Economic development and creating jobs for youth will be first priority of newly elected Moorabool mayor David Edwards.
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The incumbent councillor was unanimously elected by his six fellow councillors at a mayoral vote at the Moorabool Shire Council, earlier this week.
It’s is the first time, Cr Edwards has put his hand up to be mayor.
“We’re facing the same pressures at both ends of the shire, so the focus needs to be on how we manage growth appropriately,” he said.
“We need to protect the identity of our towns like Bacchus Marsh, but we’ve also got a lot of work to do on housing strategies, keeping pace with the infrastructure growth and what the community expects.”
Cr Edwards said among the biggest challenges ahead for the council was high growth predicted in Ballan and Bacchus Marsh, as well as combating soaring rates of youth unemployment.
“We can put our heads in the sand and pretend the shire isn’t growing.” he said.
“We need to be focusing on economic development as well as creating jobs for youth...we already have some exciting initiatives happening in Bungaree and Wallace.”
He was appointed mayor uncontested for the 2016/17 year.
Incumbent councillor Tonia Dudzik was also elected as deputy mayor, ahead of newcomer Cr John Keogh.
Cr Dudzik was voted in by councillors Pat Toohey, Tom Sullivan and Jarrod Bingham with Paul Tacthell and Tom Sullivan voting for Cr Keogh.
She is in her second term as an East Moorabool Ward councillor.
Cr Dudzik said her priorities as deputy mayor will be improving youth services and addressing roads and social infrastructure gaps.
“We’re needing traffic solutions in Bacchus Marsh addressed and funding for the Bacchus Marsh racecourse reserve, for sporting grounds and facilities,” she said.
“We’ve got lots of great projects on the horizon and as a council collectively we can move forward and get things done over the next four years.”
Cr Edwards also praised the efforts of former councillors Allan Comrie and John Spain.
Mr Spain was the only incumbent not to renominate for his position, choosing to step aside after just one term on the council while Mr Comrie fell short of the number of votes needed to get him over the line.
“Both of them brought a wealth of knowledge and experience and worked really hard in their positions as councillors,” he said.
“But we also have some new faces on the council in John Keogh and Jarrod Bingham who bring with them new skills and enthusiasm to get the job done.”