Supported by Hepburn Shire Council and Hepburn Wind, this bulk-buy is part of the Shire’s Z-NET initiative to become 100% carbon-neutral by 2025.

The organising team is from MASH (More Australian Solar Homes), the not-for-profit community solar bulk-buy that originated in Castlemaine and has since spread across central Victoria with almost 900 solar rooftops on homes, businesses and schools.

“Making the decision to invest solar or home batteries can be confusing as there are so many options”, says Jo Kaptein, Executive Officer at The Hub Foundation, the not-for-profit organisation behind the MASH bulk-buy.  The Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy aims to cuts through that complexity to make it easier for households and businesses to go solar – with an option they can trust.

“We’ve gone out to public tender to find the best possible solar supplier, with high quality solar and home battery systems at competitive prices backed by industry-leading warranties.  We’ll be providing an overview of the bulk-buy and the systems on offer – and answering residents’ questions – at info meetings and events throughout the Shire.  People will also be able to call us for general information about the bulk-buy on our community phone number, if they have any questions before registering for a quote with our supplier.

“Hepburn Shire Council is pleased to be a partner of the Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy program.  We are confident that the not-for-profit organisation behind the bulk-buy – The Hub Foundation – has done its homework thoroughly by going through a full public tender process to find the best possible solar suppliers with the best possible solar and battery systems.  We believe that this bulk-buy provides households and businesses in the Shire with high quality solar and battery systems that represent good value for money.  There’s also a win/win for the community, with up to $20,000 in free solar for community groups should the bulk-buy achieve its target of 200 new solar rooftops in Hepburn Shire.  We know that the bulk-buy will support local jobs.  Any CEC Accredited local installers in the Shire are urged to get in touch with The Hub Foundation if they would like to be involved as a sub-contractor carrying out installations for this bulk-buy program.” – Mayor, Cr John Cottrell.

“Currently, 19 percent of homes in Hepburn Shire have solar PV”, said Jo Kaptein. “Our aim is to increase this to 22 percent with another 200 solar rooftops installed by the end of December 2018.  If we achieve this goal, we’ll also be able to donate $20,000 in free solar to community groups – as well as cut CO2 emissions by 1,100 tonnes annually, equal to 230 fewer cars on the road each year.

“We’re thrilled to have been invited by Hepburn Shire Council and Hepburn Wind to bring our model of a community solar bulk-buy to the households and businesses in the Hepburn Shire”, said Jo Kaptein.

“We are proud to partner with MASH to grow residential solar in 2018”, said Taryn Lane, Manager, Hepburn Wind.  “For our Shire to reach zero-net energy in the next couple of years we need as many households as possible to go solar. 19% of homes have already switched to solar and we hope that through this partnership we will become one of the leading Shires in 2018.”

The solar supplier for the Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy selected through public tender is Energy Matters, a Clean Energy Council Accredited Solar Retailer.  Local CEC Accredited Solar Installers in the Hepburn Shire and surrounding areas who would like to install systems for this bulk-buy working under contract to Energy Matters are encouraged to get in touch with the Energy Matters team via Jo Kaptein on info@hubfoundation.org.au

The Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy will offer grid-connect solar PV systems and the Tesla Powerwall 2 grid-connect battery storage system.  Household systems start in size from 2kW, with 5kW being the most commonly installed system at the moment under the MASH project.  Larger solar PV systems – up to 99kW in size – for businesses, schools and other organisations are also available through the bulk-buy.

The MASH team would like to acknowledge the support of Hepburn Shire Council, Hepburn Wind and Zero-Net Hepburn Shire as partners for this bulk-buy. Also, we are pleased to have SHARE, Trentham Sustainability Group, Transition Creswick, Clunes Sustainability Group and Powershop as supporters.

For more information and to register for the bulk-buy launch email, visit www.mash.org.au/hepburn  or call the MASH team on 1300 466 274.

