The Hepburn Shire Council is inviting residents to have a say on what’s important about the shire’s rural areas, what should be protected and enhanced through future planning measures. 

The invitation to complete a survey is part of the council’s move to develop an Agricultural Land and Rural Settlement Strategy as part of its strategic planning project titled ‘Future Hepburn’.

The Agricultural Land and Rural Settlement Strategy aims to safeguard local agricultural productivity and the biodiversity of rural land from inappropriate development and provide for the future planning of the shire’s small rural settlements to 2043. 

Residents are being invited to Complete a survey and tell the council what they value about living in a rural area, what they regard appropriate development to be, challenges and opportunities for rural-based businesses, land availability and more.

The survey will be open until Friday 12 May with printed surveys also available at local libraries or council hubs in the shire.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting public feedback on its Customer Service Centres review.

Councillors at their April 26 meeting adopted the revised Customer Service Charter following community consultation earlier this year, while also endorsing a recommendation for further consultation on the future of its four existing Customer Service Centres.
In 2022, Council’s Customer Service Centre opening hours were analysed and a review undertaken
across the Gisborne, Kyneton, Romsey and Woodend sites, to determine the number and type of in-person interactions over a set period.
This review revealed significant contrasts in attendance and activities performed at all centres, with
Woodend and Romsey in particular recording comparably lower levels of foot traffic.
Considering a number of factors, the review led to a recommendation that operating the Woodend site
as is was not viable in the long term, and that an opportunity exists to redistribute resources to areas
with higher demand, to achieve better customer service outcomes across the shire.
Mayor Annette Death: “The revised Customer Service Charter focuses on strengthening our
service delivery, and in line with this, it is timely that we revisit how best to balance the needs of the
community with using our resources most effectively. This proposal would cease customer-facing
interactions at the Woodend, while still maintaining a level of service to that community.”
Feedback is invited on the Customer Service Centre review from 27 April to 24 May, with more
information available via mrsc.vic.gov.au/your-say on-line.

Macedon Ranges Shire councillors have decided not to proceed with a Country Fire Authority (CFA) proposal to relocate the Riddells Creek Fire Station to Riddells Creek Recreational Reserve.
Councillors and the community have acknowledged the need for upgraded facilities to support the CFA’s
effectiveness in keeping the community safe. However a recommendation, which went before the council at its April 26 meeting, had concluded that the current CFA proposal did not appropriately attend to the concerns of the council and the community, and more work was needed to find a suitable solution.
Concerns around access, parking and the impact the proposal could have on existing user groups
were identified through the community consultation process. It was also noted that the area had been designated for recreational purposes and the proposal could inhibit future expansion of the facilities within the reserve.
Mayor Annette Death: “I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback on this
proposal. Council will continue to work closely with the CFA, Victorian Government and Riddells
Creek community to find a suitable outcome for the proposed relocation.”

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting feedback on two annual documents that highlight proposed funding for essential services and other initiatives in 2023/24.

At the April Scheduled Council Meeting, councillors endorsed that the draft 2023/24 Budget and
updated Council Plan (Year Three) go out for consultation, following months of extensive internal
work to produce a balanced budget and refine the council’s key outcomes for the next financial year.

