If you want to have a say on the development and coordination of services, programs, activities, for people aged 12- 25 years, take a look at Hepburn Shire Council’s Youth Development Strategy – known as THE ACE.

The draft strategy was co-designed with local young people, who took the lead in designing and implementing the consultation and Youth Census that identified matters important to young people in Hepburn Shire.

ACE stands for:

A: ADVOCATE with and for young people on the issues that matter most to them.

C: CELEBRATE our young people, their passions, skills, contributions, achievements and endeavours.

E: ELEVATE young people as leaders and decision-making roles in our schools and communities, and in their own lives however they choose to live them.

The strategy aims to increase resilience in young people, raise their voice on topics they see as important, strengthen community partnerships, find ways for young people to be more included and respected in the community, and much more.

THE ACE is separated across eight focus areas, which were developed based on feedback as part of the Youth Census.

The focus areas are mental health; climate action; gender equity, inclusion and diversity; youth health and wellbeing; social community connection; personal growth and development; youth agency and empowerment; and safety and security.

Council is now seeking feedback on THE ACE and invites community members, particularly young people, to review the strategy and have a say. Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 6 May. Read THE ACE and provide feedback at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au.

Here’s what young people had to say about being involved in the co-design process to develop the strategy:

“Being a part of the Youth Strategy Co-Design group has allowed me to voice my concerns and thoughts about my personal experience in growing up in the Shire. My outlooks and beliefs are recognised, listened to and taken into consideration within the discussions. This allows me to feel as though I can personally make a change and elevate future youth experiences in the Shire.” – Lilia (21), Creswick.

“Having a voice in Hepburn Shire, especially as an 18 year-old has helped me not only be able to see the changes this strategy is going to provide; but it has also helped me visualise the issues that young people have in the area, such as the lack of youth spaces in the area.” – Shaelyn (18), Trentham.

“By being involved in youth co-design I’ve been able to tangibly influence the experience of young people in Hepburn Shire. This experience provides a fantastic insight into the work councils do for anyone who wants to become involved in policy making into the future.” – Tino (19), Hepburn.

“Having my voice heard, and my ideas come alive, was such a satisfying and amazing feeling. It made me feel that I was a true part of the community. I hope that this strategy can show young people how many others within the community are willing to help them thrive and succeed, and that having a voice within the community can pay off and can truly make a difference.” – Lucinda (18), Daylesford.

Thousands more Victorians will now get access to the best clinicians, allied health professionals and nurses from the comfort of their own homes thanks to a massive funding boost in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Martin Foley today joined some of Victoria’s best nurses to announce a $698 million package to expand the Better at Home program.
The investment will expand the program to help more than 15,000 Victorians access home-based care each year, in addition to telehealth check-ups.
It allows Victorians to access experienced nurses, clinicians and allied health professionals at home, surrounded by their loved ones as part of a more convenient and tailored experience.
The package will extend the Hospital in the Home beds that were established throughout the pandemic, increasing capacity to 358 virtual beds – providing ongoing care at home for Victorians so they don’t need to go to hospital for treatment.
Premier Daniel Andrews: “Ensuring more Victorians can access Better at Home not only means better outcomes and more comfortable health care for Victorians but it’ll help take the pressure of our hardworking frontline nurses, paramedics and doctors. “I know from my own experience just how helpful getting care at home can be. It makes treatment and recovery so much easier when you’re able to get personalised care brought directly to you.”

Three Victorian Government agencies are working together to rehabilitate a key wetland between Kerang and Cohuna.

Johnson’s Swamp is part of the Kerang Lakes complex and is recognised as a key habitat for waterbirds under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

The devastating floods of 2010-11 brought with them some unwanted visitors to Johnson’s, and they’re threatening to take over the wetland.

“Lignum and tall marshy reeds are encroaching significantly on the wetland, so it’s time to take action,” North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Environmental Water Reserve Officer Peter O’Toole said.

“The vegetation is limiting the amount of open water and out-competing other aquatic plants that contribute to overall biodiversity and wetland health.

“Ensuring there is space and resources for waterbirds to feed and breed is a key part of the management of the wetland.

“And the community, including local Traditional Owners, want to see more open space on the wetland, for birds such as brolgas, pelicans, black swans, and dabbling ducks.”

North Central CMA, Parks Victoria, and the Arthur Rylah Institute have been working on a plan to fix the problem, with works scheduled for late April and May.

“The first step will be slashing and poisoning about 20 hectares of the lignum and reeds. Then we will start to deliver about 1500 megalitres of water for the environment,” Mr O’Toole said.

