OCTOBER 2019 Gazette 3 Mayoral Youth 5 Get Fire Ready 6 Have Your Say Program 2019-20 for Summer on Waste Council News From the Mayor Making good, opportunities in more ways than ever. • Connect with the Community Vision informed decisions Now, we need you. 2040 (page 9) with many upcoming engagement opportunities. for our community If you’ve ever thought ‘why doesn’t Council • Visit the Have Your Say page at Council’s is exactly why local ask me what I want?’ or ‘why doesn’t website to complete a survey or make a government exists Council care what residents think?’ We do submission on a plan or strategy. and as Councillors, care and we are asking. All the feedback on • Follow Council’s Facebook and Twitter when we are these consultations is presented to Council pages, and read the Gazette and Golden considering plans when the decisions are made, and it’s Plains Times, for all engagement and and strategies that often the deciding factor in the outcome. consultation opportunities. drive Council’s So, I encourage you to make sure your • Ask a question at a Council meeting, work and services, opinion is part of the conversation. knowing what residents want is very held on the 4th Tuesday of the month in Linton or Bannockburn. valuable. How can you get involved? • Chat with your Councillors at the next • Celebrate the great people of Golden We are elected by the people and always conversation post on Saturday Plains by nominating a neighbour, want to best serve our communities. We colleague or friend for an Australia Day 16 November at the Spring in the Shire can’t make a decision that makes everyone award (see page 10) or encourage a Awards Ceremony at Dereel Town Hall. happy but the highest value is given to the worthy young person to nominate for the thoughtful opinions and feedback from our • Complete the future waste options Mayoral Youth Program (see page 3). survey (see page 6) or stop by the final residents. • Join your local Community Planning group. two Waste Management Strategy • Become a Council volunteer and make a As a Council, we strongly believe in conversation posts: 11am to 2pm, positive difference in your community. community engagement – and we know Sunday 13 October at Rokewood For more information on these it only works when the community is Transfer Station; and 9am to 1pm, opportunities and more, visit involved. With the Gazette, Golden Plains Saturday 19 October at Smythesdale goldenplains.vic.gov.au or call 5220 7111. Times, Council’s website and social media, Country Market. we are communicating Council’s plans • Sign up to Council’s Community Cr Owen Sharkey and all our community engagement Engagement Register. Mayor of Golden Plains Shire Council Courthouse restored to its former glory Mayor Owen Sharkey and Councillors Helena Kirby and Les Rowe were joined by State Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle MP, Woady Yaloak Historical Society President Jim Brown, members of the Historical Society and local residents of Smythesdale, for the official re-opening of the historic Smythesdale Courthouse on 18 September. Since 1861, the Courthouse has stood proudly in Smythesdale’s main street in the town’s Historic Precinct. While the Courthouse no longer sees judges, defendants and juries fill the main chamber, it has become a busy and important community hub for not only the Woady Yaloak Historical Society, but also the wider Smythesdale community; home to markets, community group functions and activities for the local primary school. However, after almost 160 years it was in need of much-needed maintenance. Golden Plains Shire Council applied for, and received, a $90,000 Living Heritage Grant from the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning to enable the conservation works to this important landmark in our Shire’s north. The conservation works undertaken included the replacement of fascia boards, repair to brickwork and mortar, slate roof repairs, roof flashing, gutter and downpipe repairs and replacements, external timber repairs to windows and doors, works to the interior timber floor boards in the Court Room, and a fresh coat of paint on the interior. 2 | Golden Plains Shire Gazette | October 2019 Community News The Mayoral Youth Program Mayoral Program 2019 - 2020. Golden Plains Shire Council is excited Nominations for the first round of the to launch the Mayoral Youth Program Community Impact Awards open in 2019-2020, to recognise and celebrate November 2019, and Council encourages the positive contributions of local young young people to submit their nomination people, and encourage local youth to for this special recognition. volunteer and get involved in their The Mayoral Youth Program webpage community. including a nomination form for the The Mayoral Youth Program’s Community Community Impact Awards will be Impact Awards will be presented to young available in late October at Council’s Golden Plains residents aged 12 to website: goldenplains.vic.gov.au; with 