Council Meeting wrap - March 2023

Council Meeting wrap - March 2023

Published on 15 March 2023

Confirmation of Melbourne Cup Day public holiday arrangements for the municipality and the adoption of the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy were highlights of Gannawarra Shire Council’s March 2023 meeting.

Held at the Kerang Senior Citizen’s Centre, the key item of discussion was the outcome of the community engagement period regarding Melbourne Cup Day public holiday arrangements for the municipality. Conducted during November and December 2022, this engagement process gauged community interest in changing the Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday in 2023 for the Kerang and District Agricultural Society Show Day.

Council received 302 responses from residents, which found overwhelming support for the current arrangements of observing the Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday throughout the municipality.

As a result of retaining the status quo, Council will work with the Kerang and District Agricultural Society to identify ways to address the declining number of volunteers available to assist with running the Kerang Show.

Councillors also adopted the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy, which formalises a clear strategic direction for climate change adaptation and mitigation for Gannawarra Shire.

The strategy builds on work undertaken to develop Council’s Climate Change policy, with the document outlining actions and goals that will help Council achieve its vision of becoming a highly sustainable and resilient regional Council, as well as a leading region for renewable energy and low carbon technology by 2040.

Other outcomes of the meeting included:

Receive and noting the summary of the discussions of the Audit and Risk Committee meeting held 27 February 2023; Adopting the Schedule of Fees and Charges 2023/2024, effective from 1 July 2023; Endorse the Draft Council Policy No. 148 – Flags and Draft Community Flag Schedule for community feedback for a period of 28 days; Awarding CJ & BT McLoughlan Pty Ltd the contract for the Kerang CBD Redevelopment – Stage 3; and Declining a further extension of the current L2P Driver Mentor Program contract from 1 July 2023.

For more information, including a link to the video from this meeting and minutes, please visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au/meetings