The Shire of East Pilbara (Shire) has engaged Otium to develop a Community Facilities Plan (CFP) – that considers all community facilities within the municipality. This includes facilities used for leisure, sport and recreation (both informal and formal), playgrounds, pavilions and halls which the Shire owns, manages or operates with a view to inform its Long-Term Financial Plan. Refer to your say: https://yoursay.eastpilbara.wa.gov.au/community-facilities-plan

The Shire of East Pilbara (Shire) is Australia’s largest Local Government Authority (LGA) area. Located in the Pilbara approximately 1,200km north-north-east of Perth, the Shire covers an area of 372,571 km² – 1.6 times larger than the State of Victoria! The Shire has a resident population of 10,650 people spread across three townsites – Newman, Marble Bar and Nullagine – and a number of Aboriginal Communities namely Jigalong, Punmu and Parngurr, Irrungadji and Parnpajinya. (https://www.eastpilbara.wa.gov.au/)

The CFP will provide a strategic and evidence-based framework to assist the Shire in making decisions about community facilities that meet future community needs. The CFP will also guide the Shire in the planning of community facilities to ensure community infrastructure remains functional, accessible and fit for purpose in the townsites of Marble Bar, Newman and Nullagine.

A key part of the project was to undertake a functional community facility audit of the Shire’s existing facilities and to undertake in person consultation with the community. Senior Consultant Wayne Stuart spent seven days in the Shire undertaking these activities, which included driving from Port Hedland through to Newman – a 505km (204km unsealed) road trip!

Some interesting facts on The Shire of East Pilbara:

  • Newman is a mining town, with the nearby Mount Whaleback iron ore mine being one of the largest in Australia. The Hickman Crater, a meteorite impact crater which was only discovered in 2007, is located 35km north of Newman.
  • Marble Bar is widely acknowledged (and debated) as being the hottest town in Australia having set a record for the most consecutive days (160) at or above 37.8 °C in the early 1920’s. Interestingly, the town predates Port Hedland, Newman and Karratha. A secret airfield operated at the original site of the Corunna Downs homestead from 1943-1945.
  • Located on the Nullagine River, the town was gazetted in 1899 on the back of gold (and other gems and minerals) being discovered in 1886.
A photo of two men standing looking directly at the camera, with an information board behind them.

Paul Miller, Senior Manager Recreation & Community Projects for the Shire of East Pilbara and Wayne Stuart, Senior Consultant, at a Community Consultation session in Marble Bar.

A photo of a man standing in front of a sign on the side of a road.

Wayne Stuart, Senior Consultant, in front of a roadside sign in the Shire of East Pilbara.

A photo of a roadside sign.

Roadside sign in the Shire of East Pilbara.