Submissions on these draft documents will be accepted from now until 5pm, Friday 19 May. Those
who provide a formal submission will also be invited to present on their feedback in person to the council
at a Submitters Delegated Committee meeting on 7pm, Wednesday 31 May.
Following consideration of feedback, the final 2023/24 Budget and updated Council Plan are expected
to be tabled at the Scheduled Council Meeting on Wednesday 28 June for adoption.
The 2023/24 Budget of around $110 million is supported by planned revenue of around $63 million,
primarily from rates and service charges, helping the council to continue delivering almost 100 essential
services to the community and implement almost 40 new initiatives to support a growing shire.
Alongside the council funding partnering with State and Federal Government on the ongoing delivery of
major projects, such as roads, the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Complex in New Gisborne and
the Woodend to Riddells Creek Shared Trail, some of the initiatives proposed to be funded include:
 Almost $730,000 in total of Council funds across several key sporting upgrades including
netball facilities at Kyneton Showgrounds Reserve – a key master plan step – and lighting
upgrades at the Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve and New Gisborne tennis courts
 $20,000 towards fully furnishing the new Lancefield Kindergarten and Maternal Child
Health Service, which is benefiting from up to $3 million of Victorian Government funding
and is targeted to open by early 2024
 $10.3 million in capital infrastructure work to roads, including Three Chain Road in Carlsruhe,
Sutherlands Road in Clarkefield, Murphy Street in Romsey, Hamilton Road in New Gisborne,
the Darraweit-Bolinda Road intersection in Darraweit Guim, and Chanters Lane in Trentham
(together with Hepburn Shire Council).
These new initiatives complement the funding required to complete Council’s annual ‘business as
usual’ work across the shire, which includes:
 maintaining more than 1,700km of road network and more than 500 buildings or structures
 maintaining more than 900 hectares of open space and assisting about 80 sporting clubs
 delivering kindergarten to more than 850 children, and providing maternal and child health
support for up to 600 infants and their families.
The council is seeking to soften cost pressures where practical, such as inviting feedback on a potential
alternative user-pays model for green waste at transfer stations to introduce a charge of around $5
per cubic metre, reducing the proposed kerbside collection charge for those with a four-bin service.

To account for rising service costs, the council is proposing increases to rates (in line with the state-wide
rate cap of 3.5 per cent), charges for kerbside collection (previously absorbed by Council in 2022/23)
and gate fees at resource recovery facilities (transfer stations).
Complementing the draft 2023/24 Budget, the updated Council Plan (Year Three) highlights several
actions relating to ongoing priorities for Council that carry over to 2023/24, in addition to year-specific
actions such as the development of an updated Reconciliation Action Plan, a Climate Emergency
Response Plan (Cool-ER Changes) and a new Waste Education Action Plan.
Mayor Annette Death encouraged everyone to take the time and read the draft documents, to better
understand Council’s reasoning and allow them to give informed feedback.
“Everyone – Council included – is facing cost pressures at the moment, but our focus continues to be
on delivering our priority projects and various services to a high standard for the benefit of our
residents and visitors to the shire,” she said.
“From the regular services such as road maintenance and waste collection, to longer-term strategic
initiatives, Council delivers so many important services to the community and we value hearing what
matters most to you.”
Chief Executive Officer Bernie O’Sullivan said Council had carefully considered the impacts of nation-wide challenges and how to best mitigate those effects on services delivered to the community.
“These draft documents are the result of hours upon hours of hard work and consideration by our
Council staff and Councillors, whose goal is to balance the needs of the community with a sustainable
budget,” he said.
“Alongside current priorities, Council will continue to advocate for funding to support priority projects
and tourism opportunities that make the Macedon Ranges a special place to live, work and visit.”

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council says it will now invite public feedback on its draft Affordable Housing Policy following its recent April scheduled meeting.

At the meeting on April 26, councillors endorsed the draft Affordable Housing Policy to be
released for community consultation – a policy that will guide and inform all council decisions and
actions relating to affordable housing in the Macedon Ranges.
It will supersede the Affordable Housing Interim Policy 2021-2023 endorsed by Council in December
2021, which was implemented to put affordable and social housing on Council’s agenda, and convey
an intent to engage with the Victorian Government on its Big Housing Build.
A minimum investment of $30 million has been committed for the Macedon Ranges, of the $5.3 billion
investment by the Victorian Government under the Big Housing Build initiative, to be put towards
social and affordable housing in the shire.
Relevant to this is a recent proposal for a new 12-unit development at 3-5 Noel Street in Lancefield
which, following community consultation earlier this year, councillors also endorsed to proceed at last
month’s council meeting.
The council will now enter into a lease of the property with Wintringham Housing for a 20-year term, with
Wintringham to lead next steps in the process including lodging a planning permit and further
community consultation.

