Local youth aged between 15 and 25 are being encouraged to participate in the City of Ballarat’s Biodiversity Youth Forum this Saturday.

This Saturday, October 21, people in this age group can get directly involved in the conversation at the forum being held at the Warrenheip Hall from 10am to 4pm.  

The forum is seeking the views of our youngest community members to identify priority areas for the next five years to improve the health and safety of our environment.  

Forum participants will review previous community feedback, identify priority areas and discuss ways that our youth can help the environment.

City of Ballarat Councillor Belinda Coates said this is an important community consultation and our young people are best placed to determine our priorities.

“We need the passion, skills and knowledge of our youngest community members to determine the future of biodiversity in our region,” she said.

“They are the custodians of the environment and represent the next generation of leaders who will shape our future.

“I encourage our youth to get involved and share your views to make sure that we take the right steps to improve the health of our environment.”

Forum participants will explore the feedback gathered so far from a range of community conversations about the natural environment and how we can better manage it.

The Biodiversity Strategy will align with the Council Plan 2021-2025 goal to ‘develop policy guidance on biodiversity and natural resources management’ and supports the Ballarat Strategy 2040.

Forum participants will be financially compensated for their time, with limited spaces available and registration essential. Those keen to participate can register interest for the Youth Forum event by emailing sustainableenvironment@ballarat.vic.gov.au.

Feedback will help to inform the Draft Biodiversity Strategy which is expected to go before the council for consideration later this year. 

A countback to fill an extraordinary vacancy on Macedon Ranges Shire Council for South Ward will be held online at 10 am on Monday 13 November. The vacancy is due to the resignation of councillor Anne Moore.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) will hold a countback of all formal votes from the 2020 Macedon Ranges Shire Council, South Ward election to fill the vacancy. Votes will be redistributed to candidates who were unsuccessful in 2020 but are still eligible to be elected.

The countback is based on the proportional representation method of counting, which means candidates must achieve a proportion of votes known as a quota.

“The candidate who gets the quota will be elected. If no candidate reaches the quota, the candidate with the highest number of countback votes will be elected,” Election Manager Kathy Georgiou said.

A link to join the countback will be available from 9:30 am on Monday 13 November at vec.vic.gov.au

Candidates and other interested parties can watch the countback.

The result will be published online at vec.vic.gov.au

Work at Daylesford’s Central Springs Reserve starts this week to prepare the site for the drilling of a new mineral springs bore.

The new bore will extend to a depth of around 50 metres to provide more reliable and safe mineral drinking water at the popular reserve. The current bores at Central Springs Reserve are about nine metres deep.

“High-quality mineral water is a major drawcard for visitors to our Shire and is enjoyed by plenty of local residents,” said Council’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Bruce Lucas.

“Central Highlands Water tests the water quality each fortnight and Council closes access to the pumps if readings do not meet requirements. Hydrogeologists engaged by Council have advised that a deeper aquifer would produce more consistent water quality for years to come,” he said.

Over the coming weeks there will be vehicles at the reserve to prepare the site for the drilling equipment. Pedestrian access to the reserve will be impacted throughout October and early November while works are underway, which will be clearly delineated onsite.

The three mineral springs pumps at the reserve will be closed in late October while the drilling is underway. The closest alternative pumps are Sutton Spring approximately 500 metres northwest of Central Springs (along Dry Diggings Track, adjacent to the creek) or Wombat Flat Spring on the southeast bank of Lake Daylesford (off King Street).

Three new pumps will be installed in early 2024 as part of a broader redevelopment of the reserve in line with stage one of the reserve masterplan, which was based on widespread community consultation in 2021.

Along with new mineral springs pumps, the works will include improvements to Wombat Creek, beautification of Hard Hills Spring, installation of new park furniture, landscaping and connecting pathways. Budget pending, the picnic and shelter area and works to highlight the historic hydropower pump infrastructure may also be included.

The council plans to consider the contract for the stage one works its ordinary meeting in December.

“In the short term, there will be some impact on reserve users while preparation works and drilling are underway. We aim to minimise the disruption during this time, but some areas will be temporarily closed to pedestrians between the carpark at Fulcher Street and the reserve while works are carried out,” Mr Lucas said.

“We appreciate the support of the community during this time and look forward to delivering this project for the Shire.”

A man who is believed to have tried to rob a muffin cafe in Daylesford has wound up dead on the side of the road.

