The federal transport minister, Member for Ballarat Catherine King has announced the appointment of Air Marshall (Ret’d) Melvin Hupfeld (pictured above) AO DSC and Ms Nicolle Connelly to the board of Airservices Australia.

The appointment of Mr Hupfeld recognises his extensive experience in complex information systems and as a military and civilian pilot.

His depth of connections within the Department of Defence and broader government will greatly assist Airservices’ delivery of its strategic change program, including the OneSKY partnership with Defence.

Ms Connelly is an Associate Professor and Assistant Associate Dean of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation at RMIT, with an extensive history in aviation operations and safety issues across academia, government and within the airline industry, including almost 30 years as an air traffic controller and manager at Airservices. She has a comprehensive understanding of Australia’s aviation system.

Mr Hupfeld and Ms Connelly have been appointed for four and three-year terms respectively.

Together their wealth of knowledge and experience will help shape and govern Airservices Australia as it navigates future opportunities and challenges.

These appointments follow the reappointment of Ms Anne Brown to the Airservices board, along with the issuing of a new ministerial statement of expectations earlier this year.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the Airservices Board to ensure Australia’s aviation industry remains among the safest in the world and a world-class leader,” Ms King said.

Airservices Australia is responsible for 11 per cent of the world’s airspace, manages Australia’s skies, aviation rescue firefighting services and helps grow Australia’s aviation industry.

Greening Australia and Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation are working on a project to harvest and plant native seeds to improve the drought resilience of farms in the Mid-North and Flinders regions of South Australia.

Funded through the Australian Government’s Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program, the project is particularly focused on re-establishing native perennial grasses and shrubs to create more resilient pasture for livestock, while also restoring habitat for native animals.

Greening Australia’s Mick Durant says, “A key benefit of these perennial native pastures is that the plants establish strong root systems, so they can survive through droughts and put on new growth quickly when the rain comes. This is really useful for livestock grazing enterprises. The added benefit is that there are many local native wildlife species that will use perennial native cover and vegetation for habitat too.”

“There’s an increasing recognition among landholders that perennial groundcovers have been lost in the region, which means their livestock farming enterprises are less resilient to drought.”

“We’re focussing on working with the Upper North Farming Systems Group and some other groups up in the Quorn, Hawker and Peterborough region in the Southern Flinders – that arid, marginal agricultural country – but this is applicable anywhere.”

The past 10-20 years has seen a big reduction in the availability of seed for native species in the region. Landholders, farming groups and/or revegetation projects that want to reintroduce or sow a diversity of native seed are finding it difficult to source around the state.

Greening Australia and Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation are swapping cultural and onground knowledge, working together to address the lack of seed in the region.

Elder and Nukunu Wapma Aboriginal Corporation Director Lindsay Thomas says he’s excited to see what impact the seed collection and resulting plantings will have.

“This is the beginning of a project for healthy Country and there’s a lot of organisations getting behind all this. So is just the beginning. We want to see how it will go and then maybe the Nukunu will turn it into a small business. We may go and collect seed and start a seed bank, get our own direct seeder we can hire out to farmers or anyone who needs it, supply them with seed from the remnant areas.”

“It’s exciting for me because I’m getting old and I just want to see something on my Country before I pass away. You know, I want to see some of the vegetation that was there hundreds of years ago, and to see some of my totems come back on Country.”

Research shows that people with a disability are two to four times more likely to die in a disaster than the general population.  

In addition, national house fire fatality research from 2003 to 2017 found that 62 per cent of fatalities were people with a disability. These statistics have provided a clear direction for this project. Addressing the gaps that people with a disability experience to improve their fire and emergency preparedness are truly worth investing in, because nobody should be left behind.

CFA is leading the EMV grant funded project alongside Australian Red Cross, DARU (Disability Advocacy and Resource Unit), VCOSS (Victorian Council of Social Services), local councils and the University of Sydney.  

The ‘Clearing the path to disability inclusive fire and emergency planning’ project aims to address two distinct but interrelated gaps:

• People with a disability have traditionally not been well included in community-level fire and disaster preparedness. 
• People with a disability have had limited access to emergency planning programs and resources that help tailor their plan to their support needs and situation.

