New Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Pat Ryan says financial sustainability, renewable energy zone impacts and ageing water and sewage infrastructure will be his key priorities heading into the new term.
Cr Ryan said he was honoured and humbled to take on the role, paying tribute to former Mayor Maurice Collison’s 14 years of service, the bulk of which as either mayor or deputy mayor. He said residents should expect broad continuity rather than major change.
“Our challenges are very clear. Like most regional rural councils, financial sustainability is a very hot topic,” he said.
Cr Ryan said the Shire sat at the centre of three renewable energy zones, including the emerging New England Renewable Energy Zone to the north, a small footprint of the Central West Orana zone to the west, and the emerging Hunter zone to the south. While council is not a consent authority for the major state significant projects involved, he said the Shire faced significant flow-on impacts as a key transport route for the sector, with its road maintenance program already underfunded by around 30 per cent.
He said a proposed royalty scheme, floated by the Clean Energy Council to help councils manage the cumulative impacts of renewable energy development, was a step in the right direction but lacked detail.
“When you speak with the individual proponents, they perhaps aren’t as enthusiastic,” he said.
“It would be great to see some detail around that emerge. I fear it’s more of a placeholder to acknowledge that there is an issue, but as a lot of these political announcements arrive without any detail.
“The rubber hits the road when we actually know is it going to happen.”
Cr Ryan said council’s financial position was slowly improving after a period of austerity, with debt levels falling and several underperforming council assets moving toward profitability. He said continued advocacy for a fairer Financial Assistance Grants model would remain a priority, alongside his role representing the Shire through the Hunter Joint Organisation.
“There are no silver bullets,” he said.
“There will be some tough decisions still to be made ahead of us.”