The body of the man was discovered yesterday by an early morning walker in the gutter on Bridport Street in Daylesford. 

Police said the man suffered serious injuries and died on the side of the road.

It was believed the man had just attempted to rob a nearby cafe.

“Pretty terrifying, this gentleman has obviously just come in thinking he could get some money,” a cafe employee said.

The muffin shop had only just changed hands and the new owner was working inside at the time.

“She would have been there making the food, muffins and things,” the employee said.

Police are investigating the circumstances around the man’s death.

Victoria Police is urging the community to dispel commonly held beliefs about family violence and understand the realities, amid a rise in the number of incidents being recorded statewide.

Family violence is a crime that affects all communities and doesn’t discriminate, with police continuing to respond to a high volume of family violence incidents every year across the state.

Figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show the number of family violence incidents has risen by 2.8 per cent in the year to June 2023.

There were 93115 family violence incidents recorded in Victoria. On average, a Victoria Police officer responds to one family violence incident every six minutes.

Family violence takes many forms and is not just about physical violence. It includes coercive and controlling behaviour, threats, intimation, isolation, financial control and psychological and sexual abuse.

There are many myths that are used to downplay the seriousness of family violence – such as that it’s a gender, class or culture issue – but this is not true.

Family violence occurs among all types of families, regardless of gender, sexuality, income, profession, culture, ethnicity, religious or socio-economic background.

Some myths suggest that if a person is in danger and hasn’t left the situation then it can’t be that bad. The fact is – there are many reasons that make it hard for people to leave and the risk of harm to the victim and their children is much higher after they leave the violent environment.

Family violence also affects children in many different ways. Seeing violent behaviour can have significant impacts on children, including potential consequences for friendships and relationships, as well as participation in social and community life.

Victoria Police has progressively specialised its response to family violence – in recognition of the risk and complexity that these incidents pose – and earlier this month issued a media statement calling on the community to understand the seriousness of the crime to help prevent it from occurring.

Police have established an enhanced investigative approach to family violence with the creation of 31 Family Violence Investigation Units (FVIUs), as well as enforce intervention orders to ensure victim safety and hold perpetrators to account.

Police not only provide safety for victims who make a report, they also refer them to support services, so they get the assistance they need.

Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing safesteps@safesteps.org.au

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can’t get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you. Victoria Police is here to support you.

Quotes attributable to Family Violence Command Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway

“Family violence continues to be a significant source of harm to the Victorian community – with our frontline police continuing to respond to an increasing number of family violence criminal incidents every year.

“We’re urging the community to please dispel any commonly held beliefs about family violence and understand the realities, because it’s a crime that doesn’t discriminate and takes many forms.

“There is no single type of family violence incident. Family violence is also not just about physical violence, but also includes coercive and controlling behaviour, and demeaning comments.

“If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of experiencing family violence, please seek help from police or a support service. At Victoria Police, we believe you and we will take action to protect you and your loved ones.”

Ballarat area residents are being encouraged to spring clean their homes and safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals with the free ‘Detox your Home’ event taking place this Saturday.

Held in partnership with the City of Ballarat, the Sustainability Victoria household collection event provides the community with an opportunity to dispose of chemicals without harming your health or the environment.

‘Detox your Home’ will be held on Saturday 21 October from 9am to 2pm at the City of Ballarat’s Operations and Environment depot car park at 2 Trewin Street, Wendouree.

Residents are encouraged to register for this free event at sustainability.vic.gov.au/detoxyourhome. Detox your Home is a drive-through and contactless event.

Qualified chemists will sort the chemicals, placing them in sealed drums to be transported to a specialist waste treatment plant.  

Most of the chemicals collected will be recycled or used for suitable purposes. Any chemicals that cannot be repurposed will be treated and safely disposed of.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said household chemicals such as bleach, pesticides, weed killers, cleaning products, cosmetics and cooking oil should never be put in rubbish bins or poured down the drain.

“Disposing of these chemicals responsibly reduces the risk of poisoning to family and pets, it keeps toxic chemicals out of waterways and helps to avoid environmental pollution and fire hazards,” he said.

“The ‘Detox your Home’ event also recycles many of these products, diverting them from going into landfill.”