“The partial fill will drown the lignum and reeds and will prime the wetland for a full fill in spring. That will allow other types of aquatic vegetation such as eel grass and milfoil to grow, creating the right conditions for the waterbirds that are so important to this community.

“The flow will also help the frogs and turtles over winter and spring.”

The North Central CMA manages environmental flows on behalf of the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH). The flows are authorised by VEWH in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan 2021-22.

The Plan is available for download from www.vewh.vic.gov.au, with regular watering updates posted on the North Central CMA website www.nccma.vic.gov.au.

The state government is encouraging prospective pet owners to make informed decisions when looking
for a furry friend to help combat scammers and dodgy breeders.
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas has launched the ‘Choosing a Healthy Pet’ campaign which helps dog and cat buyers avoid common pitfalls and identify the warning signs of illegal or unethical breeding.

Authorised officers from the RSPCA Victoria Inspectorate are responsible for enforcing Victoria’s strict breeding laws – the toughest in the nation.
With demand for pets increasing during the pandemic, there has also been an increase in scams and illegal behaviour.
The Choosing a Healthy Pet checklist supports Victorian pet owners with important advice on steps they can take when selecting a new pet, as well as useful information about breeds, pet health and behaviour.

Finding the right pet for your family can be a difficult decision and it’s important to ask the right questions to identify dodgy breeders and avoid pet scams:
• Do not buy pets from a car park or other public place – it is illegal to sell companion animals in public
places without a permit and this is a common sign that a sale may not be legitimate
• Always meet the pet, and its parents if you can, and ask to see their current living conditions
• Check that the advertisement includes a source number and that the number is valid on the Pet Exchange Register website
• Make sure to get proof of vet checks, microchipping and vaccinations – it is a requirement to microchip all cats and dogs before they are sold or given away in Victoria
• Immediately update your pet’s microchip details after purchase and register them with your local council.
Victorians who suspect illegal breeding activity should make a report to the RSPCA.

Electric buses will enter the regional bus network for the first time as part of a three-year Zero Emissions Bus Trial – creating a cleaner and more sustainable transport network.
Five Victorian bus operators have been selected to trial 41 electric buses on existing bus routes in Melbourne, Seymour and Traralgon as part of the $20 million trial program.

The trial will provide practical information including how electric buses perform and the energy and charging requirements for different types of routes. It will give insights into how zero emissions buses can improve financial and environmental sustainability and customer outcomes.
The majority of the electric buses being introduced through the trial will be built at Volgren’s Dandenong South manufacturing facility – supporting local jobs and skills development and helping to build Victoria’s engineering, design and manufacturing expertise in emerging technologies.
Seymour will be the first regional town to be fully serviced by electric buses and Latrobe Valley Bus Lines will introduce the first electric bus based in Traralgon. Ventura will convert its Ivanhoe bus depot into Victoria’s first fully zero emissions bus depot by January 2024, charging 26 trial electric buses and one existing electric bus that will operate in the north-eastern suburbs.
In Melbourne’s west, Donric Group will have the trial’s first three electric buses operating in and around Sunbury from August, while CDC Victoria will introduce eight electric buses to service the CBD and eastern suburbs.
The electric buses as part of the trial will have charging stations at the depots they are housed in.
The 41 electric buses as part of the trial are in addition to 36 electric buses being rolled out across the metropolitan network by Kinetic, that will operate from the Sunshine West and Heatherton depots.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll: “The electric bus trial will be pivotal in our transition to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable transport network. Creating a greener fleet is part of our Bus Plan to develop a more modern and reliable network that will attract more people to the convenience of buses.”

The state government is making another major investment in Victoria’s freight rail network, boosting
safety and reliability, while enabling producers to transport their product quicker and cheaper to port and to market.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will deliver $181 million for critical maintenance works to improve rail freight competitiveness and support the growing freight task that is vital to regional economies and supply chains.
With Victorian freight volumes set to nearly triple by 2051 and approximately $26 billion of locally produced and manufactured exports passing through Victoria’s commercial ports annually, the government remains focused on increasing the amount of freight transported by rail across the state.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne has announced maintenance works will be carried out on freight rail corridors across the State, with a focus on western, north-western, and metropolitan corridors,
and the Benalla-Oaklands freight line.
The investment will support V/Line to continue vital maintenance, progressively improving load capacity and line speeds to significant rail freight and grain handling sites across regional Victoria, such as Mitiamo.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll: “Upgrades to the V/Line freight network will help support the state’s freight sector, enabling strong economic growth for Victoria well into the future. “By increasing the share of freight onto rail, it will reduce truck traffic contributing to safer roads, lower vehicle emissions and reduced congestion across the arterial network for all Victorians.”

