MURRINDINDI: Mayor returns from Canberra
Murrindindi Shire Mayor, Cr Damien Gallagher (pictured), has returned from Canberra where he joined three fellow Victorian Mayors as part of the Municipal Association of Victoria’s inaugural Mayoral Delegation to the Federal Parliament.
The visit provided an opportunity to put the concerns of local councils directly before Federal decision-makers.
The advocacy campaign coordinated by the MAV is built around five pillars:
• Making Community Infrastructure Happen – delivering the infrastructure that growing and connected communities need.
• Making Safer Roads Happen – connecting communities and supporting a safer and more productive Victoria.
• Making Fairer Energy Happen – engaging communities in Victoria’s energy transition.
• Making Resilient Communities Happen – future-proofing communities to withstand natural disasters.
• Making Local Democracy Happen – supporting stronger, safer communities and countering disinformation.
Cr Gallagher took the lead on the Resilient Communities pillar, calling for a dedicated ‘Building to Withstand Fund’ to support pre-disaster investigative works and prioritise upgrades for high-need infrastructure.
“Our residents know the cost of more regular, more intense disasters: bushfires, floods, storms. Rebuilding the same as before is wasteful. If we build back stronger and smarter now, we will save taxpayers millions and reduce the disruption to communities,” Cr Gallagher said.
The delegation highlighted climate risks, noting that Murrindindi’s electorate of Indi is among the most climate-vulnerable in the country.