Surf Coast Shire Council has resolved to support a Mayoral Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum, along with a range of appointments to peak and regional committees and organisations.
At its November meeting in Aireys Inlet, Council endorsed appointments to 18 key committees and organisations, providing representation on organisations tackling high-priority topics.
They cover areas including the local government sector, Council advisory committees, culture and events, tourism, sustainability and health and wellbeing.
Council also resolved to support Mayor Liz Pattison to join the Mayoral Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum.
The taskforce has operated since 2018 and has 38 member councils across Australia advocating for the rights of people seeking asylum, for fairer and swifter refugee status determinations and for provision of better asylum seeker access to supports.
"Applications for asylum are stuck in a system that isn't working and in Australia there are close to 100,000 people waiting for their applications for protection to be finalised," Cr Pattison said.
"We must do what we can to advocate for and support these people. Council has previously demonstrated its support for refugees, becoming a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2004 and with awarding of grants to community refugee support initiatives."
Cr Pattison said having representation on committees and regional and peak organisations ensures Council can have input on a broad range of key community matters.
"We review these appointments annually to ensure our involvement is relevant to our strategic goals, Council Plan objectives and community priorities," Cr Pattison said.
"I congratulate my fellow Councillors for securing representative positions as we continue to work hard in advocating for Surf Coast Shire."
Council representatives to all committees and organisations are listed below.
Council also adopted its 2024 Council meeting schedule.
The first meeting in 2024 will be in February. Council decided to hold meetings again around the Shire during 2024 in Deans Marsh, Moriac and Anglesea. The timing and venues for each meeting are to be determined and will be communicated to the community.
"I'm happy that we're again taking our Council meetings to townships around the shire throughout the year. This helps make our Council meetings more accessible for people," Cr Pattison said.
People can view the Council meeting schedule and councillor appointments to committees and organisations as part of the November Council meeting minutes at surfcoast.vic.gov.au/CouncilMeetings.
