49 q Annual Report 2013-2014 Governor-General’s Visit


On Wednesday 23 April 2014, we welcomed Governor- General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Lynne Cosgrove to our municipality. It was one of the Governor-General’s first engagements since being sworn into the role in March.


They visited the communities of Laharum and Wartook, where they talked to locals and witnessed the devastation of the Grampians Northern Complex Fire first-hand. The Governor- General also addressed a crowd at Horsham RSL, toured Axis Worx, University of the Third Age and the Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange, visited the cenotaph and made a surprise visit to some shops in the central business district.


We appreciate Sir Peter and Lady Lynne Cosgrove taking time out of their busy schedules to visit our municipality to show their support at a very hectic time, just two days before ANZAC Day and during the Royal Tour.


Advocacy


There are 15 key advocacy issues listed in the Council Plan. We have continued to work hard on these issues on behalf of the Horsham and the wider Wimmera and Southern Mallee communities over the past year.


Council has advocated for the retention of recreational lakes with the purpose of securing water based recreational opportunities. Green Lake has now been included in GWMWater’s draft bulk water entitlement plan, a very pleasing result.


The rebuilding of Horsham College has been our most important local advocacy issue over the last few years, and every opportunity has been taken to raise this matter with visiting Ministers and Senior Public Servants from the State Government and Members of the Opposition. Council is pleased to note that an allocation of $10 million for Horsham College has been made in the 2014-2015 Victorian State Budget. These funds will cover the cost of stage one of this $20 million project.


Council believes there is significant potential for rail passenger services connecting a shuttle service from the Wimmera to connect with the Ararat to Melbourne service. A funding application supported by eight regional Councils has been submitted to conduct a study into rail passenger services to Western Victoria.


Governor–General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Mayoress, Jenny Grimble, Lady Lynne Cosgrove and Mayor, David Grimble at Wartook.


Through the Wimmera Development Association, we have worked actively to promote regional issues such as better weather forecasting, duplication of the Western Highway to Stawell and improved mobile phone coverage across the region. These issues have been raised through the Australian Local Government Association in Canberra and to appropriate Commonwealth and State Government Ministers and Members of the Opposition.


Horsham Rural City Council will continue to lobby for improved rail freight and passenger services for the region.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156