Wentworth Shire Mayor Melisa Hederics stays another term

WENTWORTH Shire Mayor Melisa Hederics says “unfinished business” is the motivation behind seeking a further term as the shire’s leader.

Cr Hederics was returned to the role at council’s mayoral elections on Wednesday and she and re-elected Deputy Mayor Tim Elstone were the only nominations for the respective positions.

In September 2016, the council determined that the position of deputy mayor be for two years in line with the mayoral term.

NSW local government elections were due to be held this year but were delayed by 12 months due to COVID-19.

Therefore the councillors will hold their respective titles at least until next September.

Cr Hederics said the shire was experiencing “exciting times” and the challenges of moving through COVID-19 provided added incentive to taking on the top job again.

“There’s a lot of things on our agenda and on our calendar,” Cr Hederics said.

“We’ve got lots of projects that are partly done and projects that I’d like to see finished.

“There’s also a fair bit coming up on our project list as well that are big projects and I’d like to be part of that … seeing the airport finished, seeing our civic centre get under way and things like that.”

Cr Hederics said government funding of $38 million had helped generate development throughout the region.

“There’s a fair injection of money going into the shire and they are big projects that are going to be done, which is exciting.

“And we can’t stop that from going ahead because of this situation with COVID-19.

“(But) when you’re given a grant you have a timeline on when that money has got to be spent — a lot of this money has got to be done and dusted by 2021 — a lot of these projects are on our books and have to be finished.

“In saying that, there’s going to be work out here so it’s exciting times for the council moving ahead and I think we’ve done a pretty reasonable job over the past four years.”

Cr Hederics said she looked forward to the next 12 months working alongside Cr Elstone and other council colleagues.

“Something that really shows through the council, or through the chamber, even today with the voting, it was all unanimous, which is great.

“That tells me the council is working together and we’re strong going forward.

“That’s not to say that councillors don’t disagree on things — it would be pretty boring if we all agreed.

“But at the moment I believe Wentworth Shire Council is in a pretty good place and we’re moving in the right direction with our community engagement.

“You just need to look at the growth that is happening in the shire, and not just our shire — this whole region up here is not getting any smaller with the housing and the subdivisions and that’s got to be a good thing for this area.”

Before nominations were declared, Cr Hederics acknowledged her fellow councillors for their backing.

“I would just like to thank everyone for the support they have given me as mayor over the past two years,” Cr Hederics said.

“We’ve had things moving quite rapidly, as you would be aware, with projects and funding that’s been on board,” he said.

“That is projects that have been completed and that are ongoing now and I believe that that amount of money is probably going to keep increasing.”