By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK Council has selected 18 people to represent community interests at the city’s new advisory committees.
A total of six community representatives have been appointed on each of the three committees including the community well-being, sustainability and environment and economic development committees.
The committees were introduced in February to allow community members the opportunity to help shape council policies and initiatives. More than 40 people registered their interest to participate on the panels, with 33 completing expressions of interest forms.
Prospective committee members were then interviewed with selection based on interest and specialist knowledge, ability to represent a broad range of community views and interpret state and federal government policy.
The groups will meet on a quarterly basis, with the first meetings to kick off this month.
The groups will provide advice to the council, identify emerging issues and investigate the local impacts of state and federal government policies.
Robert Chessell was among six people selected as a community participant on the economic development committee.
Mr Chessell said he had been inspired to join the initiative as an extension of his work with the Keilor Residents and Ratepayers Association and the Rotary Club of Brimbank Central. Mr Chessell said he already had several ideas for traffic improvements and economic development which he hoped to raise with fellow committee members.
“I’m very much looking forward to it,” Mr Chessell said.
Although the committees will have no real power over council decisions, Mr Chessell said he believed they would have a positive impact.
“We won’t have any actual power but we will have the power of persuasion, of good argument and sensible discussion.” Of the 18 community committee members appointed, four live outside the municipality. Anne Bourke, Myfanwy McDonald, Melissa Prescott, Mary Panayiotou-Bereux, Ranjit Singh and Tim Johnston were selected for the community well-being committee.
