Last night, the Shire of Exmouth recognised the outstanding efforts of the town's volunteers and sports stars at an awards presentation evening at the Ningaloo Centre.

• After a two-year hiatus, Scribblers Festival's Golden Feather Hunt returned with five Golden Feathers hidden between the pages of books at local libraries across Western Australia, Spanning all the way from the Great Southern to the Kimberley. • Exmouth Public Library participated again and had the first two lucky feather finders in the library last week

• Award-winning photographer Gary Meredith involved in a workshop with 15 Exmouth locals, upskilling their photography levels • Solo exhibition "The Desert collection" on display at the Tantabiddi Travelling Gallery until 25 May 2021

The success story of Containers for Change in Exmouth began on 1 October. Record numbers of 30,000 to 50,000 containers that are recycled on a Saturday morning are well above the average of neighbouring towns of Carnarvon and Meekatharra.

• The event 'A Taste of Harmony' is about inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. • Exmouth's cultural diversity is a great strength and brings with it a whole host of traditions, religions, languages and of course, food. • The event sold out within a couple of weeks, and the first requests for information for the 2022 have already been received

• Nominations now open for the Shire of Exmouth 2021 Community Volunteer and Sporting Awards; nominations must be received before the closing date: 4 PM, Monday 12 April 2021 • 2021 Nomination kits are available on the Shire of Exmouth website www.exmouth.wa.gov.au

• Council requests visitors that do not have advanced bookings for the 2021 season to look at alternative holiday solutions in an effort to manage visitor numbers and preserve Exmouth's unique environment and status as a premium travel destination.

• Council announces Cameron Wood’s departure as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shire of Exmouth with both sadness and gratitude. Today, March 5, is his last day in the administrative offices at the Ningaloo Centre. • Cameron was appointed by Commissioner Ian Fletcher in 2017 and guided the Shire of Exmouth and its new Council through the aftermath of the Corruption and Crime Investigation Commission and his hard work over the last four years has set the town and community up well for future growth and prosperity. • Council appointed Matthew Bird as Acting Chief Executive Officer, while the recruitment process of a new Shire CEO is commencing.

• Award-winning performers will facilitate community workshops at the Paltridge Memorial Swimming Pool organised by the Exmouth Cultural Arts Centre and funded by Woodside. • Council assisted the Exmouth Cultural Arts Centre and is looking into further opportunities to bring more cultural art events to Exmouth. • The show at the Ningaloo Centre sold out in less than 48 hours.

• Every two years, the Shire of Exmouth undertakes a comprehensive survey of the community to gauge the level of community satisfaction with a range of Shire services, activities and facilities. • The survey is part of Council's commitment to open and interactive engagement with the community and making informed decisions, as outlined in the Strategic Community Plan: Exmouth 2030. • Participation in the 2020 Community Perception Survey increased from 12.72% to 16.75% and identified gaps and developments within the Shire's perceived performance of services since the initial survey in 2018, which will inform Councils coming budget deliberations.

Ancillary dwellings could immediately assist with the worker accommodation crisis and provide additional rental income for house owners. Possibility to build/locate up to 100 sqm ancillary dwelling on residential, (rural) residential and some special use zones within the Shire of Exmouth, as long as the lot is no less than 450 sqm.

$142,500 contributed through McGowan Government's Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF) for the $285,000 upgrade of unisex change rooms at the Exmouth Recreation Centre. Local contractor C.J. Lord Building & Renovations (WA) Pty Ltd commences works in the coming weeks with the tender approved at Decembers Council meeting.

$750,000 contributed through McGowan Government's Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund for the $4.2 million redevelopment of Exmouth's Paltridge Memorial Swimming Pool announced today.

• Shire of Exmouth has been awarded the Volunteer Employer Recognition Award (VERA) as only one of six Local Governments in WA. • Awards acknowledge the vital contribution employers, and self-employed volunteers, provide to the community.

The survey is part of Council's commitment to open and interactive engagement with the community and making informed decisions, as outlined in our Strategic Community Plan Residents and ratepayers are strongly encouraged to have their say on Council services and priorities as the survey asks to rate the importance services and provide feedback on how these services are being delivered

- The Shire of Exmouth is providing a $20,000 Building Incentive Payment for landowners building a residential accommodation or holiday home on vacant land within the Exmouth townsite - The Building Incentive Payment is designed to stimulate the local construction sector as well as to provide much needed additional accommodation for workers, permanent residents and visitors.

• There Were Moments of Transformation opens at the Tantabiddi Travelling Gallery on Friday, 25/09/2020 at 6:30 PM with a grand opening night including local musicians and artists. • There Were Moments of Transformation, an exhibition of 40 works from the Art Gallery of Western Australia’s Collection opens on 26 September 2020 at the Tantabiddi Travelling Gallery in the Ningaloo Centre as part of the second instalment of the Freighting Ideas state-wide initiative.

• The Shire of Exmouth is seeking to expand the existing PV system to further enhance the social, environmental and economic performance of the Ningaloo Centre. • The Shire, together with funding partners, Minderoo Foundation and the State Government have funded a solar panel upgrade at the Ningaloo Centre to the value of $1.16 million. • The Shire of Exmouth has contributed $290,000 to the upgrade which will account for an estimated 61% of total energy needs of the Centre and annual savings of $168,000 will be achieved.

- The 2020/21 budget will see increased spending on waste and recycling, community engagement and sustainable energy projects. - This year’s capital works program has been possible because of previous prudent financial management. - The budget seeks to build upon the pandemic recovery measures implemented during the last quarter of 2019-20

Exmouth’s Big Prawn is back in as new condition it’s from Cyclone Season induced break Created by local Exmouth resident Mr Brian Paskins and revived by local artist Georgia Raymond-Vine

The Shire of Exmouth Council has endorsed a series of financial support and relief measures to be made available at a special Council Meeting.

• Shire of Exmouth CEO Cameron Woods is assuring community and visitors that the Shire is continuously monitoring Dingo activity. • The Shire will maintain additional efforts and encourages sightings and encounters to be reported directly to the Shire.

For the safety and well-being of our community, Council is requesting that any tourists and visitors planning to visit Exmouth over the next couple of months re-think their need to travel. With the implementation of new restrictions and arrival requirements to travel to Western Australia from other Australian States and Territories it is time for tourists and visitors alike to rethink their holidays in the Ningaloo Region.

The Shire of Exmouth has recently engaged Synergies Economic Consulting to study the economic and social benefits the Tantabiddi boat launching facility brings to the local, regional and national economy.

In 2019, the Shire of Exmouth was successful in receiving a Regional Traineeship Program Grant with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and is actively working to improve employment opportunities for local youth by working closely with the Exmouth District High School and encouraging the employment of year 12 graduates within the local government.

• Affordable airfare program extended between April and October 2020 with more than 7,380 discount seats on offer – 3,000 pax capacity increase on last year • Introduction of Airbus A320 on Saturday and Sunday flights increasing capacity • Initiative supports jobs and helps boost the local economy

Three local organisations will share funding to enhance the sustainability and vitality of our not-for-profit sector and support local volunteers. The next round of Community and Sporting Grants will open in February 2020.