Councillor Rod Fyffe said he would champion multiculturalism and foreshadowed possible cuts to services forced by rate capping in his first speech on becoming mayor last night.
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But though it was the fourth time he was presented with the robe and chain of the city’s top office, Cr Fyffe admitted to a touch of stage fright.
“It’s still exciting... and you do always get a bit nervous,” he said.
In last night’s changing of the guard ceremony the outgoing mayor, Councillor Peter Cox, reflected on his biggest achievements and challenges over the course of his 12-month tenure.
He placed the adoption of strategies which limit urban sprawl, encourage public transport and the implementation of organic waste collection among the biggest achievements of his time in office.
“The most challenging issue must be the mosque,” he said.
“The demonstrations – mainly form non-Bendigo people – and the interruption to a council meeting poses a threat to our democracy.”
In a speech thanking the outgoing mayor for his service, Councillor James Williams said Cr Cox had faced “lies,” “innuendo” and “personal criticism” – which he found confronting – over the issue.
"[Yet] he defended Bendigo's reputation on a national – and even international – stage," Cr Williams said. “Pete was never going to be timid.”
Cr Fyffe said he would continue Cr Cox’s defence of multiculturalism.
“As mayor I will be particularly keen to promote cultural diversity and to ensure that Bendigo retains its reputation for being a welcoming and tolerant community,” he said.
“I’m very much looking forward to the delivery of the Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Plan so that we can maximise the benefits to the community that flow on from cultural diversity – after all we’ve had over 150 years of practice of that here in Bendigo.”
Mayor Fyffe said he would continue to work to partner with the state and federal governments to deliver capital works projects like the new aquatic centre at Kangaroo Flat.
But he slammed the Victorian government’s cap on council rates.
“Rate capping means we’ll have to review all the services we provide – can they be run more efficiently? – and in some cases, we may have to tackle the thorny issue of should we provide them at all?” he said.