Mayor Annette Death: “I encourage people to read through this important policy and have their
say. The Noel Street proposal is a prime example of the positive outcomes that the policy is aiming to
achieve.”
Feedback is invited on the draft Affordable Housing Policy from 27 April to 21 May, with more
information available at mrsc.vic.gov.au/your-say

The next generation of Trentham footy, cricket, and netball stars can look forward to celebrating the
big wins under the one roof thanks to the completion of the new pavilion at Trentham Reserve.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas (pictured below) in recent days joined Hepburn Springs Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, representatives from Trentham Saints Football and Netball Club and Trentham District Cricket Club, to officially launch the new sports ground pavilion, made possible by a more than $2 million
investment from the Victorian Government.

With more than 250 players across the Trentham and District Football Netball Club and Trentham
District Cricket Club, the extra space, allows the clubs to build on their teams, host more training,
games and local celebrations.
The Saints have also seen recent growth in female footy participation and have experienced a boom
in numbers, leaving the old changerooms struggling to cope.
The new pavilion features home and away player and umpire changerooms, two large multi-purpose
social rooms, a meeting and first aid room, storage space, a commercial kitchen, canteen, bar and a
large covered outdoor spectator area with great views of the playing field.
It’s not just a win for local sport, with nearby Trentham District Primary School and community groups
also able to access the new facility.
The Government investment in the pavilion project was through the Community Sports Infrastructure
Stimulus Program in partnership with the Hepburn Shire Council.
Mary-Anne Thomas also acknowledged Hepburn Shire Council for its $471,768 and support in
progressing the project.
From new sports pavilions to scoreboards, investments like these provide high-quality and accessible
facilities that allow Victorians to reap the benefits of sport and active recreation participation.
They are also about creating jobs, stimulating local economies and fast-tracking community recovery
by improving the health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Victorian communities.
The Government has invested more than $1.6 billion in community sport and active recreation
infrastructure since 2014.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas: “The new female friendly change rooms are a game-changer for local sport. Women and girls can say goodbye to changing in the back of the car. They’ll finally have the facilities they deserve to get active and play the sports they love.”

The state government has helped ease the cost of living for more than 1 million Victorian households with $250 directly into their pockets through the fourth round of the Power Saving Bonus.
The latest round of the program has seen 40 per cent of applicants find a better energy deal – with thousands of Victorians choosing to switch and save by changing their energy deal through the Victorian Energy Compare website.

The Victorian Energy Compare website is an independent comparison website, making it easy for Victorians to find a cheaper offer and keeping big energy retailers in check.
In addition to Victorians comparing their energy online, more than 17,000 households have received the $250 Power Saving Bonus through a community outreach partner, with 73 per cent of these applicants receiving additional energy affordability advice.
Applications for the payment can be made through the Victorian Energy Compare website, where customers can quickly and easily find the best energy offers in their areas.
The Energy Assistance Program – a free service providing energy consumers experiencing hardship with one-on-one assistance – has helped over 500 applicants to navigate the energy market, apply for eligible grants and concessions, find and switch to better offers and address billing errors.
For those without internet access, over-the-phone and in-person support is available through one of our
Community Outreach Partners, including Brotherhood of St Laurence, Ethnic Community Council Victoria, Good Shepherd, State Trustees and hundreds of Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria.
Victorians can also save on their household energy bills through the $1.3 billion Solar Homes Program. Households that accessed both solar panel and hot water rebates saved up to $1,500 on their annual energy bill.
Victoria has cut its emissions by more than any other state, tripled the amount of renewable energy and created thousands of jobs – but there is more to do, with an ambitious renewable energy target of 95 per cent by 2035.
To help meet this target, the Labor Government is reviving the State Electricity Commission to replace unreliable, privatised coal with clean, government-owned, renewable energy to drive down energy costs and help create 59,000 jobs.
Those still keen to access the $250 Power Saving Bonus can visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au or call 1800 000 832 or to speak to an Energy Assistance Program advocate they can call 1800 161 215.
Premier Daniel Andrews: “The best way to lower energy bills is to look for a better offer – that’s why we’re encouraging Victorians to take advantage of another round of the Power Saving Bonus to make sure they are on the best deal ahead of winter.”
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio: “We’re helping Victorians take more control over their energy bills and helping to bring down the cost of power, with our record investment in renewables and bringing back state owned government energy through the SEC.

