Published on Friday, 6 October 2023 at 3:37:01 PM
Owing to an unprecedented level of social media commentary circulating throughout the Shire of Gingin this past couple of weeks, it is necessary - once again - for us to address and correct erroneous statements that are causing confusion and casting aspersion over our organisation.
1. Lancelin & Gingin Tips Are Not Closing
Statements on the public Facebook page above that the Shire is intending to close the Lancelin tip are incorrect and intentionally inflammatory. The Shire of Gingin is, in fact, working towards refining and improving the way it processes and facilitates waste management across the Shire.
There has never been any discussion about closing the Lancelin or Gingin tips completely, but rather converting them both, over time, to manned transfer stations for the waste to be transported in bulk to Seabird for formal disposal. This would allow the Shire to focus on the regulatory management of waste at one site and not three. It would not affect the amount of waste that members of the public would be able to dispose of at Lancelin or Gingin.
A community consultation session is planned to be held in Seabird in the near future and this will be advertised in due course.
2. Accusation of Financial Non-Compliance
There have been statements made publicly on Facebook that the Shire of Gingin finances are not being properly managed, which is a serious allegation. One particular social media comment referenced ‘material misstatement’ on page 78 of the Shire’s 2021-22 Annual Report audited financials as reasoning for their accusation.
The Auditor General’s statement is actually as follows:
In connection with my audit of the financial report, my responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial report or my knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
If, based on the work I have performed, I conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, I am required to report that fact. I did not receive the other information prior to the date of this auditor’s report. When I do receive it, I will read it and if I conclude that there is a material misstatement in this information, I am required to communicate the matter to the CEO and Council and request them to correct the misstated information. If the misstated information is not corrected, I may need to retract this auditor’s report and re-issue an amended report.
This other information was provided to the Auditor General and no material misstatements were reported. In fact, the Shire of Gingin was recognised and commended by the Auditor General as one of the top 20 Best Practice Entities following the release of the Financial Audit Results – Local Government 2021-22.
Again, we cannot emphasise enough the importance of contacting the Shire in the first instance to get the facts instead of going public with opinions that are deliberately and detrimentally misleading or misinformed.
If you have any issues or concerns, please contact us on 9575 5100 or mail@gingin.wa.gov.au.
Shire of Gingin media contact:
Meredith Taylor
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING OFFICER
T: (08) 9575 5150
E: meredith.taylor@gingin.wa.gov.au
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