Minute With The Mayor Acting Mayor Mary Brown

The commencement of a new financial year is often seen as an opportunity in both government and commercial sectors — a time when review, planning, and preparation for the future reach their peak in the annual cycle, and the focus shifts to the implementation of goals.

With the 2025–2026 Council Budget and Operational Plan, along with the Corporate Plan and Liveability Strategy now formally adopted, our community has a clear framework outlining Council’s vision, focus, and priorities for the year ahead — and well into the future.

This year, the longstanding priorities of this Council will continue: a strong focus on the fundamentals of community service delivery and infrastructure renewal, while also striving for economic and population growth for the Shire.

Recognising the challenges the Shire has faced in the early part of the year — and acknowledging that the impacts will continue to be felt — a renewed emphasis on community recovery has now been embedded in Council’s planning.

The first half of 2025 has indeed been a difficult time for the Shire.

To support the community's transition through the recovery phase and toward a “new normal,” Council has adopted the 2025 Hinchinbrook Recovery Plan.

This plan was developed through extensive engagement with stakeholder groups across the Shire and outlines short-, medium-, and long-term actions to be delivered over the next 18 months.

Preparing and developing these strategic documents is a significant undertaking that demands tireless dedication and a heightened workload for many within the Council team.

I would like to acknowledge and thank all those who contributed in any way to the development of these important plans. Your commitment and dedication have ensured that we have a strong and visionary framework to guide Council's efforts well into the future.