Last Thursday (23 November), was the inaugural Project Reference Group (PRG) meeting for the Creswick Trails Project. Around 30 community members from a variety of backgrounds attended the meeting for an update on the project scope, schedule and progress to date.   Nominations are now open for those interested community members to be part of the PRG. This is an opportunity to have input and influence over key project elements such as the trailhead design and ongoing management model.

The Terms of Reference document outlines the role of the PRG and includes the nomination form.

Nominations are open until 31 December 2017.

Please email your signed nomination to mtravers@hepburn.vic.gov.au

Alternatively, drop your signed form into the Creswick Hub.

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Council is seeking input and feedback on its DRAFT Biodiversity Strategy 2017-2021.  We have had a lot of interest so far from the community, and those in the agricultural sector, regarding the draft Strategy. We want to capture as much feedback as possible from the community and businesses on the main focus areas outlined in the strategy, so we are extending the deadline for submissions to Thursday 21 December 2017.

We have also created an OurSay online forum to capture your ideas (click on the OurSay logo below to have your say). The Biodiversity Strategy introduces strategic areas of focus which will guide the work we do. Those areas have been added to the forum to give you an overview and to better enable you to give us your feedback. On the forum, you can support the strategic areas you would like to prioritise, comment on the strategic areas or submit a new idea. 

We will also be conducting a road show to gather more feedback (more info on this shortly) and don’t forget that we will also be hosting a community Workshop:

Thursday 07 December – 2pm to 4pm

Daylesford Senior Citizens Centre

To register your interest or for more information please contact Justin Fiddes, Manager Planning on 5348 2306 or email jfiddes@hepburn.vic.gov.au by Friday 1 December 2017.

You can also make a written submission on the Strategy until Thursday 21 December 2017.  Submissions can be made to shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au or in writing to Manager Planning, Hepburn Shire Council, PO Box 21, Daylesford 3460.

We will consider all feedback in early 2018, with a view of finalising the document in the first quarter of 2018. Once the Biodiversity Strategy is adopted by Council, we will have the important task of delivering the key actions contained within it. We look forward to doing this in collaboration with the community and businesses who will have much to gain from these actions.

The Fire Danger Period for Hepburn Shire is set to be Declared from 27 November 2017. Once the Fire Danger Period has been declared, fire restrictions become effective immediately. This means you cannot light a fire in the open air unless you have a permit or comply with certain requirements.

If you don’t obtain a permit, you could be breaking the law and may be prosecuted. To find out what you can or can’t do during the fire danger period, please visit http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/can/

Has your community completed a community plan and is there a high priority project in your town with which you would like to seek Council support?

Applications for Council’s Community Planning Fund are open and we are accepting Expressions of Interest from community groups! Please refer to the expression of interest Form below to assess your group’s eligibility and desire to apply. In addition, you may also refer to the Community Planning Strategy for further information on the process of having a project supported by Council.

Community Planning Strategy link

Please visit Council’s website for more information and the Application Form. Additionally, an application form can be collected from our Daylesford Customer Service Centre, The Warehouse Clunes and the Creswick Hub.

Expressions of Interest close Friday, 5 January 2018.

For further information and to discuss your project, please contact Nate Perry, Community and Cultural Development Officer, at nperry@hepburn.vic.gov.au or 03 5321 6439.

Application Form

Council will be launching a major public artwork in Trentham at Stoney Creek Reserve. As part of Council’s annual public art program, the major commission in Trentham will be completed and installed over the next week.

Council will be holding an official unveiling on Friday, 8 December, open to the public. The launch event will include a traditional smoking ceremony, artist presentation and light nibbles and refreshments to begin the evening. Cr Sebastian Klein, the Coliban Ward Councillor, will speak on behalf of Council.

Event details:

• Friday, 8 December at 6pm
• Stoney Creek Reserve (near bowling club)
• 6:00pm –  Nibbles and Refreshments
• 6:30pm – Formalities commence

Council is excited to announce the appointment of Antarctica as the architects to undertake Planning and Design Services for the Trentham Community Hub at 14A Victoria St, Trentham.

A ‘drop in’ community information and consultation session is being held on Wednesday 6 December between 4.00 and 7.00pm at 14A Victoria St, Trentham. This is your chance to meet the architects who will share the findings of the site analysis.

Community members will have the opportunity to share their views about connections to other spaces in Trentham and explore site opportunities.

Do you know of any outstanding Australian’s in the Hepburn Shire that could be nominated for an Australia Day Award?

Council is inviting nominations for the following Awards:

• Hepburn Shire Council Citizen of the Year
• Hepburn Shire Council Young Citizen of the Year
• Hepburn Shire Council Community Event of the Year

Please send completed and confidential nomination forms by 5pm, Friday 15 December 2017, to:

Katherine Toom
Governance and Information Coordinator
Hepburn Shire Council
PO Box 21
Daylesford Victoria 3460
or email to shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au

Australia Day 2018 – Nomination Form Local Awards – Guidance Document

Australia Day 2018 – Nomination Form – Local Awards

Hepburn Shire Council elected Holcombe Ward Councillor, John Cottrell, as its new Mayor, with Cr Don Henderson elected Deputy Mayor, at the 2017 Statutory Meeting of the Council held yesterday evening.

Cr Cottrell, who served as Deputy Mayor over the past 12 months, began the role of Councillor in 2016. He takes over the role from Cr Sebastian Klein.

Cr Cottrell and his wife Sue moved from Melbourne in 2012 to become permanent residents of Glenlyon.  Cr Cottrell had a broad corporate career in the investment management and financial services industry, and though retired in 2004 has retained involvement with Swinburne University’s MBA program as convenor/lecturer in Corporate Governance, and as Chairman of Melbourne based Managed Investment External Scheme Compliance Committee. Throughout 2013-16 he served as a Director of Hepburn Health Service, including a member of the Clinical Governance and Audit & Risk sub-Committees. Cr Cottrell currently represents Hepburn Shire Council at Municipal Association Victoria (MAV), and as a member of the MAV Professional Development Reference Group.

“Good governance underpins the accountability and transparency required for Council to achieve positive recognition by the community of ‘Our Council’ – I am committed to this endeavour,” said Cr Cottrell.

CEO Aaron van Egmond congratulated Councillors John Cottrell and Don Henderson on their election.

“The election of Cr Cottrell and Cr Henderson to the roles of Mayor and Deputy Mayor brings a good mix of skills to the leadership of Council.  I look forward to working closely with both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor as we deliver important services for our community and projects contained in our Council Plan 2017-21,” said Mr van Egmond.