Council & Politics
25 October, 2025
OPINION: Thoughts on councillor's column
"Personally, I’m not really sure what the ‘Councillor Column’ purpose was for the advantage of residents and readers."
AS I reflected on the value of it, I wondered how many other readers would have paid attention to Councillor Emerson’s contribution in last week’s edition of our NCN Herald newspaper - and what might be their thoughts or understanding from it.
Personally, I’m not really sure what the ‘Councillor Column’ purpose was for the advantage of residents and readers.
I noted Cr Emerson identified that he and Cr Probst had attended the St Arnaud Youth Expo in September - although I don’t know what he thought of it and where his interest and contribution towards advancing our youths needs and best interests currently are.
During the last 12 months, whilst I’ve attended meetings of Northern Grampians Shire Council asking public questions with notice or at community forums that our councillors are also present at, I have not sensed they had much detail or priority for a vision or plan to advance issues particularly important for St Arnaud ‘youth’ (classified as being 12-25 years of age).
Cr Emerson was a NGS councillor and Mayor during the formation and adoption of the Market Square St Arnaud Master Plan - 2019 (copy available on the NGSC Web-site here: https://www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Council/Governance-and-transparency/Council-publications/Market-Square-St-Arnaud-Master-Plan)
In that plan, adopted by the previous council, was the intention to establish a Senior Activity play area (including a basketball half court and backboard) and upgrade the skate area.
Nothing has resembled anything like it so far.
Similarly, Cr Emerson was a member of NGSC during the preparation and implementation of the Lord Nelson Park St Arnaud Precinct Plan 2015-2024 (https://www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Council/Governance-and-transparency/Council-publications/Lord-Nelson-Park-St-Arnaud-Precinct-Plan).
That plan included identification of the need for a BMX Track and it was referenced as one of numerous additional improvements.
I know St Arnaud families and youth have attended numerous meetings throughout the past four years reinforcing the need for these recreation and social support initiatives to be prioritised and progressed for our youth.
The bike track need was once again being emphasised in this year’s Council Plan community consultation process through Survey, and the pop up listening post interactions. I was not alone raising the point regularly
On the back page of October 8 2025 edition of the NCN Herald was the article reporting that our youth (and interested adults) still have no track in St Arnaud and public support by way of a petition to have our councillors and council make this a priority was being organised.
Why are our council management and councillors needing a ‘petition’, or our frustrated and ignored residents feeling that step needs to be taken, for this to be given Cr Emersons and Cr Probsts clear and unequivocal publiuc support and demonstrated advocacy within council? Since late last year I have been raising publicly with council, at numerous monthly public meetings, and regularly to our mayor and councillors by email and conversation, these failings by NGSC and endeavouring to voice the very important social, health and wellbeing, and recreational needs of our current and future youth.
I have shared many examples of what other local councils are doing in the youth services - that NGSC is not. It is embarrassing and stark, the differences and what is not happening under this council.
Last week, Cr Emerson concluded his NCN Herald contribution with (quote) ‘Remember: It is not what we do occasionally it’s what we do consistently’.
Indeed, I thought.
Let’s all pay attention to what he and his colleagues express - and do - consistently, to actually have established the St Arnaud BMX Track and the Senior Activity Play and Skate area upgrade at Market Square over the next 12 months.
Ross Hudson - St Arnaud
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