Cr Chris Potter elected to the Mayoral role
November 9, 2016
Council tonight elected Cr Chris Potter to the position of Mayor for the next 12 months, and Cr Stephen Hart to the position of Deputy Mayor.
Colac Otway Shire Council's new Mayor Chris Potter says that unity and teamwork among councillors will be strong focus during his term of leadership.
Cr Potter was this afternoon installed as Mayor for a 12 month term, with Cr Stephen Hart to serve as Deputy Mayor.
Cr Potter said he was committed to leading a group of productive and positive councillors, and thanked his colleagues for electing him to the Mayoral role.
"We have a new group of councillors who want their legacy to be one of strong, considered and transparent decision making," he said.
"Our community has sent a clear message that it expects its elected representatives to conduct themselves and the business of Council with respect and accountability.
"I look forward to being at the helm of a Council that delivers on that mandate."
Cr Potter said that one of the new Council's first priorities was to develop a new four-year Council Plan, which would then flow into budget preparation.
"This Council Plan will be the first we have developed within a rate capping environment, which will present a new set of challenges for the entire local government sector," he said.
"Our intention is to develop this plan hand-in-hand with our community, and we look forward to using the Council Plan as a pilot for a new standard for public involvement in our priority setting and decision making."
He said other significant projects included the development of a Colac 2050 growth plan; the completion of the Bluewater floor; progressing the Apollo Bay Harbour masterplan; and making improvements to project management and the planning department.
"I particularly want to reassure people from Apollo Bay and other coastal areas of our shire that this Council is here to represent the whole shire, and we look forward to reinforcing this when we have our first ordinary Council meeting in Apollo Bay later this month.
"Our community has entrusted us with an important job and our focus is on creating an efficient and effective organisation that's well positioned to serve our community and create a vibrant future for our shire."
Cr Potter brings to the Mayoral role almost 40 years of experience working in the government sector as a police officer.
His long-standing career as a detective in Colac has given Cr Potter a deep knowledge of our community and has brought him into contact with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Cr Potter said he recognised that as a new Councillor, fulfilling the role of Mayor would be a steep learning curve.
"The support I've received from my fellow councillors and the organisation so far has given me the confidence to take on the role.
"This is a fresh start for Colac Otway and I'm absolutely committed to being a Mayor that works hard, listens well, considers things with an open mind and promotes a new sense of cooperation between Councillors, the organisation and the community."
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