Hepburn Shire Council is updating our Walking & Cycling priorities…and we want to hear from you.

In 2011, Hepburn Shire Council published its Walking & Cycling Strategy that included a set of priority projects and initiatives. Since its adoption, many of the priorities have been completed while some are still under development but planned to be completed.

It’s now time to review the priorities and decide upon the next set of projects to become the focus for improvement and development over the next few years.

Residents are invited to propose any walking and cycling tracks, trails, footpaths and paths they believe should be considered.
You can provide input in person at one of the pop-up sessions being held between 9.00am – 12noon on the following days:

• Sat 9th July – The Warehouse – Clunes
• Sat 9th July – Trentham Neighbourhood House
• Sat 16th July – Daylesford Town Hall
• Sat 16th July – Creswick Hub

If you are unable to attend one of these sessions email us at shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

Some completed project highlights:

• The Wombat Trail, Trentham
• Stanbridge Street, Daylesford
• Slaty Creek Bridge, Creswick
• Bailey Street, Clunes.

Council adopted the 2016/17 Budget at its meeting in Daylesford on 21 June 2016.  

The Budget funds new initiatives and delivers improved services for the community.  Cost savings and efficiencies achieved during our four year term have enabled Council to keep its rate increase within the State Government’s 2.5% rate cap

The total Capital Works Program will be $13.9 million, of which $7.4 million relates to renewal of our assets. 

Highlights from the 2016/17 Budget include:

• Maintenance and upgrades of our Roads and Footpaths, including reconstructions, resheeting, resealing, footpath expansion and streetscapes renewal
• Building renewal to maintain our old and new buildings and public toilet upgrades
• Walking and Cycling priority identification and construction of new and improved trails
• Improvement works to our public parks, reserves, botanic gardens and mineral springs
• Towards Zero Sustainability Strategy Implementation, including alternate water sources, water efficiency measures, renewable energy generation and energy efficiency actions
• Facility development and expanded programs for recreation, children and youth
• Community planning implementation fund to deliver on community plan priorities.

This year, Council in collaboration with our Libraries and the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, will be running a series of events for NAIDOC Week. This is your chance to get involved in your community and reconciliation activities. We have some great events coming up, so we hope to see you there.

Looking to start a small business? Want to develop your existing small business?

Help is on the way with the Victorian Government’s Small Business Bus coming to Hepburn Shire.

The Small Business Bus offers free mentoring throughout the day with an experienced business professional who can assist you in taking your small business to the next level.

On board the Small Business Bus you will find information on Small Business Victoria’s programs and services as well as tools and tips to help you start or grow your business.  

Bookings are essential for the mentoring sessions, so reserve your place now at business.vic.gov.au/sbb or call 13 22 15.

The Small Business Bus will be located at:

• Daylesford, Outside the Coles Walkway, 52 Vincent St, Monday 11 July between 10am and 4pm
• Creswick, Outside the RSL, 60 Albert St, Tuesday 12 July between 10am and 4pm
• Clunes, Outside The Warehouse, 44 Fraser St, Wednesday 13 July between 10am and 4pm
• Trentham, Near the Town Square, 27 High St, Thursday 14 July between 10am and 4pm.

Hepburn Shire has approximately 4,500 properties that are required to treat wastewater using an Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS). Council is responsible for the oversight of these systems in accordance with the Code of Practice Onsite Wastewater Management and the Environment Protection Act 1970. Hepburn Shire is located in a open potable water catchment area meaning that drinking water is captured directly in the Hepburn Shire Council region.

What is a Domestic Wastewater Management Plan and what does it do?

• Hepburn Shire Council adopted its Domestic Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP) in December 2014. The aim of the DWMP is to reduce the environmental, public health and economic risks to the community posed by wastewater. Every municipality in the state of Victoria with unsewered properties must have an approved DWMP.

• The DWMP will provide the Hepburn Shire Council with:
  • a strategic planning tool to allow long term strategies to be developed for wastewater system management,
  • a framework for making decisions about individual OWTS,
  • a framework for enforcement and compliance options,
  • a framework for resource management for wastewater management within the municipality, and
  • a framework for liaison between council, the community and water and catchment authorities.

