boulder Development Fund
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Development Fund
The objective of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Development Fund is to assist projects that will improve social infrastructure and the general quality of life in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Due to legislative issues, not all the $250,000 available in 2001-02 was granted, but the balance has been added to the 2002-03 allocation.
In 2002-03 17 applications were received, with a project value of over $600,000.00. Projects funded in 2002-03 were:
Company Project Funds Allocated West Australia Indigenous Sporting Goldfields Football Academy $ 55,000 Foundation City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder 2003 Croc FestivalTM $ 22,000 St Barbara's Festival Inc The Aurion Gold St Barbara's $ 22,000 Festival Wongutha Birni Aboriginal Wongutha Birni Cultural Centre $ 55,000 Corporation Kalgoorlie Boulder Volunteer Centre Kalgoorlie Boulder Volunteer $ 5,500 Centre Golden Mile Loopline Railway Society Golden Mile Loopline Railway $ 15,515 Inc. Museum Family Training Institute Inc Consolidate Existing Resources $ 45,364 Boulder Promotion & Development Restoration of the Palace $ 55,000 Association Theatre recreation centre
33 Goldfields-Esperance Regional Development Scheme
The Goldfields-Esperance Development Scheme is administered by GEDC, and is a component of the State Government’s Regional Investment Fund. $400,000 was available for distribution in 2002-03.
The primary objective of this Scheme is to enhance social and economic development in the Goldfields-Esperance region through funding projects that will assist in attracting investment and increasing employment.
In 2002-03 priority was given to activities that encouraged investment in the region; projects that demonstrated partnerships between stakeholders; tourism development and projects fitting into the framework of GEDC’s Strategic Plan.
38 applications were received, with a project value of over $1.7million. Projects funded in 2002-03 were:
Company Project Funds allocated Christian Aboriginal Parent-directed Construction of Recreation $ 70,000 School Inc. facility at Gibson Golden Quest Trails Association Industry & Media Familiarisation- $ 12,000 Golden Quest Trails Laverton Leonora Cross Cultural Improvement of Indigenous Art & $ 27,000 Association Business Skills Youth Achievement Australia Ltd Youth Achievement Australia $ 17,820 Leonora Gwalia Historical Museum Restoration & Development of $ 76,745 Ltd Hoover House Shire of Esperance Esperance Industrial Estate $ 33,000 Shire of Leonora Leonora Child Care Centre - $ 79,000 Stage One Goldfields Esperance Development Regional Economic Impact & $ 36,880 Commission Employment Planning Shire of Coolgardie Dorothy Dimer & Bill Bunbury - $ 2,000 Oral History Bay of Isles Aboriginal Community Inc Bay of Isles Aboriginal Art & $ 9,930 Cultural Display Shire of Coolgardie Kambalda Youth Officer $ 15,989 Esperance Chamber of Commerce & Esperance Community & $ 12,000 Industry Business Directory 2003 Eyre Travelstops Pty Ltd Balladonia Waste Water $ 64,503 Treatment Project
34 Output 2 Industry and Enterprise Development
Output Measures 2002-03 2002-03 Reasons for significant Target Actual variation between Target and Actual Quantity Chargeable Hours 4500 4461
Quality Customer satisfaction by client 85% 78% survey
Timeliness Customer satisfaction by client 85% 81% New methodology survey applied to measuring this indicator in 2002/03
Cost Cost per hour $102 $94
Output 3 – Coordination of Infrastructure Identification
Output description: To coordinate identification of appropriate infrastructure services to the region so as to ensure that they are provided effectively and efficiently to meet the expanding needs of the region.
Goldfields-Esperance Infrastructure Projects Workshop The inaugural Workshop was held in March 2001. The forum was an opportunity for public sector infrastructure providers to detail their agency’s infrastructure developments to colleagues and counterparts from across the region and from Perth. The GEDC believes that comprehensive infrastructure is vital to enhanced economic development in the region. The second workshop is scheduled for early 2004.
Goldfields-Esperance Regional Water During the year the GEDC continued to be proactive in seeking the best option, or options, for the provision of alternative and affordable sources of water for the region. The current water crisis in the metropolitan area has added a greater sense of urgency to finding a long-term solution for the water supply needs of the Goldfields- Esperance Region. Failure to do so will prove a major inhibitor to the region’s continued prosperity.
The Hon Nick Griffiths MLC released the draft Goldfields-Esperance Water Supply Strategy report on the 4th September 2002. This was followed by a public consultation period that continued until the 17th October 2002. The GEDC distributed copies of the report to key stakeholders and members of the public, organised displays on the water strategy in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance and publicised and encouraged public comment on the draft strategy. It also organised for one of the consultants who was instrumental in the formulation of the draft water strategy report to brief councillors and staff of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder on the key elements of the regional water strategy. The GEDC provided a submission on the draft strategy.
35 On the 24th January 2003 the Acting Premier, the Hon Eric Ripper MLA, announced that the Government had asked the Water Corporation and the proponents of the Esperance to Kalgoorlie desalinated water pipeline, United Utilities, to enter into discussions. This will ascertain if a cost effective solution is achievable. A report will then be provided to the Premier’s Water Taskforce on the feasibility of the project. GEDC staff met with representatives of Water Corporation and United Utilities as part of this process. The outcomes of these deliberations are still awaited.
In other water-related matters, the State Government announced that a reservoir would be built in Kalgoorlie-Boulder that would see water storage capacity double within three years. This $10 million project will boost the city’s water storage from 12 days to more than three weeks.
Water Forums were held in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance during September 2002 as part of the series of State Wide forums. These culminated in the Water Symposium held in Parliament House between the 7th and 9th October 2002. This in turn provided input into a State Water Strategy. The GEDC participated in all these events and contributed a regional perspective to the proceedings.
The GEDC distributed copies of the ‘Draft State Water Conservation Strategy’ (DSWCS) and raised awareness of its existence. It organised a meeting of key stakeholders to discuss and provide feedback on the draft, these comments forming part of the GEDC submission on the implications and possible ramifications of the DSWCS.
The GEDC has provided support to the Balladonia Waste Water Project, which attracted State financial assistance to apply an innovative approach to the recycling of used water.
Esperance Power Station and Gas Pipeline Burns and Roe Worley Pty Ltd was awarded an 18-year contract to supply power to Western Power for distribution in Esperance in 2002.
Work began on installing a 330km gas pipeline from Kambalda to Esperance in April 2003 and will be completed by December.
Gas turbines are being built in the United States and will be shipped to Esperance to be installed and commissioned on Esperance Port Authority land by early 2004.
GEDC has worked with Burns and Roe Worley to keep stakeholders informed about the project and to facilitate stakeholder meetings in Esperance.
Telecommunications The GEDC continues to liaise with and lobby, telecommunications carriers and governments so as to provide improved telecommunications infrastructure and services to the region.
This has been achieved through the following activities:
As part of the State-wide Telecommunications Needs Assessment (TNA) project, the GEDC convened public forums throughout the region. These were convened to gauge public opinion on the adequacy of telecommunications services in their areas including mobile phones, telephones, TV/radio broadcasting, broadband, internet, and e-mail and support services generally.
36
Reviewed and commented on the various chapters of the Telecommunications Needs Assessment project. The TNA will form a statistical basis for determining priorities, setting benchmarks, identifying strategies, preparing policies and developing programs. It will be used for developing a state communications policy, including regional telecommunications strategies; lobbying the Commonwealth and service providers; supporting grant applications; showing areas of inadequate coverage prior to the further selling-off of Telstra, and to seek funding for these areas should the remainder of Telstra be sold; attracting industry and employment to particular regional areas through the marketing of the availability of high levels of infrastructure and associated services; and determining the success of programs put into place since the last State audit in 1996/97.
GEDC met with representatives of the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku and Telstra to address the telecommunications needs of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands communities in a coordinated way.
The provision of Telecentres in selected Lands communities.
Continued to lobby Telstra Country Wide for terrestrial mobile phone coverage for the town of Menzies and along the Eyre Highway between Norseman and Eucla.
The extension of ADSL broadband internet access to various towns in the region.
GEDC organised a meeting with the representative of an Australian company to brief local stakeholders on a proposed new satellite broadband internet service, with a satellite base to be situated within the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Also provided contacts and background information on the region.
Participated in the Communications Advisory Committee, which advises the Minister for State Development on regional and remote communications matters.
Provided input into telecommunications briefing papers prepared for the Regional Development Council.
Provided input and feedback from a regional perspective on broadband development to the National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE), which conducted formal consultations on behalf of the Broadband Advisory Group (BAG). This group was established by Senator the Hon. Richard Alston, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, to provide advice to the Federal Government on broadband development in Australia.
The GEDC prepared and organised advertisements in the regional press to advertise the Terms of Reference for the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry, which was announced by the Federal Government to gauge the improvement, or otherwise, of telecommunications in the ‘bush’ before proceeding with the selling of the remainder of Telstra government ownership. Given the short time period for the public to respond to this Inquiry, and given its considerable significance for the future of telecommunications in regional and remote Australia, the GEDC urged the public generally and key stakeholders specifically, to respond with submissions. The GEDC itself compiled and submitted a submission to the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry.
37 Transport
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Rail Realignment
In November 2001 the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, the Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLA, gave approval to progress a consultation process on options for the potential re-routing of the rail system that runs through Kalgoorlie. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and the GEDC worked together to formulate and manage a formal public consultation process.
Brochures and display maps on the three rail rerouting options were made available in March 2002. The public consultation process closed in June 2002, with 285 submissions being received from interested parties.
The Department for Planning and Infrastructure commenced a business case study on the ramifications of rerouting the rail line around the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The business case study costed the realignment options, investigated potential development of any land made surplus by a rail realignment, assessed possible commercial linkages with planned rail developments and determined if other commercial benefits would be delivered by a rail realignment.
The Planning and Infrastructure Minister MacTiernan announced on the 20th January 2003 that the study had found that the possible realignment of the Kalgoorlie rail system was not economically feasible at this time; but rather that the project was a medium to long term proposition. The proposed project was not self-funding and would have cost up to $66 million in construction alone. Land sales would only have an estimated value of up to $10 million.
However as rail traffic volumes increase, the benefits will be greater and planning will be undertaken to ensure the realignment can occur when those benefits justify the costs.
Goldfields Highway - Lake Raeside Crossing
During the year GEDC continued to lobby for the upgrade of the Goldfields Highway Crossing at Lake Raeside to be completed earlier than the 2007 date currently proposed.
Goldfields Highway – Wiluna to Meekatharra
GEDC continued to lobby for the early completion of this project. This 180km section of the Goldfields Highway is a formed gravel road and is the last gravel section on this Highway that links Kalgoorlie and Meekatharra.
This section of road is subject to closure during wet weather with closure periods typically totalling around 17 days per year. Wear and tear on transport is significant, as is the cost of maintenance of the road itself. The estimated cost of upgrading this 180km section of highway to a sealed standard is $67m. The timeframe for the upgrade was for completion by 2006. The State Government has announced that the completion date is now 2008.
38 The Mount Magnet to Leinster sealed road was officially opened on the 17th January 2003 by the Hon Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. This development and the new completion date has presented an opportunity where regional stakeholders, such as the GEDC and others, are now considering a more direct route north from Wiluna in preference to going via Meekatharra.
South West to Goldfields Study This study was commissioned by Main Roads WA in 2000-01 to research possible new transport links between the South West and the Goldfields. The GEDC is represented on the Steering Committee.
The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan, gave approval in early January 2003 to release the Draft Overview Report. Copies were distributed to key stakeholders for a three month period for review and comment. A report on the submissions has been prepared and is currently being finalised.
Review of Roads 2020 Regional Roads Strategies
The GEDC provided input into the Main Roads WA “Review of Roads 2020 Regional Roads Strategies”. The outcome of the review is yet to be announced by Main Roads WA.
AusLink
The GEDC made a detailed submission in response to the Federal Government’s Green Paper on its proposed changes and reforms of land transport infrastructure nationally. The GEDC also liaised with other key regional stakeholders, such as the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in regard to submissions. A common theme of the submissions was the great benefits to be had by the establishment of an inter modal transport hub in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The Federal Government is expected to release the AusLink White Paper by the end of 2003.
Regional Air Services
The GEDC provided comment on the “Review and Assessment of the Effectiveness of Air Services in WA” undertaken by consultants on behalf of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure; and circulated its response to various stakeholders. The GEDC also organised meetings with the consultants and interested regional players in the course of the review.
The GEDC also responded to a request for feedback from the Tourism Council WA on the report’s recommendations that went to the Government. The deteriorating situation regarding the timing, frequency and cost of air services to Esperance was highlighted in the response.
Outback Highway
GEDC is a member of the Outback Highway Development Council (OHDC), which is lobbying for the development of the Outback Highway from Laverton in Western Australia to Winton in Queensland via Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. The Council includes representatives from local government authorities along the route, government road agencies and regional development authorities.
39 To date, no Federal funding to upgrade the Outback Highway has been secured. The Shires of Laverton, Ngaanyatjarraku, Alice Springs, Boulia and Winton are joint funding an Executive Officer/Lobbyist position, appointed in 2003. It is through this position that the five Local Government Authorities have continued lobbying the Federal Government for a financial commitment to the Outback Highway.
In June 2002 the ‘Just Cuts Car Trek’ started in Winton in Queensland and finished in Laverton Western Australia, with the cars travelling on the Outback Highway. This Trek served to highlight the importance of this ‘third link’. After the success of this event in terms of raising awareness of the importance of the Outback Highway, The Shire of Laverton aims to field a car for the 2003 Trek.
