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FRIDAY, November 22, 2024
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Inside
Can you handle the ‘hot wing’ challenge? Page 4
SWAP MEET SHOWSTOPPER KEN Essenhigh polishes up his classic 1950 Holden FX for the Show ‘n’ Shine event at this Sunday’s Wangaratta Swap Meet at the Showgrounds. Story page 16. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
Greta FNC’s new head honcho Sport
Back to basics
IIrene G Grantt and dH Harvey B Benton t elected l t d as mayor and dd deputy; t bi big ti ticket k t it items still till on agenda d
NEWLY installed Mayor Irene Grant will pose a figure of stability as council lifts its focus on the core services of council in a tough economic climate. The experienced mayor was elected 4-3 at Tuesday night’s special meeting after eventual Deputy Mayor Harvey Benton put forward her nomination. Fellow councillors Benton, Ashlee Fitzpatrick, and Tania
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BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au
Maxwell voted for Cr Grant as mayor with Crs Harry Bussell and Allison Winters backing a self-nominated Dave Fuller who was in opposition for the top job. Both were elected for a one year term. Cr Grant served as
councillor in the previous term and also as an administrator between 2013 and 2016 and her outlook will be more of the same by focusing on the basics of council. However, she did highlight her interest to see some stages of the proposed $20 million Wangaratta Creative Precinct art gallery development funded by government. Feedback from the
community was heightened during the election period and Cr Grant said a strong focus on the core services will shine through over the next four years. “The feedback that I get is that people want us to focus on the business of council and we’re here to provide services; the library, sports and aquatic centre, and sporting fields,” she said. “They want to see roads
without potholes, the parks and gardens looking good and yet in all of that we have to look strategically in how council works to mitigate climate change and things we need to do to make our community a safe and better place. “If people are critical about what council does or doesn’t do it’s usually around roads, rates and rubbish.” In the coming year Cr
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Grant said main things on the agenda include the rating strategy, the 10-year financial plan, and the community plan, which every new council undertakes. “I’m really excited about the prospect of our performing arts complex and I’m hoping we’re lucky enough to get funding to kickstart that project,” she said. ■ Continued page 3