There are a range of exciting programs currently underway in the Hepburn Shire that relate to sustainability.  These programs are being implemented by a broad range of groups, including community groups, industry and Government.  Council recently appointed a full time Sustainability Officer, whose role will be to deliver projects and also to help facilitate projects occurring within the broader Hepburn Shire community.

Throughout 2017, a number of Carbon Free Community Conversation workshops were held across the Shire. The outcomes of those sessions and future steps are currently under review, and will be publicised in coming months.   In the meantime here’s some information on other programs being rolled out across the Shire, and how to get involved:

Z-NET

UPDATE – Hepburn Shire selected as ‘Community Transition Pilot’

Following on from Hepburn Shire Council’s recent workshop series ‘Carbon Free Conversations’, that many of you attended and set the ground for further community action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the Shire, Hepburn Shire was successful in being selected to be the Z-NET pilot for Victoria under the Sustainability Victoria Take2 Community Transitions Pilot Program. In particular, this was due to its demonstrated track record in community energy with the Hepburn Wind project and the strong support shown by the Hepburn Shire Council, local community and business to pursue 100% renewable energy.

The Pilot is funded by Sustainability Victoria, Hepburn Shire Council, Hepburn Wind,  Samsø Energy Academy (Denmark) and Diversicon Environmental Foundation. The project will run from February through to August 2018. Further support is being provided by Engineers Without Borders, Melbourne University and Powershop. The Coalition for Community Energy members the Alternative Technology Association, Moreland Energy Foundation, Starfish Initiatives and Little Sketches are delivering the project.

The Z-NET Blueprint is a successful model that will be evolved through this process from the first version with Uralla (NSW), to encompass a wider carbon emissions inventory than stationery heat and electricity. It will also consider transport, energy storage, waste and land use.

Furthermore, the project will commence feasibility on projects identified to help reach 100% renewable energy and develop community capacity to deliver the community transition pathway. The project team will work closely with Hepburn Shire Council and the local sustainability groups: Hepburn Wind, SHARE, Hepburn Relocalisation Network, Trentham Sustainability Group, Transition Creswick and the Clunes Sustainability Group.

The project runs from March – August 2018 and will aim to:

• Deliver a Z-NET Blueprint for the Hepburn Shire (carbon emissions inventory)
• Deliver a co-developed Community Transition Plan
• Produce feasibility analysis and business cases for local energy options
• Build resources and capacity within the community
• Update and expand the original Z-NET Blueprint

For more information contact Taryn Lane: taryn@ata.org.au | 0458 048 287

Join the Facebook group: Hepburn Shire Z-NET

First action: Fill out the household survey and share it with your local friends and family

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hepburn-znet

This survey has been developed to help inform the Z-NET Hepburn Shire project.  The survey will help understand how you as the community of Hepburn Shire currently use energy in your homes and what you think about using less energy, generating your own energy, generating energy nearby and purchasing or importing renewable energy.

It will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and is open until the end of April.

Second action: Join the Community Advisory Panel

Helping to guide the process, the CAP will be a group of community representatives who will come together to learn about the Z-NET Hepburn Shire program, what current strategies and opportunities exist; and to develop and recommend a set of goals and priorities for the Community Transition Plan.

Click here for the EOI document for further information on how to get involved

Third action: Hepburn Solar Bulk Buy

Hepburn Solar Bulk Buy is a program being rolled out by MASH – More Australian Solar Homes. The MASH group are behind the hugely successful community solar bulk buy which originated in Castlemaine. The goal of this project is to facilitate increased uptake of residential solar within Hepburn Shire, by cutting through the complexity and making it easier to go solar. The MASH team have gone to significant effort to find high quality, affordable options for solar and storage systems, which they will begin to roll out in April 2018. To register your interest in participating visit:

http://mash.org.au/hepburn/

Council has developed a draft Reconciliation Action Plan and we would like your feedback. Reconciliation is about promoting unity, respect and understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other community members. The draft plan lists 15 actions that Council is proposing to implement to promote reconciliation within the organisation and community.

