Wakool reps to have a say

MOULAMEIN resident Katarni Lipp will head an advisory group representing the new Greater Wakool ward at Murray River Council before becoming deputy chair of a merged council committee.

Administrator David Shaw last week adopted the newly merged council’s first draft budget and operational plan.

The document brought together the budgets and operational plans of the two former shires, which will become the council’s two new wards: Greater Wakool and Greater Murray/Moama.

Advisory groups called Local Representation Committees (LRC) have been established to represent the ward areas, with four members chosen to sit on each.

The Guardian understands the LRCs will operate as separate entities for around two months before merging and working together as one committee, to help the transition process.

Former Wakool Shire councillors Neil Gorey, Katarni Lipp, Lois Lockhart and Alan Mathers were appointed to the Greater Wakool LRC.

For more on this story, grab a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (June 15).