In 2002, the Outback Highway Development Council received a grant of $164,000 under the Federal Government’s Regional Solutions Program to undertake an economic and social impact assessment of upgrading the Highway. The draft report from this assessment was released for comment in June 2003.
Output 3 Coordination of Infrastructure Identification
Output Measures 2002-03 2002-03 Reasons for significant Target Actual variation between Target and Actual Quantity Chargeable Hours 900 965
Quality Customer satisfaction by client 85% 75% Significant issues such survey as power, water and transport infrastructure remain a concern across the Region.
Timeliness Customer satisfaction by client 85% 81% New methodology survey applied to measuring this indicator in 2002/03
Cost Cost per hour $90 $105 Involvement with the State Water Strategy, Regional Water Issues, Ravensthorpe Nickel, Widgiemooltha and Eucla Infrastructure increased the expenses related to this Output.
40 Output 4 – Regional Promotion
Output description: To promote the region’s advantages and attractions so as to encourage investment that will contribute to economic growth, employment and increased population base of the region.
Australia Unlimited Taskforce The Australia Unlimited Taskforce (AUT) was established in 2000 to implement and manage initiatives proposed in the report ‘A Marketing Strategy for the Goldfields- Esperance Region of Western Australia’ to market the Goldfields-Esperance Region (published in April 2000).
The Taskforce, chaired by Board Member Kay Curson, includes representatives of major stakeholders throughout the region including Local Government Authorities, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA, Indigenous groups, tourism associations, as well as community members.
During 2002/03 the Taskforce progressed the following projects:
Regional Promotional Roadshow
As part of the Regional Promotional Roadshow, the Australia Unlimited Taskforce and the GEDC exhibited at two major expositions in Perth aimed at promoting the Region. They were the Spring Home Show (October 2002) and the Perth 4WD Show (November 2002). To support these two metropolitan expositions, the AUT developed a range of promotional material: including a television campaign aimed at Perth and the greater WA, an Australia Unlimited bumper sticker, a regional postcard and a range of regional promotional posters.
Charity House Project
GEDC and AUT gained good exposure for the concept of ‘regionally appropriate’ building designs from the Housing Design Competition held in 2001, but it was felt that considerable additional exposure could be gained by actually building one or more of the three winning designs. The Goldfields section of the competition was won by Perth-based architect, Fiona Hogg, from Troppo Architects WA P/L.
During 2001-02 GEDC began to develop a proposal to have Fiona Hogg’s winning design built in Kalgoorlie-Boulder as a ‘Charity House’ with the net proceeds from the auctioned property benefiting a major community fundraising campaign. The GEDC and the Australia Unlimited Taskforce continue to promote the outcomes of the regional housing competition, however they have withdrawn their support from the proposed ‘Charity House’ due to a change of project parameters, which did not fit within the original concept of the house design.
The GEDC continues to disseminate briefing notes, past competition guidelines and outcomes to government and non-government agencies as required.
41 Goldfields-Esperance Heritage Trails
GEDC published a Regional Marketing Strategy in 2000 and established the Australia Unlimited Taskforce. The role of the Taskforce was to implement the initiatives outlined in the Strategy to lift the profile of the region. One project was the establishment of a heritage trails network throughout the region. A feasibility study was positive, with priority given to three trails - the Golden Quest Discovery Trail (Central and Northern Goldfields) the Dundas Woodlands Discovery Trail and the Esperance Explorers Trail. During the year GEDC has progressed the development of these trails.
Golden Quest Discovery Trail
The background
A consultancy group was appointed in September 1999 by the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission (GEDC) to develop a Regional Marketing Strategy for the Goldfields-Esperance region. The ultimate aim was to develop a Strategy that would encourage visitation to, and investment in the region, enhance lifestyle, and increase the sense of pride local people have about the region.
A structure was recommended to implement and manage the Strategy in April 2000. In collaboration with GEDC, a new umbrella advisory group, known as the Australia Unlimited Taskforce, comprising representatives of major stakeholder groups throughout the region, was created.
A comprehensive priority determination resulted in the Taskforce deciding to concentrate on projects that aimed to improve the region’s image and sought to develop an image of confidence and leadership befitting the region’s role in the history and future of Australia.
Out of the projects selected, the heritage trail project was the listed as a priority. It was recognised that the Goldfields-Esperance region has significant heritage assets, with great potential to develop these further.
The Feasibility Study
The first step was to commission a Feasibility Study into the prospect of a network of heritage trails across the region. That study, delivered in February 2001, found that such a trail network could have significant positive impacts on tourism, business enhancement, employment and heritage conservation.
The Feasibility Study suggested 8 possible trails in total, and the “Goldfields North Heritage Trail” (later to be renamed The Golden Quest Discovery Trail), was placed at the top of the priority listing.
The Study found that the development of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail was feasible and should generate significant benefits, both economic and social, to the communities of the area, as listed below: Job creation and the development of new business opportunities, a result of increased tourism activity. Increased tourist visitation to the region, and an increase in the number of days spent in the region by those visitors.
42 Enhancement of business skills of service providers, through training schemes and business planning assistance. Increased awareness (and appreciation) of the region’s heritage resources (both built and natural), through development of innovative and informative interpretive materials. Higher levels of satisfaction and pride for those living in the region – and an increase in local recreation opportunities. Improved communication and cooperation across the region, through the unifying effect of this heritage trail network. Focussing attention on the heritage assets of the region, thereby developing a sense of uniqueness and identity. Recognition of the need for conservation of heritage places.
The Planning Study
Given the positive response from the Feasibility Study, the next phase was to create Development Plan components, required to provide the appropriate depth of information upon which to proceed to implementation. These were the Trail Development Plans, Interpretation Plans and Business Development and Marketing Plan Outline.
An extensive process of community consultation and detailed field trips formed the basis for the Planning Study. Questionnaires were sent out and community and stakeholder meetings were held in each of the five key towns in the study area (Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie, Menzies, Laverton and Leonora Staff from the GEDC undertook a comprehensive process of consultation with the Indigenous community.
The Trail Development Plan set out to finalise the trail route, and select those ‘Sites’ or stopping places, which would feature along the way. The route was selected to provide the best balance of stories and on-trail experiences. Infrastructure development at these sites was deliberately kept to a minimum. The strength of this trail lies not in ‘fancy’ sites with lots of facilities, but in the remarkable range and power of the stories, which unfold along the route.
The Interpretation Plan recommended three key methods of delivering stories to trail users – on-site interpretive signage (vandal-proof anodised aluminium), a comprehensive guide book and 150 minutes (2 CD’s) of professionally produced and dramatised audio interpretation.
The Marketing and Business Development outline produced this vision statement:
By 2006, the Golden Quest Discovery Trail will be recognised as one of the great interpretive drive trails of Australia, attracting national and international visitors and providing employment and tourism related business opportunities for Goldfields communities.
The marketing section demonstrated that the trail has the potential to deliver a major tourism competitive advantage for towns along the route and in the wider Goldfields region through heightened awareness of the region and trail, and through increased visitor expenditure resulting in economic development opportunities. Specifically, the trail has the potential to boost visitation to the relatively developed tourist destination of Kalgoorlie-Boulder as well as providing the impetus for the emergence of a viable tourism industry in the northern Goldfields area.
43 In summary, the Planning Study stated that the Golden Quest Discovery Trail would be an outstanding outcome, based on a plethora of fascinating sites and stories. Adequately funded and efficiently implemented it would have the potential to be a unique and deeply rewarding visitor experience. With strong marketing it should generate a noticeable boost in tourist numbers in the northern Goldfields, producing concomitant economic and employment benefits.
The Outcome
The Trail The Golden Quest Discovery Trail is a two-to-three day drive using the existing road network, and is suitable for both self-drive and guided tour visitors. Some 965km in length, the Trail connects the communities of Coolgardie, Menzies, Kookynie, Leonora, Laverton and Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Along the way it passes through numerous historic mining settlements and ghost towns. This area is uncommonly rich with 'stories', many of which are dramatic, heroic, hilarious, tragic or a combination of all of these.
Infrastructure There are 25 official sites (or stopping points) along the 965km trail route. These are arranged in sequence from Coolgardie (Site 1) through to Kalgoorlie–Boulder’s Super Pit (Site 25).
At each site there are interpretative panels providing comprehensive information. Some sites have map panels, picnic tables and chairs and BBQ’s. Along the trail there are historic town signs, entry point promotional statements and on-trail directional signs.
At each site, the relevant Local Government Authority has taken responsibility for gravelling and re-grading and at the Murrin Murrin site, Anaconda Nickel Ltd has built an elevated viewing platform.
Guidebook and CDs This 160 page, full colour guidebook, complete with audio accompaniment (2 compact discs), is the key to the 25 sites and surrounding areas. The eyewitness accounts, tragic and quirky stories and interesting facts provide you with a rich and complete Trail experience. The guidebook will also aid in planning the visit on the Trail. It has a wealth of information about each location, including comprehensive maps, travel distances between each site and associated safety guidelines.
Marketing Consultants were appointed in August 2002 to generate awareness and support for the Trail throughout the tourism industry and local community and to deliver an effective marketing program to increase the number of trail users. This included developing brochures, a website www.goldenquesttrail.com, marketing packages to media and organising familiarisations with tour operators and wholesalers.
44 The Partners Throughout the three-year implementation of this project, support has been outstanding from all sectors of government and community groups. However, without the support of the following key stakeholders, the GEDC would not have been able to make the Trail a reality:
State Government of Western Australia Australia Unlimited Taskforce Commonwealth Government Department of Transport and Regional Services Main Roads WA Department of Conservation and Land Management City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire of Menzies Shire of Leonora Shire of Laverton Shire of Coolgardie Kalgoorlie Goldfields Tourism ATSIC Wongatha Regional Council Anaconda Nickel Ltd Croesus Mining NL Goldfields Land and Sea Council KCGM South Perth Four-Wheel Drive Rentals ABC Radio – Goldfields & Perth Eastern Goldfields Historical Society
The Cost
From the initial stage of this project, financial support has been overwhelming. GEDC has been successful in obtaining grants and support from the following: State Government of Western Australia - $655,000 Commonwealth Government - $280,000 Local Government Authorities - $150,000 Mining Companies - $ 25,000 Other tourism agencies - $ 30,000
Total Value of the Project $1,140,000
The Impact
During the last twelve months, the feedback from potential visitors has been very enthusiastic. Attendance at trade shows, marketing to wholesalers and tour operators and the media in general, has indicated that the Trail is posed to make a substantial difference to visitor numbers in the Goldfields region.
Although bringing additional visitors to the region is paramount, creating economic and social benefits for those communities that the Trail passes through is equally as important. The current benefits that the Shire of Menzies is experiencing through the Gormley statues at Lake Ballard, is testament to the link between the two.
45 In statistical terms the following shows the benefits of the Trail to the Goldfields region:
Currently 376,000 domestic visitors stayed overnight in the Goldfields They stay an average of 4.4 nights They spend on average $134 pp per day Total expenditure $223 million per annum
Our predications are that an extra 12% domestic visitors will visit the Goldfields because of the trail. This equates to 45,120 extra visitors and an additional $26 million per annum.
Using standard methodology that for every million dollars of extra spending in the Region, an additional 13.5 jobs are created, the trail will produce a further 351 jobs in the Goldfields region.
The launch
On Friday 28th March 2003, on the 96th anniversary of the rescue of Modesto Varischetti at Bonnie Vale in Coolgardie, the Golden Quest Discovery Trail was officially launched by the Minister for Goldfields-Esperance, The Hon Nick Griffiths LLB MLC.
Festivities commenced in Coolgardie before a host of dignitaries, sponsors and media went on an inaugural coach trip, taking in a selection of the sites. The finale at KCGM, saw the GEDC and Australia Unlimited officially hand over the Trail to the Goldfields Quest Trails Association.
The Future
The future of the Trail is assured through a considerable amount of forward planning by GEDC. An incorporated body, the Golden Quest Trails Association Inc, has been established and comprises representation from the five local government authorities that the trail passes through, as well as key tourism and Indigenous agencies.
All members of the Association have signed a memorandum of understanding to ensure that the ongoing management and maintenance of the Trail is preserved.
A Golden Quest Trails Manager has been appointed to ensure that the Trail is marketed sufficiently and that local businesses take full advantage of the additional visitors.
After more than three years work, the Golden Quest Discovery Trail has been completed and is delivering economic benefits to the communities along the route.
Dundas Woodlands Discovery Trail (DWDT) The DWDT promotes the Dundas Woodlands, a vast area of Eucalypt dominated woodland that is widely recognised as the world’s most significant temperate woodland. The trail incorporates a ‘Woodlands Walk’ and interpretation and activities along the road between Norseman and Hyden. It will provide an alternative touring loop to and from Perth. The development of the Dundas Woodlands Discovery Trail will link a variety of attractions in the Goldfields Esperance Region with Wave Rock, a major tourist attraction in the Eastern Wheatbelt.
46 Following the completion of the Development, Interpretation and Marketing Plan for the Trail, GEDC assisted the Shire of Dundas with the following successful funding applications: Western Australian Regional Initiative Scheme ($38,643) for marketing and promotion. Regional Infrastructure Funding Program. ($192,279) for interpretation and infrastructure. Envirofund ($24,600) to develop the Woodlands Walk trail.
