Residents urged to add annual report to summer reading list

It’s not uncommon to hear a ratepayer utter, “What are they doing up there?” in reference to their local councillors and council staff.

Well, a bit of light reading and residents can have the answer.

Councillors endorsed council’s annual report at their monthly meeting on October 17, and it’s now available online.

The report outlines what council has been doing during the 2022-2023 financial year and reports against the second year of the 2021-2025 Council Plan.

It focuses on five key themes:

• Vibrant and diverse economy.

• Community leadership.

• Environment and climate emergency.

• Infrastructure and Technology.

• Social Responsibility and Wellbeing.

A keen ear at a coffee shop or a quick scan of social media channels will quickly reveal an enthusiastic interest of residents in council’s financial management, and the annual report provides a thrilling account for all those amateur accountants out there.

One of the most anticipated Goulburn Valley annual reports to be released this end of financial year, it also acknowledges the highlights and activities across the municipality over the 12 months since the last annual report.

An obvious major event during that time was the October 2022 floods.

Cr Ben Ladson said the report recognised the community’s resilience.

“It’s a well-polished document and really ties up and sums up the financial year in full, through the floods and troubles that have been encountered and tackled head-on by council in supporting the community, and also the highlights what the community has faced since then and prior to then,” he told the meeting.

Cr Fern Summer encouraged Greater Shepparton residents to add the report to their summer reading list.

“It’s worth reading. It probably doesn’t reach as many people as it deserves to reach,” she said.

“It’s a lovely document, a glossy document, easy to read, but all we can really do is encourage the community to take a look if they get the opportunity.”

Cr Geoff Dobson said the report laid out council’s financial record, which he said was an inspiring read.

“There’s a lot of councils around Victoria that are having difficulties and I think this council should be very proud of itself, and our management team should be very proud of itself in the way our finances are conducted,” he said.

Mayor Shane Sali said the report was a real page-turner, with surprises in every chapter.

“A highly detailed document, even when I read it, you genuinely forget about some of the things we’ve done over the year, and you learn what’s happening outside what people might think council is doing,” he said.

“If you want to know what we actually are doing, get a hold of this document. It’s available online, or I think you can get a hard copy in the office.”

Cr Sali also acknowledged the significance of the flood event and the true impact it had on Greater Shepparton.

“The October 2022 flood truly shaped the past 12 months for Greater Shepparton, and so it was important that the annual report captured this,” he said.

“It was also important that the annual report captured the incredible work of the entire community as we began working through our recovery, helping us to reach the point we are at now.”

Cr Sali said despite the hardship, many highlights were achieved during the 2022-23 financial year, including:

The annual report is available to view online at greatershepparton.com.au/annual-report