Issue 39 - Winter 2021
Kyneton Town Hall – get out of the house!
Kyneton Town Hall (KTH) plays host to some fantastic performances this winter season.
For a great reason get out of the house, have fun and keep warm, be sure to secure your tickets now!
A Taste of Ireland—The Irish Music & Dance Sensation
Sunday 13 June, 7.30pm
‘A Taste of IrelandThe Irish Music & Dance Sensation’ will have you laugh, cry and jig into the night with a show that has entertained thousands. Starring dancers from the West End’s Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, and Gaelforce Dance; this show brings all new sets, costumes, music and effects hot off its premiere New York City run.
KTH Kids presents: Wild City
Wednesday 30 June, Thursday 1 July, Friday 2 July, 10.30am and 1.30pm
Wild City is an art-based workshop for children where we consider wild animals as citizens in urban spaces.
Using sculpture as a medium for creating learning, this workshop introduces children to urban ecology and the real issues that animals face in increasingly human built world.
The collaborative sculptural work will be displayed as an exhibition for others to explore.
I Have A Face: Jude Perl
Friday 18 June, 8pm
An honest and hilarious show that uses humour and song to discuss mental health, with a theatrical twist.
Jude Perl’s insight into her personal and relatable mental health struggles of being an adult, will make you want to sing along, cry and laugh all at once.
She’ll talk about some tough stuff, make you laugh and make you feel truly human.
KTH Kids presents: New Owner
Tuesday 6 July,
10am and 1.15pm
A story of love, loss and new beginnings.
New Owner is a KTH Kids show that combines puppetry, live action and animation that takes us on a world of adventure through a dog’s eyes.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
Friday 30 July, 7pm
The Melbourne Chamber Orchestra will perform Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’, one of the most exciting, colourful and innovative works from the baroque era.
Buy Tickets
Museum UNDONE
Fridays and Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 5pm, throughout June at Kyneton Museum.
An immersive re-interpretation of the Kyneton Museum collection. Part performance, part exhibition, Museum UNDONE is a playful and unique way to engage with our collective history and imagine the future.
Purchase tickets at: mrsc.vic.gov.au/museum
Group bookings are available by calling the box office on 1300 888 802.
Welcome to Bernie O’Sullivan
Council’s new Chief Executive Officer, Bernie O’Sullivan commenced with us on Monday 10 May.
Bernie joins us from the City of Greater Bendigo where he was Director Strategy and Growth. Prior to that he was Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA VIC) and worked as Deputy Secretary, Regional Services for the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), and Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI). He has also worked in senior leadership roles in Sydney and Canberra for 15 years in policy, management and advocacy.
Bernie will work with Council to finalise and achieve the objectives of the new Council Plan. He is focused on engaging with community and businesses, delivering on capital works projects, and ensuring the organisation is able to deliver a strong customer experience through the use of contemporary technology.
Bernie said he is looking forward to working together with Council, staff and the community, and that he is very honoured to become the Chief Executive Officer.
“It is highly rewarding to return to my home region and make a positive difference to our local community. There are great opportunities to contribute to an optimistic and liveable future for the Macedon Ranges, and I’m keen to ensure the community is at the centre of our work.”
Budget 2021/22
Each year, Council reviews its operations and determines the required “base” budget to deliver its existing services for the following year.
Internal business cases are prepared for any new operating requirements and projects, and for Council’s proposed capital works program. A thorough evaluation of these new projects and requirements is undertaken and, as part of this process, a series of budget workshops are undertaken with Councillors. As the amount of funding is limited, challenging decisions have to be made each year in regard to what is included in the draft budget.
The draft budget, along with the Revenue and Rating Plan, is then made available for public comment prior to being considered by Council for formal adoption. Both documents will be presented to Council for adoption at a Special Council Meeting to be held at 11am on Tuesday 29 June.
For further updates, visit: mrsc.vic.gov.au/budget
Your community vision
We would like to thank residents who registered to be a part of the Community Vision Assembly.
Selected by an independent consultant, the Assembly members represent the broad demographics of the community.
The Community Vision Assembly met five times during March and April, with sessions run by professional and independent facilitators. The Assembly’s task was to carefully discuss and consider the big issues and explore opportunities for our future. These discussions will form the foundation of a 10-year community vision for what life could look like in the shire in 2031. Members provided recommendations and feedback for how we can achieve this through various Council plans and strategies.
The recommendations are incorporated into the Community Vision, Council Plan and Financial Plan before being shared with residents for further feedback and comment, and will be adopted at a Council meeting prior to 31 October 2021.
