Council & accountability · City of Wanneroo
Wanneroo risk policy recommended for adoption after unanimous committee backing
The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee voted 8-0 to recommend a revised Enterprise Risk Management Policy to the Policy Review Committee for adoption. The unconfirmed minutes do not record final adoption.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
A revised risk policy covering the City of Wanneroo’s activities, decisions and service delivery areas was recommended to the Policy Review Committee for adoption after receiving unanimous backing from the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee on 7 September 2026, according to unconfirmed minutes.
The committee voted 8-0 to recommend adoption of the clean draft. The resolution recommends the policy to the next committee rather than adopting it.
The draft is intended to give the City a common approach to identifying, assessing and managing opportunities and risks across its functions. The minutes say the review was informed by AS ISO 31000:2018, the City’s Risk Appetite Statements, its Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix, and its Enterprise Risk Management Framework.
The proposed policy also sets out roles and responsibilities for risk management. City officers described it as a strategic, principles-based governance document, distinct from the procedures used to deliver the City’s enterprise risk framework.
No date is recorded for the Policy Review Committee’s consideration. The minutes also do not record whether that committee would adopt the draft unchanged or when a final policy might be published.
At the same meeting, the committee unanimously recommended revised risk appetite statements and a revised Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix to Council for adoption. Those were also recommendations for adoption, not final approvals, at the meeting.
What deserves a closer look
The recorded resolution recommends that the Policy Review Committee adopt the Enterprise Risk Management Policy; it does not establish final adoption at this meeting.
The record gives no date for the Policy Review Committee's consideration or for publication of a final policy.
The risk appetite and risk assessment documents were also recommended onward rather than finally adopted in the recorded resolution.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will the Policy Review Committee consider the draft Enterprise Risk Management Policy?
Will the Policy Review Committee adopt the clean draft unchanged?
When will Council consider the revised Risk Appetite Statements and Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix?
What happens next
If the policy recommendation is taken forward, the Policy Review Committee would consider the draft Enterprise Risk Management Policy for adoption.
If the related recommendations are taken forward, Council would consider the revised Risk Appetite Statements and Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix for adoption.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Item 4.2 identifies consideration of the updated Enterprise Risk Management Policy and a recommendation to the Policy Review Committee for adoption as the purpose of the report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7/0 For the Motion: Mayor Aitken, Mr Draber, Cr Miles, Cr Seif, Cr Rowe, Cr Wright and Ms Zulsdorf Against the Motion: Nil CITY OF WANNEROO MINUTES OF AUDIT, RISK AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 07 SEPTEMBER, 2026 3 4.2 Enterprise Risk Management Policy File Ref: 9454V014 – 26/303908 Responsible Officer: Chief Executive Officer Attachments: 3 Issue To consider the updated Enterprise Risk Management Policy (Risk Policy) and recommend to the Policy Review Committee for adoption.
Item 4.2 Enterprise Risk Management Policy — Issue
Open original minutes ↗The policy describes a systematic, organisation-wide approach to identifying and managing opportunities and risks across activities, functions, decision-making processes and service delivery areas.
Background The Risk Policy enables the City of Wanneroo (the City) to confidently pursue its objectives by embedding a systematic, organisation-wide approach to identifying and managing opportunities and risks. The approach adopted in this Risk Policy is to empower the organisation across all activities, functions, decision-making processes, and service delivery areas to remain risk-aware and proactive in identifying, assessing, and managing risks.
Item 4.2 Enterprise Risk Management Policy — Background
Open original minutes ↗The report identifies AS ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management – Guidelines and says the policy review sought closer alignment with ISO 31000, Council's Risk Appetite Statements, Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix, and Enterprise Risk Management Framework.
The Risk Policy aligns all operations to be carried out within Council's Risk Appetite and within the parameters of the Australian Standard AS ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management – Guidelines. The current Risk Policy as set out in Attachment 1 was last presented to the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (the Committee) on 27 September 2022 and adopted by Council on 11 October 2022. Detail Administration has undertaken an extensive review of the Policy to align more closely with ISO 31000, Council's Risk Appetite Statements, Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix, and Enterprise Risk Management Framework.
