Regional role for Shire mayor

GOLDEN Plains Shire mayor Cr Owen Sharkey has taken on the role of chair of the Central Highlands Councils Victoria.

The move came at the reginal municipal group’s last meeting in 2019 and Cr Sharkey took on the job from former City of Ballarat mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh.

Cr Sharkey, who is currently in his second term leading the Golden Plains Shire council, acknowledged Cr McIntosh for her time in the chair’s position.

“I’d like to thank the outgoing CHCV chair Samantha McIntosh for her dedication to the role and acknowledge her hard work to promote the CHCV and to advocate for the Central Highlands region,” he said

The CHCV is made up of eight central Victorian municipal councils, including the City of Ballarat, the Rural City of Ararat, and Central Highlands, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, and Pyrenees shire councils.

The group plays an advocacy role with a focus on economic and social issues.

“Our membership councils face many of the same challenges in relation to population growth and delivering the quality infrastructure and services our communities want and need on a tight local government budget,” Cr Sharkey said.

“It’s critical that we stand together with a united voice to advocate for our residents and achieve more for the whole Central Highlands region.”