At a statutory meeting last night, council elected Coliban Ward councillor Licia Kokocinski as mayor and Holcombe Ward councillor John Cottrell as deputy mayor.

Once a member of the Labor Party from 1988 until 1996, Cr Kokocinski commenced her role as a councillor in April this year, after a by-election was triggered when long-term councillor Sebastian Klein tendered his resignation last December.

Mayor, Cr Kokocinski said she would use the position to focus on embedding contemporary governance practices for the council as well as overseeing the development and implementation of a planning scheme for the shire that attempts to balance the competing interests in a peri-urban region.

She said it was important to manage growth while protecting the environment as well as addressing the impacts of climate change.

"These are the top priorities for this Shire. Our CEO, Mr Evan King and his team are completely behind the Council's priorities, and we will need to continue to maintain top class financial stewardship for the whole Shire," Cr Kokocinski said.

Cr Cottrell served as mayor in 2017-18, while Creswick ward Cr Don Henderson served as mayor most recently.

Councillors have a final year in their elected term.

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