GEDC will continue to provide assistance to the Shire of Dundas for the development and marketing of this trail.
Esperance Explorers Trail In July 2002 The Esperance/South Coast Heritage Trail project development, interpretation and marketing plan was released by GEDC in conjunction with the Australia Unlimited Taskforce This plan was produced after extensive community consultation had occurred with the community and key stakeholders in Ravensthorpe and Esperance.
The plan considered how tourism expenditure could be increased, sites that could be included in the trail, interpretation of the sites, estimated costs, existing tourism products, economic benefits and marketing requirements.
Newsletter GEDC publishes a newsletter quarterly to inform regional stakeholders about key activities and economic and community development throughout the Goldfields Esperance Region.
More than 1000 copies are distributed, and the newsletter is placed on the GEDC web page, which is accessible to all interested persons.
Medical Staff Attraction and Retention GEDC continued to assist with measures to overcome staff attraction and retention issues that effect the Region. There is an informal alliance of agencies in the Goldfields region that have a professional or community interest in ensuring that the region is well provided with medical services. Key participants include GEDC, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Goldfields South-East Health Region
From time to time this Group takes specific initiatives that it believes will assist to alleviate medical staff shortages. For instance, during the year GEDC assisted with familiarisations of an Anaesthetist and an Orthopaedic Surgeon. This resulted in the Anaesthetist relocating to Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Orthopaedic Surgeon planning to move to the Region in the near future.
GEDC also assisted the Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital with problems relating to its Specialist Physician position that would have had a negative impact on the Region.
2002 Year of the Outback GEDC played a significant role in fostering ‘Year of the Outback’ initiatives throughout Western Australia. ‘The Year of The Outback’ was a major national initiative that ran throughout 2002 aimed at promoting Australia’s inland regions.
47 During 2002 more than 100 schools across the State participated in the Sister Schools project that partnered city and country primary schools. The program was designed to bridge the gap between country and city and to raise awareness of the challenges and benefits of living in the regions.
The Year of the Outback was also featured on Postcards WA and the ABC television Program “Outback Upfront” in which GEDC’s Chairman Mrs Kath Finlayson CitWA was a panel member.
GEDC as Ambassadors for the Year of the Outback promoted the event at every opportunity and Mrs Finlayson was also the Chairman for the State Consultative Committee. Highlighting the issues and opportunities facing Regional Areas of Australia is a major role of the Development Commission and the Year of the Outback certainly helped to put the spotlight on the Regions.
Regional Outlook conference GEDC assisted the ABARE (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics) to organise a major one-day ‘Regional Outlook’ conference in Kalgoorlie- Boulder in October 2002. ABARE organises the prestigious ‘Outlook’ conference in Canberra every year, Australia’s principal economic forecasting forum. This was the first Regional Outlook conference in WA, and was the direct result of GEDC taking the initiative and approaching ABARE.
The conference was well attended and provided valuable information relating to forecasts for the Region and its commodities.
Fitzgerald Biosphere Marketing Association (FBMA) The Fitzgerald Biosphere Marketing Association is a community-based group in the Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup districts, comprising mainly local farmers who are keen to brand local products. The Association aims to improve the economic, environmental and social viability of the region by highlighting the unique values of the Fitzgerald Biosphere through the development of a ‘regional brand’.
FBMA received $109,872 through the Regional Solutions Program to employ a Project Coordinator, who commenced in January 2003. Since that time the Coordinator has sought funding to run an Environmental Management Systems trial in partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Natural Resource Management, progressed the development of a regional industry assets/capability register and undertaken projects to raise public awareness about the aims of the organisation and the biosphere concept.
GEDC assists FBMA with in-kind support; a Project Officer participated in all meetings, worked on subcommittees, undertook research and provided assistance to source funding.
Statistical Information GEDC provides a wide variety of statistical and other information to local government authorities, business groups and other agencies throughout the region and further a- field. Information frequently sought includes visitor numbers, population statistics, Regional Price Index data and employment/unemployment figures.
The Goldfields-Esperance Economic Perspective was being updated in 2003 and is due for release in July 2003. GEDC assisted the Department of Local Government and Regional Development with the coordination of local information and text to
48 support the statistical information. The Economic Perspective provides basic information relating to the region’s industries, demographics and economic activity and infrastructure. It is widely used by a number of agencies to brief visitors to the region.
Community consultation/working groups During the year, GEDC staff in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Esperance and Leonora were involved in a range of ‘subsidiary activities’ which all assisted to ‘progress the region’. The following is a sample of these involvements:
The GEDC continues to support ‘Residents for Childcare” in Leonora. The Lotteries Commission Funding application was successful, pending only quotes on final building costs. The GEDC also made grant of $79,000 to the group’s sponsor, the Shire of Leonora, through the Goldfields Esperance Regional Development Scheme.
The GEDC is working closely with the Shire of Leonora and the Leonora Community Telecentre on a Rural Transaction Centre project that will collocate the town’s Telecentre, Library and Information Centre.
The GEDC supports the Goldfields Football Academy and its educational and sporting youth program. This program is a personal development program that assists young Indigenous males to improve and develop their educational opportunities whilst integrating the discipline and ethos of sport.
Bay of Isles Community Outreach (BOICO) approached GEDC for funding assistance to develop an activity centre for BOICO clients. GEDC provided assistance by facilitating a planning workshop to identify and prioritise the requirements of the activity centre and has since successfully assisted BOICO source funds and resources for the centre.
GEDC worked with the Esperance Port Authority and Esperance Shire Council to provide information to the Ministers for Goldfields-Esperance, Industry and Resources, and Environment about the likely impact on Esperance if Portman Ltd were denied access to new mining tenements near Koolyanobbing. The Environmental Protection Authority recommended to the Minister for the Environment that Portman’s application to extend its mining operations be rejected. Following representation by a wide range of interested parties the recommendation was rejected and Portman was given access to its new tenements. Portman currently ships about four million tones of iron ore through Esperance and plans to increase the figure to more than six million tones.
49 Output 4 Regional Promotion
Output Measures 2002/03 2002/03 Reasons for significant Target Actual variation between Target and Actual Quantity Chargeable Hours 4500 7545 Increased involvement by Staff and Consultants to ensure the Golden Quest Discovery Trail construction, implementation, marketing and guidebook were developed as required. The hours included 1,376 for Year of the Outback and 1,427 for GQDT consultants.
Quality Customer satisfaction by client 85% 81% survey
Timeliness Customer satisfaction by client 85% 81% New methodology applied to survey measuring this indicator in 2002/03
Cost Cost per hour $102 $124 Increased involvement by Staff and Consultants to ensure the Golden Quest Discovery Trail construction, implementation, marketing and guidebook were developed as required.
50 GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STRUCTURE
HON T G STEPHENS BA MLC Minister for Local Government and Regional Development; Heritage; the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Goldfields-Esperance
GEDC BOARD OF MANAGEMENT Chair - Kath Finlayson Cit WA Deputy Chair - Colin Stewart plus 8 members including CEO (ex-officio)
COLIN PURCELL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KERRY RICHARDS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ACTING
Alison Kent RAY CIANTAR RICHARD GRANT STEVE WINTER MANAGER - POLICY AND PROJECTS MANAGER - MANAGER - SOUTHERN MANAGER - CORPORATE INFRASTRUCTURE REGION SERVICES AND PLANNING
JODY CARLISLE STEPH FLETCHER ANNALIESE WALSTER VICKI BULL CHRISTINE BOASE ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT Vacant SENIOR PROJECT SENIOR PROJECT PROJECT OFFICER INDIGENOUS ECONOMIC FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION OFFICER OFFICER DEVELOPMENT OFFICER ASSISTANT (Northern Goldfields)
LARA McINTYRE PROJECT OFFICER
51 CORPORATE STRUCTURE
Enabling Legislation and Policy The Goldfields Esperance Development Commission is established as a Statutory Authority under the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993.
Legislation impacting on the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission’s activities In the performance of its functions, the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission complies with the following relevant written laws:
Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 Public Sector Management Act 1994 Salaries and Allowances Act 1975 Equal Opportunity Act 1984 Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 Workplace Agreement Act 1993 Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 Industrial Relations Act 1979 Library Board of Western Australia Act 1951 Disability Services Act 1993 State Supply Commission Act 1991 Public Disclosure Act 2003
In the financial administration of the GEDC, we have complied with the requirements of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 and every other written law and exercised controls that provide reasonable assurance that the receipt, expenditure and investment of moneys, the acquisition and disposal of public property and incurring of liabilities have been in accordance with legislative provisions.
At the date of signing, we are not aware of any circumstances that would render the particulars in this statement misleading or inaccurate.
Responsible Minister The Hon Tom Stephens, BA MLC, Minister for Local Government and Regional Development; Heritage; The Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Goldfields– Esperance.
Vision To be the peak body responsible for the co-ordination of economic development in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
Mission Our mission is to increase investment and population in our region.
Objectives and Desired Outcomes The GEDC provides an integral component of a “Whole-of-Government” approach to the requirements of regional development. By assisting in the co-ordination of responsibilities of a wide range of agencies having impact on regional development, the GEDC is able to perform an important role in identifying needs and providing advice on the appropriate application of Government resources to the region.
52 As prescribed under Section 23(1) of the Act, the objectives of the GEDC are to:
Maximise job creation and improve career opportunities in the region. Develop and broaden the economic base of the region. Identify infrastructure services to promote economic and social development within the region. Provide information and advice to promote business development within the region. Seek to ensure that the general standard of government services and access to those services in the region is comparable to that in the metropolitan area. Generally take steps to encourage, promote, facilitate and monitor the economic development in the region.
In order to meet its objectives, the desired outcomes of the GEDC are to:
Promote the region. Facilitate coordination between relevant statutory bodies and State Government agencies. Cooperate with representatives of industry and commerce, employer and employee organisations, education and training institutions and other sections of the community within the region. Identify the opportunities for investment in the region and encourage that investment. Identify the infrastructure needs of the region and encourage the provision of that infrastructure in the region. Cooperate with: o Departments of the Public Service of the State and the Commonwealth and other agencies, instrumentalities and statutory bodies of the State and Commonwealth. o Local Government authorities in order to promote equitable delivery of services within the region.
Outputs (goods or services) provided to the public sector in WA To ensure that our objectives and desired outcomes are achieved, the GEDC implemented the following:
A Customer Satisfaction Survey was sent to major customers of the GEDC during the year. A number of information pamphlets for customers were produced.
GEDC has been called upon recently to comment on a number of State and Federal Policies, Programs and Strategies. This included in 2002/03 various Regional Development Council papers, Effective Delivery of Government Priorities, Regional Policy Statement, Department of Sport and Recreation Industry Strategic Plan, WA Community Leadership Program, Review of the Western Australian Tourism Commission Zones, State Sustainability Strategy.
In addition to providing comments on documents GEDC are frequently called upon by other State Government Agencies to coordinate community consultation in the Region examples of this in 2002/03 would be the Western Australian Community Leadership Program, Regional Investment Tours and the State Sustainability Strategy.
53 The Department of Local Government and Regional Development also call upon GEDC to provide support and information for a range of funding programs including the Western Australian Regional Initiative Scheme, Regional Infrastructure Funding Program, Indigenous Infrastructure Projects Program and the Indigenous Arts and Tourism Facilities Fund Program.
GEDC coordinated the itineraries for a visit by the Governor of Western Australia, His Excellency Lieutenant General John Sanderson, AC through five of the Region’s Shires in 2002/03
54 BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
The Board of Management of the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission is established under Sections 7, 15 & 16 of the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993 and comprises the following membership:
Three members representing the regional community. Three members representing Local Government. Three members appointed at the Minister’s discretion. The GEDC Chief Executive Officer.
The Board consists of the Chairman, Deputy Chairperson and eight members, including the Chief Executive Officer (ex-officio). Board members are appointed by the Minister for Goldfields-Esperance.
The Board is GEDC’s governing body and meets on a bi-monthly basis. It sets major policy directions, reviews progress on projects, determines budget priorities, approves major expenditure and advises the Minister on Regional Development issues, especially those relating to the Goldfields-Esperance region.
Six board meetings were held in 2002-03. As at 30 June 2003, Board members were as follows:
Kath Finlayson CitWA (Chairman) Local Government representative. Term expires 31st October 2003. Meeting attended: 6 (6 possible)
Mrs Finlayson is President of the Shire of Menzies. She and her husband John ran Jeedamya Station (between Menzies and Leonora) for twenty-seven years, but now live in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Mrs Finlayson is Chairman of the Centre for the Management of Arid Environments at Curtin University in Kalgoorlie, a member of Curtin University’s Kalgoorlie Campus Council, a member of the Remote and Rural Education Advisory Council and participated on the State Coordinating Committee for the Year of the Outback. A nurse by training, Kath was Chairman of the Northern Goldfields Health Service for eight years until June 2002.
A former ABC Rural Woman of the Year for Western Australia, Kath was further honoured during June 2002 as a WA Citizen of The Year with the Governor’s Award for Regional Development.
Colin Stewart (Deputy Chairman) Ministerial representative. Term expires 31st December 2004. Meetings attended: 6 (6 possible)
Mr Stewart is the CEO of the Esperance Port Authority and was the inaugural Deputy Chairperson of the Goldfields Esperance Development Authority from 1990-1993. Colin chairs the Southern Cross-Esperance Regional Minerals Study and is the Regional Port Representative on the WA Rail Advisory Council.
