Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Now on seven Excess, it's time to talk all things
wild West with Shane part, Mayor of the West Coast
wild West. Good morning to your Shane.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Yeah, how are you going to Andrew? Not bad for
a friday you Yeah, not too bad? Too bad?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
And he got back from Hobart yesterday so.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Yeah, feeling a little bit drained.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, it's not.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
But it was a pretty good trip back, so that's good.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Council had their monthly meeting on Tuesday, the twenty fifth
of February.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
How did that go? Yeah? Not too bad mate.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Now I wasn't able to attend, but I have got
a bit of an update from the Deputy Mayor who
took over the chair for the for the evening and
done a great job at that as well. So thanks
to the Deputy Mayor for filling in while I was
away in Hobart.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
So there was two members in the in the gallery right,
which is great to see. And yeah, and it's the
live stream didn't quite go to planning, It failed and
attempts were made during the evening to try and get
it up and running, but we're unable to. So unfortunateology
it is made, it is and it does let us
down from time to time, but you know, we did
(01:10):
the guys did try and get it operating during the night,
but weren't able to.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
So that's the way the cookie crumbles, unfortunately. That's the
way it is, mate. Yeah, and I guess you know, the.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Local people that are in Queenstown could have come along
to the meeting anyway, so they could have done it.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
That's what happening meeting now.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
You So there was a lot of questions without notice
from the councilors, which is good to see that they're
you know, they're asking the questions and you know, it's
it is great that you know, our community are going
to councilors as well and ask them to put questions forward.
So it's really good to see. But yeah, we had
(01:47):
a few questions here without notice.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
For from our counselors, so well, some of them were
taken on notice and we'll certainly go and find the
information at the the counselors require and there is a
few others that we'll work through as well.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
So it's good to see. And we also had some
motions on.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Notice to Andrew, which is also good to see.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
And some of these we've seen at previous meetings. We're
back on the table, so now that's still okay though
we're still counselors are still thinking about these motions and
trying to make sure that they get the right outcomes
for the community.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
So no, it is great.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
So are the other things that we need to know
about the financial side of things.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Yeah, well it's you know, we're getting that time of
the year again. It wasn't going too bad though, you know,
we did and when we set our annual plan last
year it was going to be in a deficit. But
you know, things are a lot better than what they
look like as well, and it was a small surplus
here possibly, So you know, it's great.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
It's great to see you and you know.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
We'll work through that as well as well.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
As you know, we've got a new general manager on
board now and there's some will be some changes.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Hopefully he'll be here next week Scott Riley.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Yes, no, he'll be along and along again next week.
So you know, it's it's great to have Scott on
board and I'm sure he's he's certainly had a fair
workload since he started, with a few things happening with
the fires around Zoom as well, So.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
How's that been going.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, well, the things are settled down a little bit,
although you know last week it did flare up again
with the hot weather.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
So also it's this week, yeah me so, yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
But we had a report to Counsel with regard to
the evacuation centers over that period of time, and you know,
it's great to see that West Coast spirit out there again,
you know, in the time and need we see people,
you know, bending together to assist. So we had the
(04:01):
evacuation center opened up in zon.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
And then when they come here to Queenstown and.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Zine had to evacuate as well, they moved it over
here to Queenstown, so you know, that's that's good to see.
And there was during the operation of the centers there
was a sixty two residents registered in in Queenstown and
over there in Zoo, I think there was seventy, so
it's quite a few. Then it was it was a few.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Yeah, and it's well, let's hope that they can get
these grants that there in title to as well.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Oh exactly, mate, Yeah, And that's I guess that's what
we always were out there looking for and trying to
to attain some of this response money for emergency. So
we'll be out there again seeing what's what's available. And
you know, when the Queenstown Center open, it was great
to see the amount of people that came, came donations
(04:56):
to give generous donations of food and bedding and even
accommodation from the community. So you know, it was great
to see that people opened their doors for other people
in from the zoo.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
And I think we were different. We were a smaller
area on the west coast where we tend to look
after each other.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
We do, mate, Yes, yes, And you know, another big
shout out there to the Silver Hills Motel. Also in
that time they made a lot of pre pre made
meals which made catering one.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
You know, one of them.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Also delish pizza here. They got a gentleman from another
pizza place in Hobart. They all come up here. They
made forty pizzas and they took them to Taller.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Well I saw that online. I thought that was absolutely amazing.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Yeah, so that was great to see as well. Mate
over there for the for the fieries over there, they
set up about bass there and Tyler on the Red Ground,
which you know was a city of.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Its own over there with all them tents and that
set up. So it is, it is, yeah, yeah, so and.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Then you know we had to reopen again on the
SAT though the twenty second of February, so.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Given that the fires.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Had spark back up again and look like that they
were heading for the Granvel and Zoony Way as well again.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
So you've still got quite a few fires burning at
the moment on the West coast, and the police are
asking for people with drones not to go on try
and take aerial views because they're hampering the firefighters. They're
