It’s easy to criticise decisions made, especially when you don’t agree. A highlight of my first 100 days as Eurobodalla Mayor has been the cordial debate amongst councillors, staff and community on different issues and working towards an outcome.
Councillors are feeling their way through issues and how to navigate each other. What is clear to us is just how hard the staff work for the community. They are steered by decisions we councillors make and are there to support us. No doubt it must be hard to have a new bunch each term constantly changing the direction.
Managing community expectations versus the reality of what can be done and the speed with which you can do it is a challenge. But I have to say having the community supporting not only me but the other councillors is what makes the Mayor’s role so rewarding.
Communication is something we have really worked hard to ramp up and I’ve heard so much positive feedback from community. The team has come up with many new ways to connect and it’s great to see them excited about a new approach.
While it might seem small steps at the moment, we will ultimately be judged by the changes we are making now that will have a bigger impact down the road. Many of these decisions will come to fruition after this term of Council is over.
It’s still the first 100 days of 1000. We must set our goals beyond reach so we always have something to continue to strive for.
Mayor Mathew Hatcher
7 April 2022
Above: Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher in conversation with resident Tish Ennis at Wednesday’s Councillor Catch Up in Moruya.
