Mayor's Message, 9 February 2024

Hello everyone,

Ambulance response times is an issue that I have raised in YOUR INDIGO on many occasions and it has remained one of our highest advocacy priorities for a number of years.

The latest figures from Ambulance Victoria for the quarter ending 31 December 2023, show a slight improvement in response times, with paramedics responding to 34.5% of Code One patients within 15 minutes.

For the corresponding quarter in 2022/23, only 19.6% of Code One calls met the 15-minute time target, with paramedics taking more than 25 minutes to reach patients.

While the latest figures are encouraging, we are now looking for not only consistency, but also further improvements and we will continue to advocate at every opportunity.

We highly value the work of our paramedics and other first responders and when we talk about Code One response times and our strong desire for better health outcomes for our residents, we are targeting government, not those on the ground doing an incredible job.

Last Friday we were all shocked and deeply saddened by news that a school crossing supervisor, employed by the City of Wodonga, lost his life in a dreadful accident while on duty.

On behalf of my fellow councillors and all Indigo Shire staff, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Brian Beach and to all Wodonga Council staff and volunteers.

Our school crossing supervisors are highly valued employees. Every day of the school year, regardless of the weather, they dedicate their time to ensuring that our most precious community members, our children, get safely from one side of the road to the other.

Please slow down when travelling though school zones and lets all do our bit to ensure that everyone using our roads gets home safe and sound.

Enjoy your weekend.

Cr Sophie Price