Council Meeting wrap - February 2024

Council Meeting wrap - February 2024

Published on 22 February 2024

The tabling of a report regarding Council’s urban stormwater drainage network and planned upgrades to alleviate urban flooding resulting from future storm events was the highlight of Gannawarra Shire Council’s first meeting for 2024.

Held at the Kerang Senior Citizens Centre on 21 February 2024, the meeting was the first to be held since the Gannawarra received 70 per cent of its annual rainfall in a two-week period, which impacted Council’s drainage network and was significant enough to be declared an emergency event by the Federal Government.

A report on Council’s urban stormwater drainage network identified locations where improvements can be implemented to reduce the impact of future events, with a draft list of these projects to be incorporated into Council’s long-term financial planning.

Meanwhile, Council approved a request from Cr Jane Ogden to take a three-month leave of absence from 1 March 2024 to 31 May 2024.

Other outcomes of the meeting included:

Lay on the table the noting of Council’s 2023/24 Quarterly Budget report as of 31 September 2023, with the matter to be discussed at the March 2024 Council Meeting, with a report on the financial impact of Council’s decision to withdraw providing Community Care services to also be provided; Confirming that the November 2024 Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 27 November at the Kerang Senior Citizens Centre, starting at 6pm, ensuring this meeting will be outside of the local government election caretaker period; Reaffirming Council’s commitment to the Women’s Health Loddon Mallee Collective Action for Respect & Equality (CARE) Partnership; and That Council writes to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to express its disappointment with the time taken to deliver its recommendations regarding a planning permit application for a rotational outdoor pig farm at Gannawarra.

Questions from the public regarding the urban stormwater drainage network, planned improvements following the Christmas Day 2023 and January 2024 flash flooding, as well as the future of a dam adjacent to the Kerang-Swan Hill railway line and Mokana Street, Kerang were addressed.

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