Cr O'Rourke returned for fourth Mayoral term, sets new City record

Cr Margaret O’Rourke will be the first person to serve as Mayor four times in the one Council term, setting a new record for the City of Greater Bendigo.

Cr Matt Emond is Deputy Mayor-elect and will support Cr O’Rourke.

Cr O’Rourke said she was delighted and honoured to be returned as Mayor and looked forward to leading Council through the final year of its term.

“It is such a privilege to serve in this role and I am so appreciative to again have this opportunity. It is an honour to be able to represent the community in this way,” she said.

“This is our final push to either start or complete a range of projects that have been on our to-do list since we were elected in 2016, and also ensure that the next Council is set up for success.

“I am focused on updating Plan Greater Bendigo and passing this through Council. It will seek to outline a list of transformational projects, both socially as well as new infrastructure projects, that will help our community progress and enhance our overall liveability.

“It will also be important to keep Greater Bendigo top-of-mind with our politicians and build on the advocacy visits we have made this year to Melbourne and Canberra, where we received very encouraging responses from a range of Ministers and government departments.

“Our private industry relationships will continue to be a focus, particularly with Qantas and growing this service to our community as well as helping to attract new industries to Greater Bendigo.

“Completion and implementation of a number of strategies, identifying a waste solution and new industrial land sites and continuing to focus on our rural communities will also be important.”

Cr Emond said he was ready to roll up his sleeves and step into the Deputy Mayor role.

“I am excited and grateful for this opportunity to support Cr O’Rourke and share the leadership of Council,” he said.

“We are very much in our fourth quarter now as a Council team and our focus needs to be on finishing what has been started and ensuring we deliver on our vision for Greater Bendigo to be the world’s most liveable community.

“I am particularly passionate about future job growth with a focus on the creative sector, so implementing the Creative GREATER Bendigo strategy will be important to me, along with growing the capacity of our city and region, particularly from a digital perspective.”

Cr O’Rourke and Cr Emond will be formally elected to their roles at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday November 19 at 6pm in the Bendigo Town Hall.