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Joint chief meeting success

Harvey-Waroona Reporter
Murray shire president David Bolt, Murray-Waroona chief executive officer Dean Unsworth and Waroona shire president Mike Walmsley.
Camera IconMurray shire president David Bolt, Murray-Waroona chief executive officer Dean Unsworth and Waroona shire president Mike Walmsley. Credit: supplied

The new joint-chief arrangement between the shires of Waroona and Murray has been met with a positive response at a recent meeting between councillors from both shires.

In August the shires agreed to appoint a joint chief executive in a bid to reduce costs to ratepayers and streamline procedures.

Murray’s chief executive Dean Unsworth was appointed as the chief of both shires for a 12-month Memorandum of Understanding.

Part of the agreement was to appoint a joint Resource-Sharing Committee that would meet at least every quarter to review the performance of the project, the first of which was held on October 2.

Waroona shire president Mike Walmsley said he was enthusiastic about the partnership after the first meeting.

“Both Waroona and Murray have so much in common, and by working together to share resources, look at improved and efficient processes, joint lobbying and driving economic development opportunities, I feel that we have a very strong long-term future,” he said.

“To work together with Murray we are already making a significant saving on a management wage, but there will be many other benefits that can be achieved by working together with Murray, while ensuring our independence for the long-term.”

Councillors Walmsley, Larry Scott and Laurie Snell from Waroona joined three councillors from Murray to review the short, medium and long-term objectives of the role and identify strategies to focus on the long-term sustainability of both councils.

“Our new CEO will shortly be announcing a series of community workshops to assist in the development of a long-term new Strategic Plan for the Shire of Waroona,” Cr Walmsley said. Before the joint chief arrangement the two shires already shared information technology services, rangers, and health services.

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