The potential rezoning of farm land to residential in East Street, Daylesford, as part of the Future Hepburn draft plans, has raised the ire of many residents in the region, along with the farming family who owns 14 hectares of the land.

Farmer Ned Powell said it was a shock for his family to discover the move on the draft plan for Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. Mr Powell said his family bought the farm in 1921 and had continuously farmed the property. And he says, despite the potential for profit, they were completely opposed to the idea of rezoning.

Mr Powell, whose social media post is reprinted with permission, right, also has concerns that his rates could go up if the land was rezoned and it could also be subject to the state government’s windfall gains tax, introduced last year.

Hepburn Shire Council Development executive director Ron Torres acknowledged Mr Powell had monetary concerns but said no calculations had been carried out on any possible increased rates or state taxes.

“The reason is because whatever strategic planning we do across the shire, and there will be potential monetary impacts, those factors are not considerations under the planning framework. I know that sounds shocking but the planning framework expressly requires planners not to factor in changes to land value and rates.”

Mr Torres said housing growth was going to occur in Daylesford and while most people would prefer it within the existing township boundaries, there was also a need for new, more diverse houses for the next 30 years “and that is what East Street is doing”.

Mayor Cr Brian Hood said the council was aware many in the community believed the deadline for input into the town structure plans, June 12, and to be passed at the August council meeting, was too soon for such important planning framework.

“I think through all of the publicity people knew this was coming and we have been saying for ages we are working on these high level plans to set the direction for planning and growth controls,” Cr Hood said.

“But there are 70 pages for each town, plus the rural strategy and there is a lot of technical detail here and it is bloody important stuff, long term planning for 25 to 30 years. So I don’t blame (people) if they are wondering ‘what does this do to my property?’ or ‘what does it mean my neighbour can do?’. We are working through this six-week (consultation) period and will see where we get to.

“We always aimed at getting it through this term, and it is pencilled in for August, then we meet in September (before doing into caretaker mode) and then we are done.

“But we have to get this right and getting it right is more important than timing. It is pleasing and encouraging the amount of engagement across the shire and great that people are raising their concerns and questions and we are genuinely there to listen and what people’s concerns are, so we can get this right.”

Mr Torres said there was also a push from the state government on councils to see every council “carry its weight in future growth” with potential housing targets on the horizon. “It is imperative to have our plan locked in, our own community vision.”

Mr Torres said another area, the end of Jamieson Street, was also looked at for more housing but was not considered because it was considered too steep and exposed to heightened bushfire risk from the north.

Since its start four years ago, Future Hepburn has cost about $1.3 million. Community sessions will be held at Newlyn on May 22, Trentham on May 24, Hepburn Springs and Glenlyon on May 25, and Clunes and Daylesford on June 1.

Community feedback closes on June 12. Link: www.participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/future-hepburn

Words: Donna Kelly

The City of Ballarat has released the names of its local neighbourhood parks that are next slated for improvement works under an ongoing rolling program focused on improving and maintaining these local open space gems.

Neighbourhood Parks are the smallest open spaces for Ballarat’s residents, designed for short regular use by residents living within 500 metres, and there are some 200 reserves in this category across Ballarat.

Each year the City of Ballarat team design and implement changes for up to 10 reserves where the improvements are needed the most.  

The latest instalment of neighbourhood parks set for improvements are:  

• Kowree Court Park, Sebastopol
• Drummond Street Reserve, Lake Wendouree
• Yarana Drive Park, Mount Helen  
• Victoria Street Reserve, Sebastopol
• Gregory Street Reserve, Soldiers Hill  
• Clover Street Reserve, Wendouree
• Marigold Street Reserve, Wendouree
• Rizal Park, Invermay  

Several factors are considered when choosing what park to upgrade, including:  

• The age and condition of play equipment  
• Park conditions  
• Demographics of the suburbs, where the need is the highest  

Over the past two years of the Neighbourhood Parks program, there have been 18 reserves in the pipeline for engagement, design and construction.  

Parks recently completed or near complete include:  

• The Horsham Crescent Park in Alfredton  
• The Hearn Road Park in Brown Hill  
• College Street Park, Wendouree  
• Cuthberts Road Reserve, Alfredton  
• Vale Street Park, Alfredton  

Improvements across some of these open spaces included park shelters and seating, circuit paths throughout the reserve, new playspaces and tree plantings.  

