I’d like to extend this thanks to my fellow councillors who, by electing me as mayor, also demonstrated a level of confidence in me that is truly humbling. I will work each and every day to honour that trust.

The community-elected representatives of Hilltops Council are a united team that wants to see our region grow. That means we must consolidate our region’s strengths and build on our potential to ensure residents and ratepayers receive the level of service they deserve.

As the inaugural Hilltops Council team, we’ve been tasked with the job of setting the foundation for our future growth. This is no small task and the next few years will be crucial to our success, but when all’s said and done, I want the community to be able to look back in five, or 10 years and be able to say “It may not have been easy at times, but look at what we’ve all achieved together”.

Speaking of challenges, the battle for investment is as fierce as ever, and we need to ensure we have the settings in place to attract businesses to the area. We also need to continue to work towards ensuring we retain youth in the area.

There’s a lot on the agenda but regardless of the particular issue or project, I want to ensure that community consultation, liaison, and feedback lies at the heart of everything council does. So, if there’s something on your mind, let us know; if there’s a project or council initiative underway, share what you think about it; if you have ideas about the future direction of the region, by all means, tell us!

Our door is always open.