Extensive weed control works have been conducted along Hickmans Creek near Mt Cole to prevent the spread of invasive plants as part of the Good Neighbour program.

Facilitated by the Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning (DELWP) and Parks Victoria, Good Neighbour brings landholders together to help control pest plants and animals which have the potential to wreak havoc on native plant species.

The Hickmans Creek project has seen Elmhurst Landcare Group, Crowlands-Warrak Landcare Group, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and Project Platypus working together to control various invasive plant species.

Good Neighbour Program Manager, David Miralles, said the three-year project, which commenced in 2020, has already reversed the spread of reported weeds in some areas.

“We’ve been focussing on the treatment of Blackberry, Spiny Broom, Prunus species and other woody weeds which have the potential to spread downstream to the Wimmera River,” he said.

“Other garden escapees found and treated include Cherry Plum, Bushy Needlewood, and Pampas Grass.”

“So far, the project has completed around one kilometre of works fronting private property and another kilometre of works through the Mt Cole State Forest.”

Other Good Neighbour projects in the area include feral pig trapping at Mount Buangor and Langi Ghiran, fox baiting at Paddys Range, gorse control at Fiery Creek, and sweet briar control in the lower gullies of the Pyrenees Range.

Mr Miralles said more than 200 Good Neighbour projects are being delivered by DELWP and Parks Victoria across the state this year.

“There’s opportunities for more local districts to get involved, so we’d urge people to get in contact if they think the Good Neighbour Program could help better control invasive pest plants and animals in their area,” he said. 

The work is part of the Victorian Government’s Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 plan to stop the decline of our native plants and animals and improve our natural environment.

For more information about this program please contact your nearest DELWP office. You can also contact our customer service centre on 136 186 or by email to customer.service@delwp.vic.gov.au

Captions:

Pic 1 – Landholder M. Greene overlooking treated Blackberry infestation on Hickman’s Creek.

Pic 2 – DELWP staff treating isolated woody weed species in the upper Wimmera Catchment.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council will be lighting up Kyneton Town Hall in the Ukrainian colours every
evening from Friday 6 May until Thursday 12 May as a sign of solidarity and support for the people of
Ukraine.
This is part of a motion that was unanimously passed by councillors at last week’s council meeting to
show that Macedon Ranges Shire Council:
 Stands with Ukraine and their innocent courageous citizens enduring the ravages of an
unprovoked war
 Provides supportive assistance to Ukrainian refugees who are seeking shelter in the Macedon
Ranges Shire
 Expresses our gratitude and thanks to members of our community, not for profit organisations,
government agencies , telecommunications companies and our council staff who are providing
aid to Ukrainian refugees arriving with limited resources.
Macedon Ranges resident Victor Zablockyj who has family and friends in the Ukraine said this is a
huge heart-felt show of support from our Macedon Ranges community for the Ukrainian people.
“The four notices of motion passed unanimously by council was done in a true Australian spirit,” he
said.

Ballarat is set to mark IDAHOBIT Day (May 17th) with a very special Outdoor Cinema event at the Ballarat
Showgrounds – Drive-In Pride. Hosted by Cafs (Child & Family Services, Ballarat) the evening will
showcase locally produced documentaries focused on members of the LGBTIQA+ community ahead of
award winning Australian feature film ‘Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt)’ (Rating M).
Local documentaries – Out of the Closets; Into the Streets (Wind and Sky Productions) and Proudly Here
(MDP Photography & Video in collaboration with Speak) – share the stories of lgbtiqa+ people in the
community and aim to increase awareness and encourage understanding and inclusivity.
Winning over audiences at film festivals the world over, Ellie & Abbie (& Abbie’s Dead Aunt) is a heartfelt
and hilarious queer teen rom-com from Sydney-based writer-director Monica Zanetti.
School captain Ellie (Sophie Hawkshaw) has a serious crush on her classmate Abbie (Zoe Terakes), and is
angsting over inviting her to the Year 12 formal. When Ellie accidentally spills the beans to her mum
(Marta Dusseldorp) and outs herself in the process, things start to get complicated, and a little bit spooky.
Enter her deceased aunt Tara (Julia Billington), a lesbian activist from the ‘80s who returns from the dead
to act as a kind of fairy godmother to Ellie, guiding her through the trials and tribulations of her first
love.
“At Cafs we celebrate diversity and strive to be inclusive in everything we do”, said Wendy Sturgess, CEO.
“Our ability to deliver Drive-In Pride is thanks largely to collaboration with local businesses and our
project reference group who also value and celebrate diversity in our community.”
Gates will open at 5pm on the evening with screening commencing at 5:45pm.
The Drive-In Pride event has been made possible through the Victorian Government Pride Events and
Festivals Fund 2021-22: Celebrating Diversity and Connection grant program.

