General News
31 December, 2024
Council backs compliance policy
The Central Goldfields Shire Council has endorsed an updated policy aiming to provide “clear instruction” on the regulatory approach by council.
The reviewed Community and Compliance Enforcement Policy, tabled at this month’s council meeting, aims to display how council performs its business as required by legislation.
With a new council continuing to settle in, Central Goldfields Shire mayor Grace La Vella said now is a great time to review the important document.
“The purpose of this report is to brief councillors on the updated community and compliance policy following a technical review,” she said.
“This policy provides a rationale and framework for an equitable, transparent and consistent approach to compliance and enforcement activities undertaken by the Central Goldfields Shire Council.
“Our community can be assured that standards are met and natural justice followed.”
The policy states that “all compliance activities” completed by council will be undertaken following collaborative, transparent, informed, proportionate and consistently gender neutral principles.
According to the policy, council adopts an outcomes-based approach, addressing the most significant risks first “to maximise the outcomes achieved” with all risks not treated the same way.
The policy aims to assist the community in understanding “standards set by legislation”, according to councillor Geoff Bartlett.
“We aim to inform and educate, that’s to me most important of all, the community needs to hear from us and we need to educate them as much as we can,” he said.
The review of the policy will coincide with the adoption of Central Goldfields Local Law Review, which is currently going through a final draft following community feedback and will be tabled before October 26, 2025.