I'M BACK!

 

Sometimes I take a step back and realise just how quickly time is rocketing by.  It seems no time at all since we entered summer and it's about to come to an end!

Then I realised that it has been some months since I last posted a blog.  No excuses, it has just been a very busy time.  Here is my first Mayoral Moment (blog) for 2025.  Enjoy

MAYORAL MOMENT FOR FEBRUARY

A belated welcome to 2025 Mayoral Moments.  I had leave of absence in January to visit our son in Adelaide in what turned out to be 40+ degree heat!

At the February meeting on Tuesday 25^th February there were no planning matters to be dealt with.  Council continues to see strong growth right across our municipal area, but that comes with challenges for our budget especially if we are unsuccessful in achieving grant money.  As a result, Council considered the revised budget that officers presented.  As an elected member group we are most grateful to have such competent staff at GSBC who keep a watchful eye on the budget.

Many of you will know that there has been a government inquiry into the future of local government.  Council has been offered the opportunity by Government to participate in the collection of data to allow us to better inform our communities of the benefits or otherwise of some form of boundary adjustment or amalgamation. At the forefront of Council’s position are the Minister for Local Government’s established principles that reform outcomes should always

- Be in the best interests of the community.

- Reserve and maintain local representation.

- Ensure financial sustainability of Councils.

- Improve the level of service for communities.

 

GSBC looks forward to working with our neighbouring councils and the Local Government Division on these important principles in coming months to enable robust community consultation to occur and informed decisions to be made.

Council supported a request from the family of Mr Adrian O’Leary for a commemorative seat at the Triabunna Marina.  Adrian, who sadly passed away last August, was a long-standing employee of GSBC and played an important role in the marina project.

There were some policies for review and two requests for event support and a community grant application to be considered.  Council welcomes applications for both community grants and event support.  As our Communications Officer, Eliza departs for maternity leave, we have welcomed Bernadette to the community engagement team.  Reach out to Bernadette by email community@freycinet.tas.gov.au if you are considering applying for a community grant or your organisation is hosting an event that you may want to advertise through our social media networks.

Have you heard of the Spring Bay Community Food Hub in Triabunna?  It commenced operations in August last year and has an amazing coordinator and a group of wonderful volunteers who are committed to easing the burden of food insecurity in our community.   There is no pre-condition for a pension card or the like to access the hub.  They are currently opening Wednesday 3pm till approx. 6 pm, Thursday and Saturday 10 am to 2pm.  Everyone is welcome.