Mugarinya Community (Yandeyarra) to become part of Port Hedland

1/5/04
The Mugarinya Community at Yandeyarra (approximately 140km south of Port Hedland) will soon become part of the Town of Port Hedland's local government area.
Local Government Minister Tom Stephens said the Local Government Advisory Board recommended the transfer of Mugarinya land covering 7,875 sq km, from the Shire of East Pilbara, following an inquiry.
"Mugarinya Community leaders have been asking for this transfer for some time," Mr Stephens said.
"They say community members have stronger links with Hedland than with any other Pilbara centre and the community does most of its business there.
"The Town of Port Hedland has indicated that it will enter into a service delivery agreement with the Mugarinya Community which would cover road maintenance, environmental health services, advocacy support and employment creation.
"The transfer is likely to result in an increase of about $260,000 in the value of annual local government grants to the town, to enable it to meet these commitments."
The Minister said the review had considered the interests of the community and the capacity of both local governments to deliver services to it.
The transfer was also supported by submissions from Pilbara MLA Larry Graham, a number of Government agencies and a mining company with operations in the area.
"This decision will not threaten the Shire of East Pilbara's status as the largest local government in the world," Mr Stephens said.
"The transfer of the 250-strong community, will alleviate some of the considerable challenges the 378,571 sq km shire faces in providing roads and services throughout its vast and sparsely populated area."
The boundary change would be effective from July 1, 2004.
Copies of the Local Government Advisory Board report can be obtained from the Department of Local Government and Regional Development website at http://www.dlgrd.wa.gov.au.
Minister's office: 9213 6500
PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER THE MUGARINYA COMMUNITY AND ASSOCIATED LANDS FROM THE SHIRE OF EAST PILBARA TO THE TOWN OF PORT HEDLAND
Background information:
Following an approach by the Mugarinya Community, the Minister submitted the proposal to the Local Government Advisory Board (the Board) for consideration in September 2003.

• In considering the proposal, the board met with representatives of:
  • the Mugarinya Community
  • the Shire of East Pilbara
  • the Town of Port Hedland.

• The board also invited comment from relevant parliamentary representatives and mining companies with interests in the affected area.

• Before making his decision, the Minister visited Marble Bar and Port Hedland and met with representatives of the Shire of East Pilbara and the Town of Port Hedland.

• the Mugarinya Community has expressed its desire to be a part of the Town of Port Hedland over a very long period of time;
• there is a strong community of interest and important historical, cultural and economic connections between the Mugarinya and Port Hedland communities;
• the proposal would bring all of the land holdings associated with the Mugarinya Community within the one local government area;
• the strong links between Aboriginal populations in Mugarinya and Hedland will enhance the co-ordination and effectiveness of service provision by local, State and Federal Government agencies; and
• the transfer was strongly supported in submissions from Mr Larry Graham MLA and the Department of Indigenous Affairs.

• the Town of Port Hedland has stated it would develop a service delivery agreement with the Mugarinya Community that could include:
  • exploring opportunities for employing community members;
  • assisting the community in environmental health matters using the services of its specialist Aboriginal Environmental Health Officer;
  • maintaining the section of the Hillside-Woodstock Road within the transfer area; and working with Main Roads WA to jointly fund upgrading of the alternative access road to the community; and
  • providing other services including access to the town's advocacy and grant application support specialists.
• Port Hedland will receive an estimated annual allocation of about $260,000 from the Western Australian Local Government Grants Commission to meet the costs of servicing the Mugarinya Community; and
• the town has also indicated that road maintenance will be put out to tender, creating the opportunity for the Shire of East Pilbara to tender for the work, using its Marble Bar-based staff and equipment.

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