Acting Minister for Small Business Martin Pakula has announced $5 million in rebates is available in the latest round of the successful Small Business Digital Adaptation Program.
The program has so far supported more than 10,000 Victorian businesses to build their digital presence, streamline services and reach new customers.
Small businesses can apply for $1,200 rebates to access a range of digital tools to make improvements to websites, online marketing, project management and stocktake systems and cash flow services.
Great Coffee Moments café in Port Fairy has gone from strength to strength since embarking on its digital transition in 2021, with support from the program.
Having operated forseven years without an online presence, Great Coffee Moments now has a website, integrated booking system, online store and active social media accounts.
This online adaptation means customers can now buy coffee beans online throughout the year and positive reviews have also driven strong growth and an expansion of their catering business.
Popular software applications available as part of the program include Mr Yum, Square, Shopify, Squarespace, MYOB and XERO.
Once business owners have implemented the new technology, further assistance is also available through the program to support a successful digital transition in addition to free digital workshops through Business Victoria.
The new round of the Small Business Digital Adaptation Program closes on 18 July 2022.
Acting Minister for Small Business Martin Pakula: “This program offers small businesses advice and support to upgrade their digital systems to improve efficiency and attract more customers. We’re backing small businesses across the state through programs like this because we know the critical role they play in creating jobs for Victorians.”

Cyclists of all ages and abilities will soon be able to hit new mountain bike trails in Creswick.

Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas visited Creswick to view progress on the Hammon
Park Trail Head and Bike Playground, backed by $2.1 million from the Regional Tourism Investment Fund –
Stimulus Round.
Built on the old Hammon Park football oval in the Creswick Regional Park, the Hammon Park Trail Head is
designed to encourage riders of all abilities to safely build up their mountain bike riding skills before taking on the more challenging trails in Creswick.
The project is being delivered by the Hepburn Shire Council and will also showcase the surrounding bushland, lakes and hills.
The bike playground will help young people become more experienced riders through a series of small hills and outdoor terrain. The project will also include new restrooms, along with barbecue and picnic areas to encourage outdoor events and family gatherings near the trails.
Excavation works are well underway at the Hammon Park Trail Head and Bike Playground, which is expected to be completed at the end of the year. The project is being delivered by Victorian contractors Naturform and will support up to 20 jobs during construction.
Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas: “The Hammon Park Trail Head and Bike playground will be an asset for the local community, encouraging riders of all abilities to hit the tracks, while creating more jobs during construction.”

The state government is tackling climate change with 210,000 new trees being planted in the west of
Melbourne by November, growing green spaces, driving down pollution and creating jobs.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio has announced the next round of grants and locations for 180,000 trees as part of the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program, adding to over 30,000 already planted since spring last year.
The government is investing $5 million to plant both mature and young trees outside schools, along trails,
in parks and on residential streets, across six local council areas – Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham.
Western Melbourne has the lowest tree canopy cover in metropolitan Victoria, with just 5.5 per cent of urban tree cover in Melbourne in 2018, compared to 17.4 per cent in the inner south-east and 25.9 per cent in the east.
Tree coverage reduces urban temperatures by 10-25°C, filters pollution and provides oxygen, helping reduce heat-related illness and death. The program also improves our biodiversity by providing more homes and food for wildlife and helps us meet Victoria’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Providing more accessible green spaces also improves communities’ mental and physical health by increasing connections with nature.
Volunteers and locals are encouraged to be involved with the program with planting programs by the six local city councils, Greater Western Water, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and Victoria University.
For details about projects funded in the second phase visit environment.vic.gov.au/more-trees

The state government is expanding training for solar workers as part of Free TAFE, helping support the booming solar sector to cut emissions and slash power prices for more Victorian families.
After a two-year pilot, the course in Working Safely in the Solar Industry will be added as a Free TAFE Short Course from 1 July 2022. To support Victoria’s growing demand for solar installation, the course has been expanded to be offered at 12 TAFEs – including seven in regional Victoria – after the pilot initially offered it at just four locations.
The two-day training – now mandatory for all on-site workers in Solar Victoria’s programs – gives electricians, plumbers, solar PV and battery installers and their apprentices the skills they need to install photovoltaic and solar water systems.
visit www.freetafe.vic.gov.au.
Premier Daniel Andrews: “Solar Homes has saved almost 200,000 Victorians thousands on their power bills. As this program grows, we’re making sure the tradespeople who install solar get the skills they need to work safely – for free.”

