The Mount Alexander Shire Council is partnering with Central Goldfields Shire Council and community group Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail Inc. to determine the feasibility of a shared rail trail between Castlemaine and Maryborough.

The proposed trail is 55km long and passes through the communities of Campbells Creek, Guildford, Newstead, Moolort and Carisbrook.

A survey, that is now open to the community, aims to evaluate the business case for the trail, and to provide recommendations about the trail alignment, design and management.

It will also gather information about community attitudes and expectations.

The survey is open until this Friday 23 June and can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.com/r/cmrailtrail.

Those interested can also find out more about this project at www.cmrailtrail.org.au.

Time is fast running out to get your penny’s worth in as part of the City of Ballarat’s first phase of public consultation for its new Public Toilet Strategy.

Feedback for Phase 1 Consultation closes 5pm this Sunday 25 June, 2023.

The City of Ballarat has started to prepare a municipal-wide Public Toilet Strategy. The Strategy will:

• Establish a vision to provide high quality, inclusive and accessible public toilets that are safe, clean and cater for the needs of all residents, workers and visitors to the City of Ballarat,
• clarify the City of Ballarat’s role in the provision of public toilets,
• provide guidelines for the design, location and fit out of public toilets,
• set out a strategic framework to guide planning for upgrades, installations and recommendations for changes to existing facilities, and
• identify opportunities for improving operational efficiencies.

The Strategy will include an action plan to guide the City of Ballarat’s decision-making processes to ensure that public toilets meet the needs of our growing community and are accessible for everyone.

Over the coming months, we will be undertaking community consultation to gather your feedback about public toilets in Ballarat. those keen to have some input can go to Public Toilet Strategy | MySay – City of Ballarat

Castlemaine’s Phee Broadway Theatre foyer exhibition program has opened with a selection of local artists now exhibiting their work in the space right through to June next year.

The Mount Alexander Shire Council says it’s proud to announce the exhibiting artists, who will display their artwork over the next twelve months with the program running from Wednesday 14 June 2023 to Friday 28 June 2024.

The theatre, which is located at Mechanics Lane in Castlemaine, is a community gathering place, where creativity is fostered, people connect, and shared narratives are explored.

Artists exhibiting as part of the 2023-2024 program include:

• Robyn Riley
• Tom Taft (on behalf of Keitha Taft)
• Katarzyna (Kasia) Dudkiewicz
• Passions & Pathways
• Melanie Sky
• Louise Cooper
• Helena Judy Read
• Ned Middleton
• Jinette de Gooijer
• Kristina Browning, Sonia Browning, Holly Browning
• Linda Dunstan
• Anthony Jackman
• Glenn White
• Fred Farquhar and Lucy Armstrong

Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Manager of Economy and Culture, Merryn Tinkler, said that Council is proud to be able to support local artists by providing a free space for them to exhibit and promote their work.

“We’re excited to see such a diverse selection of artwork on display over the coming twelve months – tapestry, acrylic paintings, photography and videography to name a few!

“I encourage everyone to stop by the space and take in the incredible artwork made by members of our community.”¬

The theatre foyer is located in the same building as the Castlemaine Library, and follows the same opening hours.

The Mount Alexander Shire Council has released updated design guidelines for new development in the historic town of Maldon.

The updated Maldon Design Guidelines document will help permit applicants (including property owners, architects, planners and builders) in preparing designs for new buildings, works or alterations to existing buildings where the Heritage Overlay or the Significant Landscape Overlay applies.

They will also assist Council’s planning and heritage team in assessing permit applications.

The updated guidelines provide direction for new development in areas such as:

• conservation, maintenance and demolition of buildings
• building alterations and additions
• commercial alterations
• detail design (e.g. driveways, fences and crossovers)
• colours
• signage (e.g. advertising and historic signs).

Council has been working on updating the guidelines since 2018 in collaboration with the project advisory group, which is comprised of Maldon community members, and key stakeholders and government agencies such as Heritage Victoria and the National Trust.

Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Tarrengower Ward Councillor, Stephen Gardner, said he was thrilled to see the project to update the guidelines come to fruition.

“The original guidelines were adopted in 1977, and this the first time that they have been thoroughly reviewed and updated”, said Cr Garner.

“Council worked closely with Maldon community members on this, and I’d like to thank them for their significant input throughout this process.”

“Maldon is home to some beautiful, historic buildings which tell a story about the region.

“In developing these updated guidelines, we’re making sure that we don’t lose that.”

The revision to the guidelines will bring the guidelines up-to-date in terms of heritage status, planning policy and legislation; remove errors, anomalies, and repetition, and add context to prescriptive provisions.

They are consistent with current planning policy and legislation, while making them easier to use for residents, property owners, businesses, architects and builders.

To find out more about the project’s background, or to view the updated Maldon Design Guidelines, visit www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/MaldonDesignGuidelines.

Entries are currently open for the fourth annual COscars Youth Film Festival, a competition for filmmakers aged 8-25 years.

The film competition celebrates the talent and creativity of Mount Alexander Shire’s young community members.

Local young film-makers have until Sunday 1 October to lodge their entries with three categories open to filmmakers – Snapshot, Short and Short Film.

“The COscars is an amazing opportunity for young people to show their work, tell stories and make industry connections,” said Billy Lister, Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Youth Advisory Group member.

“You don’t need an expensive camera to make a great short film. You can use any type of camera – mobile phone, tablet or laptop.”

“Judges are looking for creativity, originality and story-telling rather than high production values.”

“Films can be any genre or theme and you can use any kind of filmmaking technique, including animation, stop motion or live action.”

“This is an opportunity for young people to tell their stories, their way. And there’s cash prizes on offer for winners too.

“Grab an entry form and starting planning your film – you’ve got nothing to lose!” said Billy.

Categories

Snapshot
Runtime of less than or equal to one minute

• 8-13 years ($50 cash prize)
• 14-18 years ($50 cash prize)
• 18-25 years ($50 cash prize)

Short
Runtime of between one and five minutes

• 8-13 years ($100 cash prize)
• 14-18 years ($100 cash prize)
• 18-25 years ($100 cash prize)

Short Film
Runtime of between 5 and 10 minutes

• 14-25 years ($150 cash prize)

Winning films and a selection of entries will be screened at the COscars Youth Film Festival on Sunday 29 October in Castlemaine.

Those keen to enter can obrain entry forms and guidelines at;  www.mountalexandershireyouth.com.au/portfolio/coscars.

The Mount Alexander Shire Council is inviting the community to have their say on the draft Castlemaine Railway Precinct Master Plan.

The master plan outlines a series of recommended projects to revitalise, repair and re-purpose the precinct. It aims to breathe new life into the space, while not detracting from its primary role as a functioning train station in a heritage setting.

In creating the master plan, Council consulted extensively with community members, a dedicated Project Reference Group, key stakeholders and local businesses, as well as working with the Department of Transport and the Precinct’s landowner, VicTrack.

Feedback provided during consultations informed the development of the draft Castlemaine Railway Precinct Master Plan, which is guided by three principles:

1. Stitching the Precinct Together
2. Creating and Enhancing Destinations
3. Rediscovering Barkers Creek

The plan proposes seven key projects under the three principles, which Council is asking the community for input on.

Council’s Acting Manager of Development Services, Melissa Wilson said the development of a master plan for the site ensures the precinct will continue to thrive for many years to come.

“The purpose of the master plan, and our long-term vision for the precinct is to create a thriving area that connects people and places, and fosters a sense of community,” said Ms Wilson.

“Based on what we heard during our consultations, we’ve identified seven key projects for the precinct.

“They aim to improve connectivity around the area, enrich the environment, boost tourism opportunities, and much more.

“We’re encouraging residents to take a look at the draft master plan or the short summary document and tell us what they think of the proposed projects we’re putting forward.

“Input that we receive will also guide how we prioritise each of the projects within the plan.”

