In this issue Meet the Councillors 2 Campaspe Times Newsletter The year in review 3 Project update 4 December 2020 Love where you live 5 EWMAC online memberships 5 Exciting times ahead Tidy Towns Awards 6 Your new team of Councillors were The new group of Councillors look officially sworn in at a meeting on 17 forward to developing a strong cohesive 2021 Immunisations 6 November. At this meeting, I had the team, fostering good relationships with Healthy Heart projects 7 privilege of being elected Mayor for a Council and the executive team, and the Christmas service hours & one year term. I am excited that my local community. community has put their faith in me by Christmas waste 8 As we approach Christmas, there are a electing me as Councillor and that my couple of reminders. Service centres and fellow Councillors have now entrusted libraries will close at 3pm on Thursday, me to lead the team. I look forward to 24 December and reopen on Monday, 4 the year ahead and indeed the four year January. term as Councillor. This year, there is no change to waste The focus for our first three months will collection services due to public be our induction program, covering holidays. A full listing of Christmas the operations of local government, Get social and service hours is available on the back understanding the new Local stay updated page of this newsletter. Government Act, meeting procedures @CampaspeShireCouncil and processes, and increasing our On behalf of your new team of @campaspeshire understanding of the services delivered. Councillors and Campaspe Shire #campaspeshire One of the first tasks will be the staff, I wish you a very safe and happy development of a Council Plan, setting Christmas. the strategic direction for the future, highlighting our key priorities for the four year period. Cr Chrissy Weller Mayor Cover image –“Campaspe River” by Celia Hobbs.

Cnr Hare & Heygarth Streets VIC 3564 PO Box 35 Echuca VIC 3564 P: 1300 666 535 | 03 5481 2200 E: [email protected] www.campaspe.vic.gov.au

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Meet the team Elections were held in October, with nine Councillors sworn in at the 17 November Council Meeting. The new Council team is:

Cr Robert Amos Cr Colleen Gates Cr Paul Jarman Echuca Ward Deakin Ward Rochester Ward 0437 042 170 0457 916 615 0418 695 719 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Cr Daniel Mackrell Cr Tony Marwood Cr Leanne Pentreath Kyabram Deakin Ward Echuca Ward Western Ward 0429 517 535 Mobile: 0437 731 169 0437 248 212 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Cr Chrissy Weller Cr Adrian Weston Cr John Zobec Echuca Ward Waranga Ward Kyabram Deakin Ward 0437 567 401 0428 320 464 0418 213 413 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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As the year draws to a close There is no doubt 2020 has been a tough year for the whole of our community. The country, and indeed the world, has experienced a year like no other, a year full of change and challenges in the workplace, in education and personal lives.

The start to 2020 saw devastating fires across and other parts of the country, which impacted many, but volunteerism shone through with so many giving up their time to fight the fires and support the communities at loss.

Australia, and the rest of the world, was then confronted with the coronavirus pandemic, with restrictions in place from March onwards. The pandemic hit all business sectors hard, particularly hospitality and tourism which are key to our region, but the building blocks are now being laid to support recovery. The redevelopment of Echuca’s Riverboat Dock. The pandemic also forced the closure of several Council services and impacted many others. is to have such inspiring and generous community members When adopting the 2020/21 Budget in June, Council and businesses. recognised that it would need to be revised once the impact Through the Capital Works Program the $5 million of COVID-19 and our exit from aged and disability services redevelopment of Echuca’s kiosk and Riverboat Dock area (from 1 July 2020) could be more accurately quantified. This was completed in May, after a lengthy transformation of the revised budget will be considered by the new Council very site into an accessible, visually attractive community space. early next year. Works to increase the holding capacity of the Kyabram Although working in an ongoing pandemic climate, McEwen Road drainage basin were completed. This $1.36 the year has also seen many achievements to support million project involved replacing the McEwen Road pump the development of our shire and the wellbeing of our station and pipework as well as increasing the capacity community. of the drainage basin. Roof works to the Kyabram Plaza In January, we presented Australia Day awards recognising Theatre and Rushworth Hall were completed at a cost of outstanding local individuals and groups and in May, as $330,000 and $110,000 respectively. part of National Volunteer Week, we presented Volunteer In addition to the many projects, Council continued to Awards. All award programs showcase how lucky Campaspe provide a range of services including family and children’s services, open spaces and recreation, waste management, aquatic services, business support, planning for appropriate development and ensuring accountability for the expenditure of Council’s budget.

