Meadows ward councillor Adem Atmaca was sworn in as Hume’s new mayor last week, a role he has held previously in his 12 years on the council.
Aitken ward councillor Alan Bolton will serve as deputy mayor.
Their appointments came the day before the Napthine government formally gazetted orders to establish a new Sunbury City Council from July next year.
Cr Atmaca, affectionately known as ‘Cyclone’ by fellow councillors for his ‘bull at a gate’ approach, spoke of the ongoing challenges the splitting of Sunbury from Hume will pose.
“This year will be one of great change for our community, the city and the organisation with the new Sunbury council taking effect in 2015,” Cr Atmaca said.
“But I am confident we will continue to operate through this period of change as we have always done – with transparency, sound governance, strong leadership and an unwavering focus on the job at hand – delivering services, projects and programs for our community.”
He also foreshadowed his priorities for the year ahead: planning, job creation and sprucing up the municipality.
“I commit to deal with and provide solutions for those issues the community tells us about constantly, including parking on nature strips, waste disposal and traffic management.”
Broadmeadows’ staggering unemployment rate of 26.4 per cent was also on his agenda.
“These unemployment rates are what you would see in Third World countries, yet its here in Hume,” he said, pledging to knock on doors at all levels of government to provide local jobs.
In closing his acceptance speech, Cr Atmaca said to his fellows, in good humour: “Lead me or follow me, or get out of my way.”
