Orbost and district community groups took up the opportunity to 'Meet the Mayor' over an informal lunch at East Gippsland Shire Council's Orbost Customer Service Centre last Friday, March 29.
Mayor Cr Natalie O'Connell said the meet and greet over lunch and other meetings and tours with various groups and individuals provided a great opportunity to hear first-hand updates on projects and issues in the Orbost district.
"We met with representatives of the Orbost and District Chamber of Commerce, historical society, Slab Hut and Visitor Information Centre, Orbost Exhibition Centre, garden and Probus clubs and the Save the Snowy River Rail Bridge Committee," Cr O'Connell said.
The Mayor was joined by Crs Marianne Pelz and Joe Rettino and Chief Executive officer Anthony Basford, who also inspected the progress of stage two streetscape works in Nicholson Street. That project, funded entirely by council, includes footpath reconstruction, construction of retaining walls, drainage and kerb works, new landscaping elements and new furniture.
And a date for the diary is Tuesday, November 12.
Council will hold its November meeting at 1pm on that day in Orbost as one of four meetings to be held outside Bairnsdale this year. This follows three meetings being held outside the chamber in 2018, which included Orbost.
Peter Dreverman and May Leatch, representing the Snowy River Trestle Bridge Committee, update councillors Natalie O'Connell (Mayor) and Marianne Pelz on their group's work in drawing attention to the importance of restoring the historic trestle bridge.
Coral Hill and Scott Campbell-Smith show Mayor Cr Natalie O'Connell around the Orbost Exhibition Centre.
Slab Hut volunteer Rosemary Squires chats with Mayor Cr Natalie O'Connell. Mrs Squires and husband Garry have been volunteering at the Orbost Visitor Information Centre since 2007.
Orbost and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry secretary Garry Squires with councillors Marianne Pelz and Joe Rettino over lunch at the community meet and greet last Friday.
