THERE was a good mood among south-west councils yesterday following news that the region’s local member of Parliament was now the leader of the state.
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Council mayors inside the new Premier’s electorate were cautiously optimistic speaking to The Standard.
Warrnambool mayor Michael Neoh said Dr Napthine had a strong record as Regional Cities Minister, but warned he would need to stay committed to his constituents.
“Now he will be under pressure for our local projects, including stage two of the redevelopment of South West Healthcare and Peter’s Project,” Cr Neoh said.
“I hope he doesn’t become Spring Street centric.
“What I’d hate to see is if Dr Napthine shies away from the area because of bias — I think it’s about catching up.”
A number of other large infrastructure projects including the transformation of the Warrnambool foreshore will require millions in state funding.
Faster trains to Geelong and more of them was also at the top of the list for Cr Neoh.
He also flagged boosted infrastructure and services at Warrnambool Airport.
“We need to have a good airport and now that he’s Premier he’ll probably be flying in, I assume.”
Roads have long dominated concerns in Moyne Shire, where Dr Napthine lives in Port Fairy.
Mayor Jim Doukas said Dr Napthine had been supportive of the council’s hopes to claw back millions of dollars from wind farm developers for damaged roads around the Macarthur wind farm.
But he said the council would not seek preferential treatment with the Premier.
“When there’s back-room deals things get undone,” Cr Doukas said.
“I think he will be able to convey to his parliamentary colleagues what’s going on here.”
The council is still pinning hopes on state funds for the Nullawarre-Nirranda sports complex upgrade.
The struggling manufacturing sector in Portland has been raised to the top of the Glenelg Shire’s agenda in the past week after a string of local business closures and ongoing job concerns at turbine maker Keppel Prince.
Dr Napthine previously served as the MP for the now-defunct state seat of Portland.
Glenelg Shire mayor Karen Stephens welcomed the announcement yesterday, saying Dr Napthine had taken an interest in issues at Keppel Prince.
She said the council would continue to make a case for the state government to support a $15 million upgrade of the Condah-Hotspur Upper Road, where huge timber trucks and school buses compete for space.
