Published on Friday, 2 May 2025 at 6:00:00 PM
This week’s Special Council Meeting addressed three important matters that go to the heart of how we operate as a local government - how we make decisions, how we support our community, and how we plan for the future.
The very different - but equally important matters included the independent probity review into the Lynas Water Supply Agreement, the release of our landmark report into transitional Aboriginal homelessness and anti-social behaviour and insights from the Local Government Chief Officers Group meeting.
Let me begin with the probity review.
The review found no evidence of misconduct or intentional wrongdoing by any individual staff member or elected official. It did identify areas for improvement in the City’s internal processes and information-sharing practices at the time. More details on the findings and the City’s statement are available here.
It’s disappointing that the full report cannot be made public due to legal and contractual reasons. I know people want to see it, and I would, too, in their position. But what I can say is that the key findings have been shared, and we are already acting on them. Our Governance Framework was adopted in 2022, with this report now providing learnings and guidance on how we can further update and refine those processes.
Equally significant was Council’s endorsement of the City’s landmark study into transitional Aboriginal homelessness and anti-social behaviour - the most comprehensive research we’ve ever undertaken on this issue. I believe it’s a body of work that will have a lasting impact, not just in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, but across Australia.
For six months, our CEO Andrew Brien led a cross-jurisdictional study into transitional Aboriginal homelessness and anti-social behaviour. What emerged was one of the most honest and comprehensive reviews we’ve ever undertaken. It looked at what’s happening in our city, and in others like Broome, Ceduna, Alice Springs, Darwin and Kununurra.
In this report, we’re not just highlighting the issues - we’re driving solutions. As several Councillors rightly noted, this study is about delivering real, practical outcomes. It’s clear from the research that those outside our region often struggle to grasp the realities we face on the ground. They want to understand, but there’s a disconnect - a lack of national leadership in this space. That’s why this work matters. It’s taken a local government, here in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, to step up and lead the conversation. And we’re proud to be doing just that.
To build on the report, we’ve proposed a national think tank to keep this conversation going. And we’ll be taking this work to the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly in June, where we’re calling for national support for place-based, culturally informed responses.
It’s time to stop talking about what’s not working and start investing in what is.
The third item discussed was a report from CEO Andrew Brien, on the Local Government Chief Officers Group conference in Tauranga, New Zealand. The conference focused on leadership, innovation, and challenges common across the local government sector.
Some of those ideas are already influencing our work here in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. One of the suggestions to be considered by Council at a later date is the formation of a City Reactivation Group - a working group made up of local stakeholders from sectors including retail, mining, property and hospitality. This group would help identify practical opportunities to reinvigorate our commercial precincts.
Other ideas to be explored include the use of AI tools to help test and refine engagement strategies and looking into community wellbeing initiatives. One thing that is clear, is that to keep growing smarter, we need to stay open to new ideas and technologies - while staying grounded in what matters most to our community.
If there’s one thing I take from this week, it’s that progress takes courage. It takes a willingness to ask hard questions, to accept that we don’t always get things right, and to lean into better ways of doing things.
This is a city with big ambitions, a proud identity, and a community that cares. And I’m proud of the direction we’re heading in and the honest conversations we’re having to get there.
Glenn Wilson
Mayor
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
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