Report from the mayor This annual report is written
This year was an election year for local government, and
under the shadow of the
we saw four councillors returned and four new councillors
influences and impacts of the
elected. Paul Bell, Gail Godwin-Smith and Gail Nixon
COVID-19 pandemic.
retired and, on behalf of our communities, we thank these
This global incident has taken an awful toll on human life,
councillors and Alan McIndoe for their incredible service to the region.
has negatively impacted world
Councillors Christine Rolfe, Charlie Brimblecombe, Megan
economies and its disruptions
Daniels and Gai Sypher are joined by Joe Burns, Anne
affect our livelihood, how we
Carpenter, Natalie Curtis and Janice Moriarty to serve the
work and participate in the community, and has definitively changed our plans for the future.
Central Highlands for the next four years. Whilst this election was conducted in the very early stages of
Whilst the Central Highlands, for the main part, was less
COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, it was impossible to predict
affected than many other regions, the impact on council
how the region would be impacted and ultimately changed.
activities was severe and felt in our financial position.
Our council is facing increasing and very much changed
Having originally set a modest operating deficit for the
challenges in the future and it will require determination,
2019-2020 financial year, impacts to capital works, airport
dedication and resilience to hold the course.
operations, and cash interest revenue have increased the final deficit position. Despite these disruptions, council’s business continuity planning ensured that we delivered $67.7 million of the capital works program, kept our services as functional as possible and adapted our delivery. And, under these extraordinary circumstances, we have kept rate increases to a minimum. We are constantly working to ensure that council operations are as efficient as they can be without compromising
Councillor Kerry Hayes Mayor Central Highlands Regional Council
community service level expectations. To that end, council sold its Shepton Quarry during the year thereby removing a substantive legacy asset from its operations. Focussing on our core responsibilities, particularly asset management, will remove expensive provisions on the balance sheet and enable council the flexibility to fund more community infrastructure in future budgets.
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Central Highlighlands Regional Council Annual Report 2019-2020
