Manningham mayor Charles Pick, Maroondah mayor Alex Makin, Knox mayor Joe Cossari, Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox and Whitehorse mayor Bill Pemberton vow to work together for their communities.
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
SHIRE of Yarra Ranges mayor Len Cox joined four other eastern region mayors promising to work together to advance their communities.
Councillor Cox joined the mayors from Maroondah, Whitehorse, Knox and Manningham to sign a landmark agreement to provide a united voice for the region.
Cr Cox said the declaration was one of friendship and willingness to help each other on problems that affect the whole region.
“Or it may mutually interest two councils, where issues are occurring around the boundary areas that can affect both councils,” he said.
Cr Cox said the councillors plan to lobby state and federal government on behalf of the combined 750,000 residents to seek improved services, funding and programs.
“It can definitely do some good for our communities,” he said.
Public transport continues to be an area the eastern region is continually shown to be lacking in, he said, as well as councillors trying to secure national broadband lines for eastern suburbs residents who have been left unconnected for too long.
The agreement, which was signed on 22 September at Box Hill Town Hall, is a voluntary and non-binding obligation created in good faith and a genuine expectation that mutual support will be reciprocated by the other councils.