Twenty-one art quilts from around Australia are finalists in a prestigious national award which has now gone on display at Maryborough’s Central Goldfields Art Gallery (pictured above) until 20 August 2023.

It is the 7th time that the biennial Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Award has been presented by Central Goldfields Art Gallery after the inaugural Award was initiated by Maryborough art quilter Jenny Bacon and the then Gallery Manager, Kay Parkin as a homage to the region’s long connection with textile manufacturing and craft.

The exhibition brings together leading exponents of art quilting from around Australia with artists contributing work from Western Australia through to Tasmania.  All of the art quilts have been created in the last three years and none have been publicly exhibited before.  Central Goldfields Art Gallery is the sole venue presenting this remarkable exhibition of contemporary Australian art quilts.

Visitors will be surprised by the way artists continue to extend the boundaries of their art form.  A wide of range of materials have been employed by artists from recycled materials including protective masks used widely during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic through to hand painted fabrics and cottons. 

Whilst there was no theme requested for entry into the Award, interest in landscape, social commentary, beauty and abstraction are explored my multiple artists in different ways.

Robyn Cuthbertson’s entry titled Beneath is a free motion quilted silk that is embedded within 3 wooden, upright sculptures while Jackie Gorring’s entry titled CardyJump utilises found pieces of crochet and repurposed knitted materials in an art quilt that references the memories embodies in the materials once worn.

Artists included in the exhibition are: Anna Brown, Mandy Baker, Sandra Champion, Robyn Cuthbertson, Sue Dennis, Dianne Firth, Jan Frazer, Jackie Gorring, Lynne Hargreaves, Ronda Hazell, Judy Hooworth, Glenyce McGauchie, Jem Olsen, Beth Reid, Trevor Reid, Melanie Sampson, Greg Somerville, Caitlin Stewart, Linda Steele, Tania Tanti, Lisa Walton and Brenda Wiseman.

If you’ve noticed something different when visiting the Dunolly or Carisbrook Football and Netball Club canteens lately – it may have something to do with what’s being served up in their canteens.

As part of the Victorian Government’s Healthy Loddon Campaspe initiative and Vic Kids Eat Well initiative, we have been working with the Dunolly and Carisbrook Football and Netball Clubs to support local clubs to offer healthy food options at their canteens.

The Healthy Sports Clubs initiative has provided both the Dunolly and Carisbrook Football and Netball Clubs with: 

• New menu boards and signage that highlight healthier food and drink options.
• Small-scale kitchen equipment such as sandwich presses, display fridges, slow cookers, and air fryers to enable healthy food preparation.
• Resources including healthy recipes, case study videos, fridge set-up guidelines, and preparation and promotion tips for providing healthy food in a sporting club setting.

Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Grace La Vella said it was wonderful to see the communities of Dunolly and Carisbrook supported through the ‘Healthy Sports Clubs’ project.

“Thanks to the Victorian Government, the projects delivered by the Healthy Loddon Campaspe and the Healthy Kids Advisor initiatives, support communities like ours to help encourage healthy eating and get more people, more active, more often.

“The Healthy Sports Clubs project provided an opportunity for our local clubs to explore the types of delicious healthy foods they can offer, as well as healthier ways to prepare it, as well as the kitchen equipment they need to do it.”

Central Goldfields Shire Healthy Loddon Campaspe Broker Adam Tarr said the data from the 2019 Active Living Census highlighted concerns regarding Loddon Campaspe residents not consuming enough of the foods and drinks needed for good health and wellbeing.

“Less than half (48%) of residents across the Loddon Campaspe region meet the recommended intake of fruits, just 13% meet the recommended intake of vegetables, 14% consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily, and two-thirds of the population are overweight or obese.

“Consequently, increasing healthy eating is a key objective of the Healthy Loddon Campaspe initiative, as well as a priority area set out within the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2019-2023.

“Sporting clubs and recreational facilities have been identified as a key setting within which changes can be made to make healthy food and drink choices the easy one.” 