55 Toni Hawkins Community representative. Term expires 30th June 2003 Meetings attended: 5 (6 possible)
Ms Hawkins was born in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and now lives in Esperance, where she owns and operates a retail store. Toni has a particular interest in youth, training and education issues. Toni is also a Director of Esperance Port Authority, Member of Esperance Port Development Consultative Committee, and Chairman of Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School.
Gary Lye Community representative. Term expires 31st October 2003. Meetings attended: 6 (6 possible)
Mr Lye is Manager Strategic Mine Development with Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd (KCGM), Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s largest employer. Gary continued his interest in improving infrastructure in the Goldfields Region through his involvement in the Goldfields Esperance Regional Planning Implementation Coordinating Committee (GERPICC) and as Chairman of the Goldfields Mining Transport Working Group. There was some cross over of this interest with his role in KCGM when he delivered the Eastern Bypass Road and Mt Monger Road realignments. The combined $7M project was required to enable the Super Pit mining operation to continue. He assisted the Outback Highway Committee in ‘giving evidence’ to the Federal Government’s Transport and Regional Services Committee in November last year in Alice Springs. He is Chairman of the St Barbara’s Festival organising committee for 2003 and coordinated the massive Street Parade in 2002. He is a member of the City’s Grass Golf Course Development Committee and prepared a paper, which assisted in securing Government funding for the project. He is a member of the Golden Mile Loopline Railway Committee and is actively pursuing the establishment of a tourist rail link between Boulder and Kalgoorlie.
Lynn Webb Local Government representative. Term expires 31st December 2004. Meetings attended: 3 (6 possible)
Mr Webb is President of the Shire of Dundas. A self-employed engineer, Lynn is committed to the tandem development of economic and social opportunities to ensure that a healthy community structure exists throughout the Region as industries develop. Training of young people and, in particular apprentices is an area that Lynn believes will impact on the long-term economic development, especially if businesses continue to be reluctant to take on apprentices.
Sandra Trenowden Local Government representative. Term expires 31st December 2004. Meetings attended: 4 (6 possible)
Mrs Trenowden is the President of the Shire of Coolgardie and a member of the Australia Unlimited Taskforce and the Golden Quest Trails Association. Sandra believes the development of local infrastructure and the expansion of community facilities and services will assist in the retention and attraction of people to the Region. The encouragement of investment into the Region, alternative industries and sustainable growth are areas in which Sandra has a special interest.
56 Kado Muir Ministerial representative. Term expires 31st December 2004. Meetings attended: 3 (6 possible)
Now based in Kalgoorlie, but having lived in Leonora, Kado Muir understands issues facing small towns and Indigenous people. Kado, whose academic background is in anthropology, has business interests in media and publishing. He is also a Board Member of the Goldfields-Esperance Area Consultative Committee.
Ken O’Reilly Ministerial representative. Term expires 31st December 2004. Meetings attended: 4 (6 possible)
Now based in Kalgoorlie, but having lived in Laverton, Ken is a strong supporter of education and youth development. He believes that the Zone tax rebates and Fly-in Fly-out need to be addressed to ensure the Goldfields-Esperance region maintains its traditionally strong character and unique way of life.
Ken feels that more economic and social development needs to be sought from in and around the Goldfields-Esperance region, and a comprehensive regional model for infrastructure needs to be developed and maintained to ensure the growth and stability of our region.
Ken is now at John Paul College as the Head of Department - Physical and Health Education.
Kay Curson Community representative. Term expires 31st December 2004 Meetings attended: 6 (6 possible)
Kay has been actively involved with GEDC as the Chairperson on the Australia Unlimited Taskforce, and has also represented the GEDC on other community- related committees. She has consistently demonstrated an understanding and concern for the Goldfields-Esperance Region. Kay has a genuine interest in communities in which she has resided and has also been prepared to contribute to enhancing these communities.
Colin Purcell (ex-officio) Mr Purcell is the Chief Executive Officer of the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission.
57 STAFF
Chief Executive Officer Colin Purcell joined GEDC in May 1999 and was appointed to his substantive position in July 2000. Colin came to GEDC from the Bunbury Office of the Department of Commerce and Trade where he had been a Regional Trade Manager since 1991. Colin has a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Diploma in Technology. In his spare time he plays golf and hockey, and enjoys scuba diving.
Manager - Infrastructure and Planning Ray Ciantar joined GEDC in 1994 from ATSIC where he was the Regional Planning Officer in the Kalgoorlie office. He worked in the Northern Territory for ten years and prior to that spent five years overseas. Ray has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Social Sciences. He enjoys aero-modelling, travelling, reading, camping and spending time with his family.
Manager - Policy and Projects Alison Kent has been with GEDC since 1994, after working for the WA Fire and Rescue Service in its Training and Human Resources sections. She is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts Degree
Manager - Southern Region Richard Grant joined GEDC in January 2001, with a background in management planning, public relations and journalism. Richard was born and educated in Kalgoorlie, and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of WA. Richard is Commodore of the Esperance Bay Yacht Club and also enjoys fishing and camping.
Manager - Corporate Services Steve Winter joined GEDC in December 2002 after transferring from Kimberley Development Commission (KDC) where he had been employed since July 1997. Prior to joining KDC Steve had a career with Westpac Banking Corporation in South Australia that spanned 27 years. Steve has a Diploma in Accounting.
Senior Project Officer Stephanie Fletcher has worked for GEDC since July 1996. Stephanie’s family history in the Goldfields stretches back until 1894 when her great grandfather settled at Trafalgar. Stephanie’s three sons keep her busy, but she still finds time for her family and friends.
Senior Project Officer – Northern Goldfields Annaliese Walster joined GEDC in March 2001, and is based at the Northern Goldfields office in Leonora. Annaliese was formerly a Native Title Case Manager with the Department of Minerals and Energy. She has also worked for the Aboriginal Legal Service and a private heritage consultancy. Annaliese holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in Anthropology, and completed an MBA in 2001. Located in the heart of the northern goldfields, Annaliese and her husband enjoy the lifestyle it provides, including horseback riding and camping in the breakaways.
Project Officer Vicki Bull joined GEDC in 1998 and has lived in Kalgoorlie-Boulder since 1983, except for a period in 1999-00 when she was based at GEDC’s Esperance office. She has a Diploma in Human Resource Management and a Graduate Diploma in Regional Development. 58
Project Officer – Esperance Lara McIntyre joined GEDC’s Esperance office in November 2000 having previously worked in agriculture, private enterprise, Local Government and for the Department of Transport. Lara has lived in Esperance for 11 years and enjoys an active lifestyle, making full use of the sensational beaches and camping areas along the south coast.
Indigenous Economic Development Officer Christine Boase commenced working with the Commission in August 2000, having moved to Kalgoorlie-Boulder earlier that year. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and English and has worked in private enterprise, an academic institution and in the retail and mining industry sectors. In August 2002, she became a full-time staff member. With her husband and daughter, she enjoys community activities and travelling around the Goldfields.
Executive Assistant Vacant - the duties of this position include executive support to the CEO, Chairman and Board, Kerry Richards is currently acting in this role.
Finance & Administration Assistant Kerry Richards commenced with the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission in March 2003. Previously, employed by the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. for 41/2 years. Born in Kalgoorlie-Boulder she has raised two wonderful children and enjoys the lifestyle Kalgoorlie-Boulder has to offer.
Currently acting in the position of Executive Assistant after successfully applying for the Finance and Administration Assistant position.
Administration Assistant Jody Carlisle recently joined GEDC’s Esperance office in June 2003. Originally from Kalgoorlie, Jody moved to Esperance after travelling around Australia and has lived in Esperance the past 4½ years. She has a Certificate III Qualification in Business Office Administration and once settled in her new position hopes to expand her qualifications. She has a keen interest in all outdoor activities and practices yoga and pilates to keep her body and mind healthy and active.
59 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Human Resource Management GEDC’s Human Resource Guidelines ensure that human resource activities within the organisation comply with Public Sector Standards. The areas covered by these Guidelines include recruitment, selection and appointment, transfer, secondment, performance management, redeployment, termination and discipline. GEDC has complied with Section 31(1) of the Public Sector Management Act in the administration of the organisation’s human resource management practices relating to the Public Sector Standards and the Code of Ethics and Conduct.
As at 30 June 2003, GEDC operated with 13 staff, one more than the previous year.
2001/2002 2002/2003
Permanent full - time 9 10 Permanent part- time 1 0 Temporary/contract full-time 2 3 Temporary/contract part-time _0_ 0 TOTAL 12 13
Public Sector Standards The GEDC’s Induction and Information Manual is issued to all new and existing staff members and provides information relating to Public Sector Standards, administrative and human resource matters. Contained within the manual is the GEDC code of conduct that assists employees to understand their rights, responsibilities and obligations in their respective roles within the organisation. The Code relies on staff taking responsibility for their own behaviour to ensure public sector standards for behaviour are not breached.
The manual also contains information such as the organisation’s objectives and key activities, employment conditions, work ethics and grievance resolution procedures. A formal induction process is followed for all new Board members. The Board has its own written Code of Conduct, copies of which are distributed to all Board members. This Code of Conduct was revised in 2002/2003. Industrial Relations
The GEDC Workplace Agreement was withdrawn on 31 December 2002 in line with Government policy. GEDC staff who were employed under this agreement transitioned to the Public Service General Agreement 2002 with effect 1 January 2003.
Staff Training and Development In 2002/03 GEDC staff participated in a number of training courses. An assessment of staff training needs is identified through individual Performance Improvement and Development Agreements. The GEDC expended 3.13% of payroll costs on staff training and development.
Workers Compensation In compliance with Treasurer’s Instruction 903, GEDC is insured in respect of workers compensation, with no claims being recorded during the year.
60 Records Management During 2002/2003 GEDC maintained a comprehensive records management system, which was updated to reflect modifications to the Strategic Plan to enable documents to be linked to Outputs and ensure easy retrieval and management of all records. In 2002/2003 GEDC staff responsible for records management received training in preparation for Records Keeping Plan requirements.
Publications GEDC issues a number of publications, which provide information on the development of the region, customer service and equity issues. GEDC also contributes to reports concerning the region published by other agencies. GEDC also maintains a web site at www.gedc.wa.gov.au. The Goldfields-Esperance Economic Perspective is to be published in July 2003. GEDC’s publications include:
Goldfields-Esperance Community Resource Manual Goldfields-Esperance Regional Marketing Strategy Goldfields-Esperance Economic Perspective Australia Unlimited - video Esperance ‘Invest in the Dream’ - video Newsletter Client Survey Disability Service Plan GEDC information brochure Golden Quest Discovery Trail Guide book Golden Quest Brochure Indigenous People in Mining Business Directory
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Contracts with Board Members or Senior Officers At the date of reporting, other than normal contracts of employment or service, no Board Member or Senior Officers, or firms of which Board Members or Senior Officers are members, or entities in which Members or Senior Officers have substantial interests, had any interests in existing or proposed contracts with the agency, Board Members or Senior Officers.
Changes in Written Law The Regional Development Commissions Amendment Act 2002, Bill dealt with an amendment to allow the Commissions to pay grants. The Act was given Royal Assent on 25 March 2003
Ministerial Directives No Ministerial directives were received during the financial year.
61 REPORT ON EQUITY, ACCESS AND CUSTOMER FOCUS
Reports on Customer Outcomes
Customer Focus Outcomes The five objectives for Regional Customer Service Delivery, and GEDC’s responses, are as follows:
1. Regional Customers have equitable (in comparison to Perth) access to the services provided. GEDC is based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the regional centre of the Goldfields- Esperance region, with branch offices in Leonora and Esperance. GEDC believes that this geographic spread of offices provides customers with excellent access to its services. GEDC staff make regular visits to small and isolated communities in the region.
2. Regional customers are informed of the services available to them GEDC has a high public profile, which is achieved through media activity, the networking of Board members and staff in the community, and through formal and informal meetings with stakeholders in the region. A newsletter is published on a regular basis and is distributed throughout the region. It is also published on the GEDC web site, itself a valuable source of information about the activities of the agency. The GEDC also contributes to local community newspapers.
3. The extent to which GEDC uses regional suppliers. GEDC uses local suppliers wherever possible, and where the goods or services offered are cost-competitive. The ‘Buy Local Policy’ is applied as appropriate.
4. The extent to which GEDC consulted with regional communities about the effect of proposed changes to its activities. GEDC’s Board members come from a number of different locations within the region. Information and opinions gained from their formal and informal contacts within their home communities can have a significant effect on their shaping of GEDC’s policies and activities. GEDC places particular store by its relationship with local government authorities in the region, particularly with local government CEOs. Regular meetings are held, at which time consultation takes place in respect of the GEDC’s activities. GEDC staff consult widely in their respective communities when implementing programs, and often amend strategies based on local attitudes and responses. The Australia Unlimited Taskforce includes representation from ten key stakeholder groups, and has four community members.
5. The extent to which GEDC supported local planning processes GEDC was proactive in encouraging local input into various planning processes. These included preparation of the draft Goldfields-Esperance Regional Water Strategy; community consultation on the possible Kalgoorlie rail realignment; convening a meeting of the human services agencies in Kalgoorlie-Boulder to share knowledge and information on the programs they deliver; the Golden Quest Discovery Trail and participating in a Mapping and Gap Analysis on Indigenous Services and Programs in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Other, smaller projects include the upgrade on the Leonora main street and the establishment of a Rural Transaction Centre (ongoing) in Leonora.
