Report from the mayor

This annual report is written under the shadow of the influences and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This global incident has taken an awful toll on human life, has negatively impacted world economies and its disruptions affect our livelihood, how we work and participate in the community, and has definitively changed our plans for the future.

Whilst the Central Highlands, for the main part, was less affected than many other regions, the impact on council activities was severe and felt in our financial position.

Having originally set a modest operating deficit for the 2019-2020 financial year, impacts to capital works, airport 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.

Our council is facing increasing and very much changed challenges in the future and it will require determination, dedication and resilience to hold the course.