In the wake of recent heavy rain events, local primary producers throughout the Hepburn shire are being reminded that a range of support measures remain available for flood and storm-affected farmers.

Information about these measures can be found at agriculture.vic.gov.au/floods.

For any urgent animal welfare needs, please contact 136 186. 

Farmers are encouraged to contact the Agriculture Recovery team on 0427 694 185 (Mon-Fri between 8.30 am and 5 pm) or recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Technical information and decision-making support 

Agriculture Victoria is working with Victorian farmers and industry to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters (including floods and storms) through delivery of technical information and decision-making support services to help farm business recovery, including:

• grazing, cropping and pasture management
• irrigation and horticulture system rehabilitation
• soil erosion management 
• land management
• animal health and nutrition 
• farm mapping and planning 
• water quality
• weed management.

Ag recovery newsletter

Farmers and service providers are encouraged to subscribe to the ag recovery digital newsletter to access latest events and information.

Ag recovery events

For information on events and field days across the state please visit the Events page on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Local Horse owners throughout the Hepburn Shire are among those across the state being asked to take a simple step for a special friend and register for a Property Identification Code (PIC).

Agriculture Victoria Manager Livestock Traceability Ben Fahy said PICs provided horse owners an extra level of protection during emergencies.

‘If there’s a flood, fire or disease outbreak, we may need to reach out with concerns specific to your animals, or for emergency relief and recovery activities within an impacted area,’ Mr Fahy said.

‘Getting a PIC is quick, easy, and free via the Agriculture Victoria website – all that’s required is your contact details, the number of horses and the parcels of land where they’re kept.’

All Victorian properties with livestock, including horses, are required by law to have a PIC, an eight-character code essential for contact and traceability purposes.

‘PICs are required whether you keep a horse for recreational, agricultural or competitive purposes – even for your brood mare in the paddock,’ Mr Fahy said.

‘When horses are on agistment away from home, it’s essential that those properties have PICs, which can be applied for by the horse owner or service provider.’

Based in Warrnambool, Katrina Routson is one of Australia’s largest Friesian horse breeders and said that PICs provided peace of mind in case of emergency.

‘If a bushfire comes through someone would know that we have animals,’ Ms Routson said.

‘PICs also provide an excellent way to receive key updates from Agriculture Victoria to horse owners.’

Livestock owners should regularly review their PIC details, and update any changes that have occurred such as change in property address, species of livestock or changes to personal details.

When livestock are offered for sale, given away or bartered via online or print media, the PIC of the property at which the livestock are kept must be included in the advertisement.

Horse owners can Register for a Property Identification Code  via the Agriculture Victoria website, or call 1800 678 779.

Local primary producers are being invited to register now to attend this Wednesday’s practical workshop on worm management, presented by Dr Monica Dickson of Ballarat Sheep Veterinary Services, at Lexton.

The June 21 workshop will show graziers and sheep farmers how to identify and measure the worms in your flock and develop a strategic management plan to reduce their impact on your business productivity and profitability.

Learn about:
• Identifying worms – what species are in your area; is Barbers Pole a risk?
• Measuring and monitoring worms – when and how to collect accurate Worm Egg Count (WEC) samples
• Strategic management of worms – using drench selection, grazing management and genetics to reduce production impacts and costs
• Biosecurity – developing a quarantine procedure for introduced animals.

Lunch provided and participants will receive a free WEC sample kit and test.

Register here​ or contact Chris Pollock on 0421 372 545 or email.

Local young farmers are being invited to register now to attend nextmonth’s Young Farmer Bootcamp set for July 11-12 at Wallup.

The bootcamp is an opportunity for young and emerging farm managers to connect with like-minded and motivated people.

Over the two-day business bootcamp participants will develop:

• cash flow budgeting skills
• strong understanding of risk management and planning
• capacity to fine tune their business goals.

it will be presented by Paul Blackshaw – a farm business adviser with Meridian Agriculture. Paul provides services in farm financial analysis, benchmarking, farm business performance and succession planning.

