As part of National Reconciliation Week we are partnering with the Daylesford Community Cinema to bring you some special screenings.

Tuesday, 28 May 2019 at 6:00pm Undermined: Tales From The Kimberley (1hr 30min) Award-winning director Nicholas Wrathall investigates the true costs of development in the world-famous Kimberley, where mega-mining and pastoral developments threaten not just the pristine environment but more than 200 Indigenous communities and their peoples’ sacred links to Country. Daylesford Town Hall Community Screening – Free Entry
Thursday, 30 May 2019 at 7:00pm We Don’t Need A Map (1hr 25min) A feature length documentary about Australia’s complex relationship to the Southern Cross. It is the most famous constellation in the southern hemisphere and ever since colonisation it’s been claimed, appropriated and hotly-contested for ownership by a radical range of Australian groups. But for Aboriginal people the meaning of this heavenly body is deeply spiritual, and just about completely unknown. Warwick Thornton, one of Australia’s leading film-makers, tackles this fiery subject head on in a bold, provocative and poetic essay-film. Produced by Barefoot Films. Daylesford Town Hall Community Screening – Free Entry
Friday, 31 May 2019 at 7:00pm Top End Wedding  (1hr 53min) Lauren and Ned are engaged, they are in love, and they have just ten days to find Lauren’s mother who has gone AWOL somewhere in the remote far north of Australia, reunite her parents and pull off their dream wedding. Daylesford Town Hall Community Screening – $15 – all proceeds will be donated to Daylesford Community Cinema

Hepburn Shire Council is on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. We’re an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity in all its forms.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. At the heart of reconciliation is the relationship between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To foster positive race relations, our relationship must be grounded in a foundation of truth.

Join Adjunct Professor Barry Golding and Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Ricky Nelson for this one day bus tour.

This tour invites you to experience a range of important sites in the Dja Dja Wurrung landscape where there is evidence of contact from the late 1830s between the peoples of the Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Nation and the invading pastoralists, including John Hepburn, after whom the Shire is named.

Wear clothing and footwear suitable for the predicted weather and for walking up to 500m away from the bus across paddocks. Bring your own lunch and morning/afternoon tea.

Numbers are limited so please register online to book your place. For all enquiries please contact Rachel Palmer – rpalmer@hepburn.vic.gov.au

ANZAC DAY SCHEDULE – THURSDAY 25 APRIL 2019

DAYLESFORD, EGANSTOWN AND HEPBURN SPRINGS

Contact for Daylesford RSL: Ian & Trish Tinetti 5476 4277

CRESWICK & KINGSTON

Contact: Creswick-Smeaton RSL – Alan Morris, President – 0428 119 420

CLUNES

Contact: Clunes RSL Sub-Branch – Lindsay Pritchard, Secretary – 0427 028 556

TRENTHAM

Contact Kyneton RSL – Mike Gretton, Co-ordinator – 0400 919 104

Road Closures

Please be advised that there will be a number of road closures throughout the Shire to facilitate Anzac Day services (25 April 2019) including:

• Daylesford – Vincent St between Midland Hwy and Raglan St (dawn) & Vincent St between Central Springs Road and Raglan St (10am- 11.30am). Midland Hwy between Bridport Street and Jamieson Street (10.00am-11.00am)
• Clunes – Fraser, Templeton, Service and Bailey Streets (10.30am-11.30am)
• Creswick – Albert St between Victoria St and South St (10.00am-11.15am)
• Trentham – High St between Cosmo Rd and Market St (5.30am -7.00am and 10.30am- 12.00pm)

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

The Community Biodiversity Grants Program is now open for applications. Community groups, including environmental groups, schools and other incorporated or auspiced groups, are encouraged to apply.  Projects for amounts up to $5,000 will be considered.

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate how their project links to the objectives in the Hepburn Shire’s Biodiversity Strategy.  Projects need to demonstrate sound ecological basis and value for money.   Eligible projects might include:

• on-ground works such as planting weed control, pest animal control on public land or private land in Hepburn Shire
• publications, electronic media or events aimed at raising awareness of biodiversity issues and promoting action
• activities such as training and networking activities that increase capacity and sustainability of volunteer groups.

Applications close 17 May 2019.

Recommendations to Council will be made at the June Ordinary Council Meeting June.

Prospective applicants must contact the Biodiversity Officer prior to submitting an application – refer to guidelines for contact details.

Guidelines  Biodiversity Grants Guidelines

Hard Copy Form  Application Form – Biodiversity Grant Program – 2019 

Online Form

Please be advised that there will be a number of road closures throughout the Shire to facilitate Anzac Day services (25 April 2019) including:

• Daylesford – Vincent St between Midland Hwy and Raglan St (dawn) & Vincent St between Central Springs Road and Raglan St (10am- 11.30am). Midland Hwy between Bridport Street and Jamieson Street (10.00am-11.00am)
• Clunes – Fraser, Templeton, Service and Bailey Streets (10.30am-11.30am)
• Creswick – Albert St between Victoria St and South St (10.00am-11.15am)
• Trentham – High St between Cosmo Rd and Market St (5.30am -7.00am and 10.30am- 12.00pm)

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

Please note that if you have a kerbside collection on Good Friday it will be collected on Saturday due to the public holiday.  There will be no changes to bin collections on Anzac Day with bins being collected as scheduled.

