It was a rollercoaster year for Greater Shepparton City Council; coming out of COVID-19 to put on major events, leading the community through the October floods, and losing a mayor and deputy mayor to the federal and state elections.
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Councillors also tackled controversial issues throughout 2022, from affordable housing and Australia Day, to the day-to-day roads, rates and rubbish — literally.
Time is up for hotel — January 28
The derelict Shepparton Hotel is being demolished under an order issued by Greater Shepparton City Council.
Additional fencing and hoardings bearing the name of a demolition company appeared in recent days and the electronic sign, which also has a controversial history, was removed on Wednesday as contractors moved in.
The hotel has been derelict since a fire ripped through it in 2007.
Push to extend free parking — February 10
The Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry is lobbying for an extension of free timed parking in the city’s CBD beyond the end of February.
Chamber president John Anderson said the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, and disruption caused by the redevelopment of the Maude St Mall, provided an opportunity for Greater Shepparton City Council to help traders and customers.
The extended four-month freeze on paid parking is due to finish at the end of the month.
Bird deterrents put in place at Shepparton Art Museum — February 11
Their quintessential Australian caw rings out at dawn and dusk across the river, as thousands of corellas take flight around the lake and Shepparton Art Museum.
However, the birds have again been damaging the exterior of the museum, leading Greater Shepparton City Council to take steps to limit the damage.
Wind-powered reflective spinning cones called reflecta-bird will be installed, while kites known as terror eyes and sonic bird deterrents to protect balcony guards were also put in place.
Land crisis — February 17
Greater Shepparton City councillors have acknowledged a crisis in residential and industrial land supply and have directed chief executive Peter Harriott to reach out to the Victorian Government for help.
Cr Shane Sali moved a motion at Tuesday’s council meeting noting updated assessments of residential and industrial land supply prepared by Spatial Economics, but also authorising Mr Harriott to request Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne provide additional funds and resources to the Victorian Planning Authority to accelerate the rezoning of multiple residential and industrial growth fronts within the City of Greater Shepparton.
Rate rise plan — April 19
Greater Shepparton City Council will consider a draft budget with a one per cent rate raise when it meets today.
While the complete 2022-23 draft budget was not included as an attachment to the April meeting agenda, which is the usual practice, the final agenda did include the key financial data.
The proposed one per cent rate rise is lower than the rate cap of 1.75 per cent that applies to Victorian councils.
Priestly steps down — June 3
Rob Priestly will not return to Greater Shepparton City Council after resigning as a councillor.
The businessman, who ran as an independent candidate at the Federal Election in the seat of Nicholls and succeeded in making the seat marginal, said donations for his political campaign would impact his effectiveness on council.
“Under the new Local Government Act, donations received for a federal campaign must be considered when assessing a conflict of interest with decisions before council,” Mr Priestly said.
Traffic lights still off — June 8
The traffic lights outside Shepparton Art Museum won’t be turned on until stage three of the Shepparton rail line upgrade is completed in late 2023.
More than 15 months after being installed, the lights have still not been turned on because wiring them into the signalling system would cause “significant delays” to works on the rail line.
Sale rejected — June 22
The sale of air space above a Shepparton car park for a social housing development has been rejected by Greater Shepparton City Council to loud applause from the public gallery.
More than 700 submissions opposing the sale and development were received when it was put out for public consultation.
Councillors voted 4-2 to reject the sale of the air space.
Unanimous decision on Australia Day — October 31
A unanimous decision by Greater Shepparton City Council to advocate for Australia Day to be moved from January 26 was greeted with applause during Thursday night’s meeting.
The decision sees council follow others in Victoria in joining a movement to move celebrations of Australia away from a date associated with the start of colonisation.
“January 26 is not a day of celebration for our people; it is considered by our people as a day of mourning,” Cr Greg James, Yorta Yorta Elder and Greater Shepparton’s first First Nations councillor, said.
Council apologises for causeway chaos — November 16
Greater Shepparton City Council has apologised for the lengthy delays on the causeway into Shepparton on Monday, due to the works at the intersection of Welsford and Fryers Sts.
The intersection upgrade started Monday and is expected to take three to four months, with an extra right turning lane from Welsford St towards the causeway part of the works.
Council yesterday cited several factors for the traffic delays: the Watt Rd closure due to flooding and unexpected road repairs on Wyndham and Nixon Sts requiring a lane closure heading north.
Traffic flows through Maude St once again — December 9
The $17 million Maude St redevelopment in Shepparton has been officially opened by City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali and Chamber of Commerce president John Anderson.
The redevelopment of the former Maude St Mall is part of Shepparton’s CBD Revitalisation Project, which includes works to rejuvenate Vaughan St and the Maude St bus interchange.
Street furniture, shelters with solar panels, CCTV, audio lighting and a new playground are all part of the redevelopment.