Crime Stoppers Victoria and Victoria Police this month launched their new bushfire campaign ‘You light It, you own It. – any spark can start a fire’.

The campaign asks the community to consider the consequences of their actions and to help prevent fires from occurring during the Fire Danger Period.

It is targeted at both accidental and reckless fires caused on high fire risk days by out-of-control burn-offs, re-ignition from burn-offs, maintenance activities (cutting, grinding, welding, unattended campfires/bonfires), and operation of equipment and machinery including mowers, slashers and tractors.

To help develop the campaign, the CFA Fire Investigation team worked alongside the Victoria Police Arson & Explosives Squad and Crime Stoppers Victoria. This included providing technical information and statistics about causes of fire contained in CFA’s Fire Trend Report on the ‘Causation of vegetation fires during the 2022-23 Fire Danger Period’. 

This fire causation data and statistics from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change was used to develop the messaging. The messaging will be communicated through a range of media, including Eastlink electronic signage.

Further details about the campaign are available on the Crime Stoppers Victoria website.

More than 100 firefighters battled a grassfire at Thornhill Park earlie this month (6 December).

The CFA was called to the grassfire spreading in a paddock on Iramoo Circuit at 6.38pm.

The 300m by 100m fire was spreading in a northerly direction towards Thornhill Park.

CFA issued a Watch and Act message calling on residents directly next to the grassland to move two or more streets away from the fire.

Water bombing aircraft attended to assist with the firefighting effort.

CFA Commander David Clancy said a local wind change made the firefight more challenging.

“Crews did well to stop the spread of the fire and were able to bring the fire under control just after 8.30pm,” David said.

“No assets were lost thanks to the great effort by all the CFA and FRV firefighters on the ground, with support from the water aircraft above.”

The fire was contained to an area of around 800m by 200m which is approximately 13 hectares. 

The scene was declared safe at 9.38pm and crews remained on scene for some time blacking out.

The cause of the fire is being investigated today.

CFA had 29 vehicles on scene supported by FRV crews.

The VOGA Cycle Club will be holding a beginner cyclists class on Thursday, 29 February starting
at 10am at the Creswick Band Rotunda in Albert Street, Creswick.

VOGA (Villages of the Old Goldfields Association) Cycle Club is an incorporated body made up of a passionate group of cycle enthusiasts based in and around Creswick. Members ride road, gravel and dirt, on all kinds of bikes.

The VOGA Cycle Club has been successfully running regular rides for casual adult cyclists for the last five years and currently has twenty-two members, the club’s Ray Martin says.

Over this period, these adult cyclists have become experienced riders, greatly increased their physical fitness and their ability, particularly in the distances that can now be easily ridden.

The Club is now aiming to increase the number of casual adult riders in Hepburn Shire and surrounding districts

The club’s new beginner cyclist class will be free to any casual adult cyclist, or intended cyclist, and after a safety inspection and set-up of the bicycle, a short and supervised ride around Creswick will be conducted.

The VOGA Cycle Club welcomes both conventional and electric bikes and if you currently do not own a bicycle, the club can arrange for a bike, either conventional or electric, to try out on 29 February.

Those intending to attend this class will be required, by law, to have an approved cycling helmet. Inquiries regarding the new upcoming beginner cyclist class can be made to: Ray Martin, phone/text 0409 388 222, or email to stepleigh@outlook.com online.

Phillip Island members have celebrated the new and improved Phillip Island Fire Station at the official opening held last weekend.

The brigade was joined by CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan, Deputy Chief Officer South East Trevor Owen and Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale MP, representing the Minister for Emergency Services, at the opening. 

The $3.275 million facility replaces the former station built in 1962, which no longer met the needs of the growing brigade. 

The brigade’s 59 members will enjoy brand new facilities including a large engine bay to house the brigade’s four vehicles, a purpose-built meeting room with training resources, modern kitchen and two offices. 

Phillip Island Captain Lino Drazzi said the new station was “state-of-the-art”. 

“We’re certainly in a location now that is more accessible, especially in the busier times, to get to different parts of the island,” Lino said. 

“We’re also closer to the newer estates which will help protect the local community.” 

Lino, who has been with the brigade for 22 years and Captain since July this year, said Phillip Island brigade had outgrown the old station thanks to a booming membership. 

