Wyndham has a new mayor, with councillor Peter Maynard elected to the top job.
It’s the second mayoral term for the sports development portfolio holder, who previously held the position in 2014-15. As mayor for the next 12 months, Cr Maynard will also take on the growth and transport portfolio.
Cr Maynard, who was elected unopposed, thanked all council employees – from school crossing supervisors up – for making the city a “cohesive and well-oiled unit”.
“As mayor, I’m considered leader of the council as a group however, the leader is only as good as the rest of the team. I can honestly say that we have an outstanding councillor group that is supported by just as outstanding executive leadership group of council directors and managers,” he said.
“To the residents of Wyndham, I say this: this council have always, and will always, continue to put the best interests of the community at the forefront of what we do with evidence-based decisions.”
Outgoing mayor Henry Barlow said it had been a great honour to serve.
“If we only worry about roads, rates and rubbish, the pot holes, the overhanging tree branch, how high is the grass cut in the local park, as a city we’re not going to go very far,” Cr Barlow said.
“We have to look at least 20 years in advance to as to what you want the city to be … and I think we’ve been very successful in doing that.”
First-term councillor Walter Villagonzalo was elected deputy mayor.
Charlene Macaulay