Detox your Home accepts:

• Acids and alkalis
• Aerosol cans
• Ammonia based cleaners
• Anti-freeze, coolant
• Brake fluid
• Car body filler
• Car care products and waxes
• Cooking oil
• Cosmetics, nail polish and remover
• Detergents, bleach, disinfectants and drain cleaner
• Fertilisers
• Fire extinguishers
• Floor-care products and waxes
• Fuels, including petrol, diesel and kerosene
• Glues, including water-based and solvents
• Hand sanitiser
• Herbicides and weed killers
• Insect spray and pesticides, including rat poison
• Oven cleaner
• Pool chemicals
• Solvents
• Thinners, turps and paint stripper
• Transmission fluid
• Wood preservations and finishes

For a full list of chemicals accepted visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/accepteditems 

Nominations are now open to recognise local people and groups and funding support is available for those planning to hold free Australia Day community events throughout the Macedon Ranges Shire.

To be held on 25 January 2024 at the Kyneton Town Hall, the shire’s 2024 Community Awards acknowledge and celebrate community members and organisations that make significant contributions to our community.

Award categories include:

• Citizen of the Year Award – awarded to an individual of any age who has made a significant contribution to their community in the past calendar year or has demonstrated community service over a period of time.
• Connecting Communities Award – awarded to an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to community life in the shire. This could be physical connections such as the creation of trails, paths, open spaces or infrastructure that enables the community to connect; or social connections that ensure people have access to services and which create a sense of community and belonging.
• Healthy People and Environment Award – awarded to a group or individual who has made a significant contribution in the areas of promoting healthy lifestyles for all ages and abilities, such as supporting mental health, recreation, community safety or arts and culture. It also includes protection of the natural environment such as biodiversity, climate change and waste reduction.
• Business and Tourism Award – awarded to a group or individual who has demonstrated a significant achievement or ongoing community contribution to the economic vitality of the shire, including tourism, agribusiness, small business and local employment.

Nominations are open to people who live, work or study in the Macedon Ranges, with award winners to be announced at the 25 January ceremony, combined with an Australian Citizenship Ceremony.

Community groups can also apply for a grant of up to $1,000. The grants support community groups to hold free events or acknowledgment ceremonies to mark 26 January in a way that is respectful of all community members. Events can be hosted between 19 January – 2 February 2024.

Applications for both the Community Awards and grants close on 30 October.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council says it’s beginning its annual street tree powerline pruning and maintenance program.

The work affects trees on nature strips and various council-owned properties in Kyneton and Gisborne and aims to ensure all street trees in the area are not at risk of coming into contact with powerlines. 

As part of the program, arborists inspect street trees and powerlines to ensure public safety and prevent electricity supply interruptions caused by overhanging vegetation near powerlines. The program is also an important part of the council’s fire prevention works.

All powerline clearance vegetation works comply with the Electricity Safety Act (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2020, which stipulate a minimum safe clearance between trees and power lines and Australian Standard 4373-2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees. In rare cases, pruning for compliance may affect a tree’s overall structure and health, requiring its removal and replacement.

The council is responsible for electric line clearance (ELC) in the ‘Declared Areas’ of Gisborne and Kyneton. Powercor is responsible for ELC in the shire’s remaining ‘Non-Declared Areas’, except in Gisborne South, where Jemena is responsible.

The council’s program will commence in November and be completed in December, weather permitting.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council officers are working with Local Government Victoria and the Victorian Electoral Commission to fill an unanticipated councillor vacancy following the sudden resignation of a local councillor.

The council on Octber 5 had issued a media release advising that Councillor Anne Moore had resigned from her position, effective immediately. Cr Moore (pictured below) has resigned due to health and family reasons.

CEO Bernie O’Sullivan received and acknowledged Cr Moore’s letter of resignation on Wednesday 4 October 2023.

“From myself personally but also on behalf of Council, I would like to acknowledge Cr Moore’s passionate representation and contributions towards the shire and its residents, since being elected to the South Ward in October 2020,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“I thank Cr Moore for her service to our local community and support of the Council team and wish her all the very best.”

Council officers will now work with Local Government Victoria and the Victorian Electoral Commission on the next steps to fill the Councillor vacancy.

The council asks that Anne’s privacy is respected at this time.

Macedon Ranges Shire residents are being encouraged to have a role in shaping the future of Gisborne, New Gisborne and surrounds and to give feedback on the revised draft of the Gisborne Futures Structure Plan.

Currently open for consultation through to Monday 13 November, this plan will guide Gisborne’s development over the next 30 years and will set a protected settlement boundary to protect the surrounding landscape from further outward growth.