“Training can now be done onsite which is great for our growing brigade,” he said. 

Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said he was pleased to be part of the new station opening in Phillip Island. 

“The station’s new facilities will help this growing brigade continue to volunteer their time protecting lives and property,” CO Heffernan said. 

The original Phillip Island station was in the main street and opened in 1937 before the brigade moved in 1975.   

The new station was jointly funded by the 2019-20 Emergency Services Local Infrastructure Program and the brigade.    

Creswick’s Calembeen Parkrun crew are inviting everyone to get along and help celebrate the new park run’s first anniversary on site at the town’s Calembeen Park on Saturday, 20 January at 8am.

Since the weekly park run started in January 2023, over 750 people have participated in it with eighty people volunteering their time to make it happen under the guidance and support of local run directors Adam Crutchfield, Michael Parker and Chrissy Austin.

Like other Parkruns nation-wide and beyond, the new local Parkrun is volunteer led and run and free for everyone to participate in.

Chrissy says they’re always looking for more volunteers and also participants to run or walk the course.

The run’s directors are inviting everyone to roll up with their runners at the ready a a Saturday morning at 7.45am to walk or run the 5km course – or offer to help out with one of the many simple tasks such as time-keeping, barcode scanning or marshalling on the course.

The Boer War Memorial statue that has stood proudly in Ballarat’s Sturt Street for 117 years is slated for replacement.

Comprehensive assessment of the memorial, officially opened on 1 November 1906, revealed its foundations are beyond repair and will require a full replacement.

The Boer War Memorial commemorates the people from Ballarat who served in the Boer War from 1899 to 1902 and is listed on the Victorian War Heritage Inventory.

The statue is the work of successful and innovative sculptor James White and depicts a soldier on horseback rescuing a fellow soldier, is about three-quarter life size and stands on a considerable plinth in the Sturt Street Gardens.

It was last removed for restoration in 1984, while some remedial works were also carried out on site in 2020.

Specialised radiographic surveys and videoscope investigations have revealed extensive and severe corrosion in critical locations and it has been deemed the statue is beyond repair.

Often mistaken for being made of bronze, the imposing sculpture is constructed from beaten copper with a hessian and plaster core. This form of work is less resilient than bronze work. 

Other similar works completed by James White installed in sites across Australia have deteriorated in a similar fashion and have been replaced with like-for-like in bronze.

The current memorial will be offered to the estate of James White when it is deaccessioned.

It will be replaced by a permanent bronze statue, appearing almost identical to the original.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the replacement could not be avoided and was necessary to ensure the statue remained in place for future generations.

“The memorial, which is a much-photographed homage, has pride of place in the heart of Sturt Street and is of historical and aesthetic significance to Ballarat,” he said.

“Unfortunately, further restoration of the memorial was not possible as it was only going to continue degrading internally.

“It is vital that the replacement statue can be constructed to as similar likeness as possible to ensure it remains an integral monument in the heart of Ballarat.

“Bravery and mateship are beautifully captured in the memorial and these are values that we continue to cherish.”

The $285,000 project is supported by a $50,000 grant from the State Government’s Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour grant program.

The City of Ballarat has released tender documents seeking quotations for the removal of the current work and deaccession of the original to create and install a full like-for-like replacement at the original site in the 200s block of Sturt Street, between Lydiard and Armstrong streets.

Tender applications close on 31 January, 2024 and the City of Ballarat anticipates the successful artist will be awarded in March.

Further timeline details will be provided upon the awarding of the tender.

Second Hand News, the band that presented three sell out shows (Fleetwood Mac & Kate Bush) are promising to bring “one hell of a New Year’s Eve party” to The Palais, with a specially curated night of solid gold Studio 54 dance floor hits.

Studio 54 was the giddy epicenter of 70s hedonism, a disco hothouse of the most eccentric characters where anything went. Think plunging necklines, big hair, big jewelry, big personalities, the sound of sequins and the tinkling of whiskey and Champagne glasses as the local venue prepares to usher in 2024.

Second Hand News recreates the experience of seeing Fleetwood Mac in their heyday. Made up of veteran local musicians (Melissa Brausch, Josh Chicoine, Mike Holtz, Dan Ingenthron, Mike Vanier, and Lindsay Weinberg), the band features spot-on vocal harmonies, careful attention to detail, and electric live shows.

