Central Highlands Regional Council takes shape

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt today met the Central Highlands Regional Council Local Transition Committee to get a first hand picture of how the transition planning is progressing.

Mr Pitt said the visit to Emerald also provided the opportunity to present the Central Highlands Local Transition Committee with $280,000 in transition funding.

“This funding will assist the Central Highlands Regional Council LTC to establish its operations and commence the transition planning.

“I am really pleased with the progress made so far by the LTC and the commitment of the LTC members to date.

“It is testimony to the level of professionalism of everyone involved.

“The Government remains committed to reform and as such our focus is now well and truly on working with councils to implement the new boundaries,” Mr Pitt said.

Mr Pitt said planning over the next five months would be critical to ensure the new Central Highlands Regional Council was ready for changeover.

“There is a lot of hard work ahead, particularly with the development of the Transition Action Plan.

“This work will lay the foundation for the integration of budgets, planning schemes, merging of financial systems and staff structures, and other operations imperative to the smooth running of the new council,” Mr Pitt said.

Mr Pitt said funding of $8.75 million has been allocated to help Local Transition Committees across the State, as part of an overall funding package of $27.1 million to assist the transition process.

Mr Pitt said the Central Highlands Regional Council would receive another $500,000 to use at their discretion once the new council was formed after the local government elections in March next year.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819