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Mayoral Review of 2007/08Last modified: May 14, 2009 - 4:13 PM
The 2007/08 year has undoubtedly been a tough one, for Council and indeed Wakool Shire residents. However its great to see that we are continuing to move forward through infrastructure works, community projects and celebrations of business and community achievements in our area in spite of these turbulent times. The Shire is continuing on its commitment to upgrade core infrastructure on its road and bridge network and with a great proportion of the works now at completion, we can actually see the long term interest of the Shire being secured.
The opportunity to undertake these works is due to council welcoming $15.7275 million in Commonwealth and State grants in 2007 to seal 45km of gravel roads, rehabilitate and widen at least 13km of sealed roads and replace ten timber bridges with concrete bridges within the shire. These roads and bridges upgrades are vital to the future of this area, and although it has been a significant financial challenge to get these works across the line and to meet our portion of the financial targets, we are now moving in a positive direction to ensure long term sustainability. After an extremely tough and challenging council term, Council has now also reached a significant financial milestone. Currently the Shire is in a very strong and sound financial position that can only continue to be built upon. My fellow Councillors and I began the last Council term with a huge task in front of us, and much uncertainty when it came to Councils financial future. However through some tough times and brave decisions, we are now beginning to see the path towards a stronger future for the Wakool Shire. Indeed the last term has been challenging, in fact the most challenging I have ever experienced while on Council. Water is now certainly the issue that has required the strongest representation of all, as we struggle through the worst drought in memory. Never in our life time has country life been so tough and on opt of it all we’ve had a constant battle with the State Government’s red tape, bureaucracy and regulation. This crippling drought and the water reforms are certainly the biggest challenges facing our district and region at this time and I believe strongly that both Governments – coalition and now labor are equally culpable for the political persistence and continuing resistance to address the evaporation losses in the system, from the lower lakes in SA. As such, our region and the whole of the Murray Darling Basin is now experiencing a major drought crisis and a major water policy crisis. It is without conscience that the government can set up a water policy that ensures water leaves the district – inevitably leading to population decline and bringing to question the whole area’s sustainability. Removing vast amounts of water from productive use is pure destruction and it is taking place at the expense of people’s welfare and financial security. This is having a more detrimental impact on irrigation, the nations food security and our dependant towns and regional communities than the drought itself. On a different note, Council is looking forward to the completion of the new Local Environmental Plan (LEP) to be undertaken as part of the State Governments planning reforms and to be a major tool in driving the shire forward into the future. Community consultation meetings throughout the various planning stages will give ample opportunity for the community to have continued input into this important process. While the road may be long the outcome will be well worth the time and effort. Council also envisages taking each of the towns within our Shire to a new level of forward planning, to detail exactly where and how each town needs to develop into a positive future. We are keen to see the people and organizations of each town have significant input into this planning process so that development in the coming years takes place in considered and premeditated directions. Without forward planning and vision, our towns will falter. With it, we can ensure each town meets not only the present but future needs of its residents, and match the demand for growth. In early 2008, the shire also held its inaugural Country Energy Wakool Shire Business Excellence Awards, and this was one of the best community celebrations I have seen in my time at Council. The awards highlighted just how much strength and determination the people in our community have. The way our businesses and local groups build their trade or service and continue to make an impression with new and existing clients in spite of this crippling drought, is a credit to everyone in our business community. To celebrate achievements in our area in such a way creates an enormous amount of optimism, and it undoubtedly flows back through the whole community and gives everyone a new and refreshing outlook on the future of our shire. In closing, I believe we have a strong and supportive team of Council and staff in place to meet the challenges of the times ahead, and to take us forward into the future. I ask that all constituents within our Shire fully support Council as we continue to make progress and participate in the new planning processes. Ken Trewin Mayor (07/08) Contact details | ||||||||||||
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© 2008 Wakool Shire Council |
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