“We are talking to other councils and mayors all the time,” Cr Whitechurch said.
“It’s not just the communication, but enormous opportunities in neighbouring shires for this to happen including tourism and staffing shortages. I think we can grow much bigger.”
Mayor Pat Bourke welcomed the MoU. Federation Council’s decision to sign up was unanimous.
There are many areas of potential future collaboration, many of which will relate to key infrastructure that will be shared by community members on both sides of the river according to Federation Council’s director corporate and community services Jo Shannon.
“One current example is the development of cycling and walking trails which is occurring across all councils as part of the overarching Murray River Trail,” she said.
Some months ago Federation Council staff began discussions with Moira Shire Council regarding the possibility of the two councils entering into an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as an opportunity of sharing information and working more closely together around issues that impact on the shared communities of Yarrawonga and Mulwala.
Since then, the neighbouring Shires of Berrigan and Indigo have also expressed an interest in becoming a party to the MoU as all four councils have shared interests across neighbouring towns and villages.
The MoU was presented to the February 2022 meetings of Moira, Berrigan and Indigo Councils, and was supported.
In recommending endorsement, Ms Shannon said there are townships along our borders that are entirely integrated and interdependent.
“While appreciating that jurisdictional lines do need to exist on maps, in the day to day lives of our communities they are often invisible and, in many cases, frequently crossed; therefore, the relationship of the LGAs should mirror that reality,” she said.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the councils is underpinned by a number of agreed founding principles, including maximising service delivery opportunities to meet a common community need, reducing costs and eliminating duplication.
The objectives of the MoU include advocating to better inform decision making, infrastructure investment, service delivery and to overcome (cross) border issues and constraints.
The councils agree the key focus areas for cross-border collaboration are issues of regional and national significance; aligning services and sharing information; community infrastructure works; local transport and regional economic development.
“The councils acknowledge the MoU is not legally enforceable but relies on the spirit of cooperation between the four local governments for the betterment of the community,” Ms Shannon said.
“The councils acknowledge the potential for fluctuations in resourcing capability and capacity to support joint initiatives from time to time. Councils will commit to contribute to joint initiatives in a matter that is reflective of the relative cost and benefit to each council for the betterment of the community.”