If you would like to make an email submission, please send an email to:

Nate Perry, Cultural Projects Officer, at nperry@hepburn.vic.gov.au

Submissions can also be made in writing and be posted to the following address or dropped off at one of the customer service points with attention to:

RAP Project Officer

Hepburn Shire Council

PO Box 21 Daylesford Victoria 3460

Submissions can be made by post or online by 19 April 2018.

Council will also be hosting  “drop-in” style information sessions on the following dates where you can submit your ideas in person and speak with Council officers about the draft RAP:

Thursday, 12 April 2018
18:00 – 19:30pm
Daylesford Senior Citizens Room

Friday, 13 April 2018
9:30 – 11:30am
Creswick Hub

Click here to download the draft RAP

Come along and have your say on the Daylesford Skate Park Redevelopment.

The skate park designers will present the draft concept and facilitate the discussion. They will be seeking feedback on all aspects of the design from technical to aesthetic.

All community members and skate park users are welcome. There will be light refreshments.

ChillOut Parade – Sunday 11 March 2018

The annual ChillOut street parade will take place on Sunday 11 March 2018.  The parade will commence in Vincent Street Daylesford at 10:00am.  Vincent Street between Central Springs Road and Midland Hwy will be closed to traffic from 6am.

Road Closures

To facilitate the safe conduct of this event, the following road closures will be in effect and detours in place:

• Vincent Street, between Central Springs Rd and Midland Hwy: 6am-12pm and Vincent St extension, between Raglan St and Stanbridge St; 9:30am – 12pm
• Duke Street, between Albert St and Central Springs Rd; 9:30am-12pm
• Albert Street, between Midland Hwy and Duke St; 9:30am – 12pm
• Central Springs Road, between Duke and Bridport St; 9:30am-12pm

See the map below.

“By working as one we will be more focused and more effective at reducing risk, and keeping Victorians safer.” Craig Lapsley, Emergency Management Commissioner

Managing bushfire risk is an ongoing and shared responsibility and everyone has a role.

The newly-established Daylesford, Hepburn and Hepburn Springs Community-Based Bushfire Management (CBBM) project, involving Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic), CFA and Hepburn Shire, will work with the communities near Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. This project aims to develop a shared understanding of bushfire risk in that area and what is important to the local community.

The first of many community meetings was held on Sunday 10 December 2017, where agencies and the community discussed how to work together on bushfire risk planning and fuel management.  At this meeting, local residents had the opportunity to meet with Forest Fire Management Victoria, Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Hepburn Shire Council staff and discuss bushfire risk and fuel management across Daylesford, Hepburn & Hepburn Springs areas.

Community members and agency staff shared their knowledge and information to identify what they valued in the community, and also determined how we could work together into the future. These discussions lead to a request for follow-up meeting in February, which is now confirmed to be held on Sunday 25 February 2018, from 10am to 12pm at the Hepburn Fire Station, 149 Main Road, Hepburn Springs.

To learn more click here or contact David George, the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer, on 5321 6431.

Thank you to community members who participated in the Biodiversity Strategy Workshop held in December 2017 and those of you that provided feedback online (and in other ways). We appreciate all submissions.

Following the review of all submissions and feedback provided at the workshop and online, we are committing to a further review of the draft strategy with a focus on additional consultation and community engagement. Consultation will be a combination of stakeholder meetings and one-on-one consultation beginning in March.  We will also have Ward based community consultations taking place from May to June.

In addition to further engagement, we will produce monthly newsletters, commencing in April, and advertise for participation in a community reference group.

We’re excited to have appointed Brian Bainbridge in the role of Biodiversity Officer. Brian Bainbridge has been employed to work with the community to refine the draft Biodiversity Strategy and then lead the Strategy’s implementation.  Brian has a background in ecological planning with a community-based catchment management group.  Brian is developing a response to the primary issues raised by the community through the feedback received to date on the draft Biodiversity Strategy. This “Biodiversity Strategy- Response to Feedback” will be distributed in March.  If your particular concern is not addressed fully by this response you will be invited to consult directly with Brian at that time.