But 2020 has also presented an opportunity for reflection, time to consider what truly matters, to look out for family, friends and our community, to enjoy and be thankful for all the smaller things in life.

Congratulations on supporting each other during those difficult times, may we all look forward to less stress and much more laughter in 2021.

Aerial photo showing the newly constructed drainage basin in Kyabram. Declan Moore Chief Executive Officer 3 Campaspe Times Newsletter

Project update

PROJECT INITIATION SCOPING DESIGN PROCUREMENT DELIVERY REVIEW AND CLOSURE PLANNING (COMPLETED)

This year’s capital works program is well underway with more than $8 million spent to date. Almost 100 projects are programmed this financial year to improve community assets and facilities across the shire. Below is a snapshot of current projects in the delivery and completion stage of the project lifecycle.

Corop Wanalta Road, Corop rehabilitation Outdoor pool repainting Completed Completed Road restoration works on Corop Wanalta Road have Painting of swimming pool shells and minor repairs have recently been completed. been completed at the Stanhope and Kyabram outdoor pools.

Minor Street, Echuca rehabilitation Murchison Road, Rushworth Shire Irrigation Program Completed open drain Completed Works to the road, kerb and gutter Delivery Irrigation works in Girgarre have in Minor Street, Echuca have been Works to install box culverts and been completed as part of the shire completed. drain widening in Murchison Road, wide irrigation renewal program in Rushworth continues. parks and open spaces.

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Get active in Kyabram and Rochester #lovewhereyoulive Local maps showing a range of physical activity options are now available, to encourage the community to Get Active. The Get Active maps for Kyabram and Rochester list spaces and places available in the community to get active that are free, or available for public use, which encourage families and communities to be active together. The maps are designed to promote and share some local options for being active in your local area. Ever wondered if you need to pay to access the tennis courts, or if you need to book? Information about how to access facilities is also included on the map. with 21.2 per cent of the population rated public facilities and open spaces reporting that they went walking for used by Campaspe Shire residents. Did you know that the 2019 Active exercise? Footpaths, parks, sports Living Census found that walking is The maps are available from the grounds and ovals and off-road the most popular physical activity Kyabram or Rochester Service Centres walking and cycling were the top four among Campaspe Shire residents and from many local businesses. Memberships for Aquatics and Leisure Services Council’s Aquatics and Leisure The team at EWMAC launched a new all customers, both members and Services offer a variety of online membership service where all visitors, the ability to manage their memberships to the Echuca War memberships, visit passes, casual own booking. Memorial Aquatic Centre (EWMAC) entries, learn to swim programs and Recently re-opening following COVID to cater for the needs of families, session bookings are now done restrictions, after the first week of individuals, seniors and youth. online. going online, 233 enrolments were Membership options cover the A ‘green’ initiative, the online made and 134 members signed up. pool, gymnasium and group fitness service will reduce paper usage To view membership options and classes. and associated costs. It also allows book online, visit website www. campaspeaquatics.com.au If you need assistance to register online, or if you have any questions please call the centre on 5483 9698.

“The layout of memberships available was easy to follow with explanations and pricing of each easy to understand and complete.”

