New mayor’s plan to care

CARDINIA Shire Council has a new mayor.
Ranges Ward Councillor Graeme Legge was elected mayor for the next 12 months in a unanimous show of support from his colleagues at council’s statutory meeting on Monday night.
Cr Legge succeeds Bunyip Ward Councillor Bill Pearson, who did not seek re-election after a year at the helm.
Cardinia’s longest serving representative, Cr Legge paid tribute to Cr Pearson and said he believed council’s reputation had been raised in the first year of the current council. He pledged to maintain the standards set under Cr Pearson’s leadership.
“Quality is defined as being above minimum standards – we’ll continue to aim for quality,” he said.
“I will maintain a high respect for our council staff and my colleagues around the table. I will maintain a high respect for residents, I’ll listen to what individual residents have to say, and I’ll listen to what organisations have to say. I am well aware of situations having two sides or more.”
Cr Legge said he would undertake his duties in the best interests of all in the Cardinia Shire community.
“I’ll freely and willingly give advice and leadership through major matters that lie ahead of council in the next 12 months, issues such as the upcoming fire season and the final outcome of the Bushfire Royal Commission; the Pakenham Racing Club relocation; the Woolworths development in Pakenham; the new Pakenham Library and Hall, employment in Cardinia Shire, council’s debt and the need to keep rates at a reasonable level.”
Cr Legge said he appreciated the continuing support of Ranges Ward residents and also acknowledged his wife Dianne and his family for their support.
He said he was looking forward to the challenges of the next 12 months. “I commenced my council life in 1997 and can justly claim to being a ‘foundation’ councillor. I enjoy the role and enter heartily into it,” he said.
Cr Legge said he intended to wear the mayoral robes and chain of office at civic functions and on other appropriate occasions.