However, it would be nice to see a steady, soaking rain come through to maintain the enthusiasm and confidence of our farming sector.

Work has started on roadworks and foundations for the new weather radar, scheduled to be operational in early 2020.

This will be a great asset not only to the farmers in our shire, but also the surrounding local government areas and into South Australia, giving farmers much enhanced information with coming weather events.

We recently had the privilege of hosting the local government minister at our shire offices and I felt very comfortable talking with Adem Somyurek about local issues on a one-to-one basis.

Mr Somyurek then accompanied us to Dimboola where he turned the first sod for the new Dimboola library.

The library will be a great asset to the town, not only for people wanting to read books, it will give access to the internet and provide a general meeting place. It will also form part of the entrance to the Wimmera River Discovery Trail.

I was a little amused and impressed with Emma Kealy's attendance and political acumen in taking the minister for a tour of the long overdue for replacement CFA building and suggesting the minister returned with his chequebook.

Council's 2019-20 draft budget is now available for perusal and comment.

I believe it to be a fairly balanced budget, it is within the rate cap and spread in a broad and equitable manner.

We have received quite substantial grant funding for upgrades to some of our roads.

Unfortunately, this has meant that we have had to remove some of the funding normally allocated to the renewal program.

Something we can do short term, but is not sustainable to continue.

There is a ground swell of discontent from most shires in the rural and regional areas with regard to road funding.

VicRoads and the recently formed Regional Roads Victoria staff are very supportive of our plight, however this is pointless with insufficient funding.