IT finally happened.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Albury Council sealed the fate of the Cumberoona paddlesteamer once and for all.
After more than a decade of procrastination, the one-time tourist icon was sold down the river — literally.
Yarrawonga brothers Robbie and Fraser Knowles bought the Cumberoona for $30,000 and will spend the next 12 months returning it to working order.
But the boat may not be totally lost to Albury with plans to return the Cumberoona when river levels permit.
Another long-standing issue resolved by council was the Uiver memorial plane.
It was officially released from council hands on the weekend of the 80th anniversary celebration of the original plane’s emergency landing in late October.
The plane has been handed over to Uiver Memorial Museum Group to begin the restoration job with council previously agreeing to a $300,000 interest-free loan for the project.
Completing the triumvirate of relics was the Australia Park water wheel, which had been left to slip into a state of disrepair.
It hadn’t worked for more than a decade and was going to cost $90,000 to return it to working order.
Instead, the wheel was ripped out and placed in storage with a potential return to its original home in the Mitta Valley still the favoured outcome.
The Albury mayoral election provided its annual share of intrigue before Cr Kevin Mack was returned on a 6-3 vote when his predecessor Alice Glachan was a surprise late challenger.
Cr Ross Jackson replaced Cr Henk van de Ven as deputy mayor.
Another former mayor, Patricia Gould, celebrated 40 years on council during the year.
She had already become the longest-serving woman councillor in Australian local government history, eclipsing the 35 years served by Margaret Stevenson on Orange Council.
Albury Council frustrated attempts of the Rights To Privacy group wanting an exclusion zone created around the Englehardt Street abortion clinic to stop those attending being approached by weekly protesters. The council maintained the state government was best equipped to handle the matter.
Cr Mack’s comments on the NSW budget in June sparked a bizarre response from member for Albury Greg Aplin.
Mr Aplin called a rare post-budget press conference and let rip at Cr Mack and fellow councillor Darren Cameron.
“The mayor of Albury has a job to represent council and not use his position to launch his own self-serving political attacks and personal political philosophies,” Mr Aplin said.
“Cr Cameron has the Chicken Little assignment from Labor’s Sydney headquarters and is in full campaign mode.
“To my critics, Darren Cameron and Kevin Mack, can you all do us a favour and sort out between you, which one is running for Labor at the 2015 NSW election.”
