News from the Mayor - May 2019 edition

29 May 2019 2:34 PM -

Hi Everyone

My wife and I enjoyed an interesting start to the month when we joined the Leeton Family and Local History Society on a Cemetery Walk led by Cr Tony Reneker and Wendy Senti. It was inspiring to hear the rich history of Leeton’s pioneers and leaders who have helped create the great Shire we live in today. I hope the Society offers this enlightening opportunity again. 

It was a coup to have both the Hon Paul Toole, NSW Minister for Regional Roads and Transport, and Sussan Ley our newly re-elected Federal Member for Farrer officiate at the launch of the WRConnect master plan. WRConnect is the new name for the freight intermodal at Wumbulgal. This visionary project will assist businesses in Leeton and the Western Riverina to get their products to market faster and at less cost.  Our next challenge is to get the Plan implemented.

Economic development staff and I traveled to Sydney to showcase our Shire as an attractive place to live and work.  Being well known as a caring and welcoming community, Leeton Shire was one of three Councils specifically invited to exhibit our region and job opportunities at the ‘Take the LEAP Employment Expo’. The day was a huge success.

I had the pleasure of opening the National Apex 40 Annual Convention during which 120 plus members experienced the best of the food bowl of Australia while rekindling old friendships and making new ones.  Attendees came from across the country and visited many of our local attractions.  I heard lots of compliments about our town and a good number of Apex members stayed up to two weeks before or after the convention providing a welcome boost to our local economy.  My congratulations to the organisers.

Staff and I met with Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley, who announced funding of $496,000 towards the Leeton Showground Grandstand rebuild.  This extra funding is appreciated and along with funds from NSW Government and AFL will deliver the full $1.8 million project. 

Water policy remains a high priority for the Shire. The General Manager and I accepted an invitation to meet with the new State Government Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, and Deputy Premier, John Barilaro in Griffith last week.  The Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, attended too.  The Ministers listened intently and committed to working proactively with communities to help address our water policy concerns. 

A Health Forum facilitated by the Primary Health Network (PHN) was held last Thursday and I took the opportunity to outline our health and hospital concerns to their national CEO.  Council will actively follow up with the PHN with a view to ensuring Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) services at our hospital are improved.

Take care and best wishes until my June update.

Kind Regards, Mayor Cr Paul Maytom