• One of the primary objectives of this DWMP is the protection of environment to which domestic wastewater is discharged. The threat from wastewater can affect:
  • Public health through infectious disease transmission and exposure;
  • the environmental (Surface water quality, stream biodiversity, and groundwater quality);
  • Amenity (Visual, recreational and odour) and;
  • Economic (Development potential and property values)

How does it affect your property?

• Using Council’s GIS mapping system and risk matrix, your property has been identified as potentially having a high risk to water quality due to the proximity of your OWTS to a declared waterway. As such, an authorised officer pursuant to Section 224 of the Local Government Act 1989, will be conducting an audit/maintenance check on your wastewater treatment system. You will be sent a follow up letter to inform you of the result and action (if any) required as a result of the inspection.

• Property owners do not need to be in attendance during the audits. If authorised officers cannot access the land, a calling card will be left and the owner may be required to submit a compulsory status report stating that their OWTS is maintained and working in accordance with the Code of Practice for the operation and maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems.

What is Council’s role?

• Council is responsible for approving OWTS permits and ultimately the installation of the OWTS in accordance with the EPA approved list. It is Local Government responsibility to ensure that the on-site wastewater systems are:

• Installed in accordance with the planning controls (planning permit conditions);
• Installed and in compliance with Section 173 agreements that may be registered on title and may relate to Septic Tank permit conditions,
• Operated and maintained in accordance with the State Environment Protection Policies (SEPP’s) and Code of Practice Onsite Wastewater Management and the EP Act 1970.

• Council is also responsible for ensuring that the conditions of any approved permit are met, including monitoring the system to ensure that OWTS is maintained in accordance with any relevant permit conditions, codes and standards.

• An authorised officer will be visiting your property to carry out an audit check to ensure that your OWTS is operating effectively. The outcome of the audit will determine if any follow up inspections are required, or, if you will be required to make routine maintenance checks/repairs to your system.

 What is your responsibility as a landowner?

• Property owners or occupiers must ensure the OWTS on their property is operated, maintained and monitored in accordance with the relevant Council permits, the Certificate of Approval requirements (CA) & the Code of Practice Onsite Wastewater Management. It is the owner’s responsibility to meet the costs of any maintenance and servicing and to provide reporting as required to Council.

• Prior to an authorised officer attending your property, please ensure that you have removed any materials that may be covering your OWTS including the septic tank, distribution box or any other inspection openings. If Councils officers are unable to locate your OWTS you may be requested to engage a plumber to locate your system and undertake an assessment of the system.

• A copy of Council’s Domestic Wastewater Management Plan can be provided to you on request, or alternatively you can access the Plan at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/waste-environment/domestic-wastewater-management/.

Last year Council asked the community how we could make Lake Daylesford a better place for locals and visitors. The Lake Daylesford revitalisation project received a significant boost with the announcement by Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Macedon, of $250,000 in funding.  The Lake Daylesford project is co-funded by Regional Development Victoria and Hepburn Shire Council.

The resurrection of Lake Daylesford will enhance the user and visitor experience with improvements to: community information, interpretative and way-finding signage; path surfaces and maintenance and other public accesses; public toilets; Lake foreshore including paths, seating, planting and play; jetty and surrounds; weed control and revegetation; tree and other plantings; Central Springs including shelter, paths, furniture and plantings; and, furniture renewal.

Works will commence in the coming weeks to improve the surface of the pathway around the Lake.  The initial works will also include the construction of a gravel path around the south end of the Lake and the removal of a number of woody weed species (mainly Willows) and revegetation with indigenous plantings at the south end of the Lake.  Please be aware that there will be workers and machines on site and some areas may be closed for the period of construction.  We seek your understanding for the interruption and inconvenience that the works may cause.

The full report containing the focus areas for works as result of community feedback is now available.  Click here to download.

In 2015, Council engaged in a meaningful way with the young people of the Shire. Using innovative engagement methods, widespread communications took place to find out all about Hepburn youth and their needs and wants. Engagement took place through pop-up events around the Shire, local discussions and online forums. The ‘Hepburn Youth Ideas Competition’ was created to address these aims by providing young people in Hepburn Shire with an opportunity to receive $1,000 to put towards their idea for young people into action. This competition received 300 submissions, 1,659 votes and 177 comments from across the Shire through the online medium and pop-up events.

Many community stakeholders were also involved and their input is valued along with the many comments received from youth.

Click here for a copy of the Hepburn Youth Engagement Strategy Report