Dear Supporters of the Save Withers Community Library 

Since our last update:

- the petition was accepted by the council at their ordinary meeting on 25 Feb. 

The City’s executives have now released a report, and the future of the Withers library is on the agenda of the next ordinary council meeting to he held on the 18th of March at 5:30pm.

- Mayor Jaysen Miguel announced a Community Session

WHEN: Thursday 13 March, 

TIME: from 5.30pm, for a 6.00pm start 

WHERE: at the Withers Community Library.

Link to the event of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1681PQodjq/

 

Please make sure to attend to let Councillors and City executives know that they must:

1. Rescind the motion 10.3.2 Transition of Services – Withers Community Library.

2. Reactivate the Withers Community Library with extended opening hours, activities and programs.

 

-On March 4, Foodbank WA announced it had withdrawn its proposal to relocate and provide wrap-around services from the Withers Community Library site.

Here is the link to the media coverage on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17XfdUmFFs/

However, without a rescission of the motion 10.3.2 Transition of Services – Withers Community Library, adopted by Council on 10 Dec 2024, without prior community consultation, the Withers Community Library will forever remain on “borrowed time”, with the real threat of any “repurposing” hanging over it.

This is why members and supporters of the Save Withers Community Library Action Group are continuing their campaign and are looking forward to your support.

We are holding two short events where your attendance would be most welcome.

Event 1: A peaceful gathering on Tuesday 11 March from 5pm to 5:30pm in the Council chambers garden (also called Centenary Garden) located at the rear of the council administration building (4 Stephen St). as Councillors are attending their monthly briefing meeting.

Entry to the garden is via Prinsep St or Wittenoom St. 

Link to the event of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15sJHQVUiB/

Event 2: Another peaceful gathering on Tuesday 18 March from 5:30pm to 6pm in the public gallery of the Council chambers for the Council Ordinary meeting.                Bunbury electors can ask questions and make deputations in relation to the item on the agenda: “10.3.4 Petition Report – Transition of Services – Withers Community Library (Closure of Library)” 

Deputations, Public Question Time and Petitions - City of Bunbury

 

To be kept informed about our actions and progress, or to contact us, you can

 Go to our Facebook page: Save Withers Community Library, or

- join the SAVE WITHERS COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTION GROUP | on Facebook

We look forward to seeing you at some of these upcoming events.

Thank you again for your support

The Save Withers Community Library Action Group.

 

Below is an Open letter from Betty McCleary.

"Dear Residents and friends of the Save Withers Community Library Action Group

PUBLIC MEETING ON THURSDAY 13th MARCH 5.30pm (6pm start) at the Withers Library.

SAVE THE WITHERS COMMUNITY LIBRARY

Residents including all who believe the importance of Libraries join us for this very important meeting!

Note the editorial in the Southwest Times (27/02):
“Residents continue their fight to save Withers library (page 7)
(without prejudice)

In my opinion the City (Mayor and CEO plus Councillors) are trying to convince the public the motion adopted 10th DEC 2024 does not need to be rescinded if Food Bank Aust step away from the proposal.

BUT!

Read the motion carefully again and you will find there is NO PROPOSAL!
(the motion adopted is at the bottom of my letter for you to read through)

The City and Councillors have unanimously ENDORSED (Agreed/support) by Councillors for Food Bank to take over the site.

If this decision is not rescinded, down the track maybe 6 months or 6 years from now Food Bank Aust. could return and say they want the library now - the motion adopted with the City will be still valid.

In my opinion The City is being deceptive and using words that are causing confusion once again.

The proposal MUST be rescinded.

It is the way forward if the Mayor, our Elected Representatives (Councillors) and the City CEO wish to retain the trust of their community.

PLEASE FRIENDS READ CAREFULLY THE MOTION AGAIN, AND ASK YOURSELVES:

1.What does “endorse” actually mean?

2.When were the Public Consultation held before the motion came to an OCM (Ordinary Council Meeting) for Council adoption on the 10th Dec 2024?

3.Yes, there was one public meeting called 16th Jan 2025 - after the decision by the City to partner with Food Bank was made.

That was NOT CONSULTATION that meeting was to: INFORM THE COMMUNITY THE LIBRARY AND THE SITE HAD BEEN HANDED OVER TO FOOD BANK.
Shock horror from the people at that meeting as it sunk in.

4.“proposal” there is no proposal as written in the motion adopted.
The “proposal” happened weeks/months before coming to Council for ratification - behind closed doors between the City Executive, Mayor and Councillors and Food Bank Australia.

The public were kept out in the cold: NO CONSULTATION, I repeat "no consultation with residents at any public meetings.

Seems to me the Executive who wrote this motion and the Councillors who amended it did not understand what they ended up writing and voting on.

Reading number 1 and 2 of the motion adopted, the word "proposal" has no weight because the decision was already adopted.

It was a done deal.
I have copied out the City of Bunbury Council's decision for you all to become familiar with and be informed.

Council Decision 10th Dec 2024
That Council:
1.Endorse the partnership between the City and Foodbank WA for the provision of wrap-around services from the current Withers Community Library building and surrounding site.

2.Endorse the implementation of a plan that will see the Withers Community Library site transition from its current service provision format from April 2025, allowing Food Bank Bunbury to fully operate from the site as of April 2026.

3.Request the CEO undertake community consultation in relation to this proposal.

4.Note that the status que will continue in relation to the operation of the Withers Library should the proposal not proceed.

Is there a sunset clause in the Memorandum Of Understanding /contract? If so, when does it end?

Why hasn’t the City told us about that? Perhaps there is not one! Ouch!

Councillors who unanimously adopted this motion are:
Mayor J de San Miguel, Deputy Mayor T Smith, Cr Ben Andrew, Cr M Kozisek, Cr K Turner, Cr Todd Brown, Cr Marina Quain, Cr K Steele.

Apologies Cr Steck,

Approved Leave of Absence Cr Ghasseb and Cr Ramesh.

Please Mayor and Councillors, bite the bit and rescind the decision and let us all get on with the reactivation of the Wither Community Library for our Community and others.

It is not hard, and you will have the community's respect in doing so.

This is my view that I have now shared."