62 Disabilities Service Plan Outcomes In December 1995, GEDC prepared and adopted a Disabilities Service Plan, which ensures that people with disabilities can access the organisation’s services and facilities. The Plan recognises that people with disabilities are valued members of the community who contribute to social, economic and cultural life in a variety of ways.
The Disability Service Plan was reviewed in 2002 and is planned for update again in the September quarter of 2003. The frequency of the review is to ensure that outcomes meet current community expectations, with particular reference to the evolving priorities and needs of people with disabilities.
Recommendations of the Disability Services Commission are reviewed by GEDC and are adhered to in respect of the production of publications, the GEDC website and when organising public functions and consultations.
The GEDC is progressing towards achievement of the five Disability Service Plan key outcomes:
1. Existing services are adapted to ensure they meet the needs of people with disabilities – The GEDC does not provide services that require access by the general public. Irrespective of this, the GEDC considers all situations when organising functions or arranging the printing of publications.
2. Access to buildings and facilities is improved - People with physical disabilities can gain access to the GEDC’s three offices, however, the offices at Kalgoorlie and Esperance are both housed within older buildings that provide a barrier to unrestricted access. Improved Disability Access will be addressed with Landlords at the time of renewal of the leases. The GEDC does have a policy of visiting customers should the situation arise.
3. Information about services is provided in formats which meet the communication requirements of people with disabilities – Publications produced by the GEDC are on non-glossy paper and in a larger print font to assist the visually impaired. The GEDC web site is also in a larger print font and easily navigated.
4. Advice and services are delivered by staff who are aware and understand the needs of people with disabilities – A staff member participated in the state wide consultative committee with respect to the review of Disability Services Act 1993. All GEDC staff are experienced and sensitive with respect to dealing with people with disabilities.
5. Opportunities are provided for people with disabilities to participate in public consultations, grievance mechanisms and decision-making processes – Every consideration is provided in this field.
63 Equal Employment Opportunity Outcomes In accordance with Section 145 of the Equal Opportunity Act (1984), GEDC has ensured that:
☯ All employees are issued with a formal copy of the Policy Statement on Equal Opportunity in Employment ☯ Information pertaining to Equal Opportunity in Employment is circulated to all employees ☯ Equal Employment Opportunity developments are known to employees, with comment being sought from employees, as appropriate. ☯ All job advertisements contain: o Non-discriminatory language, occupational titles and graphics o An accurate statement of the duties to be performed o No requests for unnecessary qualifications and/or prerequisites. ☯ Employees are selected and treated solely on the basis of their merit and abilities applicable to the position. ☯ Policies and practices are administered and carried out in line with EEO principles. ☯ Employees are informed of their conditions of service. ☯ Disciplinary and counselling procedures are administered fairly. ☯ All employees are issued with a formal copy of the policy statement on ‘prevention of harassment in the workplace’.
The GEDC has contributed towards the Government’s Equity and Diversity Plan 2001-2005 in the following three key priorities as at 30 June 2003:
Improved distribution of women particularly in management positions: o Representation of women - 69.2%
Improved representation at all levels for Indigenous Australians, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities:
o Representation of Indigenous Australians - 0% o Representation of people from culturally diverse backgrounds - 7.7% o Representation of people with disabilities - 0%.
Cultural Diversity and Language Services Outcomes The operational activities of the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission are focussed around delivery of facilitation and information services to clients both within and outside the region. GEDC is successfully implementing the Language Services Policy to the extent of:
o In planning their work, staff of the GEDC are encouraged to be aware of the needs of the people who may require the services of a culturally appropriate interpreter, to ensure that these people have the same access to our services as do other members of the community.
o Acknowledging client’s entitlements to the services of interpreters, translators and linguistically appropriate information in situations of communication difficulty. Management recently attended a workshop on multiculturalism that highlighted the shortfall of interpreters in the region. A brief on this was provided to the Minister and the GEDC will be monitoring developments emanating from the workshop.
64
o Established protocols for the engagement of qualified interpreters, translators and note-takers.
o Ensuring that language services are culturally and linguistically acceptable to the client including taking into account gender and ethnicity preferences and the appropriateness of either telephone or on-site interpreting.
o Understands that the provision of interpreting and other language services is the responsibility of the agency and not the client. To this extent, the GEDC works with the staff of the Wangkanyi Ngurra Tjurta Aboriginal Language Centre based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder when translations or interpretation are required.
o Has a staff member trained in cross-cultural skills and how to work with interpreters.
GEDC officers have also attended workshops in Indigenous cultural awareness.
Youth Outcomes Action: A State Government Plan for Young People, 2000-2003 was developed to ensure a whole of Government approach to youth affairs in Western Australia. Cabinet endorsed the Plan in October 2000. GEDC’s activities are designed to progress the ‘balanced social and economic development of the Goldfields- Esperance region’. Projects are designed to make long-term improvements to the region’s infrastructure, quality of life, educational and employment opportunities. Successful implementation (not necessarily by GEDC) of initiatives proposed in GEDC’s projects should benefit all people in the region, including young people.
A number of GEDC’s projects and initiatives in 2001-02 had a specific youth focus.
Young Achievement Australia - In 2002 GEDC fostered a partnership between schools in the region and Young Achievement Australia, an organisation that has a strong track record in ‘entrepreneurship education’. Participation in Young Achievement Australia gives secondary and tertiary students the opportunity to be exposed to the real world of business by actually establishing and operating their own company. Ten educational institutions in the Goldfields-Esperance region participated in YAA in 2002. GEDC assisted Young Achievement Australia’s activities in the Goldfields-Esperance region with grants from both the Kalgoorlie- Boulder Development Fund ($4950) and the Goldfields Esperance Regional Development Scheme ($11,550)
Youth Driver Development Program - The Youth Driver Development Program is committed to reducing the number of young people seriously injured and killed as a result of road crashes in WA. The program comprises a six-module driver-training for Year 11 students as they prepare to obtain a driver’s license. The program aims to develop sound attitudes towards driving and safety, while simultaneously teaching driving skills. GEDC supported this program with staff time and a grant from the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Development Scheme of $18,182.
65 Goldfields Football Academy The Goldfields Football Academy was established in Kalgoorlie-Boulder in July 2002 and is run by former Fremantle Dockers player Andrew McGovern with financial assistance from the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Development Fund in 2002/03.
The Goldfields Football Academy provides Aboriginal participants (Years 8-10) with the opportunity to further develop their natural sporting abilities, the program includes specialist sports coaching, and education/counselling sessions on matters including health, diet, physical conditioning and personal development.
In return for this specialist training, the participants are required to adopt a more disciplined lifestyle and attend school regularly. Ongoing membership of the Academy is dependant upon satisfactory performance at school as well as at football.
The Goldfields Football Academy is in partnership with the Eastern Goldfields Senior High School and strong support is also provided to this valuable program by government and non-government agencies in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Barking Gecko The Barking Gecko Theatre company has been contracted by Sons of Gwalia Ltd to work with the community of Leonora, particularly the youth, on theatre arts projects over a 2 year period. The GEDC has supported this project by providing the Barking Gecko Project Manager with local information and networking opportunities. The GEDC has also taken the opportunity to talk to Barking Gecko about the potential for developing an Arts Officer position to service the northern goldfields in the long-term. This idea will be more fully investigated over the next year.
The GEDC attends forums on a variety of youth issues. Over the 2002-2003 year these have included “Bad Guys and Big Wigs”, Interagency Forum on Early Years Intervention, Interagency Forum on Youth Spaces.
66 REPORTS ON OTHER ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES
Information Statement On 1 November 1993, the Freedom of Information Act 1992 came into effect in Western Australia.
The main aims of the Act for Government agencies are: o To assist the public to obtain access to documents o To allow access to documents in a prompt manner and at the lowest reasonable cost o To assist the public to ensure that personal information contained in documents is accurate, complete, up to date and not misleading.
GEDC holds copies of ingoing and outgoing correspondence, internal reports, policies and the like. Most of GEDC’s publications are available at no charge, except the videos.
GEDC’s Senior Project Officer, Stephanie Fletcher is the designated FOI Officer. Applications for access to documents can be lodged at the GEDC head office, 377 Hannan St, Kalgoorlie.
During 2002/03 no applications for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act were received.
Advertising and Sponsorship In accordance with section 175ZE of the Electoral Act 1907, GEDC incurred the following expenditure in advertising, market research, polling, direct mail and media advertising.
1. Total expenditure for 2002/03 was $20,067 2. Expenditure was incurred in the following areas:
Advertising Agencies Nil
Market Research Organisations $ 3800 Asset Research $3800
Polling Organisations Nil
Direct Mail Organisations Nil
Media Advertising Organisations $16,267 Marketforce Productions $6,263 Hocking and Company $1,818 Exibit Exhibitions & Publishing Pty Ltd $ 318 Media Decisions $6,577 The Golden Mail $ 988 Esperance Express $ 303
67 STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC SECTOR STANDARDS
The GEDC has complied with the Standards as follows:
Compliance with Human Resource Management Standards The Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management are incorporated into GEDC policies and as such are available for all staff to access. The Manager Corporate Services is responsible for the HR function of the GEDC and as such ensures compliance with the Standards whenever a process controlled by the Standards is undertaken. The Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Standard is the principal Standard that occurs in GEDC HR processes. Formal training relevant to this Standard has been provided to the Manager Corporate Services. Being a small Agency, the GEDC has not considered it necessary to survey employees or to seek an audit or review by the OPSSC. No breach of standards have been lodged. Compliance with Codes of Ethics and Codes of Conduct
The GEDC has a Code of Conduct within its policies. The Code is in accordance with the Western Australian Public Sector Code of Ethics revised 1 March 20002. Being a small agency, no specific assessment of compliance has been undertaken, however, all employees have a personal copy of the Code and are fully conversant with the content.
Statement of Compliance with Public Sector Management Act Section 31(1) In the administration of the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission, I have complied with the Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management, the Western Australian Public Sector Code of Ethics and our Code of Conduct.
I have put in place procedures designed to ensure such compliance and conducted appropriate internal assessments to satisfy myself that the statement made in 1 is correct.
The applications made for breach of standards review and the corresponding outcomes for the reporting period are:
Number lodged: Nil Number of breaches found, including details of multiple breaches per application: Nil Number still under review: Nil
Colin Purcell Chief Executive Officer
28 August 2003
68 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE – A PRODUCTIVE REGION
The following key statistics provide an indication of the overall performance of the region’s economy.
Gross Regional Product The Goldfields-Esperance region makes a vital contribution to the Western Australian economy with a GRP (Gross Regional Product at market prices) of $4.93 billion in 2001-02 representing 6.3% per cent of the Gross State Product. The Gross Regional Product of the Goldfields-Esperance Region in 2001-02 was the second highest of any of Western Australia’s nine non-metropolitan regions. The South West Region had the highest Gross Regional Product at $4.99 billion, only 0.1% higher than the Goldfields-Esperance Region.
Gross Regional Product – Goldfields-Esperance region 1998- 1999- 2000- 2001- 99 00 01 02 Preliminary GRP Estimates at Market Prices ($m) 4,284 4,735 5,530 4,930 Preliminary Nominal Growth Rate Estimates at Market 3.9% 10.5% 16.8% - Prices 0.7% Preliminary GRP Estimates at Market Prices Adjusted 3,777 4,080 4,519 3,923 for CPI ($m) Preliminary Growth Rate Estimates at Market Prices 2.1% 8.0% 10.8% - Adjusted for CPI 3.3%
Source: Data synthesised by the Department of Local Government and Regional Development from Australian Bureau of Statistics National Accounts data.
Goldfields-Esperance Gross Regional Product Share by Industry 2000-01 2001-02 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 2.9% 3.2% Mining 70.8% 67.8% Manufacturing 2.4% 2.6% Electricity, Gas and Water 0.9% 1.1% Construction 3.9% 3.8% Wholesale 1.6% 2.0% Retail 1.8% 2.0% Accommodation, Cafes & Restaurants 1.0% 0.9% Transport & Storage 2.5% 3.0% Communication Services 0.9% 0.7% Finance and Insurance 2.2% 2.4% Property 3.6% 3.6% Government 1.0% 2.2% Education 1.2% 1.5% Health and Community Services 2.1% 1.9% Cultural and Recreational Services 0.3% 0.4% Personal and Other Services 0.8% 0.9% TOTAL 100% 100%
Source: Data synthesised by the Department of Local Government and Regional Development from Australian Bureau of Statistics National Accounts data.
69 Production by Industry Sector
Mining and processing of mineral resources
The resources industry dominates the economy in the northern and central parts of the Goldfields-Esperance region. The type, location and value of minerals production in the Goldfields-Esperance region for 2002 calendar year was as follows: The $4.21 billion value of the minerals industry in the Goldfields-Esperance region in 2002 was 15.4 per cent of the State’s total minerals and petroleum industry of $27.3 billion.
In 2002 gold production in the region was valued at $2.48 billion, up from $2.14 billion in 2001. The region produced 71.7% of the State’s gold output in 2002. The region’s nickel industry (including cobalt, nickel, palladium and platinum) was valued at $1.82billion, up from $1.49 billion in 2001 equating to 72.7% of the State’s nickel output in 2002.
Agriculture
The region’s agricultural production was valued at $342.5 million in 2000/01. This compares with $349.6 million in 2000. Agricultural output in the Goldfields-Esperance region is mainly comprised of cereals, wool, grains and livestock.
