Mayor says claims city not working in interest of community are ‘rubbish’ while new plan shows vision

Social media commentary suggesting the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and councillors are not working in the interests of the community are “rubbish and unfair”, mayor Glenn Wilson says. Mr Wilson raised the point during the February council meeting where he spruiked the city’s new Regional Partnership for Economic and Social Transformation document and updates to the Advocacy Position Framework. The former, he said, highlighted all of the key priority projects the city was seeking support from both levels of government to achieve for the community. During the council meeting, he claimed he and chief executive Andrew Brien had “attracted some attention” for the city in recent trips to Canberra and rattled off a list of projects included in the document. “We’ve copped a fair bit of criticism that we’re not working with the community, in the community or for the community in recent times, which is absolute rubbish and unfair,” he said. “These are social, economical and liveability factors and priorities for this city moving forward. “I can’t be any prouder to present this in Canberra and also the State Government level as well.” In a media statement about the documents provided by the city, Mr Wilson said the frameworks gave a clear, consistent approach when advocating for the community. “They ensure we’re putting our best foot forward when we meet with decision-makers,” he said. “Our Regional Partnership creates a structured, long-term plan for tackling key regional challenges and driving growth. “It’s about working together — local, State and Federal governments — to deliver projects that matter, from housing and community safety to sustainable water solutions.” Below is a summary of the projects and information included in the document: First Nations Short Stay Accommodation: $20m Need: Investment to develop two temporary accommodation options for First Nations people visiting Kalgoorlie-Boulder. In 2021, the State Government committed $510,000 towards upgrading Boulder Camp — a camping area for Tjuntjuntjara visitors. The first stage of the project included supply and installation of a skid-mounted ablution block, plumbing and sewerage works, and essential site improvement works. The second stage of the works will include consultation and design for a relocated camp facility. The city is working closely with relevant Aboriginal communities and corporations to plan for the development and relocation of Boulder Camp. In addition, the town requires a second camp to support people who travel to the city from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands and Wiluna who will not stay at Boulder Camp because of issues of family, kin and culture. Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport Redevelopment: $100m Need: Government investment into stages one to three for the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport Redevelopment. The airport is a key gateway to Kalgoorlie-Boulder with 400,000 annual passenger movements and also a crucial centre for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Its ageing 30-plus year infrastructure requires significant upgrades to meet modern standards, operational demands and regulatory requirements. Three project stages have been proposed, the first focusing on expansion of the terminal’s departures, retail and food services, toilet facilities and baggage handling areas, while enhancing security to accommodate passenger growth. Stage two turns to parking and infrastructure expansion and improvements to support diversified commercial and retail offerings to travellers including the potential private development of a hotel to facilitate tourism and business travel. Stage three suggests an enhanced airfield to facilitate bigger and more sophisticated aircraft safely and efficiently, including extensions to runways, apron areas, parallel taxiways and holding bays. There is also a need for an additional terminal to serve general aviation and smaller planes, with the other terminal to be dedicated to commercial carriers and larger planes. Sobering Up and Rehabilitation Facilities: $12m Need: Development of a new 24/7 residential rehabilitation treatment facility for young people up to 18; a new shelter in Boulder; and increased wrap-around services. Expansion of sobering-up shelters and increased wrap-around services are urgently needed to provide culturally appropriate, secure facilities and services for vulnerable communities in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. There are only two primary services catering to people suffering from the effects of alcohol and other drugs, but no weekend sobering-up shelter, and none in Boulder. A multi-trauma, clinically informed, culturally appropriate facility is required to support First Nations people who will not access the other facilities for cultural reasons. Goldfields Rehabilitation Services has been advocating for several years to secure funding for construction of a purpose-built youth rehabilitation facility, together with operational funding for that facility to deliver critical programs which provide 24/7 residential, supervised alcohol and other drug rehabilitation treatment services for young people up to 18 years old. Goldfields Oasis outdoor pool: $44m Need: Redevelopment of the Goldfields Oasis which no longer fully caters for the expanding needs and expectations of the community — including a 50m outdoor pool. Community consultations led to the development the 2023 master plan, which includes a facility audit, lifecycle scheduling, maintenance plans and urgent repairs. Key features include a new 50m outdoor pool, upgraded outdoor water play area, and optimised plant room infrastructure as well as an external seasonal kiosk and landscaping upgrades. Social and affordable housing: $50m Need: Partnership models and investment to create more social housing solutions. Social housing provision in Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a