One of the most important parts of being Mayor doesn't happen at project openings, Council meetings or in front of a microphone. It happens through the work of advocating for East Gippsland.
While Council delivers many of the services and infrastructure our communities rely on every day, many of the biggest challenges facing our shire can only be addressed by state or federal governments. Our job is to make sure East Gippsland's voice is heard whenever those decisions are being made.
With the 2026 Victorian Election on the horizon, Council has identified 12 community-driven priorities that will deliver lasting benefits across our shire. They range from better roads and opening land for housing to emergency services, economic development and environmental management. They are practical priorities, built on planning and what we've heard from our communities.
One of the most important projects on our advocacy agenda is securing funding for a new emergency department at Bairnsdale Hospital. While Council doesn't run health services, the impact a new ED could make for all communities is significant.
Anyone who's been through that emergency department, or sat beside a family member waiting for care, knows why this matters. It regularly operates beyond capacity, placing pressure on patients, staff, and ambulance services. With our population growing and ageing, and thousands more visitors arriving each year, that pressure will only increase.
We'll be having those same advocacy conversations with every party and every candidate. Whether it's health care, roads, housing, jobs or protecting our environment, we'll keep making the case for the investment East Gippsland needs. Good advocacy is about working with whoever is in a position to help deliver for our community.
Whether we're advocating for a new emergency department, pushing for better roads, meeting with decision-makers or listening to people in our communities, the goal is always the same - making sure East Gippsland gets the investment, services and opportunities it deserves.
If you would like to see our 12 Victorian Election priorities, please visit our website.
Before I finish, I'd like to congratulate everyone involved in this year's East Gippsland Winter Festival. Once again, it showcased the very best of our region, bringing together local businesses, artists, producers and communities while welcoming visitors from near and far. It was a wonderful celebration of East Gippsland and a reminder of what we can achieve when our communities work together.