Those interested can register HERE or contact Adam Buzza on 0447 525 457 or email.

The state government says it’s now offering grants to TAFEs and learning providers across Victoria, modernising training for the next generation of Victorian agricultural professionals.

Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney (pictured above) recently announced the 13 projects approved for funding as part of the government’s $15 million Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund.

The funding will deliver projects that support new curriculum design, delivery and equipment to embrace emerging technologies and incorporate Aboriginal agricultural knowledge and practices.

The grants deliver on the findings of the Future of Agriculture Training Review released in 2022, which determined collaboration across industry and the education sector is essential in positioning agriculture as a career of choice moving forward.

Grants of up to $2 million were available to eligible Victorian TAFEs and training providers to help them deliver new or revamped training to ensure students have the skills required for a future career in agriculture.

Among the organisations approved for grants is South West Institute of TAFE, with $1.99 million towards a statewide Agriculture Tech Skills Centre.

The Centre will feature state-of-the-art software and technologies, providing advanced professional development and learning opportunities for students and teachers.

Melbourne Polytechnic will receive $1.44 million to integrate the latest technologies in education to remediate degraded land for agriculture, horticulture and conservation.

The program aims to equip students with the skills they need to utilise land that would have previously been deemed unsuitable for agriculture as a response to the increased shortage of farmland in Victoria’s peri-urban fringe.

Other organisations getting grants include Wodonga Institute of TAFE, Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, Australian College of Agriculture and Horticulture, Federation University Australia, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Gordon TAFE, Christie Centre Inc., Kreate Pty Ltd, 4 Up Skilling Pty Ltd, Velisha Education Group and Rural Industries Skills Training.

The Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund is part of the Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund established under the government’s $50 million Agricultural College Modernisation Program, which supports more Victorians to pursue careers in agriculture.

Are you an aspiring AgTech entrepreneur? Or would you like to know how the Victorian Government is supporting the local AgTech ecosystem?

Agriculture Victoria’s new podcasts series ‘AgTech Innovators’ explores the unique pathways available to Victorian start-ups, how they can best attract investment and what global trends, opportunities and barriers they should be aware of.

Agriculture Victoria’s AgRIN Project Lead Mark Sloan said they are really concentrating on informing anybody out there with an innovative idea and giving them a pathway to access and to get their ideas off the ground.

‘Agriculture Victoria sees its role as helping nurture current existing AgTech start-ups and also help to further build our ecosystem in Victoria so that we have the capacity in the state to continue to be innovative.’

‘We talk to a wide range of people involved in growing this industry and share with the listeners their journey, the things that worked, and the things that didn’t,’ he said.

In Episode 1 of the series, we talk to Maxie Juang from SproutX and hear about their Business of Agriculture Program that is being funded through a partnership between LaunchVic and Agriculture Victoria.

You can subscribe and listen to AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts:

Subscribe to AgVic Talk on Spotify
Subscribe to Apple Podcasts.
Find out more here.

Agriculture Victoria is inviting sheep producers and the broader sheep industry to join them at the 2023 BestWool/BestLamb conference and pre-conference dinner in Bendigo on Monday evening and Tuesday, 19-20 June.

The pre-conference dinner will take place on the Monday evening at the All Seasons Resort Hotel in Bendigo to celebrate 25 years of the BestWool/BestLamb program.

Mark Wales, former Special Operations Commander and winner of TV series Australian Survivor, will be the special dinner speaker.

As a former special operations commander, Mark is used to operating in dynamic, high stress situations where personal and team performance means the difference between life and death.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Technical Specialist Lyndon Kubeil said it’s a chance to hear how Mark was able to use his experience leading an elite special forces team in combat to drive decision making and personal performance.

‘The line-up of speakers the next day at the conference will inform, challenge and excite participants with the most up to date sheep industry research and information, as well as provide a great opportunity for networking.

‘The format is a one-day event featuring concurrent sessions so participants can attend sessions that are relevant and of interest to them, plus trade displays and the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) shearing race delivery demonstration,’ Mr Kubeil said.