West Coast Councillors will discuss their position regarding poker machines at a workshop before making a decision at a future Council meeting on whether this is actually an issue for a local government authority or not.

The move comes after representatives from Anglicare and the Tasmanian Hospitality Association made presentations at the monthly Council meeting on 19 April regarding the impact of poker machines being available in pubs and clubs.

The process surrounding the recycling service offered by Council was also clarified, following a question on notice from Councillor Leigh Styles.  Council staff confirmed that once recycling bins are collected kerbside, they are transported to a specific skip bin at the Zeehan Landfill Site before being transported on a monthly basis to Spreyton for sorting and shipping to the mainland for distribution.  Recycling is not sorted on the West Coast, with contaminants removed once delivered to Spreyton.

Parking was the topic of both a question from the public gallery and a motion on notice from Councillor Al Medwin.  Following a query from a Strahan resident regarding parking meters Mayor Vickers advised the intent of installation of parking meters several years ago was not to inhibit residents, with Council currently reviewing its parking by-law.  Council will also undertake an assessment of parking in the Rosebery CBD after concerns were raised by Cr Medwin regarding parking time zones and signage. This will include working with business owners to encourage employees to park away from the CBD.

Council will also continue its leadership role to lobby for the West Coast community to achieve key outcomes from the West Coast Community Plan 2025, including that ‘the health and welfare of the community is maintained through effective medical care’, with concerns to be raised with the Tasmanian Health Organisation regarding intermittent periods of doctors being unavailable in some West Coast towns recently.

Other matters discussed by Council at its monthly meeting included:

• In-principle support for installation of a shade sail over the Rosebery Skate Park, dependant on Council budget deliberations for the 2016/2017 financial year and the success of a funding application by the Rosebery Community House under the Tasmanian Community Fund
• Third quarter financial overview shows Council’s budget is on-track
• Council’s Economic Development, Tourism & Events Coordinator to continue liaising with the Tullah Progress Association to work towards opening a not-for-profit shop in Tullah
• Adoption of Delegations Policy to meet legislative and regulatory requirements
• Reviewed Financial & In-Kind Assistance Policy adopted, providing increased transparency around level of assistance provided and a more consistent approach in responding to assistance requests
• Mayor Vickers to act as Council representative on the HealthWest Advisory Committee