significant challenge, with only 7.4 per cent of occupied dwellings being public and community housing. Constraints on community housing include a lack of stock transfers, limited housing management agreements, and limited partnerships for affordable housing development and community housing services. Clearly there is a crisis in Kalgoorlie-Boulder which will only worsen unless government intervenes. The city requests the State Government work with the city to identify social housing solutions, including the expansion of alternative housing options for low income residents, or those experiencing homelessness, family violence and other complex needs. In addition, the city requests the State Government invest in the development of housing associations and other social housing providers in the Goldfields to generate significant benefits for local housing markets. Community Safety and Crime Prevention: $2m per annum across three years Need: The city is seeking funding to continue its 24/7 Safer Streets Patrol Program in future years throughout the two CBDs in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and investment into enhanced CCTV infrastructure and a mobile trailer. The Safer Streets Patrol program was first initiated by the city in June 2018 to improve the actual and perceived level of community safety in the central business districts and public spaces. In the 2024-25 financial year, the city expanded the Safer Streets Patrol Program on a trial basis and developed a base for the team in the Kalgoorlie CBD. As part of the expansion, the number of Safer Streets Patrol Program officers increased to 11 in total, with the hours of operation increasing to a total of 20 hours per day including weekends. Funding for the continued expansion of the city’s CCTV network is also required to ensure appropriate monitoring throughout the central business districts, including the purchase of an additional mobile trailer. 101 Brookman Street: $10m Need: Support to develop and construct a multi-departmental administration and service delivery hub which supports an activated precinct. During the past decade, there has been a sustained withdrawal of senior public servants from Kalgoorlie-Boulder due to a combination of fly-in, fly-out work practices and the centralisation of decision-making roles in metro areas. This steady leadership exodus has been detrimental to the city, resulting in an inferior level of government service delivery, delayed responses to critical issues, lost productivity, and an overall reduction in socioeconomic benefits to the community. The mixed-use zoning site at 101 Brookman Street can support a multitude of uses including commercial and residential development within the CBD. The proposed hub would support the collocation of departments and agencies from all levels of government at this location. Critically, the proposed development could support the decentralisation of senior roles from the metro area and create a one-stop-shop for access to government services and funded entities. Emergency preparation: $1m Need: Government investment to provide emergency generators and support for strengthened resilience. The city’s official evacuation centre in the event of a major emergency is the Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre. The city experienced a significant emergency event in January 2024, when Western Power systems failed because of storm damage and Kalgoorlie-Boulder was left without electricity for almost two days. The event drew attention to the variability of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s electricity supply and the lack of backup generators for use in emergency situations. The city is seeking funding to provide backup generators at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport, the Oasis and Eastern Goldfields Community Centre to improve the city’s emergency preparedness. Strategic road development: $20m Need: Government investment for strategic road projects. The development of strategic roads is a key facilitator of economic development and diversification that has synergies with industries such as mining and processing of mineral products. The city is progressing the development of two strategically significant roads to support projected traffic requirements for two major projects leading to significant economic and employment growth in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The Great Eastern Highway/Johns Road project will include upgraded intersections and acceleration lanes and will support the new $800 million Lynas Rare Earths processing facility, an important contributor to the clean energy transition that will create additional annual economic output of $413m for the Goldfields-Esperance region. The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport road upgrade will provide a new dual-carriageway linkage from the airport to the Gatacre Drive-O’Connor Street intersection. This will support future airport precinct development and the nearby $158m, 398-home residential development by integrated property group M/Group. Rail realignment: $170m Need: Government support to facilitate the completion of the business case, and future financial support for development of realigned rail and intermodal hub. New industrial activities and the expansion of existing operations will be enabled by the realignment of the national east-west interstate rail line and the construction of a new intermodal terminal at Kalgoorlie-Boulder, which is strategically located at the junction of the national east-west road and rail networks, and the north-south rail line between the northern Goldfields and Port of Esperance. The proposal will involve decommissioning about 25km of the existing Australian Rail Track Corporation’s rail line at the point of connection with the WA rail network and the construction of new rail and passing lanes about 7km south of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Kalgoorlie-Boulder Water Bank project: $92m Need: The increasing demand for potable and