Big questions for councillors

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 23 Jan 09

Portfolios, funds and rural concerns on agenda

Written by SALLY EVANS.

WANGARATTA’S rural community hoping for a greater voice on council will learn of the outcome of its campaign at a meeting on Tuesday night.

A group of 30 farmers, who met with mayor Ron Webb and councillor Anthony Griffiths at the Vine Hotel last week, called on council tocreate a portfolio specifically for primary industry.

It was argued that agricultural production was significant enough in the rural city to warrant its own portfolio in addition to existing fields such as art, education, sport and tourism.

The demand also follows growing concern of a city-centric council, with six of the seven new councillors residing in Wangaratta.

The rural city is set to decide on its portfolio structure for the next 12 months at a council meeting at the Wangaratta Government Centre from 7pm on Tuesday.

Earlier this week, Cr Webb was reluctant to indicate if farmers weresuccessful in their bid to secure a primary industry portfolio.

"It was an interesting concept to take to a meeting for discussion with other councillors and council staff," he said.

The meeting will also consider the fate of a $620,000 grant provided by the Federal Government.

Under government guidelines, the money must be spent on new projects and has to be expended by September of this current year.

Cr Webb said a long list of projects were put forward for the one-off local community infrastructure program, which is aimed atsupporting local economies and jobs during the global financial crisis.

He said the projects put forward offered a good geographic spread across both rural and city areas.