Kaylin Hartley

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to your green bin Living in a tidy town Campaspe Shire is leading the way in sustainable living with five local community projects announced as state finalists in the 2020 Keep Victoria Beautiful, Sustainable Communities - Tidy Towns Awards. The awards recognise and celebrate the positive initiatives of community groups, businesses and councils within regional Victoria. State finalists across our shire were announced in the following categories: Community Finalists • Echuca Neighbourhood House - Free Community Soup Deliveries Behind the scenes with Campaspe’s waste warriors filming the ‘what goes in which bin’ campaign video. • Silo Art Trail project team - The Colbinabbin Silo Art Project Projects Officer – Organics. The planning phase included Indigenous Culture Finalist research conducted on food and garden waste services around Australia and developing program documents for • Estate Primary School - Meeting Place Mural implementation, communication and education, community Social Wellbeing Finalist engagement, risk management and evaluation. • Rochester Business Network - 2019 ‘Wheely’ Good With the assistance of community surveys and focus groups, Christmas Trees the ‘Give a Scrap’ program was finalised and education activities started in early 2019. Waste Finalist Through the ‘Give a Scrap’ program, the Campaspe • Campaspe Shire Council - Give a Scrap community has been instrumental in keeping the Congratulations to all state finalists and in particular, Echuca contamination rate extremely low, currently sitting at 0.21 Neighbourhood House who received a highly commended per cent. More than 67 per cent of residents opted into the acknowledgement for their free soup deliveries. service in the first year alone – an 11 per cent increase from the start of the program. In a category with 11 state finalists, Campaspe Shire was also announced the winner of the Waste Award. Council began This is an enormous win for our environment with more than planning in 2018 for the combined food and garden waste 4,300 tonnes of food waste diverted from landfill since the kerbside service that began on 1 July 2019. beginning of the program. The service was an expansion of the existing ‘opt-in’ garden A full list of finalists can be accessed on the Keep Victoria organics service and was coordinated by the Environmental Beautiful website. 2021 Immunisation program The immunisation program at Campaspe Shire provides the local community with specialised care in a relaxed environment. A place where families can interact with each other without the clinical feel. The success of the program is evident by the strong immunisation rate within our shire with 96.5 per cent of children aged 0 – 5 vaccinated. The 2021 Immunisation schedule contains a couple of changes. These are: • All sessions are now by appointment • sessions will move across Council’s website www.campaspe. only the road from the Service Centre to vic.gov.au/immunisations and also the Tongala Shire Hall • Rochester sessions will be available at service centres, Maternal permanently located at the The full 2021 immunisation schedule, & Child Health centres and each Rochester Shire Hall starting 7 January is available on immunisation session.

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Healthy Heart of Victoria update Healthy Heart of Victoria aims to improve the health of people in the Loddon Campaspe region – the ‘heart’ of Victoria. The initiative was developed in response to the higher than Victorian average rates of obesity, chronic disease and high-risk health behaviours currently seen within the region. Campaspe Shire is one of six local councils involved in this with armrests have now been shoulders to provide continual access for residents and students in Echuca initiative. installed. East. Healthy Heart of Victoria projects Crossenvale project are designed to focus on those parts Activation on Wheels - in progress To increase physical activities, of the community that are the least A trailer full of sporting and upgrades were applied to a active and supported. The initiative exercise equipment to support the neighbourhood park which included aims to get more people, more active, engagement of communities across more often. access paths, seating, drinking the shire in becoming more active, fountains, shade, play equipment and In Campaspe, two projects have now more often. Access to equipment has a half court. The program component been identified as one of the biggest been completed, with a further two included the coordination of about to start. barriers faced by residents across the instructed activity sessions to support shire, identified Active Living Census Girgarre project the activation and the ongoing completed last year. involvement of the community. The community identified that the Once the trailer is complete, an 800 metre walking loop within the Echuca East (Eyre Street) project – expression of interest process will township of Girgarre was in need in progress be undertaken for a local community of some minor enhancements to The construction of a 250 metre based agency and/or service club to manage the equipment. improve usability. Additional seating pedestrian link along Eyre Street at the Girgarre Walking Track; will improve pedestrian and cyclist Have you used the findings from the two picnic tables (one wheelchair connectivity. The path includes five active living census? accessible) and two park benches pram crossings and sealing two road If so, we would like to hear from you. Simply answer three quick questions on Council’s website www.campaspe. vic.gov.au/Our-services/Community- support-programs/Healthy-Heart-of- Victoria Results from the Active Living Census are also available on Council’s website.