The project has two key elements. The first brings together local communities to build awareness and drive actions. This includes engaging those at higher risk in the communities so they can be better supported in emergency planning. The second element delivers targeted programs that enable people at higher risk to develop workable emergency plans tailored to their specific needs and situations.  

We know that improving fire and emergency planning with people at higher risk takes a coordinated approach.  As a result, the delivery is centred within local government areas (LGAs) alongside CFA, Red Cross and other local partners. 

As part of the grant funding this includes City of Greater Bendigo, Mount Alexander Shire, Mitchell Shire, Casey Council, Wellington Shire and Surf Coast and Colac Otway (as a shared location). Frankston Council and Yarra Ranges Council were part of the initial pilot prior to this project and will continue to be supported.

Now we are starting to see the results of the project. Six Disability Inclusive Emergency Planning (DIEP) workshops at the local government level were delivered between May and July 2023. These workshops brought together more than 150 people from emergency services, disability advocacy and support organisations, local council, individuals with lived experience, and carers to work on how to improve local planning.  

“Now I have heard this today, I can’t unthink it,” said one of the participants. Another commented, “It makes you stop and think, that this is really an area we need to focus on”.  Local champions emerge, connections are formed, and change begins.

The aim is now to pair the DIEP with delivery of an emergency planning service at the household level.  Local councils refer people that may need extra support to develop a fire and emergency plan. The Emergency Planning Advice Service (EPAS) is then co-delivered by CFA and Red Cross and in some locations alongside other partners such as SES. 

Those who are delivering the household service are trained in a person-centred approach called Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness, co-developed by the University of Sydney with people who have a disability. Over 50 CFA, Red Cross and SES members have been trained to use this approach and deliver EPAS in the past few months.  

EPAS facilitator and CFA members Greg Callaghan explained how EPAS benefits community members.

“It might be said that EPAS improves the potential outcomes for just one person at higher risk at a time. This is somewhat true – but not entirely, when outcomes for carers, support workers and families are also considered,” Greg said

“The EPAS approach might be compared with community engagement activities that engage lots of people at the same time, and which may be seen as more impactful. However, this thinking needs to be reconsidered, as it’s actually people at higher risk who are more likely to be injured or killed in a fire or other emergency. 

“So supporting these individuals at higher risk to be safer can have a dramatic impact on reducing the toll from fire and other emergencies.”    

People with a disability manage every day to overcome inaccessible environments and overcome barriers. These are strengths that people with a disability bring to emergency preparedness. Harnessing these strengths and building on them to create workable emergency plans is how the new EPAS plans to operate. 

Evaluating EPAS and the impact it has on individual community members will be critical in determining the program’s future.

Iconic Australian country rock band Stars will play the Palais Hepburn on Saturday September 9.

This special night will feature the debut album Paradise in its entirety.

The band formed in Adelaide in the mid seventies and since parting ways in 1980 has reformed with two new albums under their collective belts.

Stars featuring Mick Pealing on vocals /guitar, Roger McLachlan on bass /vocals, Nick Charles on guitar/vocals, Geoff Achison on guitar, Ed Bates on pedal steel and Erik Chess on drums play a full- blooded version of the classic albums Paradise, Land of Fortune, The Andrew Durant Memorial Concert, Boundary Rider, One More Circle Round The Sun and the hits…Look After Yourself, Mighty Rock, Last Of The River Boats.

Stars got together in Adelaide around ’74 ’75 , all coming from around the same neighbourhood and basically falling together through a love of similar music taste- Free, Deep Purple etc. After a short while supporting bands from interstate, Dingoes, LRB and starting to write their own songs, Beeb Birtles of LRB recommended Stars to Michael Gudinski of Mushroom Records who promptly signed them instigating a move to Melbourne.

Stars friend Andy Durant joined the band with a collection of his own songs which formulated their sound from Rock Boogie to more Country Rock and the first album was released going gold.

After the release of Stars second album “Land Of Fortune” a live album “1157” and 3 years of constant touring a decision was made to end Stars and sadly shortly after Andy died from a melanoma .

In 1980 the star studded “Andrew Durant Memorial Concert” was staged at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda, featuring the members of Stars, Renee Geyer, Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Don Walker, Richard Clapton and many more of the cream of Australian artists who are still recording and playing to this day, a live recording of the show was released to much acclaim and promptly went gold.

