Issue #356 – Wednesday, 9 November, 2016
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
Stepping up for the community THERE are plenty of free community groups and activities to get involved in - some people just don t know about them yet.
FOR MORE, SEE PAGE 5
Speedie to lead By Monique Kuzeff ANNA Speedie will be taking the City of Wodonga forward in her second term as mayor, after being voted in at the council meeting on Monday night. “I look forward to using my 11 years of experience and relationships with government and the private sector to the betterment of this city,” Cr Speedie said in her mayoral speech. “This new council has been handed a strong and financially sound platform on which to progress over the next four years.” Cr Speedie was among two other councillors, Ron Mildren and former mayor John Watson, nominated to step up for the mayoral role. However, Cr Watson declined the opportunity to run for the position due to personal reasons and commitments. Cr Mildren “reluctantly” accepted the nomination on the basis that Cr Watson had declined. “The feedback and information that I got from the constituents in this area over the past few days has been overpowering for the request for change,” Cr Mildren said. “I think we need to be seen to be offering the opportunity for the alternative opinions to be heard, and I think that this is what this process is all about.” Cr Speedie won the mayoral role with four to three votes, joined by Cr Watson, Cr Danny Lowe and Cr Kat Bennett. Councillors Libby Hall and Tim Quilty voted in favour of Cr Mildren. Cr Bennett admitted her support for Cr Speedie because of her strong primary vote, and extensive knowledge of local government. “Both residents and ratepayers put Cr Speedie as their number one choice, so there’s obviously a large proportion in our community that do support Cr
Wodonga’s new council with Kat Bennett, John Watson, Anna Speedie (mayor), Tim Quilty, Ron Mildren, Libby Hall and Danny Lowe. 161614 Picture: MONIQUE KUZEFF Speedie and this is certainly what I’ve heard as well,” Cr Bennett said. “With Cr Speedie’s 11 years of experience, she has a really good knowledge of how this level of local government works and also she’s had a good opportunity to build up relationships with state and federal government, which I think would be really important for us to leverage off.”
Council voted not to appoint a deputy mayor but agreed to extend the one year mayoral job to a two-year term. Upon accepting her mayoral reelection, Cr Speedie highlighted some achievements of council in the past five years including economic growth, fast planning permit turnover, and both private and council investments.
“These things don’t just happen by themselves - they take strong relationships and hard work lobbying government and commitment to the future of our city,” Cr Speedie said. “With the fastest planning permit turnaround in the state, and businesses choosing Wodonga to establish themselves in our city, I think this council
can move forward with confidence of a strong and robust structure to continue moving our city forward.” She praised the new council saying it was “fantastic” to have new ideas, visions and energy on council and that she looked forward to assist each councillor with getting up to speed with current and prospective projects.
Simply the best choice of LAND. Both sides of the border. NOW SELLING STAGES 1 & 2- SOMERSET RISE!!! 1 Stanton Drive
$133,000
61 O’Keefe Street
$127,500
2007 Lankester Crt $137,500
2 Stanton Drive
$143,000
62 O’Keefe Street
$128,000
2008 Lankester Crt $120,000
3 Maclure Rd
SOLD $130,000
65 Zellar Court
$117,000
SOLD 2009 Lankester Crt $120,000
6 Maclure Rd
SOLD $110,000
67 Zellar Court
$110,000
2010 Lankester Crt $135,000
7 Stanton Drive
$110,000
68 Zellar Court
$125,000
SOLD 2012 Lankester Crt $135,000
8 Stanton Drive
$120,000
69 Zellar Court
SOLD $135,000
2013 Lankester Crt $135,000
17 Stanton Drive
$135,000
71 Stanton Drive
$125,000
SOLD 2017 Lankester Crt $125,000
2033 Hay Court
SOLD $140,000
LAND SALES 02 60 567 111
3333 Phelps Court
$145,000
72 Stanton Drive
$130,000
2022 Stanton Drive $125,000
2034 Hay Court
SOLD $129,000
39 Gallagher St
SOLD $110,000
79 Whitler Road
$125,000
2023 Stanton Drive $125,000
2035 Hay Court
SOLD $137,000
57 O’Keefe Street
$143,000
2003 Lankester Crt $145,000
2024 Knowles Crt
$125,000
2036 Hay Court
$135,000
58 O’Keefe Street
$114,000
2005 Lankester Crt $120,000
2025 Knowles Crt
SOLD $109,000
SOLD 2037 Hargraves Rd $135,000
www.nordcon.com.au
59 O’Keefe Street
$145,000
2006 Lankester Crt $137,500
2026 Knowles Crt
$132,000
SOLD 2040 Hargraves Rd $125,000
0 $2r,o5m0pt
P ment Settle unt! Disco ils r Call fo
deta
12329252-KC45-16