The Shire is responsible for a large number of physical assets such as buildings, roads and bridges, sporting grounds, parks and recreational amenities.

These physical assets undergo almost continuous change as they wear out, are upgraded, or completely replaced, and require effective management and ongoing repair.

The Co-ordination of this repair and renewal process is carried out by the Technical and Development Services Division, which is responsible for the physical assets of the Council and for ensuring that private development conforms to the appropriate standards required to maintain public health and safety, and preserve environmental standards.

A major part of the Division's activities involves the maintenance of the road network, and the provision of services such as garbage collection and landscaping maintenance in the townships of Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Onslow.

The Council has limited responsibility for these matters in  Pannawonica, which is a Robe River Iron Association mining town.

The Shire is responsible for 175 kilometres of sealed roads  (of which about 100 kilometres are within town boundaries) 1400 kilometres of unsealed roads, 20 kilometres of footpaths and 35 kilometres of drainage pipes. It also maintains a further 100 kilometres of National Park roads by agreement with the Department of Conservation and Land Management.

Each of the towns of Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Onslow  has a weekly domestic garbage collection service and a daily commercial waste pick-up. The Council also operates waste disposal sites in the same three towns.

Garbage collection and waste management in Pannawonica are the responsibility of the mining company.

In addition to managing, maintaining and replacing its own assets, the Council is also responsible for the administration of the various Acts and Regulations that control the vital activities covered by environmental health, building construction and town planning.

Environmental Health involves such duties as water and food sampling and testing, inspection of foods premises, control of infectious diseases, investigation of activities that may generate dust, noise or other nuisances, and the regulation of offensive trades. The Council's Environmental Health Officer has direct responsibility for these matters. He can be contacted via the Council's Tom Price office.

Much of the Shire is in an area which is cyclone prone and it is therefore important that all buildings are designed and constructed to a standard that ensures the safety of the residents. This maintenance of appropriate building standards is carried out by the Building Surveyor, who checks that all private and public construction conforms to the requirements of the Building Regulations.

Finally, the form, nature and location of development within the Shire is controlled by the Council through its planning powers and administered by the Senior Planning Officer. Guidelines are laid down on the types of development that are permitted, controlled or prohibited in the various zones and regions of the Shire. These cover such aspects as the form and location of buildings, the nature of the activities that can take place, and any services and facilities that must be provided to complement the intended use.

The works involved in these functions are carried out by a full time field staff of 40 people, plus an administrative staff of 6 people, all Co-ordinated by the Manager Technical and Development Services. The Council maintains a significant range of plant and equipment from motor graders to motor mowers and garbage trucks to utilities, to provide the necessary tools.

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29 November, 1999

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