Four councillors to helm political advocacy group ‘to fight for Augusta-Margaret River’

Councillors have cemented their commitment to badgering State and Federal leaders for more support for the Augusta-Margaret River region after finalising their new advocacy committee.

Elected members Melissa D’Ath, Kylie Kennaugh and deputy Shire president Tracey Muir will join president Julia Meldrum, chief executive Andrea Selvey and sustainable economy and communities director Nick Byrne.

The new panel was forged to bolster the Shire’s renewed appetite for pushing for action on a range of issues besetting the region, many of which featured in questions from schoolchildren attending last week’s meeting.

Margaret River Senior High School students enjoyed their annual “councillor for a day” development project which included pitching questions to elected members focused on the key concerns of young people living in the shire.

The topics put the housing crisis as well as insufficient direct support for mental health services front and centre, as well as the environment, traffic safety in Rapids Landing and other issues.

Responding to students’ questions, councillors acknowledged the gravity of challenges around housing and the lack of mental health beds nearby for residents to access.

The council also noted many of the issues flagged by the young prodigies were of direct concern to young people as well as families and younger residents striving to stay in the region in the face of a dire lack of rentals as house prices continued to spiral beyond affordability.

Cr Muir said State and Federal governments were not acting where needed.

“I see one of my strongest roles is to stand up for our community,” she said.

“We need to ensure that services do not stop at Bunbury.

“Our local national park needs more than a handful of rangers who are mostly on fire duties in summer (during) peak tourism season.

“I want to develop a concerted and strategic advocacy plan to get money back into our community.”

As well as government leaders, the WA and national local government associations would be included in advocacy communications in the future.

Cr Greg Boland was appointed as a proxy councillor to fill in for absentees.