DJ Rich will also be on hand later in the evening right through to 2am, January 1, ’24 to take guests to the world of turntables and the 7” 45rpm vinyl single….from the dawn of the pop era in the 50’s and 60’s, rock classics to Motown soul, 70’s disco, 80’s new wave and old school hip hop.

Rich has done recent DJ sets at Dark Mofo, guest DJ to both John Farnham and Missy Higgins at the Botanical Gardens, Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival, Panama Festival in Tasmania + more.

Tickets are limited and there’s prizes for ‘Best Dressed’.

Victorians will now have access to a range of education materials to better understand warnings for bushfires, floods, storms and extreme heat.

The Australian Warning System (AWS) education initiative launched earlier this week, and includes information on different hazard icons, warning levels and action statements to help the community understand what they need to do to stay safe in response to emergencies.

The three warning levels (advice, watch and act and emergency warning) are the same for bushfires, floods, storms and extreme heat.

The community education initiative features well-known ABC presenter, Justine Clarke, and the voice of Chilli from children’s TV show Bluey, Melanie Zanetti. It includes videos, story books, audio books, posters, social media content, radio advertisements.

It has been developed by Emergency Management Victoria, on behalf of Victoria’s emergency services. This follows the national implementation of the Australian Warning System coordinated by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC).

EMV has worked with emergency service agencies to ensure materials are fit for purpose, with a key focus on distribution across the state – particularly in high-risk areas.

Summer gatherings in the great outdoors are celebrated in PICNIC, a new exhibition at Bendigo’s Living Arts Space.

Launched last month, PICNIC is at the Living Arts Space located in the Bendigo Visitor Centre and runs through to Sunday February 4, 2024. 

The Living Arts Space is in the Bendigo Visitor Centre, 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo and is open daily (except Christmas Day).

Visitor Services Manager Felicity Martin says the exhibition captures picnic themes with contributions from a ceramist, a jeweller, a textile designer and two painters. 

“PICNIC is a free exhibition that invites you to soak up the colour, warmth, and mirth of the summer season and celebrate gatherings in the great outdoors,” Ms Martin said.

“Such diverse practices from five local creatives make for a visually inspiring installation with predictable and unpredictable interpretations of the theme, just like a real-life picnic with family and friends.”

Lisa Kearns is a jeweller and object maker who repurposes anodised aluminium objects into exciting new jewellery and sculpture. 

Libby Noblet is a textile screen printer who works with pigments and layering of colour to create bright captivating patterns. Katie Jacobs is a ceramist who created functional objects that often contain humorous social commentary. 

Karen Holland works with oil paint to capture light and objects descriptive of place and Selby Ginn is a multimedia artist, thematically exploring through colour and texture. 

The community is invited to attend the official opening on Friday November 24 from 5pm to 7pm at the Living Arts Space. No booking is required. 

During the January school holidays, the Living Arts Space will be running summer and picnic-themed workshops for children. 

These workshops will be facilitated by some of the artists from the PICNIC exhibition and other local Bendigo creatives. 

To celebrate the new exhibition, Bendigo Visitor Centre has created a range of Uniquely Bendigo picnic hampers with delicious local foods made by artisans and producers from the gastronomy region. 

The picnic hampers and the Uniquely Bendigo range provide Christmas gift ideas that support local businesses. 

The City of Ballarat’s Neighbourhood Parks Program has now reached a significant milestone after being launched in July this year.

The rolling program received 165 responses to a survey that will be used to understand how the spaces are being used, and how the people that use the spaces feel it could be improved. From this feedback, site analysis and concept designs will be developed and then discussed with the residents.  

Following this, workshops will be held with residents to collaboratively design the improvements to the local parks.  

City of Ballarat Councillor, Ben Taylor said designing parks with the main user’s feedback is really important.  

“These parks are now to be shaped by the people that use them daily, this will improve their experiences in these open spaces nearby their homes,” he said.  

“Parks for the Neighbourhood Parks program are selected based on need and location throughout the city, and improvements are intended to improve amenity, usability, connection and more.”  

This year’s program included seven parks from across the municipality, the Gregory Street Park and Drummond Street Reserve received the most survey feedback in this round.