The state government is helping even more Victorian save hundreds of dollars each year on their energy bills.
Eligibility for Victoria’s nation leading $1.3 billion Solar Homes program will be expanded, enabling households to access rebates for both solar panels and solar hot water or high-efficiency electric heat pumps for the first time.
Victorians, who have not previously claimed a solar rebate, will be eligible for up to $2,400 in rebates for the installation of bill busting solar products. Households are also eligible for a $1,400 interest free loan, cutting up to $3,800 from upfront installation costs.
The changes also mean the nearly 190,000 Victorians who have previously accessed a rebate to install solar panels will be able to access up to an additional $1,000 to install solar hot water or a highly efficient heat pump system.
The government is also helping even more Victorian businesses to cut their energy bills, with up to $8,500 off the upfront cost of a solar system installation through the expansion of eligibility criteria of the $47.5 million Solar for Business Program.
More Victorian businesses will be able to take control of their energy bills with businesses with up to 50 employees able to access a rebate of up to $3,500 to install solar panels, an increase from the current 20 employee threshold.
For the first time, businesses will also be able to apply for zero interest loans of between $1,000 and $5,000 to reduce the initial outlay for solar installation.
Since 2018, the Government has helped more than 200,000 Victorian homeowners, renters and business owners cut their energy bills by directly investing more than $380 million to subsidise the installation of solar panels, solar hot water and solar batteries.
The Solar Homes program will cut Victoria’s carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes – the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road. Household solar is expected to generate 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s 40 per cent target for renewable energy by 2025.
Businesses will be able to access the expanded program from Friday, 29 April, with the households able to apply for multiple solar products from mid-May. For further information visit: solar.vic.gov.au
Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio: “Expanding the program will help even more Victorians to save money, while supporting clean energy jobs and helping meet our target of halving emissions by 2030. We’re putting power back into the hands of Victorian Homes and businesses – driving down energy costs and boosting supply, while creating 5,500 jobs.”

Sample questions are now available for teachers, students and their families to view ahead of the new-look General Achievement Test (GAT) to be held this year as part of the state government’s reform of the VCE and VCAL system.
Minister for Education James Merlino has released example questions for the new Part A of the reformed GAT, which will explicitly report students’ literacy and numeracy scores against new standards to bring the Victorian GAT in line with similar tests in other states and territories.
Students will now also receive information about whether they have demonstrated literacy and numeracy skills expected of someone completing secondary school – giving another indication of their readiness to move onto further education, training or employment.
While the new standards will be reported on students’ VCE or VCAL certificates, they will not contribute to a student’s ATAR unless the GAT is required to calculate a score – for example, if a student requires a Derived Examination Score after missing an exam due to illness.
The GAT, which this year will be held on Wednesday 7 September, will be split into two sections: Section A will assess literacy and numeracy skills; and Section B will look similar to the old GAT content: assessing skills in English, maths, science, technology, the arts and humanities – with an increased focus on critical and creative thinking skills.
Section A will include 15 minutes reading time and two hours writing time, with students asked to respond to one writing task with two parts, 50 numeracy multiple-choice questions, and 50 reading multiple-choice questions.
Section B will comprise 15 minutes reading time and 90 minutes writing time, and students will respond to another extended writing task; 25 maths, science, and technology multiple-choice questions; and 25 arts and humanities multiple-choice questions.
All students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence are required to sit Sections A and B of the GAT – and for the first time, Senior VCAL students will sit the GAT – required to complete Section A only.
As in all previous years, no special study will be required for the GAT. Past study of subjects like English, maths, science and history prepares students for the test by building their general knowledge and skills in writing, numeracy and reasoning.
The change comes as Victoria prepares to transition to a new integrated senior secondary certificate from 2023, which will bring together VCE and VCAL within the VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate options.
The new certificates will give all students better support and flexibility to study what they want, alongside the key academic skills to prepare them for the jobs of the future, further education or training.
Minister for Education James Merlino: “The GAT is changing to give Victorian students just another thing to prove to future employers and educators that they’ve had a great secondary education.”