Concept plans are available for another seven parks, which can be viewed on the MySay, while the remainder of parks are in draft design, ready for a second phase of consultation.  

The community can now review the progress of all the parks via a new MySay page. It offers a map and listings to see what stage each park is currently at, and to see the designs and construction updates.  

The page offers the community a one-stop-shop to find out more information, see designs and upcoming plans and ask questions of the City of Ballarat design team.  

City of Ballarat Councillor Ben Taylor said the annual program allows community collaboration to develop and implement improvements into local small parks.  

“Having input from our community members, those who use these parks on a daily basis is a great way to shape the parks and make them fit for purpose,” he said.  

“It’s great to know that a park that may be used for a lot of walking, could get a dedicated path throughout it, or a park that is used a lot by young families may have improved play equipment and seating for parents added.”  

The latest instalment of the Neighbourhood Parks program is now open for community feedback via the City of Ballarat’ MySay page.

EMILY/GRANT is the formidable duo of rock loving guitarist Grant Staines and conservatorium trained pianist Emily Coyle (piano, vocals).

Together their original songs traverse an “eclectic, complex yet accessible style which effortlessly mixes elements of classical, funk, blues, rock, pop and jazz”( X-press magazine)

Witnessing Grant’s “buckley-esque guitar work” (X-press magazine) alongside Emily’s “soaring vocals” (Hype Magazine) and ivory pounding skill at the piano, you won’t be left wondering why this duo’s cinematic sound and evocative lyrics have captured audiences from Spain, to Paris and New York.

EMILY/ GRANT are returning to the Palais to perform songs from their latest studio releases “The City” and “Turning Around” which consolidated their reputation as one of those unique Australian acts whose style cannot be put into a box.

If you love sophisticated, compelling Australian songwriting, you probably won’t want to miss this show set for Friday evening May 31 at the Palais, Hepburn.

All skill levels and styles will be welcome as The Palais, Hepburn brings back Musicians’ Corner Open Mic Night on the last Thursday of every month, hosted by Ben & Dan.

Starting next Thursday, May 30, the regular open mic nights will be prime opportunities for music-loving patrons to get along to the Palais and enjoy catching the local musos as they showcase their talent in a cosy, community atmosphere with everyone welcome.

Musician’s Corner is an Open Mic night, run by musicians, and is focussed on creating a fun, respectful and welcoming outlet for local musicians to share their music in an intimate live setting.

It’s a chance to meet and mingle with like- minded musos and get involved in the local scene.

Performers of all levels will be welcome and can bring along their friends and family or just meet some friendly people on the night.

The night is held in the cosy salon and runs from 7pm till 10pm, with sign up from 6:30pm, or registrations via the link on the venue’s website.

Much of the audience will be fellow performers and The Palais management says it will be encouraging everyone to stay the whole night and share the love with more details on the venue’s website.

Words: Eve Lamb

Ballarat’s Brown Hill Splash Park Precinct is a step closer to reality following the recent release of new concept designs.

In a major milestone towards completion of the new splash park, the concepts feature an adventure zone, an exploration zone, and a toddler development and discovery zone.

The park would have a mixture of water play features ranging from a large dumping bucket and water cannons to more gentle and predictable water effects.

A City of Ballarat MySay page has been established where people can provide feedback on the concepts.

A community information session was also be held at the Brown Hill Community Hall last week, organised in conjunction with the Brown Hill Progress Association.

The splash park is the first significant step towards the implementation of the Brown Hill Recreation Reserve Master Plan and is expected to open for the summer of 2024/25.

There is an election commitment from the state government of $1 million towards the overall redevelopment of Brown Hill Recreation Reserve, while the City of Ballarat has also committed $660,000 from the 2023/24 budget towards the Splash Park Precinct.

Further funding will be finalised as part of the City of Ballarat’s upcoming 2024/25 budget.

The splash park has been identified as the initial priority item in the master plan, which will later also include further upgrades to the precinct.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was exciting to see a vision for the splash park precinct starting to come to life.

“To be able to see how that space could be transformed is extremely promising,” he said.

“We have already seen how popular our other two splash parks at Sebastopol and Midlands Reserve so we are looking forward to delivering this vital project for Brown Hill.”  

