Mayoral Column - June 2025
Published on 24 June 2025
My thanks to everyone who made a submission to the DRAFT 2025-2029 Delivery Program, 2025/26 Operational Plan, Long-Term Financial Plan, Budget, and Revenue Policy. Engaging with our community on Council’s proposed plans is vital when making big decisions about the future of our Shire and we greatly value your feedback. Whether you submitted your views online or attended one of the consultation sessions, please know that you’ve helped shape the future of Leeton Shire.
You might ask how this all happened – well, on 10 June 2025, Council held an extraordinary meeting to consider and discuss all the responses and determined what to leave in, what to take out and what to amend. It was a long but worthwhile night with loads of robust and respectful debate between councillors! While not all plans will be immediately progressed for financial sustainability reasons, we think the overall direction supports community aspirations within the constraints of our general fund. However, it is only on 30 June, at our Ordinary Council meeting, that we will decide what gets finally locked in for 2025/26 and what gets pencilled in for the rest of this term of Council. You are welcome to attend.
Addressing financial sustainability remains a high priority and Councillors are looking forward to getting an update on Professor Drew's (University of Newcastle) independent report into Council's finances in late July and hope to have his findings formally tabled at the August Ordinary Council meeting for public release. We are already anticipating setting up a Financial Sustainability Committee to consider his recommendations. A flyer detailing Professor Drew's key findings will be included in the next available rates notice, along with the usual social media and newspaper updates. In the meantime I've really enjoyed Prof Drew's videos on local government finances and hope residents have found them helpful too.
Some Councillors and staff visited our sporting precinct recently to check out a few things and were reminded about how impressive our facilities are and how important they are to our sporting community. While a stadium expansion hasn't been included in the final capital works list for the Delivery Program 2025-2029, there does still appear to be appetite for doing some initial master planning. Watch this space at the 30 June Council meeting.
On a different note, I want to acknowledge the terrific work of our staff who entered four high-quality initiatives into the Local Government Professionals Excellence Awards. While we didn’t take home a win this time, it was an honour to be selected and recognised as finalists. The projects included Council's Gamechanger for Youth program, the revitalised Chelmsford Town Square, the Digital Twin Water Initiative which has identified and reduced non-revenue water losses, and the roll-out of FOGO including our impressively low contamination rates (with a big pat of the back for our residents!). These are great examples of the effort and innovation happening across Council every day. You can read more about these projects here.
On a more serious note, the General Manager and I presented to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Modern Slavery Risks Faced by Temporary Migrant Workers in Rural and Regional New South Wales earlier this month. Leeton relies heavily on its migrant workforce, especially those on the PALM Scheme, and we are asking the government to address some systemic visa and welfare issues that will make things fairer for those who find themselves disengaged from the scheme in other parts of Australia but wish to live and work in the Western Riverina.
Back home, it’s been great to see our cultural venues buzzing with activity. The Roxy Theatre and Leeton Museum and Art Gallery (LMAG) have hosted a vibrant mix of local talent and visiting performers! In addition, construction on a lift has commenced at LMAG which will activate a new exhibition on the first floor of the building – more on this will be shared later in the year.
Upcoming events at the Roxy include Dance Makers Collective's - The Saturday Night Social (28 June 2025), St Joseph's Primary School Musical (30 June - 2 July 2025), and Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin (13 July 2025). Tickets can be purchased here – there’s something for everyone, so make sure you check out what’s on and support our newly refurbished community theatre!
I know many residents have raised concerns in recent months about their third trimester water bills. This billing period coincided with some of the driest months this year, leading to higher than usual consumption and costs. Council has heard residents’ concerns and will consider what can change to smooth out water bills in future years. I also strongly encourage everyone to make use of the MyH2O Water Portal to track household water usage in real time. It’s a great way to stay informed, manage your water use and avoid unwanted surprises. Learn more here.
This week, Deputy Mayor Cr Michael Kidd, Cr Sarah Tiffen, General Manager Jackie Kruger and I are in Canberra for the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly. These events are vital for sharing insights, learning from other councils, and raising key issues with Federal MPs. We will definitely use the opportunity to champion priorities like more funding for affordable housing developments in rural Australia, better access to GP services and a return to 1% of taxation revenue to local councils across the country. Currently, federal assistance grants sit around half a percent of taxation revenue which is exacerbating our financial challenges.
In closing, it was a delight to announce Round 2 of the Community Strengthening Grants which sees nearly $19,500 awarded to local groups for initiatives that enhance wellbeing and participation. Congratulations to all the recipients – your work as volunteers helps make Leeton a better place for everyone. More here.
See you the weekend of 11 - 13 July 2025 for the Art Deco Festival. It's going to be a lot of fun! See details here.
Until next time, thank you for your continued engagement and strong community spirit.
Warm regards,
Mayor Cr George Weston