HELLO everybody. I am pleased to have the opportunity to report to you on what has been a challenging and productive year and a year of change.
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Our general manager Rod Shaw retired in January 2017 and we welcomed Peter Veneris. Rod successfully steered this shire through some challenging times, in particular the Fit for the Future process, and can be truly proud of his achievements, especially keeping Lockhart Shire as a stand-alone Council.
The new council hit the ground running with a series of community consultations meetings across the shire to engage, inform and consult residents about our plans going forward. The consultations resulted in a revised 10 year Community Strategic Plan (2017-2027) and a new four year Delivery Program (2017-2021) for the term of the current Council.
Whilst consulting the community on our plans going forward council also delivered a very significant works, including:
- Widening of Reid Street Lockhart;
- Completion of cycle/walking track to The Rock Hill;
- Continued widening the Osborne/Yerong Creek Road and The Rock/Mangoplah Road;
- Restoration of flood affected roads;
- Construction of a five lot residential subdivision at Carson Road The Rock and the sale of all five lots;
- Completion of the Community Recycling Centre at the Lockhart landfill;
- Upgrade of Grubbin Road;
- Installation of major culvert on the Urana to Lockhart Road;
- Reconstruction of tertiary treatment ponds at The Rock Sewerage Treatment Plant.
Detailed planning and design work was also undertaken in relation to planned upgrades of the swimming pools at Lockhart and The Rock. Steering committees with community representation were established to inform the design phase and to provide guidance with the project.
The complete refurbishment of the two swimming pools was premised on council’s application for a special rate variation above the State Government’s rate pegging limit. Council’s application to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) however was unsuccessful. Therefore Council’s Draft Budget placed on public exhibition in May/June 2016/17 included Swimming Pools Capital Works totalling $2 million in 2018/19 and 2019/20 to carry out essential repairs to the Lockhart and The Rock swimming pools.
Much of what is achieved in the Lockhart Shire community would not be possible without the many dedicated volunteers who participate in section 355 committees, sporting clubs, service clubs, progress associations and the wide variety of other community groups present in the Shire.
I believe much has been achieved in 2016/17 and I look forward to another productive year in 2017/18 with numerous projects in the pipeline.
I would like to conclude by once again thanking my fellow councillors, our dedicated staff and our community minded volunteers for all your support. It is both an honour and a pleasure to have the opportunity to serve the shire as mayor.