After over 35 years Stars returned with the original line up featuring Mick Pealing on vocals and guitar, Mal Eastick on guitar, Roger McLachlan on bass and Glyn Dowding who was replaced by Erik Chess early 2019 on drums and featuring Nick Charles on guitar.

A new Album “Boundary Rider” was released in 2018 mainly written by Mick & Nick with 3 early Stars songs recorded in the studio for the first time.

2020 brought a brand new album “One More Circle Round The Sun” featuring new songs written by Mick Pealing and Nick Charles.

Early 2023 brought about the retirement from Stars, founder of the band Mal Eastick who was replaced by Australian blues guitarist Geoff Achison along with legendary pedal steel player Ed Bates. A new single ( One More Try) was released around this time.

With this six piece lineup audiences can expect the music from Stars’ 3 studio albums “Paradise”, “Land Of Fortune” 2018’s “Boundary Rider”, “The Andrew Durant Memorial Concert” and “One More Circle Round The Sun”

As identical twin brothers, there was always competition growing up, but as soon the Drennan duo hit CFA, their purpose became solely focused on serving their communities.

It all started at CFA’s Mooroolbark Fire Station back in 2007, where Mark Drennan walked through the doors for the first time as a firefighter, followed closely by brother Brad in 2008.

It was seeing their dad’s yellow overalls at the end of the bed every day in their early years that motivated Mark and Brad to first get involved in CFA.

“As a young kid, it was inspiring being around our father’s involvement in Yarra Junction CFA,” Mark said.

“The family aspect of CFA is great. I encourage all families if you can get into CFA, or if your loved ones are already in, to be part of it with them, join the journey with them.”

The brothers continued to match each other’s strides, both being elected as Captain at their respective brigades this year, with Mark at Mooroolbark and Brad in Bright.

“We are identical twins, although we don’t look like it now, but growing up we were very similar,” Mark said.

“People see Drennan on the back of the helmet and are always getting us confused. We find it funny when people yell out and we both answer. 

“Even though Brad’s moved to Bright, still to this day people will call me his name on the fireground.

“We’ve had a bit of fun over the years, seeing who can get the hose off the truck first, who can put the breathing apparatus gear on the quickest – I win most times.”

Friendly banter aside, both brothers particularly enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves while also adding value to their everyday work – Mark being an Engineering Surveyor and Brad working for Alpine Shire in Emergency Management and Occupational Health and Safety.

“We can be quite competitive from a personal point of view, but when the pager goes off, we are very professional and straight down the line, we know our tasks and we feed off each other well in the field.” Brad said.

“Coming from the Alpine Shire up in north east Victoria, we’re a very tight community and we’re very bushfire prone, so that planning and preparedness and community resilience for me is why I like to serve my community.

“I think for us both, it’s all about having a strong family connection. We bounce off each other a lot, help each other through training courses and are supportive after incidents as well.”

The twins look forward to taking on their next exciting challenge as Captains of their brigades and will utilise their long CFA history and knowledge to further protect and serve their local community.

The first sections of deck for the New Fitzroy River Bridge, in northern WA, are on track to be installed next month, federal infrastructure minister, Member for Ballarat, Catherine King says.

When completed, the new bridge will be around six times as strong, almost 100 metres longer than the old bridge and will include two lanes and a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.

The New Fitzroy River Bridge is funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Using an innovative engineering method, a launch pad is currently being assembled on the western side of the river from which the bridge deck will be moved into place to connect with the opposite side of the river.  

Launching the bridge deck in increments will mean construction should not be affected by rising water levels during the next wet season. This will allow the bridge to be completed even if the river is flowing.

Since early June, work has been ongoing to drive 34 piles into the riverbed to support the new bridge. Pile caps are currently being constructed on top of each set of piles to enable the columns to be put into place. Installation of the columns will commence progressively after the completion of the respective pile-caps.

Reconstruction works will also include the adjoining sections of the Great Northern Highway, which were severely eroded by flooding associated with Ex Tropical Cyclone Ellie.

As well as restoring this critical link across the Fitzroy River, the bridge project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop skills and provide new economic opportunities to those who live and work in Fitzroy Crossing and the wider Fitzroy Valley area.

