Omeo District

Recovery Update MAY 2021

Omeo Mountain Bike be progressively implemented as trail Visit has also recently launched Destination Project update user numbers increase. the new ‘All Kinds of Wonder’ Implementation of the Omeo Mountain Work on the proposed Omeo MTB magazine, aimed at driving tourism Bike Destination Project has been website and marketing also continue. in Gippsland. gaining momentum in recent months, A recent article in Flow Mountain Bike Developed from bushfire recovery with Shire Council featured the project and successful initiatives, the magazine has a heavy approving the project’s planning tenderer Common Ground Trails, focus on East Gippsland, with a nod permit and awarding a contract for the highlighting the recently constructed to the other three parts of Gippsland construction of trails – both significant Omeo Pump and Skills Track and the across its 16 pages. milestones. project vision. The aim of the magazine is to drive The planning approval processes Other related project investments within awareness of our beautiful part of however, are not yet complete as Omeo are being progressed by Council the world and allow for planning and the Victorian Civil and Administrative with funding support from Bushfire visitation for autumn and into early Tribunal (VCAT) has recently notified Recovery Victoria and Council’s own winter. Council of an objection to the planning funds. Improvements to Livingstone Over 330,000 copies of the magazine permit being lodged. Park are currently in design with works being distributed across Victoria, This notification means that trail planned for the 2021-22 financial year. including Gippsland as an insert, and construction cannot commence until The design will include elements from are available at all East Gippsland the VCAT matter has been resolved. the Livingstone Park Master Plan such VICs. The VCAT process has nominated a as improved playground and picnic final hearing date of 18 November area facilities, access and safety Rebuild Support Service 2021. improvements to the swimming area, vehicle parking and a pedestrian / bike The Rebuild Support Service can Council is progressing with background bridge linking the caravan park trail. support any landowner who lost a works, with the hope that the VCAT dwelling or sheds in the 2019/2020 The Livingstone Park upgrade matter can be resolved This includes fires, particularly in navigating the compliments the recently completed the MTB Operational Plan, Emergency approvals that may be needed for Pump and Skills Track, which has Management Plan and Maintenance rebuilding. In many cases, registering proven to be a great success for the Management Plan being initiated. with the RSS can also inform eligibility young and young at heart and for those Stakeholders such as Victoria Police, for financial rebuild support. Ambulance Victoria, SES, Omeo who take in the park ambience. The For more information about the RSS Regional Hospital, Department of pump track is a popular place to be there are several options: Environment, Land, Water and Planning for locals and tourists on or off a bike! BRSS@ and community are in the process of • Contact the team directly at egipps.vic.gov.au being consulted for input. Open for business Particular attention is being placed We would like residents and visitors • Make contact through your bushfire on rider safety; this is not just wearing alike to know that our Visitor Information recovery support worker helmets! Good trail design and Centres (VICs) are open across East • Through your local Bushfire Recovery maintenance will help minimise injuries Gippsland, including weekends, to Victoria (BRV) Hub and the need for the extraction of help inform and guide you on all • On our Bushfire Rebuilding web page patients. Stakeholders and adjoining the wonderful places, activities and https://www.eastgippsland. landholders are invited to contact accommodation our region has to offer. vic.gov.au/community/ Council’s project manager Ian Cameron To learn more about exploring your bushfire-rebuilding to discuss how we can ensure good own backyard, or to showcase our The RSS can meet with residents one- emergency access to the trails. beautiful area to visitors, pop into on-one in BRV hubs or Council’s Omeo In anticipation of a positive VCAT one of our VICs, visit our website Customer Service Centre, or provide outcome, a road safety assessment has eastgippsland.vic.gov.auleisure/ support by phone or video conference also been carried out on Connleys Road, tourism, or the Visit East Gippsland depending on your accessibility or with recommendations anticipated to website visiteastgippsland.com.au preference. 1 Omeo District

Recovery Update MAY 2020

Councillors visit Councillors and senior officers were in the High Country for two days at the start of May, having many discussions with individuals and community groups and committees around recovery, preparedness, maintenance requests, support for facilities and funding opportunities. Visits included Tambo Crossing, , Benambra and Omeo, with a Council Meeting in Swifts Creek.

Plans for a major upgrade at Swifts Creek Recreation Reserve are well underway. Pictured are, from left Cr John White, Cr Arthur Allen, Rod Walker, Cr Tom Crook, Mick Batty, Cr Kirsten Van Diggele, Robert Reid, Jeremiah Topperwein, Keren Walker, Raymond Gallagher, Crs Trevor Stow, Sonia Buckley and Jane Greacen, Anne Richardson, Jane Rowe, Kath Smith, Cr Mark Reeves and Mayor Cr Mendy Urie.

