Councillor Geoff Lake was elected President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) at the Association’s Annual General Meeting in Canberra on 19 November.
Councillor Lake, from the City of Monash in Victoria, was Vice President of ALGA and President of the Municipal Association of Victoria from 2004 to 2006. He works as a lawyer with a national law firm.
Former President, Councillor Paul Bell, served for two consecutive two year terms and under ALGA’s Constitution was ineligible to stand again.
ALGA CEO, Adrian Beresford-Wylie, said the election of 28 year old Councillor Lake is ‘a generational handover’ and will ensure that ALGA continues to forge ahead with energy and enthusiasm.
Councillor Lake will be a fresh face at the next meeting of the Council of Australian Governments on 29 November.
Councillor Lake said he has a clear vision and plan for Local Government to:
- play a bigger part in the government response to the global
economic crisis by getting infrastructure investment
happening locally - reduce unnecessary red tape
- raise the standard in council performance.
“There is an unprecedented opportunity for Local Government to be at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s COAG reform agenda and I will ensure the sector is an active and intelligent contributor,” he said.
“The community has a right to expect the highest levels of service from their council, and I will work hard to promote and deliver reforms that strengthen confidence in Local Government.”
Councillor Lake also paid tribute to former President Bell.
“Paul has passionately promoted the interests of Local Government over the past four years,” he said. “He has worked tirelessly, determinedly and effectively to secure substantial gains for councils across the nation.”
