GateWAy Blog

With the retail industry experiencing tough times, many small retailers will be looking for clever marketing ideas to attract sales this Christmas.

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Conversation with the CEO - May 11

Hello,

I am the Manager for Economic Development at the City of Albany and have lived and worked here for a little over 10 years.  During that time, like most others, I have observed lots of change ranging from new retail shops, supermarket developments, the redevelopment of the Waterfront, a new wind farm, changes at the Port, timber processing at Down Road, and new housing estates popping up around the city.

For the next month, I am working on a project to review the City of Albany’s Strategic Plan for the ten year period 2011 to 2021.   With leadership from our new Chief Executive Officer, Faileen James, I am working as part of a dedicated team of people from our community development section (Tammy Flett; Amanda Porritt; and Rachael Oswald) to gather community views on issues and opportunities for Albany.  We are seeking your views on:

·         What projects and initiatives do you think should be pursued in the short (1-2 yrs), medium (2-5 yrs)and long terms (5-10yrs)?
·         What resources (people, money and physical assets) do you think should be applied to projects and services?

In thinking about your answers to the above, please remember that the Council has finite resources that are in high demand across a range of projects.  So you need to be SMART with your responses:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely (short, medium, long term)

Please jot down your thoughts below thinking about the following themes as a guide:

•             Lifestyle and Environment
•             Sustainability and Development
•             Albany’s Role as a Regional Hub
•             Community Focussed Organisation
•             Organisational Performance

OR even better, complete the official survey online at www.albany.wa.gov.au by 5pm on Thursday 9 June 2011.

Regards,

Jon Berry
Project Team Leader
City of Albany

Great Southern Festival 2011

The program for the Great Southern Festival was launched last week at the new Albany Entertainment Centre.

I am still surprised to find there are people who don’t know about this excellent range of events that has been held in Albany for 9 years now.  This year there will be over 24 different events held in various locations in the region starting on the 8th February and finishing on the 17th March.

These awesome events include concerts, plays, movies, exhibitions, food, dance, writers, there is something for everyone.  It doesn’t matter if you regularly take part or its your very first time, you will come away feeling touched, moved, inspired.

You can pick up a copy of the program from the Albany Entertainment Centre and cafés and  shops around Albany.

A Tree Top walk was first proposed in this area in 1994 to protect the tingle forest. Construction began a year later.  The construction consists of 60 metre lightweight bridge spans on seven pylons.  It reaches a maximum of 40 metres at the highest point.   It is a world most people never see.  The spans were especially designed to sway slightly as you walk to create the sensation of being in the canopy of the forest.  Well it certainly swayed brilliantly today.   The life of a Red Tingle is approx 400 years and they can reach a height of 75 metres.  They are some of most enormous trees in the world and can only be found in this region.  A distinctive feature of the Red Tingle is the large, hollowed out base.  These have been caused over a long period of time by fire, fungal and insect attack.  Most of the plant life is unique to this area and the tingle forest hosts an abundant food source for native animals such as quokkas, bandicoots, possums and the western grey kangaroo.  As most of these animals only come out at night we need to do a Forest by Night Tour.  Here you get to explore the forest by torchlight beneath a blanket of stars.  The Ancient Empire Walk meanders through a grove of veteran trees at ground level and gives another perspective of the magnificent giants
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As luxury accommodation providers, our aim is to give our guests the ultimate experience while in Albany.  We like to recommend places to eat, so we are trying the many restaurants in Albany.

Tonight we headed off to the ‘new’ Rustlers Steak House. The minute we walked through the door we were immediately impressed by the gorgeous surroundings. Rustlers have chosen their colours wisely and used the space well of what used to be a Health Club. (more…)

We love being tourists in our own region.  So many exciting and interesting things to do, touch and taste.  We made a stop at the Elephants Rock Cider Factory. We had an unforgettable experience tasting various ciders at Denmark’s first cider factory – Apple & Pear, Pear, Apple, Sweet Apple, Strawberry, Apple Ginger and Oaked Scrumpy. We had to try them all. The cider factory is also home to the toffee factory, ‘bit on the side’ (which is a range of gourmet sauces, preserves, chutneys) and a ½ kilo ice cream cone. We had to try it all. We bought some pickled garlic, asparagus chutney and some mayo’s. Of course we also took home a selection of ciders. (more…)

Lightning over Princess Royal Harbour

With the brilliant storms we have been having, it is good to know that someone is willing to go out and take a photo… and share them with everyone.  Thanks to David Belfield from Aysemart for this beauty.

Dave said, “While up at the Lookout, it actually got struck by lightning while I was in it!”

For more photo’s in our Gallery from Aysemart, click here.

Great Southern Wine & Food Festival

The Great Southern Wine and Food Festival has moved to April and teamed up with the Harboursound Music Festival to produce a festival that takes advantage of the mild autumn weather and quality entertainment available in Albany at the time.

The major tasting event on Sunday 18 April showcases twenty of the best Great Southern wineries, regional produce and encore performances from some of the international and national entertainment provided through the Harboursound Music Festival.

‘We’ve moved the Festival from December to April to coincide with Harboursound,’ said Great Southern Wine Producers’ Association (GSWPA) Executive Officer John Gates, ‘this should give both Festivals a better chance of sustainability and help to turn autumn in the Great Southern into a really exciting Festival season’.

‘With Harboursound concerts and workshops and GSWPA member satellite events scheduled over the whole weekend, this will be a great weekend to be in Albany’, he said.

The Festival will be held in and around a large marquee on the Grassy Knoll in central Albany on Sunday 18 April. Details are available from www.greatsouthernwines.com.au.

There are 55000 hobby farms in western Australia. Many of these properties are small meaning 1acre up to 100 acres.  There are all types of issues with these properties.   I am also a small landowner (5 Acres) and last week someone told me I had a noxious weed on my property. I did not know, nor do i know what to look for.

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Get practicing for the Mount Barker Cherry Pip Spitting championships which are on throughout  the Community Fair on the 28th Nov at the Visitor Centre Stall.

The biggest spitter will win $100.00 for their nominated club or charity also $50.00 cash to keep.Should the winner make it to the 2nd round in Manjimup  then  another Mt Barker winner will be off to New Zealand again as a prize. Also collecting $50.00 for making the trip to Manjimup.
There will be spot prizes  on the day for  both adults and kids. The cost will be $2.00 per spit and any money raised will go to the Mount Barker Visitor Centre.
Ring 98531110 for more Information.