Mr. David Quayle

Swan Hill Mayor David Quayle is proud the municipality, with a population of 21,600, is the state's child-bearing leader.

"I reckon the economy has something to do with it, the lifestyle has something to do with it," he said.

Mayor of Swan Hill, David Quayle and Jim converse while walking.

David Quayle, Mayor of Swan Hill and keynote speaker Christine Forster from the Victorian Catchment Management Council.

A petition signed by 175 people objecting to the business rate rise was presented to last night's meeting at Robinvale, but mayor David Quayle says council needed to address a long-term imbalance in the amount of rates paid by the business sector.

"Ten years ago there was a lot more rates coming in from the commercial sector than what there is now, in other words, their impost has actually gone down," he said.

Swan Hill mayor David Quayle says the council has no objections to growing GM cotton, and has made that clear to the gene technology regulator.

Swan Hill Rural City Councillor and Deputy Mayor David Quayle said the Green Your Garden, Let's Get Composting! campaign demonstrates how Council is leading the way in effective waste management.

"The campaign also encourages a behavioural change among our residents when it comes to reducing waste disposal to the landfill," Mr Quayle said.