Click here if you would like more information on kerbside collections or to download a calendar

Council adopted the Proposed Budget 2019/20 for public exhibition at its meeting held in Trentham on 16 April 2019.

Mayor Cr Don Henderson said that the 2019/20 Proposed Budget responsibly funds the operations, services and capital investment that we will deliver to the community to achieve the vision of Our Council.

“I’m pleased with the outcome of the Proposed Budget 2019/20 and have great pleasure on behalf of Councillors to recommend it to our community for feedback.  It delivers for communities across the Shire with the completion of a number of important infrastructure projects, increased maintenance, and the continuation of essential services – all delivered in a financially sustainable model and with no new borrowings,” said Cr Don Henderson.

The Capital Works program for 2019/20 will be $9.84 million, a significant allocation of funding. This is an investment of 55% of general rates, with small and large projects to be delivered across the Shire, including over $5.5 million in road works.

“Our Council looks forward to working with the community to deliver a range of exciting projects in 2019/20, including the Daylesford Skate Park, masterplan and design works at Clunes, Glenlyon and Trentham Recreation Reserves, new and upgraded footpaths and an off-lead dog-park at Clunes” said Cr Don Henderson.

“Rate increases have been capped at 2.50% in line with the Victorian Government’s Fair Go Rates System, and even with the current concerns within the waste and recycling industry Council has been able to hold increases to waste charges to an average 3.2%.”

Council will now accept e-waste materials for free to encourage the recycling of e-waste items at our transfer stations and has introduced significantly reduced first year animal registration fees to encourage the registration, de-sexing and microchipping of cats and dogs.

The proposed budget includes a number of new and continuing initiatives such as the  upgrading of disabled parking spaces; continuation of construction works of the Creswick Trails; increased maintenance of aquatic facilities; Stage 3 of the Hepburn Planning Scheme Review, as well as the implementation of actions from the Biodiversity, Economic Development, Active Women and Girls and Youth Strategies.

Submissions have now closed. A meeting hear submissions will be held on Tuesday 4 June 2019, and the proposed Budget will be tabled at the 18 June 2019 Council meeting for adoption.

Click here to download a copy…Hepburn Shire Council Budget Report 2019-20

A Community Biodiversity Grants Program will shortly be open for applications. Community groups, including schools and other incorporated or auspiced groups, will be encouraged to apply.  Projects for amounts up to $5,000 will be considered.

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate how their project links to the objectives in the Hepburn Shire’s Biodiversity Strategy.  Eligible projects might include:

• on-ground works such as planting weed control, pest animal control on public land or private land in Hepburn
• publications, electronic media or events aimed at raising awareness of biodiversity issues and promoting action
• activities such as training and networking activities that increase capacity and sustainability of volunteer groups

Application forms and eligibility criteria will be available on Council website towards the end of April.

The Victorian Electoral Commission and Returning Officer Jeff Stewart declared this evening that Licia Kokocinski was elected Colban Ward Councillor.

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said he was looking forward to working with Councillor-elect Licia Kokocinski over the remaining two years of this Council term.

“It’s great to have Licia as part of the Councillor team leading important changes over the coming two years.  This is an important opportunity for Licia to support and advocate for the Coliban community, as this is an important part of our region,” said Cr Henderson.

Evan King, CEO said “Congratulations to Councillor-elect Licia Kokocinski on her election to the Coliban Ward.  I look forward to supporting and working closely with Licia to deliver on our Council Plan. I wish Licia the best in her new and exciting role.”

Community sessions will be held around the Shire to seek further feedback regarding Council’s review of the Local Law No. 2 (Community Amenity and Municipal Places) and designated dog areas. If you would like the opportunity to discuss the Local Law, designated dog areas or even cat curfews, feel free to drop in to talk to staff on the following days:

– Monday 29 April 2019:

• Creswick Hub: 9:30am – 11:30am
• The Warehouse – Clunes: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

– Tuesday 30 April 2019:

• Duke Street Office, Daylesford: 9:30am – 11:30am
• Trentham Neighbourhood Centre: 2:00 – 4:00pm.

Do you want to learn how to set up a new compost or worm farm or have an existing one that you want to reinstate?

We are calling on community groups to register their interest (form below) in a 2 hour composting workshop being facilitated by Grampians West Waste and Resource Recovery Group, to be held in either May or June.  Further details will be provided to those interested parties closer to the confirmed date.   Please let us know whether you’re interested in attending the workshop by 26 April  2019.

A by-election is currently being held for Hepburn Shire Council’s Coliban Ward. This is a postal election.

Completed ballot material must be in the mail before the close of voting at 6.00 pm* on Friday 29 March.

It should be posted as soon as possible, following the instructions in the ballot pack, or can be delivered to the election office in person no later than 6.00 pm on Friday 29 March.

For more information on the election process and candidates, please visit the VEC website.

*Local mail clearance times vary. Ballot material must be mailed before final clearance times in the last week of voting.