At all times your collective responsive, considered replies and actions have made my job as Mayor easier in this challenging environment than it may have been. 

To my Councillor colleagues I thank you for your support, guidance and help, collectively we have achieved a great deal.

On reflection the Ararat Rural City has achieved some really good outcomes for ratepayers and residents during this past year. This is not to say that there is still a great deal to achieve.

Our rural road network is in the best condition it has been in many years due to additional Flood Recovery funds, the Country Roads and Bridges Program, Roads to Recovery funding and record commitments from our own budgets. 

It is disappointing that whilst we have another two years of R2R funding from the Federal Government, we have lost the valued Country Roads and Bridges programs worth a million a year to us.

Opening of Alexandra Community Centre, has received great praise from all that have used this fantastic facility. I’m so happy for the Pomonal community now that work has finally commenced on the new Pomonal Hall. The outdoor pool is progressing well. The Project Control Group is meeting regularly for the redevelopment of the Performing Arts Centre precinct.  We will soon announce the architect for the project and expect a tender to be available by June next year in the market place. 

Rates continue to trend downwards with a reduction from six-to-five-to-four percent over the past three years, with more than one million in operating costs taken out of the organisation, without services being affected. 

Our HACC and Recreation services continued to be valued by all that use them. We have had a record participation at the newly branded Ararat Fitness Centre with usage passing the 100,000 per year mark. Ararat Active is still alive.

The Ararat Wind Farm commenced construction and on the advocacy front, I’m confident that Council’s reputational damage has been overcome and Council has a positive relationship with both sides of the aisle in Spring Street.  We have continued to strengthen our relationship with our neighbours and we have led the Central Highlands Group of Councils for the last two years. In addition I have been appointed to the Grampians Regional Development Australia (RDA) Committee.

The Seniors Festival is coming to a close with a fantastic response and record participation.

We have however, many challenges including, but not limited to, the sustainability of our road network from 2018 and beyond when our additional R2R funding reverts. 

On the infrastructure front our buildings need considerable maintenance and this will be difficult in a constrained cap rate environment. 

Earlier budget setting under Essential Services Commission (ESC) guidelines means that we as Councillors for this year at least, have to set a budget by the end of January 2016 at a level thought to be approximately 3.5 percent.

We need to continue to strive for more operational and efficiency savings from our organisation without impacting on services that our ratepayers and residents need and enjoy.

During the Moyston fires I witnessed first-hand not only true professionalism and leadership but also real empathy by our Emergency management team.

It made me really proud to serve alongside and be associated with these officers, I know that you also share that view. The resilience of the Moyston community is to be applauded, and Council continues to assist with the recovery. I also thank businesses, members of community groups and Council officers for all having contributed to improving the liveability and amenity of our City.

I again thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to serve again as your Mayor.

Ararat Rural City Mayor