At the 20 November 2024 Special Meeting of Council, Cr Damien Gallagher was elected Mayor and Cr Anita Carr was elected Deputy Mayor for the first year of the new Council term.
Cr Gallagher was proud to be elected as Mayor. This is his second term as Mayor and he promised to work with the community and create a plan to reach our goals for the future of Murrindindi Shire.
"To our community of Murrindindi Shire. You have elected a Council of deeply committed people, all dedicated to your service. Each individual brings a wealth of life experience and diverse expertise. Thank you, Councillors, for entrusting me with the honour of leading Murrindindi Shire Council as Mayor. I'm looking forward to working with Deputy Mayor, Cr. Carr, born and raised locally, and brimming with pride and passion for our community.", Cr Gallagher said.
"Our attention now turns to engaging with our community and together, creating a Council Plan that will guide us over the next four years and help us achieve our community's vision for the future of this special place. The Council Plan will be delivered by capable Council officers, and my commitment is to support Council leadership to foster a culture of respect, impact, and high performance."
"As Mayor I will advocate for opportunities for our commercial, agricultural, and industrial employers; I will continue to advocate for our community's equitable access to recurrent, untied grant funding; I'll work with colleagues across the state to ensure that local government is recognised as a valuable partner providing vital services and amenities to our community; We will work toward your vision for a prosperous, sustainable future; and I will represent Murrindindi Shire inclusively and with pride to the very best of my ability.", Cr Gallagher stated.
In the same meeting, Council also resolved to establish the following portfolios and Councillor appointments:
- Integrity, Finance and Resilience – Cr Paul Hildebrand
- Citizens Services and Communication – Cr Anita Carr
- Community Wellbeing – Cr Jodi Adams
- Economic Development – Cr Sandice McAulay
- Infrastructure and Road Care – Cr Eric Lording
- Sustainability and Assets – Cr Sue Carpenter
Council's Portfolio system is in place to enable Councillors to focus and provide input on specific areas of Council.
