Cr Andrea Metcalf will serve as Mayor of Greater Bendigo City Council for a third consecutive term, with Cr Matthew Evans to serve as Deputy Mayor.
Mayor-elect Cr Metcalf said she was honoured to be returned as Mayor and lead Council into its final term.
“It is a privilege to serve in this role and I thank my Council colleagues for the opportunity to continue our great work together,” she said.
“This is our final push to either start or complete a range of projects and ensure that the next Council is set up for success.
“We have recently appointed Andrew Cooney as our next CEO, who is committed to delivering outcomes that support our local communities.
“Consultation is also underway to guide the 2024/2025 Budget. This is going to be a challenging Budget, as the reality of operating under rate-capping with costs on the rise means there is less income available to fund new projects and initiatives.
“Community input early in the process is crucial and an opportunity to let us know which services are valued most.
“One of our key legacy items as a Council is a strategy for managed growth and planning for future housing supply. Unlocking more industrial land is also needed, and work is ongoing to deliver the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct.
“Regional leadership is also an important focus, including through my involvement in Regional Cities Victoria and advocacy to state and federal government. We will continue advocacy work to receive our share of the $2B allocated to the regions by the Victorian Government following the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games.
“The best part of the job as Mayor is the range of events and opportunities to meet with residents. I enjoy meeting people from all parts of our community, being involved with different cultural groups and sporting events, and I always appreciate learning new things.
“I am energised by this opportunity to serve a third term and continuing to work towards achieving Council’s vision of a bright and happy future for all residents.”
Deputy Mayor-elect Cr Evans said he was excited to return to the role, having previously served as Deputy Mayor in 2021/2022.
“Although there are challenges ahead, there are also opportunities to achieve good outcomes for the community as we focus on managing growth and building a sustainable future for all generations,” he said.
“I look forward to supporting the Mayor and fellow Councillors to deliver key priorities outlined in our Council Plan (Mir Wimbul) 2021-2025.”
Cr Metcalf and Cr Evans will be formally elected to their roles at a special Council meeting on Tuesday November 7 at the Bendigo Town Hall.