The vision is for Gisborne and New Gisborne to become vibrant ‘twin villages’ with plans for future housing, jobs, open space, transport and community services. It aims to make sure new development aligns with local character, landscape and cultural heritage values.

The council’s Director Planning and Environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said New Gisborne had the potential to be an exemplar of sustainable community development with homes, shops and jobs all within walking distance of each other.

“Plans for wide, tree-lined streets and safe walking and cycling paths are designed to encourage residents to leave their cars at home,” she said. “Importantly, a new community hub will be a focal point, providing much-needed gathering spaces and social services”.

This plan has been over five years in the making and along with invaluable contributions from the community, it draws on an extensive amount of research and background work.

“We had a fantastic response from the community when we last consulted on the draft Gisborne Futures plans in 2020,” Ms Stockfeld said. “This led to a list of actions that we have been working through, and we believe it now strikes the right balance between providing more diverse and affordable housing while protecting the surrounding landscapes from outward sprawl.”

The Gisborne Futures project comprises three key planning documents that will guide sustainable growth for the township ─ a structure plan, an urban design framework for the town centre and a neighbourhood character study.

“The draft structure plan is ready for consultation, and work is continuing on the urban design framework and neighbourhood character study in the background,” Ms Stockfeld said. “These will be made available for community feedback once the high-level direction in the structure plan is resolved.”

The consultation period is open for six weeks, to allow ample time for community members and stakeholders to review the plan and provide feedback.

“I encourage residents to have a look at the plan, and to come along to a drop-in session to speak with Council officers and discuss any aspect of the plans,” Ms Stockfeld said. “If you can’t make it to a drop-in session, please call us to arrange a meeting at a time that suits you.”

Drop-in sessions will be held on the following dates:

• Saturday 21 October, Gisborne Village Shopping Centre, 22 Brantome Street, Gisborne, 2–5pm
• Thursday 26 October, Gisborne Community Centre, 8a Hamilton Street, Gisborne, 4–7pm
• Thursday 2 November, Ross Watt Children’s Hall, 252 Station Road, New Gisborne, 4–7pm

Alternatively, visit the Gisborne Administration Centre at 40 Robertson Street, Gisborne on Thursday mornings (10am – 12pm) or Friday afternoons (2:30pm – 4:30pm) during the consultation period.

Feedback can be submitted via an online survey or a written submission.

Those interested can view the draft Gisborne Futures Structure Plan and supporting documents, find information about upcoming drop-in sessions or submit feedback at Have your say: Gisborne Futures Structure Plan.

El Niño
The pundits were right, El Niño is back, along with ‘his’ increased risk of drought, heatwaves, bushfires and coral bleaching.
Recent past events have resulted in warmer than average temperatures across most of the south of the country and in eastern Australia, where nine of the 10 driest winter/spring periods on record were during El Niño years.
And most of the major droughts, including in 1982, 1994, 2002, 2006 and 2015, coincided with El Niños.
Because of reduced rainfall and those temperatures, the risk of a significant fire danger season is much higher after an El Niño year, according to the BOM. Previous examples of this occurred during the summers of 2002-03 and 2006-7. So it’s only reasonable to expect 2024 will be no different.
El Niño has a profound influence on our climate – lower rainfall and higher daytime heat – boosting the chance of risky bushfire seasons.
This one is expected to last until late summer or early autumn. At a press conference to announce the likelihood of El Niño, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Dr Karl Braganza said it would be up to individuals and communities, particularly in the nation’s south-east, to prepare for a summer of fire and heat hazards, but he added that the landscape was not as dry as it had been leading into the catastrophic fires of 2019 and 2020.
Days are hotter on average during El Niño years, especially in southern Australia, due to decreased cloud. In Australia’s south, high-pressure systems move around more during an El Niño, which actually reduces the chances of prolonged warm periods even though overall average temperatures remain high.
But the decrease in insulating cloud cover during El Niño can mean colder nights, increasing the risk of frost damage to crops and gardens already weakened by lessened rainfall.