Main Roads Western Australia, together with the Fitzroy Bridge Alliance, are committed to working closely with local Traditional Owners, training and skills development agencies and other third parties to ensure opportunities for local workers and businesses are maximised and the project leaves a lasting and sustainable legacy.

To date, the project has provided employment for more than 100 members of the local community, with around a quarter of total crew hours worked attributed to Aboriginal people. There has also been $7 million committed by the Fitzroy Bridge Alliance to Aboriginal-owned businesses in the Fitzroy Valley.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Member for Ballarat, Catherine King MP: “This large-scale infrastructure project, delivered in a remote part of the country, and utilising local community employment is an example of the strong collaboration and joint commitment by Commonwealth, State and local governments to the recovery of the region.

“The new bridge will also provide a critical link for the region into national supply chains, especially as we know that the area will continue to experience seasonal rains and floods.”

WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti: “Construction of the New Fitzroy River Bridge continues to make excellent progress, despite unseasonal heavy rainfall in late June, which required both the project’s construction causeway and the temporary crossings to close.

“From early next month, the community will start to see the segments of the new bridge taking shape, just nine months after the devastation of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie. This is an outstanding outcome and I thank all those involved in our efforts to reconnect the Kimberley.

“Importantly, this project is providing training and employment opportunities for people in the local community, with more than 100 people from the Fitzroy Valley employed on the project.”

It’s time to recognise a CFA member you believe deserves to be honoured by nominating them for an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.

CFA volunteer and Board member Dawn Hartog AFSM (pictured above) recently reflected on receiving an AFSM in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours:

“I had to re-read the email three times to make sure it was correct,” she said.

“I then thought of all of the people before me who have been awarded an AFSM – the award that is the highest accolade we can receive in the sector – and I was humbled that I was considered for such an award.

“I still feel like I have so much to give and being recognised for what I have already contributed is a true honour.”

The AFSM recognises people in the fire services whose roles are inherently more hazardous than others, acknowledging the contribution they have made to their community in the protection of lives and property through their time at CFA.

It can also be awarded for the development of programs or initiatives and the delivery of training and education in support of fellow members on the frontline. Anyone can nominate a CFA member they know deserves to be honoured.

Inverloch Fire Brigade’s 1st Lieutenant Matthew King has been making blood donations for around a decade now, and he’s kept this habit up for this year’s Lifeblood Emergency Services Blood Drive.

“I started donating when I began responding to road crash incidents and knowing that I could be helping those people who were involved even more,” he said. 

“I also know people who had cancer and needed blood transfusions, so I understand how vital it is to give blood, if you can. 

“Being a universal O-negative blood type, it just made sense.” 

Matt said a common misconception he’s noticed when discussing donating blood with friends and family is that they think “it’s a bigger commitment than it actually is”. 

“Generally, I’m in and out in about half an hour,” he said. 

“It’s super quick and makes a massive difference to people who need it.” 

As a CFA volunteer, Matt said it only makes sense to get involved in the blood drive and make regular donations. 

“It really is just a continuation of what we do as CFA volunteers,” he said. 

“As volunteers our goal is to help our communities and we can push that further by doing this. 

“I’d encourage anyone to head down to their local donor centre and give it a go, if they can.” 

The Red Cross Emergency Services Blood Drive runs from 1 June – 31 August. You can find out more at www.lifeblood.com.au.

Respected environmental engineer John Mann was born and raised on a farm near Geelong, where he first discovered the profound impact of environmental conservation.

“My uncle was always involved and giving advice,” said John’s nephew Lance Mann. “He was big on planting trees … we’ve planted over 4,000 trees on the farm, and it has dramatically reduced our salinity problem, just as he said.”

John ascended to the role of Chief Engineer Manager at the Dandenong Valley Authority (DVA) at its inception in 1964, leaving an indelible mark on the water and flood management of the Dandenong Valley. His responsibility spanned designing infrastructure, maintaining existing structures, and predicting potential flood risks.

John Mann (pictured above far left) with colleagues from DVA Engineering. Photo courtesy Jim Jarvis.

In his first decade with the DVA, John was instrumental in allocating over $100 million (in today’s terms), towards river improvement works, drainage channels, pipelines, pumping stations, tree planting, and grass sowing.