The Community Vision Assembly is just one of the many ways in which we consult with and invite feedback from the community. Residents can provide feedback through our Have Your Say webpage, by engaging with Councillors, or via our customer service centres (See page 36 for locations).
Visit: mrsc.vic.gov.au/feedback or phone 5422 0333.
Need advice on sleep settling your child?
Sleep and settling educational support sessions are available for parents/carers who need support to improve their infant or toddler’s sleeping patterns.
Book an appointment to attend a free support session with a maternal and child health nurse.
0–6 month olds
9.30am-10.30am
Every third Thursday of each month
9.30am-10.30am
11am-12pm
71 Robertson Street, Gisborne
5422 0281 or mchadmin@mrsc.vic.gov.au
Out of hours support:
13 22 29
Raising Children Network: raisingchildren.net.au
COVID-19 vaccine roll out
We have been successful in obtaining funds to assist with educating the community around the rollout of COVID-19 vaccination in the shire.
The funds will be used to educate the community as a whole, and to assist those in high risk categories. Due to the changing timelines and changes to the vaccination schedule, we encourage residents to keep up to date via the Australian and Victorian governments’ COVID-19 websites.
Registrations for three and four year old kindergarten are open.
Register at mrsc.vic.gov.au/kinder-rego and give your child the best start to their learning journey.
To register, upload proof of your child’s age and submit payment online so you don’t miss the Wednesday 30 June deadline.
If you register by 30 June, you’ll go into the draw to win two terms of Learn to Swim lessons for your child.
Volunteer and connect
We are looking for new volunteers to join our team.
Our community support service has been running for over 15 years providing skills and experience to assist older people within our community.
Our Social Support Individual Program assists older people aged 65 years and over (50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) to remain living at home and in their community. Volunteers are a valued part of the program, assisting older people to:
· attend medical appointments and other activities
· increase skills and confidence to go online
· increase social connections by having regular visits at home or in the community.
· reduce social isolation through regular phone calls.
Social support volunteers are screened, trained and supported.
If you have spare time and want to give back to your community, call the Healthy Ageing Engagement unit 5422 0333 or email svassilios@mrsc.vic.gov.au to find out more.
It’s okay to ask for help
Are you aged over 65 and finding it just a little bit harder to manage at home? It is okay to ask for help.
Accepting appropriate support actually enables you to stay independent and keep doing the activities you enjoy. Getting information about services also ensures you are more prepared to make decisions about your future.
My Aged Care helps older people find and access services at home to help improve health and wellbeing.
To find out more, call 5422 0333 or pick up a brochure from one of our customer service centres.
Reaching out during COVID
During 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, around 90 additional temporary staff joined Council as part of the Victorian Government’s Working for Victoria (WFV) program.
These temporary staff performed roles such as assisting with community support, filming and photography, and planting and environment works at Hanging Rock.
Five of the WFV staff initially supported our customer service team as part of the Outreach Connection Unit (OCU). They quickly moved into supporting our community care and healthy ageing teams by making regular calls to vulnerable or isolated residents, taking people to medical appointments, and working with people to enhance their digital knowledge.
The OCU staff said that it was rewarding and humbling to be able to listen to residents’ life stories while assisting in reducing their social isolation during the pandemic.
Fast facts
· Since December 60 calls on average per day were made to isolated and vulnerable residents.
· During January 1,201 ‘wellness’ calls were made to residents asking COVID-19 screening questions before community connection workers visited.
· During February 153 social support calls were made to check in on residents.
· 23 medical transports were scheduled during March—double our previous highest number of medical transports for a month.
New accessible parking permit scheme
The Victorian Government has introduced a new disability parking permit scheme known as the Accessible Parking Permit (APP) Scheme.
Three different parking permits will be issued under the new scheme:
· Australian Disability Parking (ADP) Permit—formerly the category 1 blue disabled permit
· Double Time (DT) Permit—formerly the category 2 green permit
· ADP Organisation Permit—formerly blue organisation permit.
To apply for a permit, renew an existing permit, or replace a permit, applicants should visit the Accessible Permit Parking website:
Improvements include:
· making sure the eligibility criteria for a permit is consistent across the state
· allowing occupational therapists to complete assessments, in addition to GPs
· introducing a permanent disability classification, so many will no longer have to return for reassessment
· increasing the permit length from 3 years to 5 years for individuals
· providing temporary permits for 6, 12 or 24 months
· a new single permit design to be used across the state.
