Returning councillors lead the way

COUNCILLORS Paul Tatchell and Rod Ward have respectively been elected mayor and deputy-mayor of the Moorabool Shire for the 2024 to 2025 year.

Cr Tatchell said he can offer some “experience in the chair,” and the coming months will be an opportunity for councillors old and new to “hit the ground running” ahead of 2025’s Federal election.

“It’s a complicated council with no wards,” he said. “Country people have been screwed by State and Federal governments in terms of funding and there’s no greater example than Moorabool.

“We need to remind Federal Government that if you’re going for exponential growth, there needs to be solid investment.

“A lack of investment in rural areas based on the two to one vote, city people versus rural people, has left us at a disadvange yet we’ve still got to carry the can. Not to mention the transmission towers…

“We pay a third of everything, why don’t we get a third back? It’s time country people get a fair go.

“I’m a pretty simple bloke and I don’t care who’s in government. I’ll get up and fight everyday to make sure my region and regions like us… push back.

“Country people can’t continue to carry the burden of providing.”

Cr Tatchell has been mayor five times and is in his fourth council term. He said he is unsure whether he will run for council again in four years’ time.

The new council group also includes Tom Sullivan, John Keogh, Steve Venditti-Taylor, Moira Berry, Sheila Freeman, Ally Munari, and Jarrod Bingham.