Council has commenced the process for setting the 18-19 budget. Members of the public can lodge their ideas for projects for Council to consider.

Submissions should be for items considered a priority and that will maintain or improve community assets and benefit the community.  As always, the focus of Councillors will be to achieve a balanced budget whilst ensuring we pursue the outcomes identified in the Community Plan.  Submissions forms are available online  and in hard copy around the region and should be returned to Council by 9 April.

People will have noticed advertising for consultants to complete studies in relation to cemeteries and parking on the West Coast.  These studies, together with the Branding Project, review of the Sport and Recreation Plan and the Strahan Airport Feasibility Study, follow Council’s commitment to ensure our works and planning have appropriate strategic groundwork behind them.  Gone are the days where projects are completed on a whim with no background evidence or planning.  It will be interesting to see where the outcomes of the current studies we are undertaking lead us, both as a Council and a region.

The purchase of the old Central School has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response from across the West Coast.  In partnership with all levels of government we must look at a strategic approach as there are many problems associated with the lack of accommodation and care for our elderly and sick.  Whilst the purchase is a positive we must be realistic in understanding the transformation of the school won’t occur in a short timeframe.  We have a responsibility to ensure any project at the site is completed with correct planning and community consultation.

Phil Vickers

MAYOR