Throughout 2018, we will be shining a spotlight on the creative endeavours happening in our shire.  The Regional Centre for Culture program will spread through theatres, galleries, festivals and events, spanning the six seasons of the Dja Dja Wurrung people.  See below for a list of events in Hepburn shire

NOTE: Regular events such as markets have not been included in this list but appear in the online calendar on the RCC website and may also be listed on the RCC hub on Time Out.

Council is excited to have recently appointed Brian Bainbridge in the role of Biodiversity Officer. Brian Bainbridge has been employed to develop and deliver the shire’s Biodiversity Strategy with community.  Brian has a background in ecological planning with a community-based catchment management group.  He has worked for over twenty years on ecological restoration projects across the rural, industrial and urban landscapes of the Merri Creek valley near Melbourne.  Since moving to Central Victoria two years ago, Brian has engaged with the land management issues of his local area and the challenge of establishing sustainable small-scale agriculture with his wife on their own small block.  He enjoys the task of helping others discover their local flora and fauna and motivating community action for the survival of biodiversity.

Dominic Murphy has been appointed to the role of Sustainability Officer with the Hepburn Shire Council. Dom is a Mechanical Engineer and has been working as a consultant for 7 years, across a broad range of projects including infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, product development and manufacturing. The main focus of this role will be to implement projects that support the delivery of key activities under the Sustainable Environment pillar of the Council Plan (2017-2021). In particular, there will be a focus on projects that reduce Council’s emissions, as outlined in Council’s “Towards Zero Emissions Roadmap”.

Both Brian and Dominic work within Council’s Community and Economic Development department.

Photo – Brian (left) and Dom (right)

The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) aims to enrich the quality of life of  residents in aged care facilities who are socially isolated or lonely and would benefit from a visitor for friendship and companionship. Volunteers have a chance to make a positive difference to the care recipients life as well as their own.

Benefits of volunteering

• volunteering connects you to others
• volunteering is good for your mind and body
• volunteering brings fun and fulfilment to your life
• volunteering can advance your career

Click here to download an information flyer on CVS volunteering

If you’re interested in learning more contact CVS Coordinator Shelley Brasher on 5321 6101 or sbrasher@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

We are pleased to announce that Deborah Cheetham AO is the keynote speaker for the 2018 International Women’s Day Heather Mutimer Women’s Honour Roll Function.

Deborah Cheetham, Yorta Yorta woman, Soprano, composer and educator has been a leader and pioneer in the Australian arts landscape for more than 25 years.

Date:          Thursday 8 March 2018
Time:         6 pm
Venue:      Daylesford Town Hall – 76 Vincent Street, Daylesford

Come along and celebrate International Women’s Day in Hepburn Shire. Light refreshments will be available at the conclusion of the event.

(Photographer: Kristina Kingston)

The Hepburn Shire is currently reviewing its Disability Access and Inclusion Plan and would appreciate your ideas and feedback. ‘Access and Inclusion’ is about making all services, buildings, information and activities available to people who have a disability so that they can be included in the community. The Plan will assist Council to build a more inclusive and accessible community.

We would like you to assist us by providing feedback and ideas about how to make the Shire more accessible.  We have a short survey available to help us understand the issues facing those in our community with a disability.

If you need any help with the survey, require the survey in a different format or have any questions, please contact Deb Westin, Rural Access Officer on 0428 025 220 or email at dwestin@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

To complete the survey online visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/communitysurveyDAIP, or visit one of our customer service centres for a hard copy (drop it into customer service or post it to Deb Westin, Hepburn Shire Council, PO Box 21 Daylesford).  Please complete the survey by no later than 2 March 2018.