The MySay page on the splash park will be open until Friday May 24, with a tender for construction to be released in the coming weeks. 

B Sharp Burlesk is an exciting new show with a focus on classic burlesque, traditional bump n grind, showgirl dance, vaudeville and comedic slapstick and it’s headed to The Palais, Hepburn early next month.

Aimed at those who love glamour, fancy costumes, feathers and old fashioned tease, the show promises a night of nostalgia but with a modern twist.

Featuring a sensational cast of the creme de la creme of burlesque stars and special guests, B Sharp Burlesk is scheduled for Saturday evening, June 1.

The City of Ballarat is calling for specific user groups to register to join a collaborative design workshop that will help shape the development of the city’s Open Space Strategy.  

The community’s voice will play a pivotal role in the new strategy that will influence how open space is improved and managed into the future.

From the initial round of engagement that ran from November 2023 until January 2024, the consultation received more than 900 responses via surveys, submissions and map pins – highlighting just how important open space is to the Ballarat community.  

Emerging themes from the first round of engagement included passive recreation, amenity and infrastructure, feeling safe, biodiversity, diversity and connection.

City of Ballarat Councillor Belinda Coates said it was evident that the Ballarat community values open spaces.  

“Our community’s voice is playing a key role in developing this long-term strategy for Ballarat’s spaces. It will be great to see how their influence can shape our open spaces into the future,” she said.  

“The next stage of collaboration with the community will include a deep dive into some of the key themes that our respondents identified, such as diverse play and biodiversity.”  

The Open Space Strategy 2024 will replace and supersede the current Open Space Strategy which has been in place since 2008.

The strategy will set out principles, priorities and actions that will help inform the decision-making processes, future investment and development contributions. 

The Melbourne pub music scene thrived in the 80s and 90s, a vibrant era marked by the prominent presence of women and lesbian bands.

These groups captivated both women and mainstream audiences, performing in local pubs, at numerous women’s dances, and touring along the East Coast.

In 2021, The Lost Girls emerged as a supergroup at the inaugural Melbourne Pride Festival. Each member is a veteran of the 80s and 90s Melbourne music scene, bringing a unique blend of experience and passion to the stage.

Now the Lost Girls are preparing to find their way to the Palais, Hepburn this Saturday evening, May 25 to deliver what promises to be a powerhouse performance.

With a lineup of eight dynamic women, The Lost Girls are a powerhouse of energy and nostalgia. They specialize in delivering high-octane performances that celebrate the best of that era.

Those planning to get along are advised to prepare for a night of vigorous dancing and exuberant singing with the anthems that defined a generation.

Early bird ticket sales have opened for this year’s BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef conferences to be held on June 19-20 in Ballarat, at The Goods Shed.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Specialist, Lyndon Kubeil said this was the first time since 2019 that the two conferences would be held together and in the new location of Ballarat.

“We are holding everything under the one roof this year – the sheep and the beef industry conferences, the dinner and the trade displays will all be at The Goods Shed, an exciting new venue near Ballarat Railway Station,” said Mr Kubeil.

The event will start on Wednesday 19 June at 9 am with registrations for the BestWool/BestLamb conference, followed by a combined dinner for the beef and sheep industries at 6 pm that night.

The BetterBeef conference will be held the following day on Thursday 20 June.

The program will include keynote addresses and concurrent sessions, giving participants the ability to tailor their time to suit their needs and interests.

Mr Kubeil said there will be an excellent line up of presenters, including agribusiness professionals John Francis from Agrista and Cam Nicholson from Nicon Rural Services, who are presenting on both days and are sure to draw a crowd.

The ‘John Francis’ session ‘Thriving under pressure – are you ready for the next challenge?’ will help producers make more informed decisions when faced with obstacles impacting their farm business.

‘Cam Nicholson’s presentation on “Grazing Management – balancing the compromise” will show us how to make better decisions and find the right strategic balance between the plant and the animal in a grazing enterprise.

Ticket sales will be capped this year to accommodate the size of the new venue.

“We encourage people to book early and be rewarded with early bird discounts on tickets, with a 1-day conference ticket only $80 and a full package two-day conference and dinner ticket for $200.”

