Straight to work for Harry and Irene

COUNCILLORS Harry Bussell and Irene Grant have been successfully re-elected unopposed, bringing solid experience to the Rural City of Wangaratta council for the next four years. Both were the sole candidates for their respective King and Warby wards, so enrolled voters don't need to vote; while the rural city's other five wards all have contests with multiple candidates vying for the single vacancy per ward. Cr Bussell said he was grateful to accept the election unopposed in King Ward and vowed to work as hard in his third term as he had over the last two terms. Both Cr Bussell and Cr Grant (Warby Ward) said there was a high calibre of candidates which residents living in the respective five other wards will choose by postal vote from October 7. "It's a quality field and there is plenty of talent and the public will decide who they want," Cr Bussell said. "I have an interest in developing the Greta Sporting Complex because it's a very healthy community out there struggling with infrastructure. "The other important factor for me is the affordability of municipal rates with distribution and we're going to have a rate review over the next 12 months so that's of great interest to me." It has been an ongoing issue with farmers paying exorbitant annual rate amounts that are "not equitable and not sustainable". Cr Grant has a few things on her watch list in the next four years including the Wangaratta Creative Precinct, which is one of the big-ticket items on council's agenda. The facilities upgrade is estimated to cost almost $20 million and council's planning permit lodgement for the building works has just closed to public consultation and will need both federal and state funding to become a reality. Access and use of the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre is also important to Cr Grant. Cr Grant said housing development will proceed more quickly now as council has been working with North East Water for the work they are responsible for in regards to the sewer system. "We will also be looking to maximise the space on Greta Road," she said. About 200 affordable, social and key worker housing units have been proposed for Greta Road's former Ovens College site but this too will depend on joint federal and state funding. Being a councillor can be a job that sometimes doesn't afford the praise it deserves and it involves a lot of work. "There is an enormous amount of reading, particularly around planning issues and you have to get your head around all the strategic issues, and legislative requirement," said Cr Grant, who has served as mayor, an administrator and councillor through multiple terms of local government. The Wangaratta Chronicle has invited all 16 candidates to participate in a Q&A to be published in consecutive editions from Monday, September 30 up until the formal close of postal voting. While postal voting closes on October 25, the Victorian Electoral Commission will not declare results until Friday, November 15.

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