Busselton Area Ratepayers & Residents Association
A Local Association Gathered From The Heart Of The Community For The Community.
Objective
The Association was formed to establish, promote, maintain and manage BARRA, a not-for-profit organisation for ratepayers and residents of City of Busselton.
The group wants to address concerns to do with our environment, economic impacts, social and cultural effects, infrastructure and planning, resources, health and education.
Concerns can relate to local, state and federal government activities that directly affect or impact our community.
Our Executive Committee
PRESIDENT: Darren Glover
Darren was born at his family home in Brighton UK.
His parents, along with 60 other families, were part of a self build scheme. Families grew up together. They built their neighbourhood brick by brick.
He migrated to Australia in 1981 and valued the sense of community here. he also recognised the potential loss of connection, and its consequences.
Darren's reason to form BARRA was to keep community spirit alive. He is passionate and endeavours to work with our council to achieve good outcomes for the betterment of people in our city.
He has worked in many different professions and currently helps the community improve their water quality.
Together we can strive to make our community better.
email: presidentbarra@proton.me
SECRETARY: Jane Bennett
Jane has lived in the city of Busselton since 2006 and owns a small business. She sits on several committees, including a national professional body and an international group.
Jane is very interested in community and ways to improve connection, having grown up in a small rural location here in southwest WA.
email: adminbarra@protonmail.com
TREASURER: Helen Paganoni
A retired farmer’s wife, Helen turned her hands to many occupations.
The voluntary primary school librarian, editor & producer of the community newsletter, the worm egg counting lab in her laundry, wool micron testing and doing a BAS every quarter after the introduction of the GST along with always catering at fund raisers,
Her first committee role was as treasurer for the pre-primary group back in 1981.
Although there have been many positions since then, it is a matter of satisfaction for Helen to be back where she started.
Working for a community group.
email: treasurerbarra@proton.me
COMMITTEE MEMBER: Marion Hansen
Marion retired to Busselton after being self-employed in both city and country locations.
In her work she was more than a florist or shopkeeper. Everyday folk shared their interests and concerns with her and she learned how important neighbourhood and community matters were to them.
This has been brought to the fore as the Brown Street housing project will affect her and many others in the vicinity, she fears it will no longer be the Busselton she came to live in.
email:
Help Us To Become A Stronger Association Representing The Community
By joining our Association you can help us to achieve our aim to preserve our community and keep our community connections alive.
Before you join you are welcome to attend any of our events or apply now by hitting the button.
Full Membership is $20 per annum
PROPOSED SAND MINE INJIDUP YALLINGUP
PROPOSED SAND MINE INJIDUP YALLINGUP SEVEN NEWS
SAVE SMITHS BEACH
Affiliated Groups
The following links are to groups that share the value of our Community and the Environment that we all want to continue to enjoy.
We need to support each other "As A Community For The Community"
Emergency Services & Community Support
Below are a list of links to Emergency, Social and Medical Services
City Of Busselton Links
Use The Links Below to Access Various City Of Busselton Departments and You Tube Channel of Council Meetings
Utility Service Provider Links
Looking Into The Future
Members of the group including committee members regularly attend council meetings about local issues.
We want to form close relationships with the Councillors who represent us. We all hold the same ideals of ensuring that our community grows while, balancing economic, social, and environmental factors, the three pillars for sustainability.
In the long term as the membership grows, it is the organisation's aim, that with the funds raised by the Association, we shall be able to fund special local projects nominated and voted for by the members.
UPCOMING EVENTS
COMMUNITY ACCESS SESSIONS
Did you know that Community Access Sessions are generally held at 5.30pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month, unless Council are in recess.
Community Access Sessions are an informal opportunity for the public to engage with Council. You can raise, for discussion, any topic you are passionate about including items on the current Council agenda.
The link below gives you the dates for 2026
PAST EVENTS
Special Council Meeting - Wednesday 11th February at 4pm
Wednesday 11th February 4pm at council meeting room (second floor of council building)
1. Are you a lover of our ocean and pristine marine environment, surfing, boating, whale watching, swimming or have a business that relies on the magnificent health of our oceans here?
2. Are you a resident trying to afford to live here but your power bills keep going up and up, while the state government insists we are to pay less for power?
3. Do you find it ironic that the state government has recently banned demersal fishing in our bay ‘driven by severe environmental concerns over the depletion of key species’ but then is pushing right ahead to place huge industrial scale wind turbine factories here in our pristine waters?
We need many voices and supporters to attend this important meeting so we can show our local leaders we won’t be ignored on this very concerning issue.
We thank councillors Anne Ryan, Andrew MacNeish and Herman Dykstra for supporting this SCM.
Please email adminbarra@protonmail.com for a more detailed PDF prepared by Martine Shepherd head campaigner for Save our Beloved Geographe Bay
𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 - 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
The Annual General Meeting of Electors will be held at 5.30pm Monday 2 February. The purpose of this meeting is to consider the City of Busselton 2024-2025 Annual Report and the 2024-2025 Annual Financial Statements.
The City of Busselton 2024-2025 Annual Report is available for viewing at the City’s Administration Building, the Busselton and Dunsborough libraries and on the City’s website. Electors are welcome to ask questions about any matter related to the City’s business during public question time.
We encourage people to submit their questions early.
Get more information here https://www.busselton.wa.gov.au/.../notice-of.../11565
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BARRA Community Christmas Get Together
MEET THE CANDIDATES 22ND SEPTEMBER 2025 - ESPLANADE HOTEL
BARRA, gave voters the opportunity to meet and ask questions of candidates in the local election, it was an innovative idea held probably for the first time.
More than 100 Busselton ratepayers attended the "meet the candidates" event, with 14 of 19 candidates attending to answer questions about their vision for the City of Busselton.
INAUGURAL MEETING - 30TH AUGUST 2025 - 2PM TO 4PM
What is Barra?
Get to know Your Community Voice
Why you should care?
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any other questions please use our 'Contact Us' button,
BARRA was founded in the latter part of 2024
Yes - We are an incorporated Association
When a group incorporates, it becomes a legal entity in its own right which is able to do things in its own name. For example, an incorporated association can own land, borrow money and enter into contracts.
Each incorporated association is formed to undertake particular activities or pursue a specific object as set out in the 'Associations Rules' (often known as the Constitution).
The rules provide a unique framework which outlines how the association is operated and managed by its members.
No...
Our allegience is to the Ratepayers and Residents of the City of Busselton.
Working together for the Community as a whole, irrespective of politics, religion, ethniciy, orientation.
Our core motivation is to preserve our community and lifestyle. Fostering social connections to maintain the vibrancy of the community.
By becoming a Member.
Members can not only voice their concerns or problems, but also share their experience and knowledge to support the aims of the group.
Before joining you are welcome to join us at any of our meetings or events.
Ordinary Membership is $20 per annum. With this membership you have voting rights.
Associate/Supporter Membership is $10 per annum. There are no voting rights with this membership.