Early bird tickets close on Friday 31 with more information available from Lyndon Kubeil on 0418 532 085 or by visiting the Agriculture Victoria events page online to learn more.

The City of Ballarat’s draft Growth Areas Framework Plan is now available for community consultation following the council’s recent May Planning Delegated Committee Meeting.  

The document will guide the long-term growth of Ballarat’s future growth areas by outlining the required infrastructure and preferred sequencing for future Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) preparation.

The areas identified for future growth are geographically described as the Western and North Western growth areas.

The next growth area to be developed is the Northern Growth Area, for which the Victorian Planning Authority is currently developing the Precinct Structure Plan.  

This plan accommodates for 50 per cent of greenfield development, as previously outlined in the Ballarat Strategy 2040.

The Growth Areas Framework Plan will become a blueprint for the city’s future growth and is supported by many technical studies such as:

• Engineering servicing strategy
• Community infrastructure assessment
• Retail assessment  

It will advise how the Precinct Structure Plans should be sequenced, infrastructure requirements of each area, greenfield land supply, urban development objectives and key growth actions.  

As Victoria’s third largest city, Ballarat will continue to play an important role in the State’s economic and cultural growth, contributing significant investment and vibrancy to the region.

Ballarat is growing rapidly due to its proximity to Melbourne and the many economic, social and cultural opportunities that the area presents.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said this Framework Plan is a key document addressing the city’s future long-term greenfield growth.

“The future Western and North-Western Growth areas represent an essential part of the City of Ballarat’s long-term growth strategy,” he said.  

“The Growth Areas Framework Plan will ensure that Ballarat remains a regional city with its own unique identity.”  

The full Growth Areas Framework Plan and supporting documents can be found at the City of Ballarat’s MySay page and the community’s feedback is being welcomed until Friday 31 May 2024.  

The community can also attend in person sessions:

• Tuesday 21 May 2024 4.00pm – 6.00pm, for the general public.
• Tuesday 21 May 2024 6.00pm – 7.30pm, for landowners.

When Dr Matt Boon from Prime Livestock Veterinary Services put his hand up to work on emergency animal disease outbreaks, he did it with the bigger picture in mind.

“As advocates for the Australian livestock industry, livestock vets like me have a moral obligation to step up and give a hand,” he said.

Matt operates a mobile livestock service in the north-east and signed up to join Agriculture Victoria’s Emergency Veterinary Response Team last year.

In February, Matt was deployed to support an emergency anthrax response and worked alongside a team of animal health and welfare staff to vaccinate livestock for anthrax in the Shepparton region.

“I came away from the experience with a deeper insight into what goes into an emergency disease response and the challenges that come with managing an outbreak.

“It was very different work to what private vets are usually doing day-to-day on farms. It was rewarding to work alongside government vets and to better understand the role they play for the industry,” Matt said.

To respond to the challenges of future emergency animal disease outbreaks, Agriculture Victoria believes we need more private vets like Matt to be part of the puzzle.

“I’d encourage other private vets out there to get involved! If you can spare the time, there’s nothing to lose and so much to gain. I’m certainly glad I put my hand up to be involved,” Matt said.

Casual employment is now available as an emergency response veterinary officer and veterinary businesses can sign up via service level agreements.

Agriculture Victoria is currently promoting signing on as a chance for private sector vets to share their expertise, learn new skills and help protect our agricultural sector and communities.

Image: Agriculture Victoria

A new outdoor play space has been completed at Gisborne’s Manna Gum Family and Children’s
Centre, providing more outdoor learning and fun for local pre-schoolers.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas MP, officially opened the new playground earlier this month.

The new community asset has been funded by a Victorian School Building Authority Building Blocks Refurbishment and Minor Works grant of $360,000.

It extends the existing play spaces and features nature-based play elements, a sculpture of ‘Bunjil the Creator’ (a wedge-tailed eagle), a stage for performances, and a yarning circle, alongside traditional play equipment.

“A key priority area in our Municipal Early Years Plan … is that children’s needs are recognised in infrastructure and the built environment,” said Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss.

“A key theme of this is to actively seek and respond to opportunities for children to play, explore, solve problems, communicate, think, create and construct.

“This fantastic new outdoor space definitely ticks those boxes and will ensure a nature-based learning
environment where children can play, learn, grow and thrive for many years to come.”