Fishing
The region’s commercial fishing fleet principally works out of Esperance, with the catch including fin fish, crab, lobster and mollusc (mostly scallop and abalone). In 2001-02 mollusc dominated the value of the fishing catch, which overall was estimated at $17.2 million, compared with $18.8 million in 2000-01 and $18.2 million in 1999-2000.
Timber
Sandalwood is the most valuable timber harvested in the region, with export income estimated at approximately $14.3 million annually. Plantation and on-farm forestry enterprises are developing in the South East. In the Goldfields, local timbers are noted for their density. These woods are used in applications as diverse as parquetry flooring and musical instrument manufacturing, especially string and woodwind instruments.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing turnover was $699 million in 1999-00, down from $830.2 million in 1998-99 and $795.3 million in 1997-98. In 2001 this sector employed 6.0 per cent in the Region (ABS Usual Residence) with wages estimated at $67.7 million.
Tourism
In 2000-01, there were 256,000 domestic visitors to the Goldfields who spent 1,209,000 nights in the Goldfields while 290,000 visited the Goldfields in 2000. In the South East there were 152,000 domestic arrivals in 2000-01 spending 573,000 nights in the South East this was a rise of 20,000 from the 2000 figure of 132,000. These figures have been sourced through the WA Tourism Commission (Bureau of Tourism Research’s National Visitor Survey).
70
Construction
Non-Residential Building Approvals
Total non-residential building approvals in the Goldfields-Esperance Region in 2001/02 were valued at $26 million. This represented an increase from $20.6 million in 2000-01. This total represents 41.6 per cent of the total building approvals.
Residential Building Approvals
Total residential building approvals in the Goldfields-Esperance Region were valued at $36.4 million in 2001-02. This represented an increase of 18, from 274 dwellings in 2001-02 compared to 256 in 2000-01.
The 274 approvals consisted of 128 from the Shire of Esperance valued at $17.9 million and a further 119 valued at $15.3 million in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Employment and Unemployment Total employment in the Goldfields-Esperance Region in the March 2003 quarter was 32546 people. When this period is compared with the December 2001 quarter, employment in the Goldfields Esperance region grew by 5.1%.
In the March 2003 quarter there were 1479 unemployed in the Goldfields-Esperance region, compared with 1563 unemployed in the December 2001 quarter. The Region had unemployment rate of 5.2% in the June quarter of 2001/02 at the same time the State had a rate of 6.1%.
The largest employment sectors in the region are mining, retail trade and property and business services. These three sectors combined employed 9528 people in 2001 or 38.1 per cent of the region’s total workforce.
Demography
Population
The Goldfields-Esperance region had an Estimated Resident Population (ERP) of 54,855 at June 2002. By comparison ERP in 2001 was 55,255 and 56,411 in 1996.
The region’s resident population decreased at an average annual rate of 0.4% per annum from 1996 to 2002. Between 1991-1996 the average annual rate of increase was 1.4%.
Population numbers in the Goldfields-Esperance region are principally driven by employment, especially in the Goldfields sub-region.
Estimated Resident Population figures differ from Census numbers, in that the Census provided a count of all people in any given location on Census night in August 2001. In locations (such as Leonora) where there is a significant ‘Fly-in/Fly- out’ workforce associated with the mining industry the ‘Census count’ was significantly greater than Estimated Resident Population.
71 Population Distribution
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is the region’s principal economic centre. In 2002 the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder (combined urban and non-urban) had an Estimated Resident Population of 29,506 or 53.8% of the region’s total population. Esperance is the major sub-regional centre with a 2002 Estimated Resident Population of 13,329, or 24.3% of the total population of the region.
Local Government 1991 1996 2001 2002 Authority Coolgardie 5824 5651 4301 4176 Dundas 1754 1653 1247 1228 Esperance 11078 12300 13319 13329 Kalgoorlie-Boulder 26865 29587 29735 29506 Laverton 1702 1214 1246 1202 Leonora 2518 2774 1986 1979 Menzies 268 354 353 362 Ngaanyatjarraku 1203 1445 1545 1594 Ravensthorpe 1410 1433 1523 1479 TOTAL 52,622 56,411 55,255 54,855
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional Population Growth, 3218.0
72 CERTIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
We hereby certify that the performance indicators are based on proper records, are relevant and appropriate for assisting users to assess the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission’s performance, and fairly represent the performance of the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission for the financial year ended 30 June 2003.
Kath Finlayson CitWA Chairman
Colin Purcell Chief Executive Officer
28th August 2003
73
AUDITOR GENERAL
INDEPENDENT AUDIT OPINION
To the Parliament of Western Australia
GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2003
Audit Opinion In my opinion, the key effectiveness and efficiency performance indicators of the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission are relevant and appropriate to help users assess the Commission’s performance and fairly represent the indicated performance for the year ended June 30, 2003.
Scope The Board’s Role The Board is responsible for developing and maintaining proper records and systems for preparing performance indicators.
The performance indicators consist of key indicators of efficiency and effectiveness.
Summary of my Role As required by the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, I have independently audited the performance indicators to express an opinion on them. This was done by looking at a sample of the evidence.
An audit does not guarantee that every amount and disclosure in the performance indicators is error free, nor does it examine all evidence and every transaction. However, my audit procedures should identify errors or omissions significant enough to adversely affect the decisions of users of the performance indicators.
D D R PEARSON AUDITOR GENERAL October 10, 2003
4th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock Street West Perth 6005 Western Australia Tel: 08 9222 7500 Fax: 08 9322 5664 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
GEDC has developed an outcome for the organisation, which is: An environment which is conducive to the balanced economic and social development of the Goldfields- Esperance region
Efficiency Indicators To achieve its outcome, GEDC’s activities are based on the following Key Outputs: Output 2002/2003 2002/2003 Reason for Comparative Reason for Target Actual Significant 2001/2002 Significant Cost per Cost per Variation Actual Variation hour hour between Cost per hour between 2002/2003 2002/2003 and Target and 2001/2002 2002/3003 Actuals Actual OUTPUT 1 $102 $96 $99 Policies, Strategies and Plans OUTPUT 2 $102 $94 $100 Industry and Enterprise Development OUTPUT 3 $90 $105 Involvement with $82 Involvement with Coordination the State Water the State Water of Strategy, Strategy, Infrastructure Regional Water Regional Water Identification Issues, Issues, Ravensthorpe Ravensthorpe Nickel, Nickel, Widgiemooltha Widgiemooltha and Eucla and Eucla Infrastructure Infrastructure increased the increased the expenses related expenses related to this Output. to this Output. OUTPUT 4 $102 $124 Increased $89 Increased Regional involvement by involvement by Promotion Staff and Staff and Consultants to Consultants to ensure the ensure the Golden Quest Golden Quest Discovery Trail Discovery Trail construction, construction, implementation, implementation, marketing and marketing and guidebook were guidebook were developed as developed as required. required.
The Calculation of cost per hour is based on the total cost of output divided by chargeable hours. Chargeable hours are determined by project output hours allocated on staff electronic timesheets and the identification of Board and consultants purchased hours.
75 Effectiveness Indicators GEDC recognises that its most accurate measure of its performance against this outcome is through the surveying of its clients and equating effectiveness with client satisfaction.
GEDC commissioned Asset Research to conduct a client survey in April 2003.
A questionnaire was mailed to a list of 314 clients the GEDC had dealings with in the past twelve months. A total of 196 questionnaires were returned - a 62.4% response rate.
The respondents were asked, inter alia, to what extent they agreed with the following statements:
o That the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission has contributed to the economic development of the region within the last 12 months.
o That the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission has contributed to the social development of the region within the past 12 months.
o That the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission contributes to the creation of balanced economic and social development with the region.
The following tables show the results of the 2003 client satisfaction survey, with comparative figures from 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998. There were no significant changes in clients’ perceptions of GEDC’s contribution to economic development, social development or the balance between the two.
GEDC’s Economic Contribution to the Region
2003 75% 18% 7%
2002 77% 15% 8%
2001 82% 12% 6%
2000 74% 16% 9%
1999 75% 16% 9%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Percentage Response (N = 196)
Agree Neutral Disagree
76 GEDC’s Social Contribution to the Region
2003 70% 22% 8%
2002 68% 20% 12%
2001 68% 26% 6%
2000 64% 24% 12%
1999 66% 24% 10%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Percentage Response (N = 196)
Agree Neutral Disagree
GEDC’s Balanced Contribution to the Region
64% 24% 12% 2003
2002 63% 24% 13%
2001 60% 33% 7%
65% 22% 13% 2000
1999 70% 17% 13%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Per centage Response (N = 196)
Agr ee Neutr al Di sagr ee
77 CERTIFICATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The accompanying financial statements of the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission have been prepared in compliance with the provisions of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 from proper accounts and records to present fairly the financial transactions for the year ending 30 June 2003 and the financial position as at 30 June 2003.
At the date of signing we are not aware of any circumstances that would render the particulars included in the financial statements misleading or inaccurate.
Kath Finlayson CitWA Chairman Date: 28/08/2003
Colin Purcell Chief Executive Officer Date: 28/08/2003
Steve Winter Principal Accounting Officer Date: 28/08/2003
78
AUDITOR GENERAL
INDEPENDENT AUDIT OPINION
To the Parliament of Western Australia
GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2003
Audit Opinion In my opinion, (i) the controls exercised by the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission provide reasonable assurance that the receipt and expenditure of moneys, the acquisition and disposal of property, and the incurring of liabilities have been in accordance with legislative provisions; and (ii) the financial statements are based on proper accounts and present fairly in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards and other mandatory professional reporting requirements in Australia and the Treasurer’s Instructions, the financial position of the Commission at June 30, 2003 and its financial performance and cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Scope The Board’s Role The Board is responsible for keeping proper accounts and maintaining adequate systems of internal control, preparing the financial statements, and complying with the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 (the Act) and other relevant written law.
The financial statements consist of the Statement of Financial Performance, Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Cash Flows and the Notes to the Financial Statements.
Summary of my Role As required by the Act, I have independently audited the accounts and financial statements to express an opinion on the controls and financial statements. This was done by looking at a sample of the evidence.
An audit does not guarantee that every amount and disclosure in the financial statements is error free. The term “reasonable assurance” recognises that an audit does not examine all evidence and every transaction. However, my audit procedures should identify errors or omissions significant enough to adversely affect the decisions of users of the financial statements.
D D R PEARSON AUDITOR GENERAL October 10, 2003
4th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock Street West Perth 6005 Western Australia Tel: 08 9222 7500 Fax: 08 9322 5664 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE For the year ended 30 June 2003
NOTES 2002/03 2001/02 COST OF SERVICES $ $ Expenses from ordinary activities Employee expenses 2 1,001,227 909,825 Supplies and services 3 433,216 464.935 Grants and subsidies 7 187,714 220,216 Depreciation expense 4 22,701 21,129 Accommodation expenses 6 151,992 152,865 Administration expenses 5 212,132 164,738 Capital user charge 8 29,620 14,683 Carrying amount of non-current assets - 769 disposed Total cost of services 2,038,602 1,949,160
Revenues from ordinary activities User charges and fees 9 5,087 3,753 Other revenues from ordinary activities 11 173,628 247,899 Grants and contributions 10 781,950 57,500 Total revenues from ordinary activities 960,665 309,152
NET COST OF SERVICES 1,077,937 1,640,008
REVENUES FROM STATE GOVERNMENT 12 Output appropriation 1,362,187 1,555,000 Resources received free of charge 18,500 9,000 Total revenues from State Government 1,380,687 1,564,000
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS 302,750 (76,008)
TOTAL CHANGES IN EQUITY OTHER THAN THOSE RESULTING FROM TRANSACTIONS 302,750 (76,008) WITH WA STATE GOVERNMENT AS OWNERS
The Statement of Financial Performance should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
80 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2003
NOTES 2002/03 2001/02 Current Assets $ $ Cash assets 22 646,329 285,943 Receivables 13 18,818 10,687 Amounts receivable for outputs 14 48,000 - Other assets 15 6,362 9,603 Total Current Assets 719,509 306,233
Non-Current Assets Amounts receivable for outputs 14 23,000 48,000 Property, plant, equipment and vehicles 16 42,026 53,246 Works of art 17 982 982 Total Non-Current Assets 66,008 102,228
TOTAL ASSETS 785,517 408,461
Current Liabilities Payables 18 33,467 36,669 Provisions 19 176,123 124,796 Other liabilities 20 33,965 14,516 Total Current Liabilities 243,555 175,981
Non-Current Liabilities Provisions 19 36,155 29,423 Total Non-Current Liabilities 36,155 29,423
Total Liabilities 279,710 205,404
NET ASSETS 505,807 203,057
Equity 21 Accumulated surplus 505,807 203,057
TOTAL EQUITY 505,807 203,057
The Statement of Financial Position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
81 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2003
NOTES 2002/03 2001/02 $ $ Inflows Inflows (Outflows) (Outflows) CASH FLOWS FROM STATE GOVERNMENT Output appropriations 1,339,187 1,507,000 Net cash provided by State Government 1,339,187 1,507,000
Utilised as follows:
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Payments Employee costs (926,588) (885,310) Supplies and services (429,490) (479,781) Capital user charge (29,620) (14,683) GST payments on purchases (102,671) (114,789) GST payment to taxation authority - - Other payments (529,830) (529,989)
Receipts Sale of goods and services 172,541 315,153 User charges and fees 5,087 3,753 Grants and contributions 781,950 57,500 GST receipts on sales 52,330 31,974 GST receipts from taxation authority 38,971 90,784 Net cash used in operating activities 22(b) (967,320) (1,525,389)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchase of non-current physical assets (11,481) (48,416) Net cash used in investing activities (11,481) (48,416)
Net Increase in cash held 360,386 (66,805)
Cash assets at the beginning of the financial 285,943 352,748 year
CASH ASSETS AT THE END OF 22(a) 646,329 285,943 THE FINANCIAL YEAR
The Statement of Cash Flow should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
82 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 30 June 2003
1. Significant accounting policies
The following accounting policies have been adopted in the preparation of the financial statements. Unless otherwise stated these policies are consistent with those adopted in the previous year.
