Mayor column: with Cr John Harvie

Published on 10 April 2025

Like many people, I have been guilty of claiming that federal and state politicians, other than our local elected members, would not have much knowledge of our communities, our local economy and what drives it. Nor would they know where we are located geographically and how to get here.

Murray River councillors agree with those sentiments but also agree that we are partly to blame due to our intransigence. We have just accepted that we are a long way from the seat of government whether in Sydney or Canberra. We have also, at times, not consulted well enough or often enough with our local members.

Murray River councillors have resolved to improve our advocacy with all stakeholders and as a result the Chief Executive Officer and I will be seeking appointments with federal and state ministers to discuss a myriad of issues concerning our region. Before too long they will be well acquainted with our region, understand where it is and the issues affecting our communities.

Last week the Acting CEO and I travelled to Sydney to attend the Country Mayors Association quarterly meeting. We took the opportunity to meet with Officers from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to improve relations and communications between our two organisations. Council is currently rewriting its Housing Strategy and updating its Local Environment Plan both of which provide guidance to developers as to what uses are permitted on each parcel of land within the LGA. The officers were extremely helpful and agreed to visit and work closely with our staff. We also asked the department to review its population projections for Murray River because they are way out of whack with reality.

We also met with the President and CEO of Local Government NSW to discuss local government financial sustainability.

With the help of Helen Dalton MP and her staff we were able to secure a meeting with Ron Hoenig MP, Minister for Local Government, during our visit to Sydney.

The Minister was very generous with his time which enabled us to advocate for the Minns government’s support for our campaign to get the federal government to reinstate the Financial Assistance Grant to 1% of federal revenues, as it was in 1997. Since then, it has dwindled to 0.52% depriving MRC ratepayers of revenue amounting to $10 million each year. The feds want council to raise its rates by 80% to make up the shortfall. Your council said no-way!

We also managed a quick catch-up with Energy Minister, Penny Sharp MP, about issues with the SW Renewable Energy Zones.