As this is my first column as the mayor of Northern Grampians Shire Council, I’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate fellow councillors across the region. We now are all faced with the important task of providing effective representation to our communities.
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It is indeed humbling to have been selected by my peers to take on this role and I am looking forward to leading our council.
Here at Northern Grampians Shire Council, we have commenced looking at our Council Plan for the next four years. This very important document will guide our decision-making and strategy over the term of this council. With this in mind, we have also begun preliminary budget discussions, being mindful of the fiscal restraints that we have to operate around. We continue to advocate for a more equitable funding model for our rural and regional councils. We believe that a fairer distribution of the Australian taxation dollar is the only way we will achieve sustainable funding for local government and we will continue to lobby for a review of this.
This time of the year is busy with AGMs being held for many organisations in our region. We congratulate those who have put their hand up to volunteer on the many committees and boards in our shire and thank you for your dedication to making our communities fantastic places to live, work, invest and visit.
We’ve also had a number of significant events occur recently right across the municipality. We witnessed the unveiling of the Stawell Avenue of Honour on Remembrance Day - an outstanding project honouring soldiers from Stawell who paid the ultimate sacrifice in WWI. There’s been music aplenty, with both the St. Arnaud Festival and Peaks and Sounds at Halls Gap. And it doesn’t end there! Upcoming events include The Black Sorrows and The Great Victorian Bike Ride at Halls Gap, and Christmas parades in our respective communities. We’ve also just seen the announcement of the line-up for next year’s inaugural Grampians Music Festival and let me tell you, you won’t want to miss it!
I must also give some recognition to the excellent season we’ve had for agriculture so far. It is a significant part of our region’s economy and this year is looking promising. Let's all hope this is realised for the betterment of all our people.
Lastly, I wish everyone all the best for a safe and enjoyable festive season.