For more information visit: mrsc.vic.gov.au/accessible-parking or phone 5422 0333.
Youth Space portable
Did you know that every Monday from 4pm to 6pm we host a space for all young people between 12 and 17 years old?
The Kyneton Youth Space is an inclusive place that hosts a range of activities for young people. Food is provided, and registration is free but required.
You can find us in the portable on Hutton Street behind Kyneton Town Hall.
To register or for more information, contact: youth@mrsc.vic.gov.au or phone: 0400 144 476.
Join the Crew
The Live4Life Crew is a group of motivated young
people interested in making change in their community by promoting positive mental health among their peers.
To be part of the crew, you must:
· be in Year 9 or Year 10
· attend one of the five Live4Life schools
· attend regular meetings after school and or during school holidays at the Youth Space in Kyneton
· be willing to get involved in the presentation of the launch, competition and celebration events
· participate in leadership training
To find out more about this award-winning initiative, visit: www.live4life.org.au or phone 5422 0275.
Youth Mental Health First Aid courses
Learn how to help young people experiencing mental health problems by participating in one of our award-winning Youth Mental Health First Aid courses.
The 14-hour program teaches participants first aid skills to give initial help to young people who are in a mental health crisis situation or in the early stages of a mental illness.
The course covers various mental health problems experienced by young people and is delivered using case studies, films and group discussions.
This course is $37.50 for all Macedon Ranges residents. For other individuals, the cost is $190 per person. A refresher course is $30 for all participants.
There are separate courses available that are specifically for teachers and youth service providers within the Macedon Ranges.
Community course
Romsey Neighbourhood House
To book or for more information, contact: 0429 466 207 or email: youth@mrsc.vic.gov.au
Celebrating culture
At Macedon Ranges Shire Council, we recognise the value of sharing cultural celebrations, activities and events with the wider community, including National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week each year.
During this year’s National Reconciliation Week
(27 May–3 June) we celebrated the theme: ‘More than a word. Reconciliation takes action’.
A six-week Indigenous Coil Weaving course with the theme ‘Heal Country, Heal our Nation’, commenced on 7 June and finishes with a drop-in exhibition during NAIDOC Week on 11 July.
The workshops take place at the Woodend Community Centre, led by Dja Dja Wurrung artist Aunty Marilyne Nicholls. Session details available at mrsc.vic.gov.au/events
Please forward activity details to:
FOGO goes shire-wide from July
During July, we will be expanding the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service shire-wide to all households. This completes the rollout, which began in February 2020 to over 16,000 properties across the shire.
Properties and households new to the FOGO service will receive a letter detailing changes in the coming weeks, including the date for bin deliveries.
FOGO material is turned into a nutrient-rich compost for farms and gardens across Victoria. It will also help local school gardens grow, with free compost delivered during Compost Awareness Week (2–8 May).
The shire-wide adoption of FOGO ensures all households can dispose of food and garden organics in an environmentally friendly way. This reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfill. FOGO services complement existing home composting systems by taking overflow during the colder months when compost can be slower to break down.
Many people manage their household’s food and garden waste through home composting, worm farms, chickens and livestock. FOGO services can compost things that worms and chickens don’t like to eat. This includes things such as meat, bones, seafood, rose prunings, and weeds, including noxious weeds (for example, blackberries and gorse), pet droppings, compostable kitty litter, compostable packaging and more.
Learn more about FOGO, visit: mrsc.vic.gov.au/FOGO or phone 5422 0333
Fast facts
· Since the introduction of the FOGO bins, over 9,257 tonnes of organic material has been saved from landfill.
· A recent audit of rural general waste bins showed that 45 per cent of the contents were either compostable or recyclable through correct sorting into the right bin.
Annual street tree planting begins
Our 2021 street tree planting program will run between May and September—the optimal time to give the trees the best chance of survival. Approximately 200 established trees will be added to the Romsey streetscape and a further 100 added across the shire, as requested by residents.
The shire is renowned for its tree-lined streets and avenues, and we’re fortunate to have a variety of microclimates, with varying rainfall and temperature that allows for a diverse range of trees to be grown.
Trees are purchased from local nurseries and Council staff ensure the new plantings are well looked after, watering regularly during the warmer months for the first two years to ensure they mature into healthy and structurally sound trees. Most trees are then self-sufficient after two years.
We encourage residents to be involved in watering trees adjacent to their property. Council provides information on how to look after the trees, as well as a bucket for when the weather is very hot so residents can easily water them.