Registrations are currently open for 2025 across the council’s eight kindergartens with families encouraged to register before 31 May.

“Demand for our kindergartens can be high, so we encourage families to register by this date to have the best chance of being offered a place,” Ms Weiss said.

Those who register by 31 May will go into a draw to win a six-month family swim pass or 12 months (four terms) of swimming lessons at Gisborne or Kyneton aquatic centres.

After winning Best Folk Work at the 2023 Music Victoria Awards, local singer-songwriter Lucy Wise is making her first visit to Palais-Hepburn this Friday, May 24 to launch her new EP, ‘Yearning’.

Lucy’s natural singing and warm stage presence have captivated audiences across Australia, NZ, the US and the UK. Her distinctive vocal sound and instrumental backing draw on acoustic, traditional folk, roots and pop musical influences.

Lucy describes in rich detail what it’s like to live in the world at this particular time, weaving a strong sense of place into her music.

This EP explores yearning in its many forms. How it shows up when we lose someone, when we’re not loved back, when we’re dreaming of our future, or on a walk in the rain. Yearning has frequented Lucy’s songs, and traditional folk songs Lucy grew up singing. Perhaps yearning is always somewhere deep in us – even during moments of joy, a part of us longs for that joy to last, or to come back.

More details can be found on the venue’s website.

Tomorrow, May 20, marks the seventh annual World Bee Day, and this year’s focus is on the vital role bees play in global food production.

When Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers says while many people have some understanding of the importance of bees, most don’t know the true extent to which we depend on bees for the food we eat every day.

“Most people know bees play a role in food production, but few know the sheer scale of their contribution,” Ms Chambers said.

“Here in Australia, at least 53 crops rely to some extent on bees.”

These include almonds, avocados, apples, berries, stone fruit and carrot, but also oilseeds such as canola, and legumes like clover and lucerne that feed farm livestock.

“Often when you sit down for dinner, the whole plate will have some link to bees.”

This year World Bee Day will see a host of events and activities taking place in communities across Australia, focused on the 2024 theme – Celebrating bees and their vital role in global food production systems.

“There are lots of ways to get involved, whether it’s joining a webinar, visiting a farmers’ market, taking part in a community gardening session or simply talking to friends and family about the importance of bees,” Ms Chambers said.

A first for this year’s calendar is the Great Bee Morning Tea.

Communities, schools and businesses are encouraged to show their support for Australia’s beekeepers by hosting a morning tea with cakes, cookies and other sweet treats all made with 100 % pure Australian honey.

“Beyond the honey they produce, beekeepers deliver vital pollination services to some of our biggest crops,” Ms Chambers said.

“By buying 100 % Australian honey you are not only supporting Australian beekeepers but the many Australian businesses that rely upon them.”

As part of the World Bee Day festivities, The Wheen Bee Foundation has again partnered with the Australian Farmers’ Markets Association for the Bring Your Buzz campaign, which encourages people to wear yellow to their local farmers’ markets and buy food from producers who value the role bees play in their production.

Celebrations at farmers’ markets run from Saturday 18 May to Sunday 26 May.

Anyone interested in hosting an event for World Bee Day was encouraged to register their event for free online at the World Bee Day website.

The state government says it’s delivering on a key promise of the landmark Housing Statement, with more support for Victorian renters in the Macedon electorate experiencing rental stress.

Minister for Consumer Affairs Gabrielle Williams has launched the $7.8 million Rental Stress Support Package, which will support organisations across the state to deliver a range of services to renters experiencing rental stress.

Around 5 per cent of Victorian households are facing serious rental stress, with demand increasing for organisations that provide information and advice, financial counselling, advocacy and legal assistance to Victorian renters.

The Rental Stress Support Package is expected to help families stay in their homes and prevent homelessness, and builds on the Housing Statement commitment to back the critical work of community organisations addressing the high demand for rental assistance we know is being seen across Victoria.

The organisations receiving funding are Anglicare Victoria, Launch Housing, Justice Connect, Housing for the Aged Action Group, Child and Family Services Ballarat, South East Community Links, Quantum Support Services and Mallee Family Care.

Tenants Victoria was also selected in partnership with local not-for-profit organisations ARC Justice, Barwon Community Legal Service, Peninsula Community Legal Centre and WEstjustice.