Congratulations to Queenstown artist Raymond Arnold for winning the Glover Prize, Australia’s richest landscape painting prize last week

This is the second time Raymond has received the prestigious award having first claimed the prize in 2007.  With both paintings depicting the West Coast, Raymond’s work has helped showcase our region to a new audience over many years.

I was pleased to formally present Geoffrey Steele, Riley Sheehan and the Lake Burbury Fishing Competition with their West Coast Australia Day 2017 Awards last week.  Whilst it was a small affair the Deputy Mayor and I had a conversation about the possibility in future years of inviting previous recipients to a small function and as such we’ll be talking to Council about the establishment of an Australia Day Awards Policy to take to Council in next few months.

The monthly Council meeting will be held from 5pm tonight at the Community Hall in Tullah. Amongst the items on the agenda Councillors will be asked to consider a recommendation from the Economic Development, Tourism & Events Coordinator for Council to coordinate an event during National Volunteers Week in May.

Councillors and the senior management team are touring the region this week as part of the 2017-2018 budget deliberations.  This provides Councillors an opportunity to further understand the works needing to be completed across our communities.  A reminder that the public can submit ideas for items they would like to see included for completion in the next financial year.  More information is available at the Council office and website.

Phil Vickers

MAYOR