Notes from your Deputy Mayor - Robyn Machin
The excitement of the new school and university year has been and everyone now steps back into their routine following holiday time. 2008 has started with uncertainty in the financial markets, unpredictable seasonal conditions and ever increasing costs which are most certainly putting pressure on many people and local businesses who previously have weathered the drought. Your shire council is very aware of these increasing pressures and is not immune from these conditions. Strathbogie Shire is very willing to assist where it can as we go into our 5th year of EC declaration.
Violet Town Growth Plan - Work is soon to commence that arises from the VT Action Plan grant application to undertake a holistic approach to planning for the township and its future development. It can bring together all the previous work undertaken and will aim to develop a strategic plan with strong emphasis on community participation in conjunction with VTAG. This brief will enable council to seek resources to undertake the strategic planning process.
Community and Candidate Information Sessions – for prospective candidates contemplating nomination in the November 2008 council elections offers an excellent overview of what is involved in becoming a councillor. Council this week approved funding for the Municipal Association of Victoria to conduct this workshop. Topics include role of local government and councillors, what is expected of a councillor, an introduction to the electoral process, and provide prospective candidates with information to determine if they wish to pursue candidature for local government. Ideas on campaigning and advertising along with the associated legalities and eligibility to stand will be discussed. I certainly recommend this session when it comes to our shire and will advise the date in this column.
Sustainable Water Strategy Northern Region discussion paper – is now available from DSE website. It is a plan to secure water supplies for homes, business, industry, agriculture and the environment for the next 50 years. In the face of climate change, population growth, economic development and land use change challenges. If anyone is interested in this issue it is worth reading this paper and offering input. It has been noted that tourism has not been mentioned at all.
Shire-wide tourism forum – was held in Euroa on 20th Feb with representatives from almost all areas of the shire and over 60 in attendance. Tom Smith from Tourism Victoria addressed the gathering with many wise words and thoughts. The SR&NLT Board has a most impressive line up of professional members who all happen to live in our shire – it is a truly skills based board who are well known in broad industry circles and have offered themselves to represent Local Tourism Associations to the wider market. This industry driven group has enormous potential and unanimous support from all players.
Tourism Signage – Vicroads brown signs continue to be a sore point along with the current draft paper and guidelines which recommends that the majority of signs in Strathbogie Shire be removed. You may notice that this has already occurred in Violet Town. SR&NLT Board are taking this issue very seriously on behalf of the local tourism industry.
Council Planning and Budget briefings underway for 08/09 – your council is undertaking reviews of the council plan, the rating strategy and model and then budget for the coming financial year. This is one of the major tasks and responsibilities of council and the art is like any budget – to balance the income and expenses. Little discretionary fund is available and council always aims to maintain as best as possible the vast assets as well as provide good community services.
Your council continues to make representations through representative bodies and directly to the Commonwealth Government and the Productivity Commission on issues such as the capacity for small rural councils to raise revenue to address the infrastructure backlogs which is worth many millions in each rural shire. Strathbogie Shire advocates that the introduction of a federally-managed fund would protect residents against a 35% rate increase needed to fix this municipality’s roads, bridges, halls and libraries. The Federal Government has been offering $900,000 annually up to now which is gratefully received but far short of what is required.
Please keep in touch with me on any comments you have or issues for discussion. tel. 041 749 6785 www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au
For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858