Council
28 October, 2023
Blain to lead council
COUNCILLOR Ben Blain was elected mayor of Warrnambool City Council this week.
Cr Blain, who was the sole nomination, succeeds outgoing mayor Debbie Arnott.
“I would just like to say thank you to my fellow councillors, especially Debbie for the last year as mayor,” he said.
“I’d like to make the commitment to Warrnambool to work as a team, with this council, to progress the city.
“I look forward to working together to deliver for Warrnambool.
“Coming into this last year of our term we’ve got the Aquatic Strategy, we’re working towards that to get a new pool; Brierly Reserve, it’s on the boil, it’s coming through; key worker housing is going to be another key focus for our city – we’re struggling to fill the roles that we have.
“We’re working towards what’s going to happen with the saleyards site. Hopefully we can get that done over the next year and hopefully build on the facilities that we already have there like the basketball courts.”
Cr Blain said he was “really keen” to see the West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House project delivered over the next 12 months and he would be pushing to get funding to try and protect the breakwater.
“I look forward to working with councillors and Andrew as the CEO, and directors and staff to continue to progress Warrnambool and keep doing the best we can to keep Warrnambool one of the most special places to live in the country and the only way we are going to do that is by working together,” he said.
It is believed 34 year-old Cr Blain is Warrnambool’s youngest mayor.
Past mayor Cr Vicki Jellie was elected deputy mayor, also unopposed.