Mayors settle in

By Tania Martin
RETURNING Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan says he will work to strengthen ties between farmers and the council.
And in neighbouring Cardinia new mayor Bill Ronald used his acceptance speech to attack the former chief executive and selected former councillors.
In Yarra Ranges Cr Heenan said it was a great honour to be given the opportunity to lead the council in another term as mayor.
He has also thanked his fellow councillors and staff for all their help and support over the past 12 months.
“I also want to acknowledge councillor Samantha Dunn for all her hard work as my deputy this year – she did a fantastic job,” Cr Heenan said.
His new deputy Cr Graham Warren said he was extremely honoured to be elected to the position and would do his best to represent both the residents and the council.
Both councillors said the top priority for the next 12 months was to work on improving relationships between rural producers in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges and the council.
“It’s been another hard year for farmers and we want to help them by providing some clarity in our planning policies where rural producers are concerned,” Cr Heenan said.
“We want to be able to assist farmers not hinder them further.”
This comes after farmers have called for the council to stop changing what is required to be allowed to farm.
In the past 12 months farmers in the Yarra Valley and the Dandenongs have voiced concerns over the continual changing of planning regulations for farms.
Cr Warren said it was time to stop the uncertainty for farmers and have more clarity around planning decisions for growers.
“We (the council) must send a stronger message that we recognise the difficulties that farmers are having and show them that we do care,” he said.
Cr Heenan said he would also work hard to keep the rate rises low in 2008.
The mayor and his deputy now plan to sit down and discuss what issues need to be addressed next year.
Meanwhile, Cardinia councillors last week elected Central Ward councillor Bill Ronald as that shire’s new mayor.
Cr Ronald used his acceptance speech to launch an emotional attack on former shire chief executive Don Welsh and selected former and current councillors after being cleared of breaching the Local Government Act.
Cr Ronald said the speech was his opportunity to close a six year saga which centred on claims he had failed to declare a pecuniary interest on matters relating to the Heritage Springs estate in Pakenham, developed on Ronald family land, and of interfering with a tendering process.