A big year ahead for RCoW

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle -2 Jan 09

Mayor pledges better communication,
Major projects to be among highlights

Written by PHILIP NOLAN.

A MORE open style of communication with residents will be a key focus of the 2009 style Rural City of Wangaratta council.

That assurance was given this week by new mayor, Ron Webb, in looking at what lies ahead for council in the next 12 months.

"It is going to be a very exciting and challenging year. Exciting in the sense that we have a new council in place with fresh talent and ideas, and challenging because of a number of major projects coming to fruition," Mayor Webb said.

"However, a key to the way we will be going about things is a more open style of communication.

"As mayor, I will be looking to restructure the portfolio system to more truly reflect the community interest, and I will be looking to each of the councillors to give a report on their portfolio at each council meeting.

"They will also be available to answer questions from the media relating to areas within their portfolio.

"I will also be delegating more to individual councillors to represent their city at particular functions.

"I think it is very important all councillors are seen to be very active throughout the community, not just the mayor."

He said the first challenge for the new council would be a quick decision on the spending of the $620,000 allocated to council under the Federal Government’s development infrastructure fund.

"We will be having a council retreat later this month, and we need to decide on this issue then," he said.

"We have to advise the minister by January 31 of how we will be spending the money, and the work needs to be completed by September 30 this year.

"We will be looking at a range of possibilities which have already been raised by the community, and also considering ideas put forward by councillors and officers.

"Ideally it will be a good mix of urban and rural spending."

He said the opening of the new Technical Centre of Excellence at Goulburn Ovens TAFE ($8.1m) and the construction of the Rural Equine Studies facility at South Wangaratta ($8.2m) would be big pluses for the city during the year.

"And of course the opening of the new Performing Arts Centre ($7.88m) will be another major highlight," Mayor Webb said.

" This will be part of a weekend of celebrations to mark Wangaratta’s 50 years as a city, and hopefully we can win the Ovens and Murray grand final for the same weekend.

"Then there is the 20 year anniversary of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, as well as the launch of the Viva Italia festival in March.

"Investigations into a possible medical centre of excellence, the future growth of the racing industry, development plans for the Co-Store and the strong interest from some national retailers should also add excitement to our year."

He said the release of the long awaited Rural Land Study, two years in the planning, would be eagerly anticipated by rural residents, as it would set a direction for rural land use around the municipality.

In particular, it should address the 40 hectare land use ruling causing a lot of unrest among landholders.

"As a council, we are very much looking forward to the next 12 months, and we hope to enjoy full support from our community by including them at every possible opportunity," he said.