PAUL Hooper will serve as Ararat Rural City Mayor for a third year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Councillors re-elected Cr Hooper at a statutory meeting in the city on Wednesday night.
Cr Gary Hull will be the deputy mayor for 2015-16.
Cr Hooper became mayor in a by-election in November 2013 after sitting mayor Ian Wilson resigned.
He was re-elected in November 2014.
Cr Hooper has previously served as Ararat mayor in 2004 and 2005.
He rejoined council in June 2013.
Cr Hooper said it had been a challenging year for council, with some positive results.
“All of council worked hard and we had a couple of wins,” he said.
“The wind farm was a big win for us. To see years of hard work come to fruition was a real boost.”
Cr Hooper predicted the next year would be difficult for council, with the introduction of the state government’s Fair Go for Rates policy imminent.
“I think it will be a year of change,” he said.
“Council has already taken $1 million out of its operations without services being affected. Our main challenge is a small rate base with a huge infrastructure load to maintain.”
Cr Hooper said he would continue to drive economic development in the shire and pursue new industry and jobs, particularly in the areas of wine and cheap meat.