Local community groups and organisations with a community-driven project or event idea are invited
to apply for funding through the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s annual grants programs.
Applications for Council’s 2023-24 Community Funding Scheme and Events and Festivals grants
programs opened Monday, May 1 and stays open until June 27, with totals of up to $160,000 and up to $75,000 available respectively.

The Community Funding Scheme is open to not-for-profit community groups and will be allocated
under three streams, including community, cultural and environmental projects; organisational
support; and small community infrastructure.
The Events and Festivals Grant Program offers funding and in-kind support (including in-kind venue
hire) for both not-for-profit and commercially run events.
Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, said the grant programs provide an opportunity to
support local groups and organisations who play a pivotal role in strengthening community inclusion.
“Last year we provided nearly $250,000 in funding and just over $10,000 of in-kind support through
these two grant programs,” she said. “This enabled the delivery of a range of activities which provided
broad community benefit.”
“We encourage groups in our community who have an idea for a project or event, but just need some
additional funding to bring it to fruition, to submit their application for consideration.”
Examples of projects and events funded under last year’s grant programs included:
 Macedon Ranges Literary Association ($10,000) – The Pub that Saved the Community –
Remembering Ash Wednesday Script Development.
 Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health ($10,000) – Puppy Pride 2023.
 Macedon-Woodend Scout Group ($3,400) – Purchase of hike tents, camp cookers and BBQs.
 Kyneton Agricultural Show ($6,000) – Supporting new living on the land project.
To assist with the application process, free grant writing workshops are being held on 26 April and 24
May, with Council officers on hand to answer questions, explain the grants guidelines/criteria and how
to use the Smarty Grants online application system.
Those keen to find out more can visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/grants, email grants@mrsc.vic.gov.au or call 5422 0333.

Did you know some juvenile waterbirds need to eat the equivalent of almost one hamburger a day when they leave the nest to survive to breeding age?

With the 2022 unregulated flows supporting significant breeding events in Gunbower Forest and across the northern wetlands, that’s an order even the busiest Cohuna takeaway shop would struggle to fill.

Waterbird surveys over spring and summer conservatively recorded more than 1,000 juvenile waterbirds in Gunbower Forest, most of which hatched within the forest, and a further 5,000 adults across more than 30 species.

Across the region, more than 18,000 adults were counted, with actual numbers expected to be about 40,000. An additional 835 juveniles were recorded in the northern wetlands near Kerang.

However, despite multiple waterbird breeding events across the Murray-Darling Basin over the past decade, waterbird numbers have reduced by more than 70 per cent since the early 1980s.

According to the CSIRO, one of the possible reasons for this lack of population growth is high juvenile and sub adult mortality rate.

For the first two to three years of their life, young waterbirds need large amounts of food and are especially vulnerable to starvation, habitat loss, predation, and the impacts of climate change before they get to breeding age.

Adult waterbirds also need food to rebuild body condition after nesting and raising chicks over several months.

That’s why the Victorian Environmental Water Holder and North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) are planning an environmental flow in Gunbower Forest this winter and spring.

“We have an opportunity for the first time on the forest floodplain to build on a significant waterbird breeding event with a follow-up flow from our Hipwell Rd channel, help these young birds survive to adulthood, and help their parents rebuild condition after raising their chicks,” North Central CMA Chief Executive Officer Brad Drust said.

“We need to lock in the gains of last year’s unregulated flows, help protect vulnerable waterbirds, and prepare the forest for the impacts of climate change.

“As the forest and the region dries out after last year’s high flows, it’s important all these waterbirds have somewhere they can go, with the right habitat variation and food resources. Gunbower Forest has all that.”

Before regulation, water flowed onto Gunbower Forest every one or two years, up to seven in every 10 years on average. That means the forest ecosystems evolved with water in most years.

But over the past 20 years it has only had half that, which means there is still a major deficit.

This represents less habitat and food resources for waterbirds, river red gums, and water-dependent plants have only been getting, at best, half of what they need to just survive.