The parks receiving upgrades are:  

• Yarana Drive Park, Yarana Drive, Mount Helen.  
• Victoria Street Reserve, 63 Victoria Street, Sebastopol.  
• Kowree Crescent Reserve, 14-16 Kowree Crescent, Sebastopol.
• Drummond Street Reserve, 311 Drummond Street North, Ballarat Central.
• Clover Street Reserve, 9-13 Clover Street, Wendouree.  
• Gregory Street Reserve, 514 Gregory Street, Soldiers Hill.  
• Marigold Street Reserve, 12-14 Aster Street, Wendouree.

The Gregory Street Reserve in Soldiers Hill received the most feedback from residents, with the majority of survey respondents using the space to walk their dog, or for children to use the play space.  

People that provided feedback at this reserve expressed desire to have the fencing improved, and to explore the potential for improved facilities, such a picnic area and updated play equipment.     

The concept designs will feature native plantings, seating, new playground, increased tree planting and barrier planting to provide visual separation for pets and children.  

The reserve in Mount Helen, Yarana Drive received more than 20 responses, with varying feedback, however improved play equipment was the most common response with picnic shelter, basketball ring and footpaths also being important to the residents.

This reserve will benefit from engagement with children of all ages, to determine how play equipment can work for all, such as a basketball court, swing sets, and bike paths and more.  

Drummond Street Reserve, which is only as big as the neighbouring house blocks received the third highest number of responses to this survey.  

Users of this small reserve overwhelmingly attend the park with their children or as a walk-through area. Over half of the responses suggested improved play equipment and amenities would be beneficial to the park.  

The concept design to be prepared will include features such as a sealed path through the reserve connecting the two streets together, removal of the old play-space and installation of nature themed play facilities, increased plantings and more seating.  

Tenders have been released for a contractor to construct the trail from Victoria Park to Morshead Park along the Ballarat’s busy Sutton Street.  

As the population of Ballarat grows and more people participate in recreation outdoors, the City of Ballarat is committed to providing better connections for active transport.

This is the first stage of a trails and connection project that will eventually include connections to Doug Dean Reserve and a loop trail around Morshead Park along Rubicon Street, Pleasant Street and Bell Street.

The stage one connection will be close to 1.2 kilometres and will provide safe access to the open spaces of Victoria Park and Morshead Park.  

The shared path will be 2.5 metres wide, to allow for a wide range of users to use the trail.  

Along with the trail, the project will include planting of more than 150 trees, more than 200 plants and a few thousand ground cover plants, improved accessibility to bus stops and additional seating at nine separate locations.

Signage, pram crossings, seating and vehicle barriers will also be installed.  

Some benefits of the Trails and Connections Project include:  

• Safer and accessible shared path connections for walking, cycling and running.  
• Increases the connectivity of the off-road shared path network in Ballarat.  
• Provides opportunities for active and passive recreation to further achieve positive health outcomes.
• Easy to navigate linkages between key open spaces.

Improved tree canopy and improved biodiversity between open space areas.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson (above) said trails like this provide easy access to open spaces and outdoor destinations in Redan and Delacombe.  

“This connection aims to create safe and healthy connections for cyclists, walkers, runners and pedestrians between our reserves and parks”, he said.

“We will also have raised pedestrian crossings, when possible, at intersections along the route to create safer road crossings for all users.

“Sutton Street is a busy street, and being able to provide a safe corridor for our active transport users is a great outcome.”  

Progress on the Creswick Trails project has hit a major milestone with around 30 kilometres of trails completed and the project expected to be completed in December next year, the council says in a prepared statement.

Hepburn Shire mayor Cr Brian Hood says he was pleased to see the project meet such an important milestone, but had a few words of caution to add as well.

“There are no completed trail areas that are currently ready to ride,” Cr Hood said.

“We understand the excitement that surrounds this project and the desire to have parts of it open early, but it’s important to be patient and to stay off the trails until they are officially open,” said Cr Hood.

“We have looked at ways of having a staged opening of trails, but this is not currently possible given the site is a construction zone and we need to ensure public safety. However, we will continue to look at options of how we can possibly open a portion of the trail before the entire trails are complete,” he said.

“Accessing the construction area and the partially completed trails could damage the trails or place you or our construction crews in danger.”

The trailhead for the Creswick Trails, Hammon Park, is open for use.The trailhead is home to three lines of cycling jumps, pump track, learn to ride area, BBQ area, play area, rope climbing tower, parking and toilets, including a shower and Changing Place accessible amenities block.

