Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey was elected Chair of the Central Highlands Councils Victoria (CHCV) for the 2019/20 term, at the group’s meeting in Ballarat on Friday 20 December, 2019.
In his second consecutive term as Mayor of Golden Plains Shire, Cr Sharkey was nominated and elected to the Chair position by his CHCV Mayoral colleagues, to serve the final year of the current term prior to the local government election in October 2020.
CHCV is an alliance of eight central Victorian municipal councils: Ararat, Central Highlands Shire, City of Ballarat, Golden Plain Shire, Hepburn Shire, Moorabool Shire, Northern Grampians Shire and Pyrenees Shire Councils. The group advocates for a strong economic and social future for the region, working collaboratively on issues and projects of mutual importance to make a positive impact on the communities in the Central Highlands region.
The strategic directions for CHCV are to:
- Plan for growth
- Improve transport infrastructure and services
- Raise the region's profile as a tourist and heritage destination
- Utilise the region's strength in ICT to provide better services to business and communities
- Improve access to health services and tackle the health inequality
- Provide better access to education and training
- Continue to foster leadership capacity within the region
- A productive and resilient landscape
Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said he is honoured to accept the role of Chair and looks forward to a busy and productive year leading the CHCV.
“Over the past year, I have enjoyed and valued the opportunity to represent the Golden Plains Shire and its residents at the CHCV table and I am excited for the opportunity to serve as Chair of this respected and important local government alliance.
“Our membership councils face many of the same challenges in relation to population growth and delivering the quality infrastructure and services our communities want and need on a tight local government budget. It’s critical that we stand together with a united voice to advocate for our residents and achieve more for the whole Central Highlands region.”
“I’d like to thank the outgoing CHCV Chair Samantha McIntosh for her dedication to the role and acknowledge her hard work to promote the CHCV and to advocate for the Central Highlands region. In the final year of the council term, I look forward to working with the CHCV Mayors and CEOs to progress the great work of the alliance and make 2020 a successful year for the people of Central Highlands.”