Councillors elect mayor and deputy

FOR the fourth time, Cr Andrea Metcalf has been elected the City of Greater Bendigo’s mayor for the next year.

Cr Metcalf was elected by her council peers at a ceremony on Tuesday evening, with first-timer in the chamber, Cr Abhishek Awasthi, elected deputy.

Cr Metcalf has been mayor for the last three years and said she is keen to continue the work, listen, and be visible.

“It is a privilege to lead the Greater Bendigo community and I am delighted to have this opportunity again and thank my council colleagues for their support,” she said.

“Council will soon start developing the next Council Plan and I look forward to the community being part of this process and helping to shape this important document that guides the work of Council and City of Greater Bendigo staff over the next four years. “It will be necessary that we balance both community expectations with the financial capacity of the organisation and where council does not have a direct role on various matters, that we consider what we can do to best support our community.

“There are also long-term priorities that need continual advocacy… such as the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment, future investment in the Golden Dragon Museum, various recreation projects such as stage two of North Bendigo Recreation Reserve and redevelopment of Brennan Park Swimming Pool, and securing UNESCO World Heritage status for the Victorian Goldfields.”

Cr Awasthi, an executive and biochemist who has worked within universities and the State Government, and on the boards of health and multicultural organisations, is the first Indian-born councillor to be elected deputy. He moved to Australia as a student. “I have lived in Bendigo for more than 14 years and I have loved this community from the first day I moved here from Melbourne,” he said.

“I want to see Greater Bendigo continue to develop into an inclusive and sustainable community, while ensuring we preserve its rich history, celebrate its diversity and promote social equity, and I hope to advocate for continued access to local food security services and affordable housing.”