If Your Dog Poops It, Scoop It! A $300 fine applies if pet owners do not pick up their dog’s poo.

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Christmas service hours There are no changes to waste (red Services open, closed Christmas Day, bin), recycling (yellow bin) and garden Boxing Day and New Year’s Day: / food (green bin) collections across will continue, using the holiday - Resource Recovery Centres the Christmas / New Year holiday timetable. period. Please remember to put your - Maternal & Child Health centres – - Outdoor swimming pools – public bins out the night before collection. with emergency support available holidays open in line with the through the Victorian Maternal and Services closed from 3pm on weekend timetable. Child Health line on 132 229. Thursday, 24 December and reopen Other services: on Monday, 4 January: Services open, with restricted services on public holidays, and closed - Child care centres, to close COB - Customer service centres Christmas Day: on Wednesday, 23 December and - Library branches reopen on Wednesday, 6 January. - Campaspe Animal Shelter – public - Road maintenance holidays, open from 10am to - Port of Echuca Discovery Centre 12.30pm. and Echuca Paddlesteamers, closed - Parks & gardens Christmas Day only. - Echuca War Memorial Aquatic - Ranger services Centre – public holidays open from For urgent requests, please call - Mt Scobie & Nanneella Quarry 8am to 4.30pm. Fitness classes 5481 2200 and follow the prompts. Reduce waste this Christmas We generate more waste over the festive season than at any • Plan, prepare and store your food properly to avoid food other time of the year. Celebrations contribute excessive waste waste which include unwanted gifts, wrapping paper, food, • Rethink your Christmas tree - use a potted native or plant; drink and cards. When not sorted correctly, this excessive buy a second hand tree or get creative and make your tree waste ends up in landfill. from recycled product Christmas is a great time of year. Let’s play our part in Remember, if your recycling bin is making it a more sustainable one for the benefit of future full before your normal collection day, generations. you can take your extra recyclables The easiest way to reduce waste over the Christmas period to the resource recovery centre for is by following the three Rs free. Please remember to put the right Reduce thing in the right bin to ensure your bin is picked up and not tagged as Reuse contaminated. Recycle Now is also the perfect time to have Here are some helpful tips to reduce waste, reuse what a green bin to dispose of food scraps you already have and recycle when all other options are and garden organics. exhausted: For more information on waste and • Buy local produce/products for Christmas presents recycling, sorting, or to order your • Reuse Christmas decorations from previous years or make green bin, please visit Council’s decorations from household items website. • Use children’s artwork, tea towels or reuse gift bags to Did you know? wrap Christmas presents Across Campaspe Shire, the amount of waste we • Make memories by gifting ‘experiences’ rather than generate and send to landfill during the Christmas and ‘things’ New Year period increases by a whopping 48%.

The 2021 calendar - with its gorgeous images taken by members of the community - is the Campaspe Shire’s gift to you. Each year, council runs a photography competition to find the pictures for this calendar and the sheer number of entries - and their outstanding quality - is impressive. The shots reflect the many varied landscapes and natural wonder of our municipality and were captured by amateur photographers, young and old, from across the shire. Due to unknown future of COVID-19 restrictions at the time of printing, events have been removed from this year’s calendar. The 2021 #MyCampaspe Shire Calendar

Campaspe Shire Council Get social and follow us Customer Service Centres Corner Hare and Heygarth Streets, Echuca @CampaspeShireCouncil Kyabram, 19 Lake Road Hours: 8.30am to 5.00pm @campaspeshire Rochester, 43-45 Mackay Street Monday to Friday #campaspeshire Photographer: Celia Hobbs - Campaspe viewsRushworth, - Echuca 33 High Street Postal address: PO Box 35 Echuca VIC 3564 Tongala, 37 Mangan Street Phone: 03 5481 2200 | 1300 666 535 Web: campaspe.vic.gov.au Available for FREE from Council’s 2021 #MyCampaspe Shire Calendar Customer Service Centres.

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