Tambo Crossing residents discuss their plans for improved resilience during emergency incidents. Pictured are, from left Cr Kirsten Van Diggele, Cr Jane Greacen, Brad Smith, Andrew ‘Rambo’ Travis, Fiona Angus, Jamie Johnson and Cr Tom Crook.

Jodie Pitkin, General Manager Place and Community talks to community members at Benambra.

Current and former East Gippsland Shire Councillors were happy to share stories at Benambra. Pictured are Cr Trevor Stow, former councillor Ben Buckley who served for more than 25 years, Cr Tom Crooke and Trudy Anderson, also a former councillor. Cr Jane Greacen (right) caught up with friend Mrs Sharon Firebrace-Sinnott at the community catch-up in Benambra earlier this month. General Manager Assets and Environment Fiona Weigall met Graeme and Elijah Sinnott at the Benambra community gathering.

Anthony Nelson (03) 5153 9432 Contact Council Place Manager - 0427 039 500 5153 9500 Omeo District [email protected] [email protected]

2 Omeo District

Recovery Update MAY 2020

National Emergency Medal between Tambo Crossing and Swifts satellite system has been installed in opportunity Creek. This link intends to create a East Gippsland. Together with the solar The National Emergency Medal is transmission ring between , system or a generator, this provides an award available to persons who and Wangaratta and a safety net communication system provided either significant or sustained provide new and better coverage in for the Omeo Recreation Reserve if service (or both) during a nationally several areas, including Omeo, Ensay, the mobile telecommunication network significant emergency. Tambo Crossing, Dinner Plain and fails. Council has applied for further The bushfires of 2019/2020 were . STAND satellite units to be installed at declared a nationally significant The installation of this link is the crux of a other facilities. emergency for the purpose of the much larger mobile network project - the We have engaged a consultant to help National Emergency Medal on 2 High Country Transmission Upgrade. identify and consolidate the priorities December 2020. The $6.4 million project is jointly co- for digital connectivity improvement The Medal is managed by the Office of funded by Telstra, and the Victorian and (resilience, coverage, literacy, etc.) the Governor General and is open to Federal governments, and is focused across East Gippsland. This work members of the community, volunteers on improving telecommunications and upcoming engagement and or agency staff that have provided coverage, resiliency, and connectivity data collection strategies will inform sustained service being: in high fire danger areas, and future- Council to produce a consolidated list proofing telecommunications for the • Service in the protection of lives of priorities for advocacy and planning region. and property; or in the service of with telecommunication providers and interests, that are not their own; Other key upgrades within the High State and Federal governments. Country Transmission Upgrade are: • In direct response to the emergency To learn more about the Regional (including support that enables or • Upgrades to existing sites at Tambo Connectivity Program, Mobile Blackspot facilitates the emergency response). Crossing, Ensay and Mt. Hotham Program, funded projects and future Airport • In East Gippsland (or other fire funding opportunities, visit the Federal impacted municipalities). • Capacity and 5G upgrades to two Government’s Communications sites in Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain • Between 21 November 2019 and Department website. 20 February 2020 • New transmission system installations at 12 exchanges including Dinner • The minimum duration of service Did you know? Plain, Hotham Village, Harrietville, of 5 days We have a new grant application portal Omeo, Swifts Creek, Wangaratta, called Grant Guru. Check it out at To learn more about the Medal and its , Bright, Everton, Myrtleford, eastgippsland.grantguru.com.au history, eligibility criteria, or to apply, Ensay and Tambo Crossing visit the Governor-General’s website Telstra has announced that the detailed https://www.gg.gov.au/ planning work for the project is now Last road bridge reopened australian-honours-and- being finalised, and work is expected On Friday 30 April we officially awardsnational-emergency- to commence before the end of 2021. marked the successful completion of our medal/bushfires-2019-20 Telstra and NBN Co have increased bushfire-impacted timber road bridge their capacity with mobile/relocatable replacement program. During the fires Telecommunications update telecommunications units that can be we had 13 timber road bridges and We have worked alongside Telstra and used to reinstate telecommunications two heritage listed pedestrian bridges Alpine Shire Council to submit a now following a disaster (e.g. mobile NBN, destroyed or damaged beyond repair. successful application for the Federal Skymuster trucks, etc.). Our first bridge replacement – the Government’s Regional Connectivity The Commonwealth Government’s Waterholes Creek bridge in Deptford Program to improve telecommunications STAND program is piloting the – was replaced within six weeks of the across East Gippsland. installation of satellite communication fire impacting the area. The remaining The focal point of the application was systems in relief centres and similar 12 bridges have been completed over the installation of a 42-kilometre fibre facilities. Omeo Recreation Reserve the past 12 months, with works totalling optic link through the Tambo Valley is one of eight locations at which a more than $4.5 million. 3