These initial works were maintained and improved over the subsequent 10-year program, also designed by John. Importantly, he ensured the preservation of significant swamp and bird habitats. John’s work both safeguarded the ecosystem balance and public safety in the rapidly developing southeast suburbs of Melbourne.

Described by a colleague as a “true gentleman with an always-open door”, John’s influence was deeply felt.

John didn’t just keep his expertise to himself; he made numerous contributions to the field of Flood Plain Management and shared his knowledge globally. Accompanied by his wife Bette, who shared his passion for environmental preservation, John left a legacy that spans beyond borders.

John and Bette (pictured above) with the colossal 12-metre-wide “mermaid boab” at Careening Bay in WA’s Kimberley region. Photo courtesy Lance Mann.

Today, John and Bette’s dedication to environmental restoration continues to inspire and assist others through the John and Bette Mann Landholder Grant.

Administered by Greening Australia at the bequest of John and Bette, this fund symbolises their enduring commitment to a greener future, providing an annual grant to Victorian farmers and landholders to positively impact land conservation, soil improvement and land productivity.

The inaugural grants have been awarded this year to recipients Anthony Pelchen, and Anthony Dufty and Cate Kirk-Dufty. They’ll use the funds for activities that will deliver strong biodiversity and habitat connectivity value across a total combined area of 30 hectares.

The latest Local Podcast is now on our website where we discuss what is in the next edition of The Local

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s flagship storm waste facility has been shortlisted in the EPA Waste Prevention & Reduction category at the 2023 Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Tidy Towns & Cities Sustainability Awards.

On the award nomination, Council’s CEO Bernie O’Sullivan said: “Council is thrilled to have the Romsey storm waste facility named as a finalist for another award, and we would again like to thank Emergency Recovery Victoria for the support in its implementation.

“This project was born out of the need to respond quickly to the wide-spread destruction caused by the June 2021 storms. Council recognises that the Macedon Ranges community strongly values environmental stewardship, recycling and ‘green’ solutions, so these were the principles we kept in mind when looking at solutions for the clean-up operation.

“Our focus was to reduce green waste to zero by creating repurposed products for impacted Councils and communities.

“This flagship facility has created a new standard for operational recovery, and is a model that can be applied by Councils across Victoria for any future disasters.”

Improved early years services are a step closer for Lancefield, with planning progressing on a new kindergarten and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) building due to open in 2024.

Funded and led by the Victorian Government’s Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA), the purpose-built three-room kindergarten and MCH facility will be largely built offsite through modular construction and later transported to its home at 76A High Street.

Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, said the new centre was one of Council’s priority projects resulting from the Municipal Early Years plan (CREATE), which identified a need for additional contemporary, fit-for-purpose early years infrastructure in Lancefield.

“There has been increased demand in Lancefield and surrounding areas due to population growth, the roll-out of 15 hours of funded kindergarten for three-year-olds, and the recently announced increase to 30 hours of pre-prep for four-year-olds,” she said.

“This new centre will provide more rooms to allow for future kinder participants and alleviate some of the pressure on surrounding areas of the shire. It will also see the return of a Maternal and Child Health service to the town, which we know is something residents are very much looking forward to.”

The project is supported by a $3 million VSBA Building Blocks Capacity Grant and once complete, the Macedon Ranges Shire Council will manage the new kindergarten and MCH services.

The council has allocated $16,000 in its 2023-24 Budget to ensure the new centre is fully furnished, and $100,000 to ensure the build has improved environmental and sustainable design elements to make it more comfortable for children and staff, and more efficient and cost-effective to run in the long term.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s award-winning Holistic Grazing Management course will return in September, with local farmers encouraged to participate and learn about sustainable farming practices.

Since winning the Premiers’ Regional Recognition Award at the 2021 Premier’s Sustainability Awards, the Healthy Landscapes program has run two of these courses, resulting in positive outcomes for local farmers in the region.

The course is designed to help large and small landholders improve their knowledge about grazing livestock, pasture growth, animal health, retaining water in the landscape, soil biology and weed management.  It will assist farmers to improve soil health, reduce exposure to climate risk, enhance biodiversity and increase on-farm productivity and resilience.

2022 course participant Stuart from Newham shared this feedback: “It really has been a world-class program, delivered by knowledgeable, engaging and highly credible people with a wonderful balance of theory, practical application, on-farm support. I could not give the course higher praise!”