hampering the staff in the planes and the helicopters. Yeah,
you've probably heard of that as.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, yes, mate, Yeah, it is a dangerous activity.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
If people should shouldn't be flying their drones over a
fire fire zone, that is.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
And is an illegal practice, so it is.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Yeah, So just I guess to just be aware of
the firefighters are doing their best out there, and you've
still got some of the firefighters from from the mainland
over there, and you know it'll probably be on going
for a little while unless we get some decent rain
in the futures.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Looking at the Weather Bureau, not really no.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
No, So you know, I guess it's one of the
things we have to be aware of. And you know,
we had a public meeting over there on the sixteenth
of February in Zoo as well with the fieries and that,
and you know, there was some some points brought out
by the community of Zoo there and certainly we've certainly
(07:21):
been trying over the years to with regard to the
mitigation of our especially our weeds.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Around Zoo, you know, the gorse and that. But we
will now push forward again.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
And you know from that meeting there was a lot
of the firefight of the fire task fire guys took
back and they'll take back to their their fire mitigation
crew about the back burning, et cetera, or other ways
that they may be able to mitigate the fire risking
zone and surrounding areas there. So but we'll continue to
(07:57):
push and advocate for that on behalf of the community,
as we do every year and quite often. You know,
we've got the Weed Management Group set up again now
that they went into hiatus for a little while, but
now that's back up and running and we've been able
to get all all the organizations back around the table
(08:18):
and will continue to push for this fire mitigation through
that committee as well. So yeah, and you know we've.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Did we lose much infrastructure on the West coast.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
No, I don't believe so, Andrew.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
I know that there was a hut that we lost,
the heart up in the Cradle Mountaineer overland and the
overland track which part of that does come on the
West coast the municipality. So but you know, it's we're
lucky this time. But as you mentioned there earlier, the
fires still aren't out, so we still need to be
(08:53):
vigilant about that and can be our wits about us,
which you know, our community are all the time looking
at you know what, making sure that we are protecting
ourselves as well.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So yeah, if anybody does see something that they need
to think old counsel might be might be to be
aware of, get in touch with them.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah, of course, it's like everything we say.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
You know, if you've got an issue, give counselor call
and you know, and and if people are able to
put a work request into our system so we can
get it actioned, you know, we or even talk to
the counselors as well.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
They're open to.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Putting at least assisting people put work request, you know,
they we won't put them in as ourselves as such,
but will assist people or you know, and there is
maybe some cases that we will put them in depending
on the action that's required. But we'll make sure that
someone is aware of the issue and move it forward.
(09:57):
But you know, for I guess that's the way that
we want to see people making sure that they do
communicate with us.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Let's move forward, exactly, mate. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And it's not and just to keep away from the
you know, Facebook and social media, that's not the place
to be to be talking about.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
You know, there's no good ranting on there because once
everybody sees that, everybody wants to get involved.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Oh exactly, mate, you know, and all that does is.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
People say to me, why you're on Facebook. I'm on Facebook,
but notifications aren't on. If I want to look, I'll
look at it.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Yeah that's right, mate, Yeah, so you know it is
and as we mentioned last week, you know, these people
in our council, they are community members. They are people
that have been here for a long period of time
as well, some of them council workers and you know,
even the counselors. It's and we should be respecting them
people as well.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
We should treat each other. We'd like to be treated.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Exactly right, mate.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
Yeah, and that's you know, it's one of them things
that we don't always get it right, but we'll work through.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
It and we'll come out with the.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
You know, the answer in the end.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
True. Okay, Shane, I'm going to let you go. You're
about to go to work.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I am about to go to work, mate. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
So and just one other thing, just as I'm part
of west By Northwest Working as well. So there's a
great opportunity out there for anyone, any of them young
our young people between sixteen and twenty four that might
have might be having issues of trying.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
To get.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
The hours up for their driver's license. There's a program
that we've set up with the Northwest Drive and Mentor program. Yes,
the guys are coming down to the West coast. So
there's any.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Lest guys from Bernie and Smith them.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yeah, from Bernie's very very.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Good things I've heard about.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yes, Yeah, I know. It's a committee that I sit
on and.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
We're trying to you know, to get that and we've
been brought to us about you know that the issues
of people face when they try to get a job
and one of them is not having a driver's license,
so you know, it's not been able to get the
hours up quick enough. So yeah, so there's an opportunity
there for people. It's all free, so they just need
(12:10):
to register with with the organization. I've got a phone
number here on six four two three six six three five.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Fantastic.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Sounds good.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Shane, will talk to you next week with the Scott Riley.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Yeah, I'll see what happens mate.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
I'm not sure whether I might be on the phone
or if Scott might even come in himself and himself have.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
A week off. Yeah, okay mate, we'll talk to you
next week.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Okay, thanks Andrekay.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
That is Shane pitt Mere on air. Have you got
any questions for the mayor get it into us QUI
studio at AARN dot com dot au. You're on seven excess.
Good morning,