Have you got what it takes to be a councillor?

Local Council elections will be held on Saturday 15 October 2011, so if you have ever considered being a Councillor, now is the time to nominate.

This year’s election will be very different from previous ones. All wards in the district of Bassendean have been abolished, and the number of Councillors has been reduced from 9 to 6. These changes mean that there will be no separate ward elections, all six councillor positions will be vacant, and all candidates will face election by the whole Town. The ballot paper will be larger, and electors will need to place a tick alongside each of the six candidates of their choice. Any more than six ticks will be an informal vote.

Are you eligible?

To be eligible to nominate to become a councillor you have to be over 18 years of age and an elector of the Town of Bassendean. This means all persons on the State and Federal Electoral Rolls and those owners and occupiers of property in the Town who are also registered on the Town’s electoral roll.

Nominations open on 1 September and close at 4.00 pm on 8 September.

Those wishing to enrol can obtain a nomination form from:

The Western Australian Electoral Commission;
Post Offices;
The electorate offices of Members of Parliament; and
Offices of the Australian Electoral Commission.

Alternatively, you can download an Electoral Enrolment Form from the State Electoral Commission’s website at www.waec.wa.gov.au.

Owners and occupiers of businesses in the Town are eligible to vote and nominate to become a councillor if they enrol through Council to be on the roll. Forms are available from Council’s Customer Service Centre or by contacting Ms Jane Goddard on 9377 8007.

Voting system

The voting system will be first past the post and will require electors to place a tick against the candidates of their choice, up to and including the number of vacancies: that is, for Bassendean, a total of 6 ticks.

Interested in finding out more?

If you are considering running for Council, then come along to a ‘Regional Forum for Prospective Councillors’ to be held on Saturday 20 August 2011 at 2.00 pm at the Midland Town Hall, Great Eastern Highway, Midland.

The forum is free and designed not only for those wishing to nominate as a candidate, but also for those people from within the community who have a keen interest in civic affairs and how local government works from a Councillor’s perspective.

Forum topics will include:

Roles and responsibilities of a Councillor;
Key competencies required to be a good Councillor;
Legal constraints upon Councillors;
Commitment required; and
How much of your time it will take.

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions of a panel of experienced Councillors and Local Government Officers, and representatives from the Western Australian Electoral Commission will be on hand to answer your queries about running for Council.

If you would like to attend this forum, please advise your attendance by telephoning Janis on 9267 9113 or via email to janis.rooke@swan.wa.gov.au giving your name, address and contact number.

For further information, or to discuss your prospective nomination, contact Mr Bob Jarvis, CEO of the Town of Bassendean, on 9377 8004 or Mr Phil Richards, Manager Local Government Elections from the WA Electoral Commission, on 9214 0400.

Watch your waste!

The 2011/2012 Waste & Recycling Guide is out now.

It’s your year-long easy reference to:

Bin collection dates (note there are new dates for some areas) and bin placement;
Maps indicating when your bin collection day and recycling weeks will be;
Information on tip passes;
A-Z Recycling Guide: your one-stop guide on where to put your household waste and maximise recycling;
Household Hazardous Waste disposal locations: places you can drop off paints, oils, batteries and gas cylinders;
Waste reduction: useful tips on where to take unwanted items for reuse or recycling; and
Bulk verge collection dates, fridge collections, and general information.

… and it’s being delivered to your mailbox
during July 2011!

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