Drought proof your garden
Start with the ground up as it all begins with a healthy, happy root system. After all they are the plant’s engine room and not just to keep the plants upright but ingenious pumping systems distributing moisture and nourishment throughout the whole plant.
Drought proofing your garden starts with the soil. So improve its structure by adding plenty of organic matter in the form of compost and aged manures, and working it in to the topsoil by forking or digging it over to improve air and water penetration.
Make sure every drop reaches the plants by watering directly onto the soil around their root systems – and the most efficient is by slow, inexpensive and evaporatio-free
trickle hose.
You can hide the hose under a good, thick layer of compost or gravel. Every single drop goes directly to the plants and there’s no wastage. We now have our whole garden covered by a network of inbuilt dripper, plastic hose. Reduce moisture loss from the soil (evaporation), by adding a thick, insulating layer of mulch.
Watering the foliage may cool the plants down briefly after a hot day but it could also encourage fungal problems to develop. Besides, water droplets on some soft leaves may cause burn spots if the heat of the sun is amplified, resulting in the leaves being scorched or burned.
Any of your likely to be heat-affected, pot-grown plants that might suffer from a spell of sunstroke should be moved to a cooler, shady spot at the first sight of wilting. To sum it up, water the roots, not the leaves. Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.com

The City of Ballarat is partnering with a range of community advocate bodies to shine a light on the harm caused by gambling in Ballarat.

As part of Gambling Harm Awareness Week, the Ballarat Gambling Harm Prevention Taskforce will hold a powerful presentation and panel discussion at Ballarat Town Hall tomorrow, Tuesday 17 October.

Featuring an exhibition from creative group Three Sides of the Coin and a panel discussion with people sharing their own lived gambling experiences, the day seeks to highlight the impact gambling has on the community.

The free presentation is the result of a City of Ballarat collaboration with Cafs, Ballarat Community Health, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, and the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House.

This year’s focus is on how to have a conversation with someone whose gambling is becoming a concern.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was important to highlight the harm that gambling was causing people in Ballarat.

“In the 2022/23 financial year, the Ballarat community lost $64.3 million on electronic gaming machines – that’s a staggering amount,” Cr Hudson said.

“Last year the City of Ballarat released a Minimising Gambling Harm Social Policy Position Statement that highlighted a commitment to reducing gambling harm across the municipality, as well as the Gambling Harm Minimisation Policy.

“We acknowledge the regulation of gaming machines primarily rests with the State Government, but we uphold our responsibility to improve community health and wellbeing in striving to lessen harm to the community caused by gambling.

“I encourage people to sign up and attend this event as it promises to be both powerful and informative.”

Cafs CEO, Wendy Sturgess said the partnership with the City of Ballarat was crucial in addressing the harm caused by gambling.

“At Cafs we work with people from right across the community who are impacted by gambling harm in all its forms and every year that number remains stubbornly high,” she said.

“Working with the City of Ballarat to deliver forums such as this gives us a valuable opportunity to educate people about the signs that someone may be experiencing gambling harm and to highlight the services that are available to anyone who needs support.”

Gambling Harm Awareness Week encourages people to talk about the harms associated with gambling and the effects they can have on communities, families, friends, workplaces and individuals. Gambling can affect self-esteem, relationships, physical and mental health, work performance and social life.

The week focuses on personal stories of recovery, which are powerful because they offer a sense of hope and optimism. They also encourage open community discussions that help to reduce stigma, which can be a barrier to help seeking.

To find out more about the event and to register for catering purposes, visit the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House website.  

with Clive Hartley

Party wine
Aglianico and I go back a long way. In my 20s I was asked to ‘bring a bottle’ to parties and this was my ‘go-to’ wine. I took a double magnum. Well, no one said it couldn’t be a big bottle. I still remember the wine, it was D’Angelo Aglianico del Vulture from Basilicata in Southern Italy.
Aglianico is a red grape grown in southern Italy. Del Vulture is a region perched on the side of an extinct volcano (Mount Vulture) in a remote part of Basilicata.
However, aglianico’s most famous region of production is in Campania, in an area called Taurasi. There are similar growing conditions to del Vulture as the soils are volcanic and it is highish in altitude. The grape has some similarities to nebbiolo due to its tannic profile and is known as the thinking person’s Barolo. The 2015 Terredora Fatica Contadina Taurasi is a lovely example. Rich, full-bodied but smooth and well balanced. No fruit here, all earth, mushrooms, leather and black olives. It is in the traditional camp and couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than an ‘old world’ wine. Generally, the wines are built to age with lashings of tannin and natural acidity.
Some other trusted producers of aglianico in Italy are Elena Fucci (Basilicata) Feudi di San Gregorio, Cantine Antonio Caggiano or Mastroberardino all from Campania.
There are suspicions of the grape coming from Greece, a common assumption with southern Italian grapes. However, DNA testing puts it as originating in Spain.
Chalmers were the first to introduce it into Australia in 2001. Chalmers keep their style in the Italian fashion with maturation in a chestnut botte (an Italian term for a large barrel). It seems to go well in the Heathcote region and Chalmers have four different clones planted which they sell to other vineyards. Another recommended aglianico comes from After Five Co from the Barossa Valley. My notes on their 2018 sounds like a new world version of the grape: “Fruitcake, raisins, vibrant black fruits, cola and licorice aromas – dry, full bodied with dry mouth puckering tannins.”
Sutton Grange in Bendigo make a good example and claim to have some of the oldest vines in Australia grown on granite soils. Staying in Victoria, Fighting Gully Road have a good reputation for their aglianico which is sourced from vines grown in the Alpine Valley. Take it to a party and enjoy.

