Cr KAREN Foster was elected as mayor of Moyne Shire Council at Tuesday afternoon’s council meeting for the next 12 months, taking over from Cr Ian Smith.

Cr Foster was first elected to the Moyne Shire Council in 2020. 

She formerly operated a communications consultancy from Port Fairy and previously worked as a journalist, including for a time as sub editor at the Warrnambool Standard.

She has also served as board director with Moyne Health Services, Leadership Great South Coast and the Western Victoria Primary Health Network.

“Being one female among six men - I wasn’t sure if this day would ever happen so I’m feeling pretty grateful,” Cr Foster said.

She said she has a strong personal interest in supporting other women in business and leadership and that one of her priorities for the current Council term was to engage more women and young people with local government.

Cr Foster said that on the Moyne Shire’s Council, over the last 15 years, there hadn’t been at any point more than one female councillor serving - herself and Ms Parker.

“I don’t know what is happening in Moyne Shire, but we just don’t have women representing us,” she said.

“I feel like things are changing in Moyne though and I have a more progressive agenda.”

Cr Foster thanked her fellow Councillors for their support and paid tribute to outgoing mayor Cr Ian Smith saying he had done a fantastic job leading Moyne over the past 12 months.

“He has worked incredibly hard,” she said.

“Cr Smith’s term as mayor was really admirable - he totally threw himself into it - he went to absolutely everything.”

Cr Jim Doukas renominated Cr Ian Smith for the position of mayor, however, Cr Smith declined.

Cr Smith was granted an opportunity to reflect on the past year and said that 2022 had been a year of consolidation.

He said that Moyne had persevered through the pandemic and remarked that Council staff had continued services, and all jobs in the Shire had been maintained.

Cr Smith remarked that early in 2022, Moyne Shire Council withstood the retirement of both chief executive, Bill Millard, director Kevin Leddin and thanked them for their work in their respective roles, before welcoming Brett Davis as the new chief executive.

He acknowledged the work of the acting chief executive, David Rae and Jodie McNamara as director.

“Moyne Shire is in a strong financial position…allowing us to deliver on projects and services across the Shire,” Cr Smith said. 

“Moving forward with the continued rate capping and the costs of goods and services in most cases increasing well above the rate cap level - we will have to make some decisions.

“The continuation of strong State and Federal funding in upcoming years, in my view is largely in doubt.”

Cr Foster said she would work hard to serve the people of Moyne.

“Moyne is an amazing region,” she said.

“There is so much opportunity, Council has a major role to play in unlocking the potential through our work with local businesses and advocacy to governments.

“There’s so much to deliver on over the coming 12 months, we have a record capital works program to deliver which includes a significant investment in our local roads and the redevelopment of the East Beach in Port Fairy.”

Cr Daniel Meade was re-elected as deputy mayor.