Enews

In this edition

• Clean bill of health for books
• New faces on GEDC board
• Call for community members to handle fund
• Latest data for economic impact
• Board hits the road
• Water supplies boosted
• Changing of the guard

In this month's E-news, find out how you can help divvy up funds for the Goldfields-Esperance region. And if you thought statistics were boring - think again. There's an easy way to use statistics to help your business or community group.

Clean bill of health for books

Staff at the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission have proven they are highly effective number crunchers.

The Auditor General's Audit Results Report tabled in Parliament in November 2007 reveals the GEDC is one of Western Australia's best government agencies for managing financial reporting for 2006-2007.

The report provided results of the controls, financial statement and performance indicator audits for government agencies.

The GEDC was one of 40 agencies - or 27 per cent of those audited - that scored highly against the better practice criteria for managing financial reporting.

GEDC chief executive Robert Hicks said although the GEDC was a relatively small agency compared with other State Government departments, the result showed the GEDC was well managed and was meeting the Auditor General's stringent Corporate Governance requirements.

New faces on GEDC board

Four community and business leaders from across the Goldfields-Esperance region have joined the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission's board.

Karen Jamvold is the new Ministerial representative; Brenda Tilbrook and Jeffrey Carter are Local Government representatives and Tony Bright is a community representative.

Mrs Jamvold is the director of the Kalgoorlie-based Curtin Vocational Training and Education Centre (VTEC).

She has a Diploma in Teaching and a Bachelor of Education and has a high degree of expertise in a range of leadership and management fields.

GEDC chief executive Robert Hicks said Mrs Jamvold's experience and knowledge of workforce training and development issues would be an invaluable addition to the board.

Mrs Tilbrook, who is the Ravensthorpe Shire president, has been re-elected to the board after serving one term.

Mr Hicks said he was pleased to see Mrs Tilbrook remain on the board because of her dedication and knowledge of the Goldfields-Esperance region.

Mr Carter is the Leonora Shire deputy president and a pastoralist.

"His knowledge of the region will be well placed to represent the interests of the Northern Goldfields Shires," Mr Hicks said.

Mr Bright is a regional development consultant.

He has previously been a board member and employee of the GEDC.

"Tony's expertise and insights will add considerable value to the board.

"He is well placed to represent the best interests of the southern parts of the region that include the Shires of Esperance and Ravensthorpe," Mr Hicks said.

Mr Hicks also paid tribute to departing board member Robert Wedge.

Call for community members to handle fund

Do you have a passion for your local community?

Are you scratching your head about how to get hold of funds to help move your community projects ahead?

Help is available.

The Goldfields-Esperance Community Foundation has been set up to support people, projects and activities that demonstrate a contribution to the region.

The foundation is established under the umbrella of Western Australian Community Foundation, an independent organisation designed to help communities and charities attract funds for a sustainable future.

The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission is calling on interested community members to become members of the Goldfields - Esperance Community Foundation advisory group.

GEDC senior project officer Liane Auld said it was important to have community representatives on the group so that the fund met the region's needs.

"The role of the advisory committee is to liaise with the wider community to grow the fund and to provide advice to the Trustee of the Western Australian Community Foundation about the distribution of funds in the region," Ms Auld said.

"We are looking for people who are passionate about their community, people who can demonstrate strong leadership and innovation and are committed to the long-term future of our region."

Applications close Friday, March 28 at 4pm.

A free Community Foundation information evening will be held for people who would like to learn more.

It's on Tuesday, March 11 from 6-7.30pm at the Hannan's Club, Brookman Street, Kalgoorlie.

A light supper will be provided.

To RSVP, or for more information, phone the GEDC on +61 8 9080 5000 or email

Latest data for economic impact

The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission's regional economic modelling service is now even better with the arrival of a new edition of the REMPLAN software.

Over the past two years, information about the service has been provided to more than 100 clients who have aimed to demonstrate the economic flow-on benefits of their projects or activities to the regional economy.

The unique economic modelling software uses direct employment, revenue or investment information to show how that has a flow-on effect for employment, household income and output.

