By Evelyn Leckie
COUNCILLOR David Lowe is the new Mayor of the Mitchell Shire Council.
Cr Lowe was elected as mayor last night, with Cr David Atkinson remaining in his current role as deputy mayor.
Before his appointment, Cr Lowe made a speech to his colleagues on why he should be mayor for the upcoming year.
“The last year of council has been a divisive one, it is the opportune time for change,” Cr Lowe said.
Cr Lowe said future changes in State Government would affect regional local councils going forward.
“Like it or not we’re going to be opposed by the next election, it could be radical or conservative, even the most conservative changes will be more expansive than we’ve ever seen before,” he said.
“Let’s not run away from this changes and start changing the way we operate.”
Cr Lowe told the North Central Review his goal as mayor was to make council a lot more accessible and mobile.
“I want to be holding council meetings in the bigger townships,” he said.
“I want to be holding question and hearing committees in the bigger townships, I want more people coming along and being interested and I want people to be more involved in the process – we’re here for them.”
Previous Mayor for 2018-2019 Bill Chisholm did not seek re-appointment, and thanked his colleagues for their work in the past year.
“The important word, whether they be community members, council staff or councillors is, ‘teamwork’. This is the quality that has exemplified this council and its work within the various communities that make up this shire,” Cr Chisholm said.
“It is truly amazing what can be achieved when we all work together.”
More in next week’s Review.