Clive Hartley is an award-winning wine writer, educator and consultant. Want to learn more about wine? Try his Australian Wine Guide (7th ed) from Paradise Books in Daylesford or www.australianwineguide.com.au

G’day! I’m Flynn and I’m just one year old. I am a handsome and very friendly black and tan Dobermann.

I am an easy-going, happy chappy with a beautiful temperament. I’m still very young so I am playful and I need ongoing training for my bright mind.

I am eager to learn and I want to please. I am house trained, dog and cat friendly. Microchip No 991003001938750 Adoption fee $420.

I would love to find my new best human buddy, or buddies, in life. You can make a time to come and meet me at the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare shelter in Castlemaine on 54725277.

By Donna Kelly
I received some mail late last week. Snail mail. A padded envelope. Small. I opened it and inside was a blank piece of A4 paper. Nothing written on it, just a USB stick taped on. Hmmm, I thought. That’s going to be interesting.
And it would have been. But when I opened the document it was marked “confidential” so, of course, I quickly shut it down.
It was a leaked report by the Local Government Inspectorate. Yep, the one on Hepburn Shire Council and dealings with The Rex. And a few other things. The one that the Inspectorate refuses to release but never says why. As in the email I received last week after asking again why the report had not been released.
“Good morning Donna, Again, thank you for your enquiry. Unfortunately, as I mentioned in my previous email two weeks ago, we are unable to share any information at this time.” They are nothing if not polite.
I also talked to Hepburn Shire Council to see if they had asked again for the report to be released – just to clear up a few things. That would be nice, after all this time. CEO Bradley Thomas said the council had been in regular contact with the Local Government Inspectorate regarding the release of the report and “we have been calling for the release for some time – we can’t speculate on the reasons for the delay, but encourage you to contact the LGI directly”.
Now, I don’t know if I can share this document. I feel like it is in the public interest for ratepayers to know what happened with the purchase of The Rex. After all, councils don’t have money, it is our money. And there is the truth defence.
But The Local is not a big newspaper with lots of lawyers and money to back it up. Actually things got a little tight over the past few years. So if I publish it, or excerpts because it is pretty long, and I/The Local get sued, it would probably be the end of your free read. Even if I/The Local eventually won, because the court costs would kill us off. Which is really unfair because the report is probably the best story I have ever had the chance to publish. I reckon it would be a real page-turner. But I will ask people who are smarter than me about that, so watch this space.
But in the meantime, I don’t get why the Local Government Inspectorate is being so cagey. Surely they carried out a report for a reason and if they found something right, or wrong, they would publish that and enforce more regulation if necessary to stop it happening again. I think we all pretty much agree, in hindsight, and maybe in foresight, buying The Rex was not the best idea.
The Local Government Inspectorate has as its motto or charter that it is “Encouraging higher standards of integrity, accountability and transparency in local government”. But where are all of those in the Inspectorate? No one has been held accountable, there is a lack of transparency and until the report is published we don’t know how the integrity went down.
I think the current Hepburn Shire Council and its ratepayers, or shall we call them shareholders, deserve more than this. If the council was a company and it ran a business like this, the shareholders would be up in arms and there would be all sorts of people involved in the integrity, accountability and transparency of those making the business decisions.
The whole Rex debacle was a huge waste of money and has caused financial ripples across the shire and is not over yet. Bleakley Street units anyone? But if the report is never released isn’t that just another huge waste of money? Again, our money. (Oh, full disclosure, I may have taken a little peek.) Just sayin’…