Local mayors appointed to government advisory panel

THREE mayors from the Geelong region are among the latest 14 appointees to a panel that will provide high-level advice to the state government on issues that affect local government.

Last week, Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek announced mayors Bruce Harwood (City of Greater Geelong), Rose Hodge (Surf Coast Shire) and Jason Schram (Colac Otway Shire) were on the 2019 Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel (LGMAP).

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s website notes the minister has appointed a panel that was gender balanced and aligned with the Victorian Government’s commitment that no less than 50 per cent of all appointments to paid government boards would be women.

“The panel further reflects a diversity of views and experience on a broad range of topics that are relevant to the local government sector, and includes members from metropolitan, interface, large shire, small shire and regional city council groupings.”

LGMAP’s first scheduled meeting for the year will take place on April 3.