The Times caught up with newly appointed CGRC Mayor Abb McAlister this week to get the run down on his time since he returned to the mayoral chair in September.
“I’m proud to be able to lead the Council again as Mayor. We have a very good group of Councillors and we all get on well together. It will be a real pleasure to work with this group of Councillors.
“The main things, which doesn’t involve Council money, but we have been lobbying for is to make sure we keep all the services at the Cootamundra Hospital.
“We also want to see the start of the Dog on the Tuckerbox development this year. Also the Wallendbeen Bridge, there was another accident there just the other day. We have to really push them to get started on that. A permanent bridge is badly needed.
“We have the abattoirs up in to full swing, which is great there.
“And all the normal work Council has to do like rates, roads and rubbish.
“We still don’t know where the merger is going. Hopefully we will find that out in the first few months of next year.
“The merger has certainly taken its toll on the community. One of the big things it has taken its toll on is our finances as Councils. There were two financially stable Councils coming into it and all we have done is lose money ever since and lose a lot of money. The same as a lot of the other merged Councils, it’s has cost them a lot of money.
“I don’t think they put any thought into it when they implemented it.
“My position is and I think all the other Councillors have said it too is to get a de-merger and then we have to look at getting financially sustainable again.
“Either way it has been hard since we have been merged. It has certainly taken its toll on the community ratepayer when the finances are like they are and it costs the ratepayers more as we have already had a 53.5% SRV. Our fees and charges have all gone up over the time.
“There has been no major news since we got merged in May 2016.
“Anything that has Gundagai in the name certainly puts Gundagai on the map. It’s an iconic town already, but the Bartons are doing a great job with Gundagai Lamb and the promotion of it and it’s going very well and I wish them all the best to continue how it is going.
“I’d like to wish all our residents and staff a happy Christmas and all the best for a prosperous and happy New Year and if you are travelling, please take it carefully and take your time to get to places, don’t go rushing.”