General Statement The financial statements constitute a general purpose financial report which has been prepared in accordance with Accounting Standards, Statements of Accounting Concepts and other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and Urgent Issues Group (UIG) Consensus Views as applied by the Treasurer's Instructions. Several of these are modified by the Treasurer's Instructions to vary application, disclosure, format and wording. The Financial Administration and Audit Act and the Treasurer's Instructions are legislative provisions governing the preparation of financial statements and take precedence over Accounting Standards, Statements of Accounting Concepts and other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and UIG Consensus Views. The modifications are intended to fulfil the requirements of general application to the public sector together with the need for greater disclosure and also to satisfy accountability requirements.
If any such modification has a material or significant financial effect upon the reported results, details of that modification and where practicable, the resulting financial effect, are disclosed in individual notes to these financial statements.
Basis of Accounting The statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting using the historical cost convention, except for certain assets and liabilities that, as noted, are measured at valuation.
(a) Output Appropriations Output Appropriations are recognised as revenues in the period in which the Commission gains control of the appropriated funds. The Commission gains control of the appropriated funds at the time those funds are deposited into the Commission’s bank account or credited to the holding account held at the Department of Treasury and Finance.
(b) Contributed Equity Under UIG 38 “Contributions by Owners Made to Wholly-Owned Public Sector Entities” transfers in the nature of equity contributions must be designated by the Government (owners) as contributions by owners (at the time of, or prior to transfer, before such transfers can be recognised as equity contributions in the financial statements. Capital contributions (appropriations) have been designated as contributions by owners and have been credited directly to Contributed Equity in the Statement of Financial Performance Position. Capital appropriations that are repayable to the Treasurer are recognised as liabilities.
83 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
(c) Grants and Other Contributions Revenue Grants, donations, gifts and other non-reciprocal contributions are recognised as revenue when the Commission obtains control over the assets comprising the contributions. Control is normally obtained upon their receipt.
Contributions are recognised at their fair value. Contributions of services are only recognised when a fair value can be reliably determined and the services would be purchased if not donated.
(d) Revenue Recognition Revenue from the sales of goods and disposal of other assets and the rendering of services, is recognised when the Commission has passed control of the goods or other assets or delivery of the service to the customer.
(e) Acquisition of assets The cost method of accounting is used for all acquisitions of assets. Cost is measured as the fair value of the assets given up or liabilities undertaken at the date of acquisition plus incidental costs directly attributable to the acquisition.
Assets acquired at no cost or for nominal consideration, are initially recognised at their fair value at the date of acquisition.
(f) Depreciation of non-current assets All non-current assets having a limited life are systematically depreciated over their useful lives in a manner that reflects the consumption of their future economic benefits.
Depreciation is calculated on the straight line basis, using rates which are reviewed annually. Expected useful lives for each class of depreciable asset are:
Furniture & Fittings 10 years Equipment 5 to 7 years Computer Hardware 3 to 4 years Computer Software 3 to 4 years
Works of art controlled by the Commission are classified as heritage assets. They are anticipated to have very long and indeterminate useful lives. Their service potential has not, in any material sense, been consumed during the reporting period. As such, no amount for depreciation has been recognised in respect of them.
(g) Leases The Commission has entered into a number of operating lease arrangements for the rent of the office buildings and motor vehicles where the lessor effectively retains all of the risks and benefits incident to ownership of the items held under the operating leases. Equal instalments of the lease payments are charged to the Statement of Financial Performance over the lease term as this is representative of the pattern of benefits to be derived from the leased property.
84 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
(h) Cash For the purpose of the Statement of Cash Flows, cash includes cash assets and restricted cash assets.
(i) Receivables Receivables are recognised as the amounts receivable as they are due for settlement no more than 30 days from the date of recognition.
Collectability of receivables is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Debts that are known to be uncollectable are written off. A provision for doubtful debts is raised where some doubts as to collection exits and in any event where the debt is more than 60 days overdue.
(j) Payables Payables, including accruals not yet billed, are recognised when the Commission becomes obliged to make future payments as a result of a purchase of assets or services. Payables are generally settled within 30 days.
(k) Employee benefits
Annual Leave
This benefit is recognised at the reporting date in respect to employee’s service up to that date and is measured at the nominal amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled.
Long service leave
The liability for long service leave expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date is recognised in the provisions for employee benefits, and is measured as the nominal amounts expected to be paid when the liability is settled. The liability for long service leave expected to be settled more than 12 months from the reporting date is recognised in the provisions for employee benefits and is measured at the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date. Consideration is given, when assessing expected future payments, to expected future wage and salary levels including relevant on costs, experience of employee departures and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using market yields at the reporting date on national government bonds with terms to maturity and currency that match, as closely as possible, the estimated future cash outflows.
This method of measurement of the liability is consistent with the requirement of Accounting Standard AASB 1028 “Employee Benefits”.
Superannuation
Staff may contribute to the Pension Scheme, a defined benefits pension scheme now closed to new members, or to the Gold State Superannuation Scheme, a defined benefit lump sum scheme now also closed to new members. All staff who do not contribute to either of these schemes become non-contributory members of the West 85 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
State Superannuation Scheme, an accumulation fund complying with the Commonwealth Government’s Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992. The Government Employees Superannuation Board (GESB) administers all of these schemes.
The Pension Scheme and the pre-transfer benefit for employees who transferred to the Gold State Superannuation Scheme are unfunded and the liability for future payments are provided for at reporting date.
The liabilities for superannuation charges under the Gold State Superannuation Scheme and West State Superannuation Scheme are extinguished by payment of employer contributions to the Government Employees Superannuation Board.
The note disclosure required by paragraph 6.10 of AASB 1028 (being the employer’s share of the difference between employees’ accrued superannuation benefits and the attributable net market value of plan assets) has not been provided. State scheme deficiencies are recognised by the State in its whole of government reporting. The Government Employees Superannuation Board’s records are not structured to provide the information for the Commission. Accordingly, deriving the information for the Commission is impractical under current arrangements, and thus any benefits thereof would be exceeded by the cost of obtaining the information.
(l) Employee benefit on-costs Employee benefit on-costs, including payroll tax, are recognised and included in employee benefit liabilities and costs when the employee benefits to which they relate are recognised as liabilities and expenses.
(m) Accrued Salaries Accrued salaries (refer note 20) represent the amount due to staff but unpaid at the end of the financial year, as the end of the last pay period for that financial year does not coincide with the end of the financial year. The Commission considers the carrying amount approximates net fair value.
(n) Resources Received Free of Charge or For Nominal Value Resources received free of charge or for nominal value that can be reliably measured are recognised as revenues and as assets or expenses as appropriate at fair value.
(o) Comparative Figures Comparative figures are, where appropriate, reclassified so as to be comparable with the figures presented in the current financial year.
(p) Rounding Amounts in the financial statements have been rounded to the nearest dollar.
86 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
$ $ 2002/03 2001/02 2. Employee expenses Salaries and wages 721,670 713,336 Superannuation 70,578 66,702 Annual Leave 18,376 2,763 Long Service Leave 40,758 16,104 Other related expenses (1) 149,845 110,920 1,001,227 909,825
(1) These employee expenses include superannuation, payroll tax, workers compensation premiums and other employment on-costs associated with the recognition of annual and long service leave liability. The related on-costs liability is included in employee entitlement liabilities at note 19.
3. Supplies and services Consultants and contractors 321,679 233,897 Travel 17,163 37,916 Other 94,374 193,122 433,216 464,935
4. Depreciation expense Computing Equipment 18,875 17,571 Plant & Equipment 2,817 2,908 Furniture & Fittings 1,009 650 22,701 21,129
5. Administration expenses Maintenance 16,123 13,403 Communications 42,082 38,261 Consumables 36,647 25,174 Resources free of charge 18,500 9,000 Other costs 98,780 78,900 212,132 164,738
6. Accommodation expenses Lease rentals 123,854 123,670 Repairs and maintenance 3,570 2,851 Cleaning 8,896 7,830 Other 15,672 18,514 151,992 152,865
87 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
$ $ 2002/03 2001/02 7. Grants and subsidies Recurrent BIGhART 9,000 9,000 Festival of the Wind - 6,136 Leonora Gwalia Historical Museum 34,884 31,818 Esperance Organised Primary Producers - 5,000 Goldfields Land and Sea Council - 27,272 St Mary’s Catholic Church - 20,905 Department of Indigenous Affairs - 19,221 Chamber of Minerals and Energy 9,091 9,091 Shire of Coolgardie 7,268 27,273 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder - 2,000 Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed School 31,818 Golden Quest Trails Association 10,909 Golden Mile Loopline Railway Society Inc 7,052 St Barbara’s Festival Inc 10,000 West Australia Indigenous Sporting Foundation 25,000 Esperance Chamber of Commerce & Industry 5,455 Youth Achievement Australia Ltd 8,100 Northern Goldfields Health Services 5,909 Shire of Laverton 8,228 Shire of Esperance 15,000 Capital Shire of Menzies - 62,500
187,714 220,216
8. Capital User Charge 29,620 14,683
A capital user charge rate of 8% has been set by the Government for 2002-03 and represents the opportunity cost of capital invested in the net assets of the Commission used in the provision of outputs. The charge is calculated on the net assets adjusted to take account of exempt assets. Payments are made to the Department of Treasury and Finance on a quarterly basis.
9. User charges and fees User charges 542 1,253 Fees 4,545 2,500 5,087 3,753
88 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
$ $ 2002/03 2001/02 10. Grants and contributions Department of Employment, Workplace
Relations and Small Business - 57,500 Department of Local Government and Regional
Development 701,950 - Office of Aboriginal Economic Development 80,000 - 781,950 57,500
11. Other revenues from ordinary activities Department of Industry & Technology - 110,746 Recoupment of costs 173,628 137,153
173,628 247,899
12. Revenues from State Government Appropriation revenue received during the year: Output appropriations (i) 1,362,187 1,555,000 1,362,187 1,555,000
Resources received free of charge (ii) Determined on the basis of the following estimates provided by agencies Office of Auditor General audit services 18,500 9,000 18,500 9,000
(i) Output appropriations are accrual amounts reflecting the full cost of outputs delivered. The appropriation revenue comprises a cash component and a receivable (asset). The receivable (holding account) comprises the depreciation expense for the year and any agreed increase in leave liability during the year. (ii) Where assets or services have been received free of charge or for nominal consideration, the Commission recognises revenues equivalent to the fair value of the assets and/or the fair value of those services that can be reliably determined and which would have been purchased if not donated, and those fair values shall be recognised as assets or expenses, as applicable.
13. Receivables Current Trade debtors 3,675 3,443 GST receivable 15,143 7,244 18,818 10,687
89 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
$ $ 2002/03 2001/02 14. Amounts receivable for outputs Current 48,000 - Non-current 23,000 48,000 71,000 48,000
This asset represents the non-cash component of output appropriations. It is restricted in that it can only be used for asset replacement or payment of leave liability.
15. Other assets Current Prepayments 5,820 9,603 Accrued income 542 - 6,362 9,603
16. Property, Plant, Equipment and Vehicles $ $ 2002/03 2001/02
Computing Hardware at cost 54,237 53,803 Accumulated Depreciation (32,213) (22,628) 22,024 31,175
Computer Software at cost 56,971 56,971 Accumulated Depreciation (52,879) (47,864) 4,092 9,107
Communications Equipment at cost 9,435 9,435 Accumulated Depreciation (4,732) (3,827) 4,703 5,608
Office Equipment at cost 17,566 13,130 Accumulated Depreciation (10,782) (8,957) 6,784 4,173
Furniture and Fittings at cost 14,452 12,202 Accumulated Depreciation (10,029) (9,019) 4,423 3,183
Total Assets 42,026 53,246
Reconciliations Reconciliations of the carrying amounts of plant and equipment at the beginning and end of the current and previous financial year are set out below.
90
GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
2002/03 Computer Computer Communications Office Furniture Total Hardware Software Equipment Equipment and $ Fittings $ $ Carrying amount at 31,175 9,107 5.608 4,172 3,183 53,245 the start of the year Additions 9,434 - - 5,586 2,250 17,270
Disposals (9,000) - - (1,149) - (10,149)
Depreciation (13,860) (5,015) (905) (1,911) (1,010) (22,701)
Depreciation written back 4,275 - - 86 - 4,361 on disposal Carrying amount at 22,024 4,092 4,703 6,784 4,423 42,026 the end of the year
2001/02 Computer Computer Communications Office Furniture Total Hardware Software Equipment Equipment and $ Fittings $ $ Carrying amount at 7,547 6,407 5,405 6,689 682 26,730 the start of the year Additions 35,338 8,562 1,363 - 3,150 48,413
Disposals - - - (768) - (768)
Depreciation (11,710) (5,861) (1,161) (1,748) (649) (21,129)
Depreciation written back ------on disposal Carrying amount at 31,175 9,107 5,608 4,173 3,183 53,246 the end of the year
91 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
$ $ 2002/03 2001/02 17. Works of Art At cost 1,700 1,700 Accumulated Depreciation (718) (718) 982 982
18. Payables Current Trade payables 33,467 34,126 GST Payable - 2,543 33,467 36,669
19. Provisions Current: Annual Leave 67,631 44,840 Long Service Leave 96,543 68,007 Other (i) 11,949 11,949 176,123 124,796
Non-current: Long Service Leave 33,644 26,912 Other (i) 2,511 2,511 36,155 29,423
(i) The settlement of annual and long service leave liabilities gives rise to the payment of employment on-costs including superannuation, payroll tax and workers compensation premiums. The liability for such on-costs is included under Employee expenses at note 2.