fit-for-purpose recycled water across the region requires a collaborative approach and government support. The city recycles treated effluent and harvests stormwater for re-use as a non-potable water supply to irrigate its open spaces and other community facilities, and to meet some industry requirements for mining and processing operations. The KBWB Project (stages zero to three) has been developed to be delivered in four priority stages. Completed stage zero comprised of the South Boulder Waste Water Treatment Plant lagoons upgrade, a new pipeline and pump facility, and the Old Boulder Lagoons Pump Station upgrade, costing $12.2m. Three future stages are planned. Stage one, $19m, will comprise the SB WWTP enhancement construction works and construction of a new water recycling dam at the existing Racecourse Dam site, which will result in improved recycled water treatment infrastructure and additional water basin storage of 129ML. Stage two, $46.3m, will see construction of two further dams and enhanced recycled water movement from the SB WWTP to the Swan Lakes Dam. Stage three, $26.7m, will see construction of one dam, a desalination pilot processing plant in partnership with industry, and evaporative controls on selected dams/basins. Precinct development planning: $2.6m Need: Federal and State government investment for master planning to activate key Kalgoorlie-Boulder precincts. The revitalisation and economic transformation of three city precincts — Kalgoorlie and Boulder CBDs and the airport precinct — has been identified as a priority by the city as part of its approach to future infrastructure improvement, place planning and activation. 1. Kalgoorlie CBD: The city intends to expand on its city centre redevelopment works with an ambitious economic plan for the CBD which includes activation of the city-owned heritage endowment block and acquisition of additional commercial properties to increase local spending through an improved selection of retail offerings. The plan would also see rezoning of areas to optimise land use mixes and to incentivise business activity as well as public realm improvements, events and cultural activities to increase pedestrian activity and support increased day and night-time activation. 2. Boulder CBD: Re-activating the CBD with an array of creational, cultural and commercial experiences. Improving entry statements, streetscaping, lighting and landscaping and creating mining experiences, co-ordinated trails and tourism offerings. Plans also suggest pursuing adaptive reuse of existing building for high-quality visitors and retail experiences, and incubating small to medium enterprises which cater for the needs of visitors and residents. 3. Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport: This includes development of the terminal precinct to accommodate activities such as commercial experiences and hotels adjacent to the western end of the existing terminal, consolidating general aviation areas to increase flight training facilities and improve medical transportation services and developing agriculture, renewable energy and freight infrastructure on identified land within the precinct to support supply chain opportunities. Multipurpose community pavilion: $10m Need: The city requires financial support for the development of a community pavilion to provide social and economic development opportunities through the provision of an undercover area. The city plans to create a contemporary, all-weather pavilion for a variety of community uses at the Goldfields Arts Centre. It will also host day and night-time activations delivered by the city and other event organisers in the city and will also act as a safe space for vulnerable people in the community, particularly young people, to access outreach services delivered by local organisations and agencies. The proposed pavilion is a 50m x 60m steel structure with a curved roof and a floor area of 3000sqm, accommodating up to 2100 people when seated. The facility will have a shell roof with curves to generate greater interest in the architectural form and elevate the structure to a public building of merit to fit aesthetically with a variety of different uses. Sports Lighting & Community Facilities upgrades: $19.5m Need: Significant government funding is required to upgrade or enhance facilities to meet community standards. There are more than 140 sporting clubs and associations in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, supported by 51 parks, 11 major sporting grounds and several recreation facilities. The city has identified three priority upgrades which are required to meet recognised needs: 1. Oval lighting upgrades, $7.5m: In 2023, the city undertook a lighting audit to review lighting standards at 12 sites, considering lux levels and compliance requirements. The audit found a significant amount of oval lighting is either inadequate or obsolete because of failing components and non-conformance with Australian standards. Lighting levels are too low at various venues and are not energy efficient, with many ovals lacking LED lighting. As a result, the city is unable to host major events at its premier ovals including night games, premier track and field events, interstate competitions and national titles. 2. Female-friendly changerooms, $5m: The city’s premier ovals lack appropriate female-friendly, or gender-neutral changerooms, and are not consistent with modern precincts and facilities. The outdated facilities cater primarily to male sporting needs and are not compatible with recent surges in female sport participation rates. Access to facilities that support and enhance participation is critical for women’s sports at all levels. 3. Sporting and community facilities, $7m: Several of the city’s sporting facilities are leased to local clubs under peppercorn leasing arrangements and require significant upgrades to address matters related to structural stability, safety, accessibility and environmental sustainability. The city considers there are at least 25 buildings which require upgrading.