Item 4.2 Enterprise Risk Management Policy — Background and Detail
Open original minutes ↗The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee recommended that the Policy Review Committee adopt the clean draft policy, and the motion passed unanimously, 8-0.
Mr Draber asked Cr Figg to read out his declaration. The following declaration was made by Cr Figg "In accordance with 14CA (5) I declare that I can maintain confidentiality whilst attending the closed part of this meeting electronically." Moved Ms Zulsdorf, Seconded Cr Wright That the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee: 1. RECEIVES and ACCEPTS the City's Draft Enterprise Risk Management Policy - Mark-up as set out in Attachment 2; and 2. RECOMMENDS Policy Review Committee to ADOPT the Draft Enterprise Risk Management Policy - Clean Version as set out in Attachment 3. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 8/0 For the Motion: Mayor Aitken, Mr Draber, Cr Figg, Cr Miles, Cr Seif, Cr Rowe, Cr Wright and Ms Zulsdorf Against the Motion: Nil Attachments: 1⇩. Attachment 1: Current Enterprise Risk Management Policy 15/491180[v2] 2⇩.
Item 4.2 Enterprise Risk Management Policy — motion and vote
Open original minutes ↗The draft distinguishes governance intent from delivery mechanisms, defines roles and responsibilities, and is described as a strategic, principles-based governance instrument.
The draft Risk Policy clearly distinguishes between governance intent, as articulated in the Risk Policy, and the delivery mechanisms outlined in the corporate Enterprise Risk Management Framework. This shift repositions the document from a procedural, compliance- focused policy to a strategic, principles-based governance instrument. The Policy is guided by section 2.7 of the Local Government Act 1995 and establishes the organisation's responsibilities and accountability for effective risk management. By clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities, the Policy strengthens governance oversight and provides assurance that risk management practices support informed decision- making and the achievement of Council's objectives.
Item 4.2 Enterprise Risk Management Policy — Comment
Open original minutes ↗The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee recommended revised Risk Appetite Statements and a revised Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix to Council for adoption in a motion carried unanimously, 8-0.
Financial Implications Nil Voting Requirements Simple Majority CITY OF WANNEROO MINUTES OF AUDIT, RISK AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 07 SEPTEMBER, 2026 49 Moved Ms Zulsdorf, Seconded Mayor Aitken That the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee: 1. RECEIVES and ACCEPTS the City's revised Risk Appetite Statements as set out in Attachment 2; 2. RECOMMENDS Council to ADOPT the City's revised Risk Appetite Statements as set out in Attachment 2; 3. RECEIVES and ACCEPTS the City's revised Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix as set out in Attachment 5; 4. RECOMMENDS Council to ADOPT the City's revised Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix as set out in Attachment 5; and 5. RECEIVES and ACCEPTS the Enterprise Risk Roadmap as set out in Attachment 6. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 8/0 For the Motion: Mayor Aitken, Mr Draber, Cr Figg, Cr Miles, Cr Seif, Cr Rowe, Cr Wright and Ms Zulsdorf Against the Motion: Nil Attachments: 1⇩.
Item 4.1 Risk Appetite Statement, Risk Assessment Criteria and Matrix, and Risk Roadmap — motion and vote
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This article reports from the City of Wanneroo’s unconfirmed public minutes of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee meeting held on 7 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee recommended the clean draft Enterprise Risk Management Policy to the Policy Review Committee for adoption.
- The policy recommendation passed unanimously, 8-0, on 7 September 2026, according to the unconfirmed minutes.
- The draft is intended to cover City activities, functions, decision-making processes and service delivery areas.
- The review aligns the policy with AS ISO 31000:2018, the City’s risk appetite documents, risk assessment criteria and matrix, and its Enterprise Risk Management Framework.
- The committee also recommended revised risk appetite statements and risk assessment documents to Council for adoption.
Why it matters
- The proposed policy and related risk documents could shape how the City assesses risk in its decisions, projects, services and other operations if the relevant bodies later adopt them. The unconfirmed minutes do not record final adoption of these documents or an implementation date.