Recent years have seen trees planted in Lancefield, Tylden, Darraweit Guim, Malmsbury and New Gisborne. We focus our annual tree planting program based on township locations to ensure the best cost efficiency.
Residents will be notified by letter if a tree is to be planted on the nature strip adjacent to their property.
Trees are selected under our “right tree, right place” guiding principle; that is, select the species most suited to the location.
You can find our preferred tree species list at:
Shared trails, the path so far
Since the sod turn in November 2020, significant progress has been made on stage 1a of the Macedon Ranges Shared Trails Project (between Templeton and Wood streets, Woodend) including:
· Completed arborist report and feature survey
· Finalised the construction design
· Contractor engaged.
Progress has also been made on stage 2 of the trail with:
· private landholder negotiations underway
· feature surveys nearing completion
· the contract awarded for the cultural heritage management plan and detailed ecological assessment.
The Detailed Ecological Assessment aims to identify
rare or threatened flora and fauna species and provide recommendations on how to avoid or minimise the removal of native vegetation.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions and Regional Development Victoria for their support.
For more information, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/shared-trails
Sports precinct update
Feedback received during recent community consultation for the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct (MRRSP) schematic design
has been considered, and will shape stage 1 construction plans.
The Sports Precinct will provide community facilities for sport, health and fitness activities and events across two interconnected sites in New Gisborne.
The precinct will cater for a range of sports and recreational pursuits while also attracting regional-level competition.
In April, Council welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of an additional $3.2 million towards constructing the passive recreation spaces including the site pathway network, playground, picnic area, and Stage 1 landscape works.
The project design will ensure delivery in stages with the available funding. Before this funding announcement of $3.2 million, Council, the Victorian Government and AFL Victoria committed a combined $21.7 million to the project. These funds will allow the completion of the design and the first stage of construction.
For more information, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/sports-precinct
Subscribe to eNews
Receive updates on Council projects and services direct to your inbox. Subscribe to one or more of the following:
Aquatics and Leisure: get the latest on fitness classes, sports programs, swimming and more.
Arts and Culture: find out about festivals, exhibitions, arts events and opportunities.
Business: discover events, support and other opportunities for local business.
Disability: news on local programs and services that cater to people with a disability.
Environment: find out more about local environmental projects and events.
Family: information for local families with children aged up to eight years.
Over 55s: regular updates about local events and opportunities for over 55s.
ShireLife: seasonal newsletter featuring Council projects, activities, opportunities and more.
For more information, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/newsletters
Find us on social media
Get regular updates about our services, projects, events and activities via our social media channels.
Facebook:
Rates and charges must be paid in four instalments by no later than the due date. Instalment reminder notices will be sent prior to each instalment date.
To support our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have developed a COVID-19 financial hardship policy to support individuals and businesses who have been impacted financially. For more information, visit: mrsc.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
The instalment dates for 2021/22 are:
· 30 September 2021
· 30 November 2021
· 28 February 2022
· 31 May 2022
You can pay your rates via BPay View®, online with Visa or Mastercard via mrsc.vic.gov.au/payments or
in person at a Council customer service centre during opening hours.
If you have any questions about rates payment methods, or if you have difficulty paying your rates on time, contact the Rates department on 5422 0322.
Contact Council
· PO Box 151, Kyneton VIC 3444
* Our 1300 number offers residents living in the south of the shire the ability to contact us without incurring an STD call rate.
Visit one of our service centres:
· 40 Robertson Street, Gisborne
· 129 Mollison Street, Kyneton
· Cnr High and Forest streets, Woodend.
Residents who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can contact Council through the National Relay Service:
· TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 03 5422 0333
· Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 5422 0333
· Internet relay users connect to the NRS (see relayservice.com.au for details) and then ask for (03) 5422 0333.
If you or someone you know may benefit from receiving a large print version of this newsletter, contact us on 5422 0302 or email comms@mrsc.vic.gov.au
Your Councillors
East Ward
Mobile: 0437 938 766
Latest news
Keep up-to-date with the latest news from Council including media releases, public notices and consultations.
Register for kindergarten
Register your child before Wednesday 30 June 2021 for the chance to win two terms of Learn to Swim lessons. See page 13 for more details.
Free mulch
Call 5422 0333 to request a voucher to use at one of our transfer stations to receive a free trailer load of mulch (1 cubic metre).
For transfer station opening hours visit: mrsc.vic.gov.au or call 5422 0333.
* Limit one voucher per household. Valid from 7 June to 7 September 2021, subject to availability. Residents must show voucher, proof of residency, and load mulch themselves.
4