MITCHELL Shire Council has been busy in Canberra this week, with Mayor Councillor John Dougall, CEO Mary Agostino and Councillor Andrea Pace in the nation’s capital for the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly.
Cr Dougall, in a video posted on social media, outlined a diary of his meetings with influential politicians for the Mitchell Shire area.
Meeting with Senator James Patterson, he said military and mental health services were high on the agenda.
“What we wanted to raise with him were mental health services that we would like in place on day one at the Seymour Wellbeing Centre. We’d like mental health services available and with a specific focus on veterans’ mental health,” Cr Dougall said.
“We also raised with him the opportunity to think about a military museum in Seymour. He is going to hopefully get underway and develop a feasibility study.”
A chat with Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King was also on the agenda for the team.
“We demonstrated the range of community infrastructure that we need to build over the next period,” Cr Dougall said.
“The best way to make this point was to talk through the way we’ve put together our 10-year financial plan.”
A meeting with Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell was also arranged.
“He’s engaged with us on projects in Kilmore,” Cr Dougall said.
“In particular, the John Street Link, the Kilmore Bypass, he’s aware of the challenge there, and also the Hilldene Indsutrial Precinct in Seymour.”
Meetings to address health, social services and family violence was also arranged, as was a meeting with Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson to discuss housing.