Vol. No. Vol. 2718No. 4 27
Wednesday, January 13, 2024 2016 Wednesday, July 24,
FREE PUBLICATION
A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM
EXTRAVAGANZA: Horsham City Pipe Band president Gordon McKenry, pictured with band member Kim Brooks, are warming up for a second annual rhythmic extravaganza at Horsham in September. Pipe bands from Adelaide and across Victoria will competitively play Scottish Highland music, and will be critiqued by international-quality judges. The event is open to the public, and will also feature market stalls. People who would like to book a stall site are invited to call Liz Minne on 0429 540 127. The event is on September 7 at the Horsham Botanic Gardens. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Council commotion A
BY LAUREN HENRY
declaration from two councillors the current council will go ‘down as the worst council in this municipality’s history’ encapsulated Horsham Rural City Council’s meeting on Monday evening.
36-page AgLife lift-out including Mallee Machinery Field Days feature
INSIDE TODAY
In what was at times a farcical meeting, all eyes were on the council who had the responsibility of passing the 2024-25 Budget. As it became clear from the outset of the debate that at least three councillors would not support the draft Budget – which had already missed the State Government’s June 30 deadline – an adjournment was called as councillors left the chamber to discuss in private if Cr Ian Ross’ proposed amendment was allowed to proceed. Cr Ross held strong in his defence of farmers and the rising farm differential
rates they faced, and he requested the farm differential be lowered to ease the rate burden on rural landowners. Returning some time later, Mayor Robyn Gulline announced to the full, and at times noisy, public gallery the amendment was not allowed as it was deemed to be an alternate motion. After a lengthy debate, the original motion was passed, and the 2024-25 Budget was adopted, with Crs Ross, Claudia Haenel and David Bowe voting against. But even the voting procedure caused confusion as Cr Bob Redden thought he was voting on an amended motion. The process raised the ire of some members of the public gallery, who voiced their disapproval to the extent the mayor entered into a shouting match and ejected at least one person from the chambers. Cr Haenel interjected, saying she felt
unsafe due to Cr Gulline’s behaviour. Following the vote on the Budget, the meeting quickly moved to the next item on the agenda – council’s latest community satisfaction survey results. The mood did not improve in the chambers as Cr Haenel pointed out the council was below the state average on every core measure except customer service interactions – in comparison to neighbouring councils who were celebrating improvements. Cr Ross was scathing in his assessment. “We can’t spin our way out of it. Who is responsible? We as councillors are,” he said. “We’re going down as the worst council in this municipality’s history. We must do better.” Cr Les Power said the council ‘probably will go down as the worst council’. “Why? Because the seven councillors
here don’t really get along too well,” he said. “Simple as that, and the people out there in the community see that. They also see what we attend, when we attend, and also our briefing meetings and our council meetings. “People can see that as councillors we’ve got an obligation to come and represent the community. “This is where we learn about what goes on in the community and what we can do for the community. “But we fail to actually attend all briefing meetings and discuss what is brought up for us before it comes to a council meeting. “And when we come to a council meeting, we ask some really dumb questions. And the community sees that.” For more on the Budget, see page 3 and survey, see page 7.
IN THIS ISSUE • Kaniva childcare woes • Inaugural ‘CheckMate’ round • Demons win premiership Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
AUDITED: 21,534 COPIES October 2022 to September 2023
Same Day Crown
Source: AMAA; CAB Total Distribution Audit for further information visit www.auditedmedia.org.au
Horsham’s first and only clinic with this cutting edge technology
CEREC®
One-visit dentistry BEFORE
•
•
•
•
•
AFTER
KMART BEST AND LESS SPOTLIGHT REJECT SHOP WIDE RANGE OF SPECIALTY STORES WWW.HORSHAMPLAZA.COM.AU