Let's get to work.
We welcome our new CEO Peter Harriot to the Shire. Peter is extraordinarily well credentialed and experienced and comes to us via Greater Shepparton City Council as CEO amongst numerous leadership positions.
Peter is living in Maryborough and will be very present. Councillors look forward to working with Peter to at first, ascertain the lay of the land and then direct our strategic and operating objectives.
The Shire thanks all those who participated in recent surveys, assisting us in the development of our Council Plan for the duration of this term.
As residents are only too aware, the Shire operates in an environment where rate capping constricts our ability to raise income and provide services, compounded by inflation which impacts the services we provide, making the job tougher than usual.
I am extremely happy that the State Government has pledged the sum of $3 million dollars to contribute to the rebuild and repair of the Maryborough outdoor swimming pool.
Such is in addition the sum of $4.5 million dollars as pledged by the Federal Government during the federal election campaign, and I am most grateful for that too. We are thrilled to be in a good position to reopen the pool as soon as we can.
Our Mayor Councillor Grace la Vella moved a Notice of Motion at our last meeting properly protesting the application of the new Emergency Services Levy as it detrimentally affects farmers in particular. Our farmers have been severely impacted by the long drought- which is now in a green phase - the countryside looks green but have a look at dams, reservoirs and creeks: they are next to empty, yet we're well into winter.
And as the season rolls on, I have a final message: Go Talbot Hawks!"
Deputy Mayor Councillor Ben Green
Paddys Ranges Ward
