A Message from the Mayor
Welcome to the website of the District Council of Barunga West.
At one of the many meetings that I attend in the role as Mayor of Barunga West Council, I was challenged with the following question, “Who is Standing up for Councils??”
- Who else except the Local Government Association and Councillors will stand up for all the good work that our Councils do in our communities?
- Did you know that South Australian councils receive the lowest total revenue per person in Australia?
Yes, we are only months away from the S.A. Council elections in 2018. I receive many comments face-to-face, through emails, on Facebook and other correspondence from our ratepayers about the decisions made by the current nine Elected Members. Now is the time to give serious consideration if you have the courage to stand for Council election in November 2018. I invite you as a ratepayer of our local District to consider the same opportunity. Training and guidance is available upon commencement to Council so that you learn the protocols, code of conduct and due diligence for the position. Why not “give it a go”.
2018/19 Council Budget is almost complete. In this budget, we have made allowance for a new Council website. On line easy navigation and extraction of information has led us to believe that there is improvement required in these areas. Our website and FaceBook are powerful tools in this age so we need to keep improving our electronic services to ratepayers and visitors of all age groups.
I am proud to be a part of the Yorke Peninsula Tourism Board. Barunga West Council has pledged to commit $10,000p.a. for atleast the next two years. It contributes towards staffing of 1.5 employees, who promote all of the Yorke Peninsula, Copper Coast and Barunga West Council areas. Combining our services provides a powerful tool and voice in encouraging tourists to our areas. A free-WIFI Hotspot will shortly be activated along the Port Broughton Foreshore as a very convenient asset for all to use.
Rowan Ramsey MP, Federal Member for the Electorate of Grey, has announced funding for the long awaited Telstra mobile phone tower in the Bute - Alford District. This is promised to be erected and working by the end of 2018. Spasmodic phone coverage has concerned residents for almost eight years now, so we welcome the work Rowan has done to lobby on our behalf.
The Barunga West Council Annual Business Plan will be adopted shortly at the June 2018 Council Meeting. I believe with continued debt reduction and ongoing loan schedule repayment, our Council is in a sound financial position. This ensures that we can resource loans if required, to match grant funds for any large scale strategic project which may arise in the future.
The Fisherman Bay Project to freehold properties continues moving forward. More meetings than we can count have resulted in progress, albeit, slower than we stakeholders would like. Once the project comes to fruition, it will be the most exciting large scale development that our District has ever seen. It will have far reaching, exciting and financial prospects for our District.
I wish you every success in your endeavours though out 2018. Watch this space for our new website!
With best wishes,
Mayor Cynthia Axford