The council’s Director Planning and Environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said it was pleasing to hear the positive feedback and to see the practice change that farmers have implemented as a result of attending the course.

“It’s important we continue to support landowners to implement land management practices that improve both the natural environment and agricultural productivity,” she said.

Landholders with grazing livestock in the Macedon Ranges, Hepburn Shire Council or the City of Greater Bendigo are all eligible, with the cost of the course only $150 per property. Limited spaces are available.

For more information and to hear from previous participants on how the course has helped them, join a free webinar ‘Local farmers: where are they now on their journey in holistic farming’ on Tuesday 15 August at 7pm.

The Healthy Landscapes program is also holding a number of events hosted by previous participants of the course including a ‘Grazing and Farming Discussion Group’ in Drummond on 13 August and in Longlea on 1 September, and a ‘Lambs on Grass field day’ in Elmore on 24 August. 

Register your interest in the course, webinar, other Healthy Landscapes events, or sign-up to the eNews.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council says it’s working closely with its insurance provider to prioritise replacing the flood-damaged Jacksons Creek footbridge in Gisborne.

A key pedestrian connection between Dixon Field and the Gisborne Botanic Gardens, the footbridge is closed for public safety following the October 2022 flood event.

The council’s Director Assets and Operations Shane Walden said council staff were pushing the insurance company to ensure the replacement of the footbridge as soon as practical.

“Council’s insurer assessed the bridge as beyond repair (or a ‘total loss’) as it has separated from its footings due to the flood waters,” Mr Walden said.

“These types of work are complex as they require site assessments, detailed designs and approvals from various authorities. Only after this is complete can construction work begin.

“We thank residents for their patience while we wait for the bridge replacement and understand people’s frustration at being unable to use the bridge as part of their walking activities in the area.”

The Jacksons Creek footbridge was one of many Council-owned assets impacted by flood damage. Council is working through insurance processes for those covered by insurance and seeking the necessary grant funding for others.

After some initial delays, preliminary works are underway, informing the new bridge design in line with current building standards. The bridge will be removed once discussions with key authorities are finalised.

The Gisborne Botanic Gardens are still accessible via the footbridge adjacent to the Gisborne Adventure Playground, via Frith Road or the pathway on the north side of Jacksons Creek. If travelling from Dixon Fields, a path along the south of Jacksons Creek links to the Adventure Playground and then over the bridge to the gardens.

The Hepburn Shire Council is seeking volunteers to join a Community Engagement Pool to provide input into the future of the shire’s townships. 

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said that the Community Engagement Pool members would help develop various components of our strategic planning project, Future Hepburn.

Future Hepburn is a once in a generation program of major strategic planning projects that the council is undertaking to protect and enhance the natural and built environment and to improve liveability in our Shire.  The council will develop a range of plans and strategies in 2023 and 2024 that will guide the future of townships across the Shire. These include township Structure Plans, Urban Design Frameworks, Neighbourhood Character Assessments, Integrated Transport Strategy, Rural Hepburn: Agricultural Land and Rural Settlement Strategy.

The council is looking to establish five Community Panels in the townships of Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford/Hepburn Springs, Glenlyon and Trentham, thereby delivering on its commitment to community-inclusive engagement. Each panel will be made up of 21 randomly selected community members drawn from the Future Hepburn Community Engagement Pool in line with Council’s Community Engagement Policy.

“The panels will be made up of people who live in or own property in the townships and surrounding areas, with representatives from across all age groups and genders. Community members don’t need to have specialist skills to be on the panel, just a passion for their community and a willingness to get involved in shaping their township’s future.”

“By volunteering for the Community Engagement Pool, members may be randomly selected to join a Community Panel to help develop draft township structure plans for either Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford/Hepburn Springs, Glenlyon and Trentham. Structure plans outline how Council will protect and enhance the existing character of our townships and guide appropriate growth and development to 2050,” said Cr Hood.

Community Panel members will be asked to attend three in-person sessions held during October and November. Community members not randomly selected will still have opportunities to provide feedback and participate in engagement activities.

Just over 1,000 letters were sent out to randomly selected community members inviting them to register to get involved in the Community Engagement Pool. Community members can also nominate themselves to be involved by registering their interest at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/future-hepburn.

Applications close on Sunday 3 September 2023.