Instead of remembering 2020 for its challenges, I want to take this opportunity to shine a light on all the good our community collectively achieved this year.
The challenges were persistent, but so was the strength, resilience, resourceful and comradery demonstrated across our region.
Our community was lucky enough to avoid major community transmission of COVID-19 but no economy, including ours, went unscathed.
That's why the Council endorsed a $2 million COVID-19 Community Care Package early in the year.
This package was to support vulnerable individuals and businesses, and was bolstered by a grassroots movement to shop local.
More and more people threw their support behind local retailers, and the Shire partnered with the MRCCI, ACCI, Margaret River Regional Producers Association and Transition Margaret River to prepare and launch the Local Is More campaign.
Margaret River businesses further demonstrated their resilience throughout the Margaret River Main Street Makeover, which involved necessary upgrades to infrastructure, accessibility and safety.
We sincerely appreciate everyone's support and patience throughout this process, and are excited to be unveiling our new main street in time for Christmas.
Another overhaul took place at HEART, and despite the arts and entertainment industry being among the hardest hit by COVID-19, the venue hosted multiple events and exhibitions in-line with Government restrictions offering people a local venue to access arts, culture and a much-needed dose of escapism.
On an environmental front, the Shire progressed the Climate Action Plan, maintained carbon and water footprint monitoring, and continued offsetting initiatives.
We also managed to halve the amount of waste being sent to landfill in 2020 thanks to residents' impressive uptake of the three-bin system that was introduced last year.
With this year coming to an end, our focus is now shifting to what lay ahead.
We have a number of key projects lined up for 2021 including the improvement of assets and infrastructure at the Margaret River Recreation Centre, Augusta Civic Precinct, Gloucester Park and the Davis Road Waste Station; the strengthening of Aboriginal engagement; progression of the Gnarabup Coastal Erosion project; and much more.
While there's no knowing what 2021 will hold, given the unity and strength demonstrated this year, we're confident the next one will be bright.
So from all of us at the Shire, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