“In the coming months we will be looking to name some of the trails within the Creswick Trails network. We will reach out to the community with more information on this shortly,” said Cr Hood.

The council has engaged independent experts to oversee parts of the construction process to ensure the trails are built in line with cultural, ecological and heritage controls. The council says it’s been able to minimise impact through careful siting of built trails within the approved trail alignment. Where possible, the edges of new trails are revegetated with soil from the site to take advantage of the seed bank and to replace ground cover. 

The most challenging of the jumps at Hammon Park, the whale tail, remains closed to the public. We understand that it has been closed for some time and that is disappointing, however the closure is to provide time for this very challenging element to be assessed and reviewed for safety. We ask for your continued patience while we work with contractors.

As Victorians fill their stockings this festive season, firefighters are urging caution about popular Christmas gifts.

Fire Rescue Victoria Acting Deputy Commissioner Gavin Rooney said he was expecting that many items under the tree this year would contain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries – which could pose a fire risk.

“Lithium-ion batteries can be found in everything from e-bikes and e-scooters to toys, power tools and phones,” Deputy Commissioner Rooney said.

“While these products make our lives easier and have many positive environmental and social impacts, they occasionally can and do catch alight, especially if overcharged or not treated properly.”

“In the past three months, Victorian firefighters have been responding to lithium-ion battery fires almost every day, and this trend is only expected to increase as more rechargeable batteries make their way into our homes.”

“Within the past month, in fact, FRV firefighters attended three major house fires across Melbourne linked to e-bikes and e-bike chargers.”

“In each case, the properties were significantly damaged or destroyed by the fires, and it is lucky that nobody was injured.”

“It is crucial that people only buy products from reputable suppliers, use the charger supplied with the device and charge items outdoors or in rooms with smoke alarms.”

Country Fire Authority Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Paul Carrigg said it was important people never modified or tampered with their battery, as this could cause it to overheat.

“Lithium-ion batteries are energy-dense and contain chemicals,” ACFO Carrigg said. “When these batteries overheat they can release toxic and highly flammable gases.”

“Stop using or charging the product if you notice strong odours, extreme heat, change in shape, leaking or unusual sounds. Leave the area and call Triple Zero (000) immediately.”

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery safety tips:

• Purchase products from reputable suppliers. 
• Only use chargers and cords that are supplied with the device. 
• Don’t modify or tamper with the batteries and the appliances they power. 
• Don’t leave batteries charging in direct sunlight or for longer than they need to.
• Only charge batteries on non-combustible surfaces in a room where a smoke alarm is present. 
• Don’t use batteries or devices that show signs of swelling, bulging, leaking or overheating.
• Don’t charge items close to a door, which would block your exit if the item did catch fire.

A request to the Minister for Planning to remove the Lancefield Development Plan Overlay, which
would have “simplified development requirements” for affected landowners, has been declined.

The request to remove the Development Plan Overlay Schedule 24 (DPO24) from the Macedon
Ranges Planning Scheme was submitted in April 2023 following a resolution by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

In reviewing the application, the minister acknowledged that DPO24 was introduced to provide
certainty and guidance for landowners, and coordination and conformity of residential development in
the three development areas of Lancefield.

In addition, its introduction occurred via a statutory process that included public exhibition; that
provided an opportunity for interested parties to make submissions and to have their views
considered by an independent planning panel.

In declining the request, the minister explained that the removal of DPO24 may give rise to potential
risks associated with land being developed in an uncoordinated manner and create further difficulties
for residential development to take place.

Director Planning and Environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said the council was disappointed with the
outcome.

“We have worked closely with impacted residents and listened to their concerns and frustrations with
the current planning overlay,” she said.

“Council will continue to work with the affected landowners on future options for development in the
area.”

Kyneton police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash in Lancefield on Saturday (December 9).

Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash on Notmans Lane, near Shannons Road, about 12.30am.

Police believe the silver Ford Ranger lost control and crashed into a culvert and then into a concrete bridge.

The driver, a 53-year-old Lancefield man, died at the scene.

Three passengers, a 44-year-old Clarkfield woman, a 53-year-old Lancefield woman, and a 35-year-old Clarkefield man, were all still in hospital as at the last public report issued by police on Sunday.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, with dashcam footage or information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website.