The Commission considers the carrying amount of employee benefits approximates the net fair value.
Employee Benefit Liabilities The aggregate employee entitlement liability recognised and included in the financial statements is as follows:
Provision for employee benefits: Current 176,123 124,796 Non-current 36,155 29,423 212,278 154,219
20. Other liabilities Current Accrued salaries 17,753 13,309 Accrued expenses 16,212 1,207 33,965 14,516
92 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
$ $ 2002/03 2001/02 21. Equity Accumulated surplus/(deficiency): Opening balance 203,057 279,065 Change in net assets 302,750 (76,008) Closing balance 505,807 203,057
22. Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows
(a) Reconciliation of Cash Cash at the end of the financial year as shown in the Statement of Cash Flows is reconciled to the related items in the Statement of Financial Position as follows:
Cash assets 646,329 285,943 646,329 285,943
(b) Reconciliation of net cost of services to net cash flows provided by/(used in) operating activities
Net Cost of Services (1,077,937) (1,640,008)
Non-cash items: Depreciation expense 22,701 21,129 Resources received free of charge 18,500 9,000 (Profit)/loss on sale of property, plant - 769 and equipment
(Increase)/decrease in assets: Current receivables (773) 87,862 Other current assets 3,242 (5,204)
Increase/(decrease) in liabilities Current payables (658) (20,651) Current provisions 51,327 33,873 Other current liabilities 19,449 (3,745) Non-current provisions 6,732 (15,005) Net GST receipts (payments) (11,457) 7,969 Change in GST in receivables/payables 1,554 (1,378) Net cash provided by/(used in) operating (967,320) (1,525,389) activities
93 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
$ $ 2002/03 2001/02 23. Commitments for expenditure
Lease commitments Commitments in relation to leases contracted for at the reporting date but not recognised as liabilities, are payable as follows:
Non-cancellable operating lease commitments Commitments for minimum lease payments are payable as follows: Within 1 year 24,243 21,868 Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years 27,144 12,881 Later than 5 years - - 51,387 34,749
24. Contingent Liabilities
To the best of our knowledge we are not aware of any circumstances that may result in a contingent liability.
25. Events Occurring after Reporting Date
We are not aware of any circumstances that have arisen since the end of the financial year to the date of this report which have significantly affected or may significantly affect the activities of the Commission, the results of those activities or the state of affairs of the Commission in the ensuing or any subsequent financial year.
26. Explanatory Statement
(i) Significant variations between estimates and actual results for the financial year
Details and reasons for significant variations between estimates and actual results are detailed below. Significant variations are considered to be those greater than 10% or $10,000. Figures have been rounded to the nearest $000 for ease of comparison. 2002/03 2002/03 Budget Actual Variance Variance $ $ $ % Employee expenses 817000 1,001,227 184,227 23% Grants and subsidies paid 650,000 187,714 (462,286) (71%) Supplies and services 336,000 433,216 97,216 29% Capital user charge 2,000 29,620 27,620 1,381% Administration expenses 49,000 212,132 163,132 333% Depreciation expense 9,000 22,701 13,701 152% Grants and contributions 550,000 781,950 231,950 42% Other revenue 9,000 173,628 164,628 1,829%
94 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
Employee expenses Salaries increased by $8,000 through step increases and a change from the Commission’s WPA to Public Service General Agreement 2002 (PSGA) on 1 January 2003. Provision for annual leave increased by $23,000 (full leave entitlements not taken and transfer in of a resource with leave accrued); provision for long service leave increased by $33,000 (change to PSGA reduced LSL entitlement period from 10 years to 7 years and calculation of entitlement reviewed); GEHA rent increased by $10,000 due to transfer of an employee from another RDC; Payroll tax $10,000 paid (a Legislation change in June 2003 has exempted the Commission from future expense with respect this tax).
Grants and subsidies paid Legislative change, to enable the Regional Development Commissions (RDCs’) to pay grants, was not enacted until 25 March 2003. This reflects in the significant variance between estimated and actual.
Supplies and services The Commission concentrated resources into its major project the Golden Quest Drive Trail (GQDT) at the expense of other initiatives. These initiatives will receive attention in the 2003/04 financial year.
Capital user charge The Commission received Goldfields Esperance Regional Development Scheme (GERDS) funding $412,000 in late June. This, combined with an over estimate of grants that would be paid, resulted in a much higher cash balance at the end of the financial year.
(i) Administration expense The allocation of expenses into expenditure items differs between the Treasury Information Management System (used for Budget Statements) and the Model Financial Statements. This allocation has caused the variation between the estimate and the actual for the year. When the expenses are allocated as per the Model Financial Statements, the estimate amount increases to $215,000 resulting in a variance of less than 10%.
Depreciation expense The amount of $9,000 in the budget was an input error and was corrected at the time of the mid-year review.
Grants and contributions received The variation is principally due to additional grant funds of $170,000 being received from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development (DLGRD) to assist with the GQDT.
95 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
Other revenue Allocation of revenue also differs between the Treasury Information Management System and the Model Financial Statements. Budget estimate of $9,000 should also include employees GEHA rent of $22,000. Variation principally due to recoups for services provided, $151,000 of which $107,000 is GERDS grant funding (grants paid by the Commission before advice received that RDCs’ were not authorised to pay grants under the RDC Act 1993), $9,000 Riskcover recovery for asset theft and $7,000 for recovery of office accommodation costs.
(ii) Significant variations between actual revenues and expenditures for the financial year and revenues and expenditures for the immediately preceding financial year.
Details and reasons for significant variations between actual results with the corresponding items of the preceding year are detailed below. Significant variations are considered to be those greater than 10% or $10,000. Figures have been rounded for ease of comparison.
2002/03 2001/02 Variance Variance $ $ $ % Employee Expenses 1,001,227 909,825 91,402 9% Administration expense 212,132 164,738 47.394 22% Grants and Subsidies 187,714 220,216 (32,502) (17%) paid Capital user charge 29,620 14,683 14,937 50% Grants and contributions 781,950 57,500 724,450 93% received Other revenues from 173,628 247,899 (74,271 (43%) Ordinary activities
(ii) Employee expenses Salaries increased by $8,000 through step increases and a change from the Commission’s WPA to Public Service General Agreement 2002 (PSGA) on 1 January 2003. Provision for annual leave increased by $23,000 (full leave entitlements not taken and transfer in of a resource with leave accrued); provision for long service leave increased by $33,000 (change to PSGA reduced LSL entitlement period from 10 years to 7 years and calculation of entitlement reviewed); GEHA rent increased by $10,000 due to transfer of an employee from another RDC; Payroll tax $10,000 paid (a Legislation change in June 2003 has exempted the Commission from future expense with respect this tax).
Administration expense Resignation of three staff during the year resulted in the Commission utilising the services of temporary staff pending the recruitment of replacement full time officers. An increase of $17,000 is reflected here; audit services (resources free of charge) increased by $10,000; theft of Commission assets resulted in $6,000 being written off; computer maintenance costs increased by $5,000.
96 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
Grants and subsidies paid The Regional Development Commissions were unable to pay grants during the period 1 July 2002 to 25 March 2003 pending legislative changes to the Regional Development Commission Act of 1993. Grants paid during this period were made by DLGRD. The expense represents grants for a three-month period only paid from the Kalgoorlie Boulder Development Fund (KBDF) and GERDS.
Capital user charge Variation due to the Commission receiving GERDS funding $413,000 on 25 June and unable to disburse these funds via grants prior to the end of the financial year. The Capital user charge was calculated on a significantly higher cash balance when compared to the preceding year.
Grants and subsidies received GERDS funding of $400,000 was withheld during the preceding year pending legislative changes to the RDC Act. A major project of the Commission, the GQDT, also attracted once off funding of $265,000. A contribution of $80,000 was also received towards the employment of an Indigenous Economic Development Officer (IEDO). This funding was previously recorded under other revenue.
Other revenues from ordinary activities Variation principally due to funding $80,000 for the IEDO position being receipted under grants and contributions.
27. Remuneration of Auditor
The Commission has not been charged for audits conducted by the Auditor General. These services have been reported as resources received free of charge ($18,500 - note 6).
28. Remuneration of Members of the Accountable Authority and Senior Officers
Remuneration of Members of the Accountable Authority The number of members of the Accountable Authority, whose total fees, salaries, superannuation and other benefits for the financial year, fall within the following bands are: $ 2002/03 2001/02 1 - 10,000 8 12 10,001 – 20,000 1 - 20,001 – 30,000 - 1 110,001 - 120,000 1 1 The total remuneration of the members of the Accountable Authority is: 151,462 150,310
The superannuation included here represents the superannuation expense incurred by the Commission in respect of members of the Accountable Authority.
No members of the Accountable Authority are members of the Pension Scheme.
97
GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
Remuneration of Senior Officers The number of senior officers other than senior officers reported as members of the Accountable Authority, whose total fees, salaries, superannuation and other benefits for the financial year, fall within the following bands are: $ 2002/03 2001/02 60,001 – 70,000 2 2 70,001 - 80,000 1 1 80,001 – 90,000 1 1 The total remuneration of senior officers is: 291,444 284,209
The superannuation included here represents the superannuation expense incurred by the Commission in respect of Senior Officers other than senior officers reported as members of the Accountable Authority.
No Senior Officers are members of the Pension Scheme.
29. Additional Financial Instrument Disclosures
(a) Interest Rate Risk Exposure Currently the Commission has no exposure to interest rate risk or re-pricing maturities as all financial assets and financial liabilities are non-interest bearing.
(b) Credit Risk Exposure Receivables are the only financial instrument in which there is credit risk exposure. The credit risk is represented by the carrying amount.
(c) Net Fair Values The carrying amount of financial assets and financial liabilities recorded in the financial statements are not materially different from their net fair values, determined in accordance with the accounting policies disclosed in note 1 to the financial statements.
30. Related Bodies
The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission has no related bodies.
31. Affiliated Bodies
The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission has no affiliated bodies.
32. Supplementary Financial Information $ $ 2002/03 2001/02 Losses Through Theft, Default And Other Causes Losses of public property through theft 5,788 - 5,788 -
98 GOLDFIELDS-ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Notes to Financial Statements For the year ended 30 June 2003
33. Output Information Policies Strategies and Industry and Enterprise Co-ordination of Regional Promotion Plans Development Infrastructure Identification Output 1 Output 2 Output 3 Output 4 Total 2002/03 2001/02 2002/03 2001/02 2002/03 2001/02 2002/03 2001/02 2002/03 2001/02 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ COST OF SERVICES Expenses from ordinary activities Employee expenses 192,172 322,761 239,446 270,280 90,201 70,880 479,408 245,904 1,001,227 909,825 Supplies and services 83,150 144,933 103,605 166,327 39,028 11,220 207,433 142,455 433,216 464,935 Depreciation expense 4,357 6,123 5,429 8,126 2,045 113 10,870 6,767 22,701 21,129 Administration expense 40,716 51,353 50,732 58,934 19,111 3,976 101,573 50,475 212,132 164,738 Accommodation expense 29,173 47,652 36,349 54,686 13,693 3,689 72,777 46,837 151,992 152,865 Grants and subsidies 36,030 62,500 44,892 61,723 16,911 51,494 89,881 44,500 187,714 220,216 Capital user charge 5,685 4,255 7,084 5,647 2,668 78 14,183 4,703 29,620 14,683 Net loss on disposal of non-current assets - 223 - 296 - 4 - 246 - 769 Total cost of services 391,283 639,799 487,537 626,019 183,657 141,453 976,125 541,889 2,038,602 1,949,160
Revenues from ordinary activities User charges and fees 402 640 1,175 2,500 1,400 - 2,110 613 5,087 3,753 Grants and Subsidies 61,852 - 180,645 - 215,196 - 324,257 57,500 781,950 57,500 Other revenues from ordinary activities 13,734 30,529 40,111 145,806 47,783 832 72,000 70,732 173,628 247,899 Total Revenues from ordinary activities 75,988 31,169 221,931 148,306 264,379 832 398,367 128,845 960,665 309,152
NET COST OF SERVICES 315,295 608,630 265,606 477,713 (80,722) 140,621 577,758 413,044 1,077,937 1,640,008
REVENUES FROM GOVERNMENT Output appropriations 261,454 577,083 325,771 452,951 122,719 133,332 652,243 391,634 1,362,187 1,555,000 Resources received free of charge 3,551 2,970 4,424 2,880 1,667 630 8,858 2,520 18,500 9,000 Total revenue from Government 265,005 580,053 330,195 455,831 124,386 133,962 661,101 394,154 1,380,687 1,564,000
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS (50,290) (28,578) 64,589 (21,882) 205,108 (6,659) 83,343 (18,890) 302,750 (76,008)