Summer is finally here and offers sun, fun, good times and a boost to our Vitamin D.  It can also be time when you need to be aware of your health, surroundings and the risks that hot weather can bring.

Council is hosting a community information session for seniors  with tips on how to stay safe over summer.

Information presented will include:

• How to stay healthy in the Heat
• Fire prevention safety, and
• Local resources that are available within our communities.

White Ribbon Breakfast

Raising Awareness of Violence Against Women

Thursday 24 November 2016

7.30am, RACV Goldfields

Guest Speaker Former AFL Player – Brad Sewell

Performance by Ballarat White Ribbon Choir

Ambassador Nominee Presentation

For bookings please click here

White Ribbon is Australia’s only national, male led Campaign to end men’s violence against women. The White Ribbon vision is that all women live in safety free from all forms of men’s violence.  Globally, White Ribbon is the world’s largest male-led movement to end men’s violence against women.  Originating in Canada in 1991, White Ribbon is now active in more than 60 countries and began in Australia in 2003.  In July 2015, Council resolved to establish a White Ribbon Committee to initiate a campaign to end violence against women.

In November 2015 Council adopted the Hepburn White Ribbon Committee Terms of Reference.  The Terms of Reference note the Goal of the Hepburn Shire White Ribbon Committee is ending violence against women in all its forms by:

1. Challenging men to speak out, and think about their own beliefs, language and actions.
2. Enlightening young people, especially young men and boys, on the issue through education and being proactive.
3. Raising public awareness of the issue.
4. Inducting White Ribbon (WR) Ambassadors each year. WR Ambassadors will be encouraged to attend training and actively promote White Ribbon at fundraising opportunities, speaking engagements and community functions.
5. Working in partnership with a variety of sectors including; community organisations, businesses, the media and other partners to create a future with no violence against women and children.
6. Supporting White Ribbon Campaigns with our experience, resources and networks.

This year will see the first annual Hepburn White Ribbon Committee event and the induction and training of Hepburn Shire White Ribbon Ambassador’s.

For every $100 of rates and charges collected by Council,
we allocate….

* Figures based on proposed Budget 2016/17

Fire Action Week 2016 (23-30 October) is Victoria’s annual fire planning and preparation week, signalling the start of the department’s annual Summer Fire Campaign in partnership with emergency services agencies.

Fire Action Week is a great opportunity to find out more about fire risk where you live, to prepare your property and decide well in advance about what you’ll do if a fire starts.

Last summer, Victoria experienced an early start to the season with significant fires in October and November, followed by the Wye River/Separation Creek fire in late December 2015. Across the entire season, there were 21 Total Fire Ban days, punctuated by Extreme Fire Danger conditions forecast over five days. In total, Victoria’s emergency services responded to over 4,500 bush and grassfires, resulting in 28,000 hectares burnt and the loss of 145 homes.

This year, forecasts show there is potential for an above average fire season with the prospect of escalating fire behaviour later in summer due to higher temperatures in spring drying out high risk areas.

Over the summer months, you’ll see fire safety messages promoted through television, radio, press, outdoor and digital advertisements, as well as through social media channels.

The purpose of these messages is to prompt Victorians to understand their local risk, talk to their family or household about how to stay safe, and to encourage communities to take responsibility for their own safety.

CFA brigades around the state will also be talking to their communities about the local fire risk, how to prepare, and what to do to stay safe over summer.

This Fire Action Week, follow some simple planning and preparation tips to make sure you’re ready for the upcoming summer:

• Check the fire risk where you live.
• Download the FireReady/VicEmergency app to your mobile device.
• Start checking Fire Danger Ratings
• Check warnings – make sure you understand the three levels of warnings and what they mean.
• Pack an emergency kit of essentials. This should include important documents, medications, a mobile phone, torch, battery operated radio, money and clothes so you can leave easily before a fire starts.
• Talk to your household and neighbours about how you’ll know when to leave and where to go to stay safe.
• Do you have family, friends or neighbours who need help preparing to leave early? Talk to them about when they’re going to leave, where they’re going to go, and how you can help.
• Be prepared for power failure in extreme weather conditions. Read the Power Outage Guide.

For more information on how to get prepared, visit the VicEmergency website.

TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE

MAIN ROAD, HEPBURN SPRINGS

SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2016

Please be advised that Main Road Hepburn Springs, between Sixth and Tenth Street will be closed to traffic from 10.00am to 11.00am on Saturday 22 October due to the Grand Parade procession of the Hepburn Springs Swiss & Italian Festa.

FIREWORKS

MINERAL SPRINGS RESERVE, HEPBURN SPRINGS

SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER 2016

It is also advised that on Sunday 23 October from 7.00pm – 9.00pm, the Swiss & Italian Festa Lantern Parade & Fireworks Finale will take place in the Mineral Springs Reserve.  The Parade will commence at Tenth Street.  Please be mindful of increased pedestrian presence around Main Road and Tenth Street during and after the parade. Please also be aware of the noise of the fireworks and its impact on your pets.

Any inconvenience will be kept to a minimum and your co-operation would be greatly appreciated.

Notice is hereby given that the Hepburn Shire Council Annual Report 2015/16 has been prepared and will be considered at the next meeting of Council to be held on Tuesday 18 October 2016 at the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick.

Copies of the Annual Report can be inspected or obtained from Council’s Customer Service Centres at Duke Street in Daylesford, The Warehouse – Clunes and the Creswick Hub or can be downloaded below.

Hepburn Shire Council – Annual-Report of Operations-2015/16

Hepburn Shire Council- 2015-16 – Financial Report and Performance – Statement (including Audit-Report)

We encourage all property owners to prepare for the upcoming fire season. The Community Safety team will soon be commencing inspections of private properties in townships, to check that they do not pose a fire risk.

During the month of November Council will be offering free green waste disposal at each of its three municipal transfer stations. The green waste disposal will only apply to residential properties within the Shire and excludes commercial quantities. Noxious weeds and clean green waste must be separated.

For more information visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/fire-prevention/