By Tony Stevenson, Yarra Ranges Mayor
On Tuesday 27 August, Yarra Ranges Council held its 500th council meeting.
Yarra Ranges Council is the modern manifestation of the former shires of Lillydale (founded 1856), Healesville (1887), Upper Yarra (1888) and Ferntree Gully (founded 1889 and amalgamated with the Shire of Sherbrooke in 1963).
Yarra Ranges Council as we know it was formed when these shires amalgamated in 1994. Democratic representation for the people of Yarra Ranges returned in 1997 with the first ordinary council meeting held on 15 April 1997.
We’ve had significant decisions on developments, projects and community enhancements in all the meetings since – some that have been watched by a gallery of hundreds, some that have been witnessed only by council staff and our watchful and well-appreciated members of the press in the gallery.
But every decision has an impact, one way or another, on our wider community.
As the elected representatives for the Yarra Ranges, our meetings are where we can support and guide the changing needs of our communities and provide leadership for a better tomorrow.
It’s where we can help people to navigate their way through complex planning issues, help to strike a balance between competing interests in the community, represent the views of our residents in a public forum, advocate to other levels of government about action needed to support our communities, and help to explain the work of the council to the wider community.
It’s also a place where community members can talk to us directly, to ask for assistance for their cause or raise awareness of an issue.
I’m sure I can speak for every councillor who has served in our chambers when I say that the decisions we make are given due consideration; that we always seek to make the most of community resources; and we constantly strive for the best community outcomes for now and the future.
We as councillors may not always agree on the best approach to various issues, but that’s one of the benefits of our council – we all represent different viewpoints, backgrounds, upbringings and local knowledge and we always use these influences, our hearts and minds to try and get the best result for the communities.
I can confidently say that this current council is mindful of those differences, is respectful in our approach when the room may be divided and keeps the community in mind throughout.
With the example we set today and the work we do in the community, I think we’re putting Yarra Ranges Council in good stead for the next 500 meetings.
