Mayor's Message 7 March 2025

Hello everyone,

If you’ve been across local and state media and our socials this week, you will have seen the extraordinary images taken on the steps of the Victorian Parliament on Wednesday where together with close to 300 others, Indigo Shire rallied for a new single site Albury-Wodonga hospital built on a greenfield site.

It’s hard to put into words how it felt to be standing side-by-side with fellow Mayors, Councillors, Doctors, allied health professionals, politicians and community members and hearing the absolute despair and frustration at what is being proposed for the future of health care in our region.

To hear Border Medical Association Secretary Dr Lachie McKeeman describe the inadequacies of the proposed Albury Hospital redevelopment and the impact on patient suffering was not only appalling, but heart breaking.

On a positive note, the commitment, energy and passion on display was uplifting and has only fuelled the fire to take this fight all the way. I can’t thank enough those who made the eight plus hour return trip to attend Wednesday’s rally and for standing up for your communities.

This morning, Mayors representing the 13 Councils committed to the cause met to discuss the next steps. We talked about a local rally in Albury’s QEII Square in the coming weeks and also taking a delegation to the NSW parliament.

I encourage all Indigo Shire residents to get behind this fight. With a federal election looming, we need to ensure that this is the number one issue. Start lobbying local candidates. For federal politicians to say this is a state issue is not good enough. We deserve better and we need to demand better.

Before I sign-off, I want to give a huge shout out to all our fabulous local women and wish you a wonderful day tomorrow as we celebrate International Women’s Day.

Take care.

Cr Sophie Price.