18 years, who have made a positive impact paper copies of the form available at to an individual, group or environment. Council’s Customer Service Centres in At two special award events in 2020, Bannockburn, Linton and Smythesdale. award-winners will receive a framed For more information about the Mayoral certificate of achievement and a $50 Youth Program Community Impact Awards, Officeworks voucher. contact the Youth Development Team at Local community groups who support [email protected] young people to make a positive or 5220 7106. community impact will also be recognised and rewarded for their support and encouragement of young volunteers. The Value of Volunteers On 29 August, Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey and Council’s Youth Development Team officially launched the Mayoral Youth Program to an enthusiastic crowd of students, staff, parents and community members at Meredith Primary School. Following a discussion led by the school captains about the new youth program, it was time for action with Mayor Sharkey and the hard-working students getting their hands dirty with painting, maintenance and gardening projects at the school, and then enjoying a well-earned BBQ lunch. Information about the Mayoral Youth Program will be distributed to all schools in Golden Plains Shire, and the Mayor will speak at a special assembly at Bannockburn College in late October. October 2019 | Golden Plains Shire Gazette | 3 Community News Countdown to summer at the Heart As we enter spring, the countdown to summer is The Heart will also be the Shire’s first inclusive playspace, well and truly on, and we’re getting excited about with accessible play elements and DDA compliant the opening of one of Council’s major projects: the toilets, making it a regional destination for people with Bannockburn Heart. disabilities and their families. Construction of the Bannockburn Heart is well underway, Stage One of the Bannockburn Heart is a partnership with many of the play elements and structures already project, co-funded by the Federal Government’s National installed. With the cool temperatures hopefully behind Stronger Regions Fund, grants from the Victorian State us, now is the perfect time to start picturing how you Government’s Regional Development Victoria and Sport will enjoy the regional playspace – perhaps spending and Recreation Victoria, and Council. Our successful warm days enjoying picnics and outdoor fun at the new lobbying for grants from both governments on this and playgrounds with the family, cooking up lunch on one of other major projects in Bannockburn allows Council to the BBQs, or bringing the grandkids along to the Shire’s redirect our budget revenue to provide full or majority first water playspace. support to projects in the smaller townships across the municipality. Stage One of the Bannockburn Heart Precinct at the corner of Milton and Byron Streets will create an As the works progress and opening day draws near, stay attractive and welcoming community civic space in tuned for details of the community opening of the Heart! the heart of Bannockburn. Featuring new water and Follow Golden Plains Shire Council on social media and adventure play, active recreation equipment; and read the Golden Plains Times to keep up-to-date with all community facilities including public toilets, seating, the latest developments. BBQs, shade, lighting and landscaped public space; this project will be an exciting addition to Golden Plains Shire. Road Grading Update In August and September, Council’s graders completed or started road projects in the following townships: • Ross Creek • Napoleons • Scarsdale • Durdidwarrah • Dereel • Cambrian Hill • Happy Valley • Staffordshire • Steiglitz • Corindhap • Durham Lead • Piggoreet Reef • Meredith In October and November, Council’s graders will be moving across the Shire, working on roads in towns including: • Durham Lead • Springdullah • Meredith • Corindhap • Rokewood • Napoleons • Illabarook • Bamganie • Rokewood Junction • Garibaldi • Cape Clear • Morrisons • Mt Mercer • Shelford • Berringa • Pitfield • Lethbridge To report an issue with an unsealed road, please call Council’s Customer Service Team at 5220 7111. 4 | Golden Plains Shire Gazette | October 2019 Get Fire Ready Be prepared for this Fire Season Coming out of a dry winter and a long, hot summer, it is TRIM vital that residents and communities prepare properly • Trim excess vegetation along driveways, for the fire season. including any overhanging branches, Golden Plains Shire residents are encouraged to prepare to provide easy access for fire-fighting their property and family to reduce the bushfire risk to appliances. the entire community. • As a guide, the CFA requires a minimum clearance of If you are in a high-risk bushfire area, make sure you know four metres wide by four metres high. what to do, and when and where to go, on hot, dry, windy • As soon as the Fire Danger Period begins, you are not days.