Gympie Regional Council Meet For First Time

A new look Gympie Regional Council officially met for the first time this morning.

Chaired by newly elected Mayor Cr Glen Hartwig, the meeting was live streamed via council’s Facebook page in an effort to adhere to social distancing recommendations.

“Now the blur of campaigning is over, and we as a Council have met for the first time, we can now start performing in our roles, for community,” Cr Hartwig said after the meeting.

“As a new Council we will not always get it right, but we always take responsibility. It was humbling to be elected Mayor and it was humbling to chair this first meeting of this Council.

“Now is when the real work will start,” Cr Hartwig said.

Gympie Regional Council endorsed a number of legislative recommendations during the meeting, including the allocation of Councillors to portfolios and the appointment of councillors to various committees throughout the community.

A recommendation to continue the appointment through to December 2020 of two independent members to Council’s Audit and Risk Management Committee was also endorsed.

Cr Smerdon ‘honoured’ to be appointed Deputy Mayor

Division six Councillor Hilary Smerdon was unanimously endorsed as Gympie Regional Council’s Deputy Mayor this morning during what was the first meeting of the newly elected Council.

Nominated by division two councillor Dolly Jensen, Cr Smerdon said he was ‘honoured’ to perform in the role.

“The Deputy Mayor position is about assisting the Council and by extension our community in a number of ways.

“As Deputy Mayor I will endeavour to assist Councillor Hartwig in his role and perform my duties in the community with the same motivation and commitment as I did as a councillor in my last term.

“I would like to thank the community and this Council for their support and faith in my ability to do this job.

“I look forward to representing you all in my capacity as Deputy Mayor,” Cr Smerdon said.