As mayor, one of my priorities has been making sure East Gippsland has a strong voice – locally, across Victoria and nationally.
There is a great deal happening across our shire, and much of my work is about making sure our communities are heard and that we secure the investment needed for our future.
Council has adopted a set of priorities for the Victorian election, covering issues including a new emergency department at Bairnsdale Hospital, better road funding, housing-enabling infrastructure, a new Lakes Entrance CFA station, housing growth in Lakes Entrance and Paynesville, and support for communities through the forestry industry transition.
I have been working with our councillors, our chief executive officer and Rural Councils Victoria to ensure these issues remain firmly on the regional agenda.
Rural councils face particular challenges, from the cost of maintaining enormous road networks to housing pressures and the need to provide infrastructure that enables sustainable growth.
Working together gives regional councils a stronger voice.
Our advocacy will continue in the months ahead.
In September, our chief executive officer and I will travel to Canberra for the Regions Rising National Summit at Parliament House.
We will use the opportunity not only to hear from regional leaders from across Australia, but also to meet with federal representatives and advocate directly for East Gippsland.
We will be focusing on issues including regional economic development, environment and coastal management, infrastructure, community resilience and local government.
Closer to home, I am always proud to welcome new Australian citizens to our community.
On National Citizenship Day on September 17, council will hold a citizenship ceremony celebrating people who have chosen East Gippsland as their home.
These occasions are a wonderful reminder that our community is strengthened by the many people and cultures that make up our shire.
Also close to home, I’ll be at the Slip Road Maritime Precinct today for its official opening.
It will be great to see the community and local businesses there to mark the occasion, as well as see the first boat launch from the new ramp.
It will be a great opportunity to showcase what this project means for Paynesville and the broader Gippsland Lakes. It’s an exciting investment in the future of boating and marine industries in our region.
September also means spring has sprung.
There will be plenty happening in our towns and communities as the weather warms and the days lengthen.
The Wild Harvest Seafood Festival returns to Mallacoota from September 25-27, celebrating our local seafood industry, commercial fishers, food producers and the extraordinary connection Mallacoota has with the ocean.
Council is proud to support this event and the economic and tourism opportunities it creates.
Being Mayor is ultimately about representing our communities and making sure their priorities are heard.
Whether I am meeting with residents, visiting local projects, working with other councils or speaking with state and federal representatives, my focus remains the same – creating the conditions for our communities to thrive.
East Gippsland has enormous potential. My role is to help make sure that potential is recognised, supported and turned into opportunities for the people who live here.
– East Gippsland Shire mayor, Cr Jodie Ashworth