REMPLAN provides evidence based on real data, primarily from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the National Accounts.

GEDC senior project officer Sarah Fletcher said REMPLAN 3 was an exciting step forward and incorporated the latest 2006 census data.

Mrs Fletcher said the service was popular because it provided information that was otherwise difficult and very expensive to obtain.

"All our clients have been enthusiastic about the information provided by REMPLAN.

"They know their project or organisational activities are of value to the region but are often unable to express the complete economic contribution of their activities to immediate stakeholders and the community," she said.

Past REMPLAN clients include non-profit and commercial organisations such as mining companies, tourism venues and events, sporting clubs and events, regional shires, government departments, educational institutions and other businesses.

This includes the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, the Western Australian School of Mines, the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club, Centre Care, Hopetoun child care proponents, Tourism Western Australia, the Goldfields Tennis Club, Hellfire Gallery and Agnew Gold Mining Company.

"Our clients use this important information for a variety of reasons including scenario analysis, planning, providing supporting evidence of project benefit in funding applications and for promotional purposes."

Devised at La Trobe University and now managed through its offshoot, Compelling Economics, REMPLAN is available by licence to the GEDC.

Contact the GEDC for more information at or phone +61 8 9080 5000.

Board hits the road

Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission board members gathered from all corners of the region to hold their latest meeting in Ravensthorpe.

The trip included a tour of Hopetoun and the Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation.

The board holds a number of meetings outside of Kalgoorlie-Boulder each year to allow the board to learn about issues and projects across the region.

The meeting, held on February 8, was the last for board member Kim Hastie.

He has resigned from his position on the board because he is leaving the Shire of Dundas in April.

GEDC chief executive Robert Hicks thanked Mr Hastie for his efforts working for the region.

Water supplies boosted

A new water facility in Kalgoorlie-Boulder has doubled the amount of water storage available for the city.

The Water Corporation's AU$82 million Binduli water reservoir was opened on the outskirts of the city on February 20 by Water Resources Minister John Kobelke.

Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission chief executive Robert Hicks, who attended the opening, said the complex would ensure demand would always be met for household, commercial and industrial growth.

It would also ensure water was kept flowing during peak summer periods at times when demand could not be met through the Goldfields Pipeline, and for periods when the pipeline supply might be disrupted.

The Binduli reservoir involved the construction of two, 200-megalitre, concrete-lined totally roofed modules, which will ensure water quality is first-class.

It features inlet and outlet interconnecting pipe-work and valves, a 70 megalitres-a-day pumping station and outlet chlorination facilities.

Constructed in two modules, the project was built over 18 months by 130 workers.

WaterHorizons, an alliance of Clough Projects Australia, international engineering consultancy Kellogg, Brown and Root, and the Water Corporation was responsible for the project.

The operation involved:

• 250,000 tonnes of crushed rock
• 13,000 m³ of concrete
• 1,100 tonnes of steel reinforcing
• 550 tonnes of structural steel
• 43,000 m² of roof area

"The good news continues as the Water Corporation is planning to add a further two modules to the reservoir within the next five years, with a third to follow," Mr Hicks said.

"The alliance partners are to be congratulated for producing such an outstanding piece of engineering on budget and on time."

Changing of the guard

The Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission has farewelled outgoing chairman Colin Stewart and welcomed new chairman Graham Thomson to the helm.

Mr Stewart has had a long involvement with the GEDC, serving as the inaugural deputy chairman from 1990-1993.

He has just concluded his recent six-year term on the board.

GEDC chief executive Robert Hicks said Mr Stewart made a considerable contribution to the GEDC through his active and visionary work.

"His tenure as chairperson saw the GEDC focus its attention on regional transport and labour force issues.

"Colin's commitment to the region is to be commended and the GEDC wishes him well in his future endeavours," Mr Hicks said.

Mr Hicks also congratulated Mr Thomson on his appointment, effective from the start of this year.

"Graham was previously deputy chairman and distinguished himself in that position.

"The transition from Colin to Graham has been welcomed by the board and staff because it provided a seamless handover that has allowed the GEDC to continue to focus on its priority projects," Mr Hicks said.

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