A message from the Mayor - Council priorities

Published on 24 August 2015

There’s been debate in local media over the last week about what Mildura Rural City Council’s main priorities should be and what sort of issues we need to be taking a stance on. 

I think it’s important we set the record straight on how we decide which projects and issues we actively advocate for and support.

Back when we first started our term as Councillors, all newly elected Councillors came together and worked through some of the major projects the community were calling for.  We looked at the issues facing us, discussed, debated and then decided as a group, what our priorities would be for our term. 

During this time, we all had an opportunity to put forward ideas for discussion and to put our cases for the projects we saw as most important. 

We, as a group not as individuals, came up with our list of priorities.  These priorities included lobbying for upgrades to the rail system, improvements to our highways and road systems and construction of the Benetook bypass for heavy vehicles.

We have been working hard to see these become a reality and there has been positive progress on many of the projects, such as the rail upgrade announced last week.  This project in particular, has been successful because of collaboration with like-minded Councils and industry bodies and it’s a model we look to use on other projects where possible.

The strength of providing a united front as a community and as a region to State and Federal Governments, cannot be understated.  We need to show cohesion and balance, and then we have the opportunity to push for the funding and support we need.

The fact is, every day we could make a change to our list of priorities. But we need to stand by the decisions we have made. We’ve planned carefully how to tackle each issue, we are making strategic decisions on how to best present our case for change and not knee-jerk, ad hoc assessments and we are working within the limited resources we have to see these projects come to fruition.

I’m not saying we can’t be flexible and look at other concerns as they arise.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t have public discussions about what we want our community to look and feel like into the future.  I’m just saying we need to weigh up the value and risks associated in changing tack on projects that are already starting to achieve the desired outcomes.

I want to state again that Council has never said that we don’t support the return of a passenger train to our region.  What we have maintained is that our priority is to see the freight rail system brought up to scratch and once this happens, we can then look at working with the State Government on improvements to our public transport system.

That said, Public Transport Victoria is currently working on a Regional Network Development Plan to set their priorities for services, infrastructure and investment. They’re holding a Community Workshop here in Mildura tonight at the Grand Hotel from 5pm and I encourage everyone to get along and let the State Government know your feelings on public transport in our region.

And if you can’t make it to the session, why not give your opinion by telephoning Public Transport Victoria on 1800 800 007 or online at https://getinvolved.ptv.vic.gov.au/regional-network-development-plan

Cr Glenn Milne
Mayor