Poorer habitat equals fewer waterbirds.

“We are working with all the local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as the community-based Enhancing Northern Waterways Advisory Group on the details of a proposed environmental flow starting this winter to help these birds survive,” Mr Drust said.

“The community consultation is really important for us, especially this year. We know the community is still dealing with the outcome of the floods, and this group’s input, in that environment, is vital.

“We saw large-scale unregulated flows through these same forests in 2010-11, and we saw how quickly the condition of the trees and understorey vegetation deteriorated without follow-up water in the following years. We don’t want that to happen this time, and it doesn’t need to.

“With the Hipwell Road regulator and channel in place, we can get water to where it needs to be to make the most impact. That couldn’t happen 10 years ago.”

The proposed watering will target only 23 per cent of the forest but will provide a lot of hamburgers for hungry young waterbirds.

“Even though we can only water 23 per cent of the forest, we have an opportunity to fill the gaps created by river regulation and climate change,” Mr Drust said.

“These Goldilocks flows aren’t large floods. Far from it. They aim to deliver the right amount of water at the right time of the year to mimic gentle, small to moderate sized natural floods.

“Under the proposal, forest wetlands and river red gum areas will be watered, attracting waterbirds, and allowing plants to flourish. The forest will be a beautiful place to visit, especially during spring and early summer when the trees and wetlands are at their best.

“Popular camping and fishing areas along the Gunbower Creek and the Murray River will still be accessible, but alternative routes may be required.”

The Hepburn Shire Council is seeking a review to expand Creswick’s ambulance operations
to 24/7, noting that in this critically important part of the healthcare system ambulance response times in Hepburn Shire are significantly behind the state average – 19 minutes compared to 13.

“Such an upgrade in the west of the Shire would complement the new ambulance station
to be created in Trentham, in the east of the Shire, later this year,” mayor Cr Brian Hood said.

Kate Bush fans will no doubt be delighted to learn that “Running Up That Hill: The Songs of Kate Bush” comes to The Palais, Hepburn Springs this Friday evening, May 5.

Kate Bush is one of the most unique and innovative artists of the last forty plus years, finding fame at 19 with her hit single ‘Wuthering Heights’ and from there, constantly reinventing her style and challenging genre conventions.

To celebrate the 45th Anniversary of ‘The Kick Inside’, tour organisers have put together a seven-piece band to pay tribute to Kate Bush in all her kooky glory!

Whether you’re a die-hard Bush devotee or just discovered her music through Stranger Things, this is the show for you! The band are pulling out all the stops, playing her biggest hits and deep cuts to please every fan. What we’re saying is, run up that hill and buy a ticket before it’s too late!

Featuring some of Melbourne’s best musos, this is a show not to miss, with performances from Cat Sanzaro, Freya Long, Sean Sully, Marlee J. Dalton, John Abougelis, James Wingard and Chris Thomas-Sievers.

Band Bio

Second Hand News is a Melbourne tribute band that formed in 2019 with a mission to bring the most loved songs by the best artists to the stage. Comprising Cat Sanzaro, Sean Sully, James Wingard, Freya Long, John Abougelis and guest musicians Chris Thomas-Sievers and Marlee J. Dalton, the group have performed in various tributes over the last decade, playing Fleetwood Mac, Talking Heads, Kate Bush, Buddy Holly, Oasis and more. Their regular Fleetwood Mac tribute has toured Victoria widely, playing to packed crowds at the Palais-Hepburn, Sooki Lounge, the Westernport Hotel, the Corner Hotel, the Barwon Club, Cherry Bar, the Prince Bandroom, and the Grand Mornington to name a few.

Hepburn Shire Council has endorsed joining a Visitor Economy Partnership
with neighbouring councils in Ballarat, Moorabool, Pyrenees and Golden
Plains, along with representatives from the tourism industry and the
Victorian Government to boost tourism to the region.
Joining the Visitor Economy Partnership will result in cross-regional cooperation
and partnerships, maximising visitation to the broader region, especially in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games in 2026.

It will also provide additional industry-strengthening support available to businesses in the west of the shire. The new
partnership begins on July 1 and will complement the continued work of Daylesford
Macedon Tourism to market and attract visitors to Hepburn Shire.

Autumn trees for dazzling colour
To many, the most beautiful time of the garden year is spring, the season
of re-birth, when trees and shrubs burst forth with fresh new growth, flowers
are blooming everywhere and air is fresh with their scent and the promise
of bright new things to come.
But to me, the most colourful and dramatic time of year is now, when
deciduous trees and shrubs everywhere turn on a dazzling display of coloured
foliage before shedding their growth and shutting up shop for the winter.
A drive in almost any direction at this time of year will provide you with a never-ending spectacle of varying shades of gold, brown, orange and red, and, if you are
thinking about adding autumn colour to your garden, you will see them at their best.
The hybrid, ornamental grapevine vitis vinifera, has been let grow this year, to form a garland of colour in the adjacent silver pittosporum tenuifolium.
Deciduous trees, although bare in winter, have several benefits other than
providing a once-in-the-year crop of leafy mulch. They also provide colour twice a
year, autumn leaves, then spring flowers and in some cases, fruit.
One of the most striking of the autumn foliage trees is liquidambar – an upright
conical tree with beautifully coloured, maple-like leaves that turn from a liquid gold
to a deep purplish red. They vary in colour because they are generally grown from
seed.
A hybrid form, L. Festeri, is a more compact, fast-growing tree of up to 10 metres
that will always turn a deep reddish-bronze shade and will always holds its leaves right
up until June.
One of my all time favourites, especially for smaller gardens, is the Washington
Thorn (crataegus phaenopyrum).
A beautiful, compact small tree that will grow to approximately five metres high,
this is a show off for most of the year for as well as its beautifully coloured red and
orange autumn foliage, it also has masses of small white flowers in the spring followed
in summer by clusters of small scarlet berries that will hang right through until the
following spring.
One of my favourites, a most useful and rewarding autumn-foliaged tree that will
grow under any conditions and provide interest and colour for almost every month of
the year is the golden rain tree, koelreuteria paniculata.
Apart from any other attribute, koelreuteria is the tree that inspired the Willow
pattern chinaware design so known and loved throughout the world and is a
beautifully shaped tree, growing up to five metres high.
During spring the tree is covered with long, gracefully sweeping panicles of fine,
golden-yellow blooms. In summer these form large seed pods that are themselves a
deep old-gold colour, these remain to colour the tree until winter. In autumn the
foliage attains a deep golden-yellow colouring before falling.
Koelreuteria is one of the most resistant trees to strongly alkaline soils and
will withstand hot, dry winds and long periods of drought. In fact, it will thrive
practically anywhere.
For larger gardens in almost any climate, where height or size are no problem, the
ash twins – the golden fraxinus excelsior aurea and fraxinus raywoodii or claret ash,
which, as its name implies, turns to a deep reddish colour in the autumn.
Either or both are so perfect for creating a shady retreat that they are used
extensively as street or park trees almost everywhere, indicating their ability to thrive
in almost any situation.
Got a gardening query? Email glenzgarden@gmail.co

Traditional owners in south-west and central Victoria are being supported
to conduct cultural burning on country as part of ongoing work towards
Aboriginal self-determination.

Ten projects will be funded with a total grant of $6.3 million. The grant
program supports traditional owners to care for country, investing in projects that
promote self-determination through land management and enhance cultural and
environmental values on country.

Cultural fire is used by traditional owners to heal
country and fulfil their rights and obligations to care for country.

Hepburn Shire Council is developing an Agricultural Land and Rural
Settlement Strategy, the first of its strategic planning projects that make up
Future Hepburn.
The strategy aims to increase understanding of existing and future farming
practices, changing trends, emerging technology and farming systems across the shire
and establish a long-term plan to manage land use in our farming areas.

It will also build understanding about the significant climate change risks in the shire and how
land use planning can respond to these risks. The strategy includes a public survey
which closes on May 12.

Copies of the survey are available at libraries and customer
service hubs or head to www.participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/future-hepburn