The newest entrance to Town Hall Station has opened today as part of the Allan Labor Government’s Metro Tunnel, ahead of the Big Switch on Sunday – the biggest transformation of Melbourne’s rail network in more than 40 years.

The new Swanston Street entrance, located next to Young & Jackson, gives passengers another direct and accessible way into the state-of-the-art station in the heart of the city. The entrance can also be accessed via Cocker and Scott alleys off Flinders Lane, making it easier to move through Melbourne’s busiest precinct.

Town Hall Station’s main entrance at City Square opened on 30 November as part of the Metro Tunnel’s Summer Start, with a third entrance at Federation Square set to open later this year.

Expected to be one of the busiest stations on the new network, Town Hall Station provides access to some of Melbourne’s most popular destinations, including Federation Square, Birrarung Marr, Southbank, St Paul’s Cathedral and Melbourne Town Hall.

The station includes a direct underground connection to Flinders Street Station, delivering seamless transfers between Metro Tunnel and City Loop services, and easy access to major tram routes along Swanston, Collins and Flinders streets.

Victorians have already embraced the Metro Tunnel, with more than 700,000 visits to Metro Tunnel stations over December and January as families, commuters and train fans explored the new stations during the school holidays.

The Metro Tunnel has doubled Melbourne’s underground rail network, allowing passengers to travel across the city from Arden Station in North Melbourne to Anzac Station on St Kilda Road in just 12 minutes.

From Sunday’s Big Switch, the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham line services will run exclusively through the new tunnel, unlocking more than 1,200 extra weekly services and delivering trains every three to four minutes in peak periods.

Never forget, the Liberals called the Metro Tunnel a “hoax”. They consistently refused to fund it. Never in their wildest dreams did they think it would actually get built. It’s now open and delivering more services for Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams

“Today we’re opening a new front door to Town Hall Station, making it even easier for Victorians to get in and out of the Metro Tunnel right in the heart of the city.”

“It’s opening just in time for the Big Switch this Sunday, unlocking more than 1,000 extra weekly services and delivering turn up and go services along the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.”

Melbourne is set to host the world’s leading data centre and artificial intelligence tech summit for the first time in Australia – thanks to support from the Allan Labor Government.

The summit will be held in September and is expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees, providing a boost to the state’s visitor economy of up to $4 million. It will showcase the spectrum of technology transformations shaping the future of business innovation and advancement.

The two co-located events, Data Center World and The AI Summit, will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre – joining Informa Connect’s prestigious global series held in the USA, the UK and Asia.

The bid was secured for Melbourne by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), with support from Business Events Australia.

Melbourne is home to the largest cluster of AI firms in Australia, with 40 data centres across the state.

The Labor Government is investing in jobs and skills to support this rapid growing sector as part of its Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan, leveraging the state’s critical assets to unlock projects in the pipeline worth up to $25 billion in potential capital expenditure.

The announcement follows other major technology and innovation events secured for Melbourne attracting thousands of attendees, including the International Conference on Neural Information Processing (ICONIP) in 2026.

For more information on Victoria’s upcoming major conferences, visit melbournecb.com.au.

Quote attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos

“This is a major vote of confidence in Victoria’s thriving tech ecosystem and a powerful boost to local businesses and jobs.”

“These events bring world-class experts from across the globe and inject vital economic activity into our hotels, cafes, restaurants and venues.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson

“Hosting this conference in Victoria is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our state as a global leader in tech and innovation.”

“Victoria is leading the way in digital transformation and hosting a conference focused on data centres and artificial intelligence will accelerate growth across these critical sectors.”

Daylesford Spirit Cellar Door is the new kid on the block on Daylesford’s main street. And The Spirit is what people are already calling the Gin Spot at 45 Vincent Street, the space emanates a New York style bar, in the heart of Victoria’s Spa Country.

The production facility, where everything is bottled with a locally sourced ethos is based out of Mount Franklin and headed by Michael Samootin, who has decided to expand the spirit of his carefully considered distillation to the town.

First up, the cellar door is more of a bespoke cocktail lounge with plenty of comfy leather couches, mood lighting and cool music with a regular schedule of live jazz and blues.

With the product lines of gin, whisky and vodka all made by hand, there are plenty of cocktails to experience while kicking back and enjoying the ambience. To accompany your cocktail, you can enjoy a variety of locally sourced charcuterie plates, Long Paddock cheese platters and smaller tapas-style dishes. For the beer and wine lovers, there is also wine and beer available.

Michael said people are already loving “The Spirit” – with many saying it is providing something that has been missing from the town for a while. But there’s more…Gin Masterclasses on offer. And if anyone knows gin, it’s Michael.

The classes run for two hours and include an educative discussion about the origins of gin, the importance of botanicals and then a chance to make your own 500ml bottle of gin to take home.

The label doubles as a certificate of completion – along with personal tasting notes from Michael. Michael wants all his gin lovers who attend to have a bottled experience to take home, and re-order should they wish.

When summing up his role as a distiller Michael says:

“The experience of being a distiller is something I’m now sharing to the public and helping them learn how gin is made. Everyone gets a set of scales, a little beaker, and then they make up their own little mix. They’ve got the opportunity to understand the profile of the botanicals and the flavour profiles it gives in the gin as well. Once the gin is cut back with water, to about 40 per cent proof from 80 per cent, there is also the opportunity to have a cocktail made with each person’s personalised gin. It’s quite a beautiful and unique experience.”

Michael said it also gives people the chance to drink gin without the need for tonic to mask the flavours.

“Commercial gin is not great, and many people need the tonic but with artisan gin you can drink it on ice or just with a bit of soda.”

And the world agrees about that quality. Michael has won medals in London, San Francisco, Singapore and Australia – with the Miner’s Gin Navy Strength winning double gold in San Francisco (98/100 points), and Best in Class in Singapore (100/100 points).

Gin Masterclasses are $175 per person and include a cocktail on arrival. You can book groups up to 14 people. A must to do when visiting Daylesford.

Bookings at can be made by visiting www.daylesfordspirit.com.au or email Michael at msamootin@daylesfordspirit.com.au

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Kyle Barnes (More images at tlnews.com.au)

(Advertorial)

Australians for Mental Health is calling on state and local governments to sharpen their focus on urban greening infrastructure, as more hot weather hits areas with less green space especially hard. Hot weather is forecast for parts of the country over the coming days, and places like Western Sydney which has fewer green spaces and tree canopy than other areas, are known to get hotter partly due to the urban heat island effect. It comes as new data from Australians for Mental Health suggests there is overwhelming majority support for greening communities, with the organisation’s Mental Health Compass research finding 71% of Australians agreed taking care of the environment and making sure people had access to green space was important. Only 5% disagreed with the statement. “Physical health is not the only thing at risk during heatwaves. Heat waves are dangerous for human health overall, especially for vulnerable people. But doctors report that hot weather impacts mood and can exacerbate mental health conditions,” Chris Gambian said. “Improving people’s homes, especially for renters and people on low incomes, is a critical step. But an overlooked part of the solution is to dramatically increase the tree canopy and green spaces in our hottest areas. 

 Research cited on the NSW Government’s Planning website states that if we reach a greening target of at least 30% in a community, psychological distress could be lowered by 31%, loneliness could be reduced by 24% and dementia by 16%. Greening is not just good for reducing heat impacts, it’s excellent for mental health,” Chris Gambian said. Australians for Mental Health is urging for action to improve the nation’s mental health, ranging from investing in communities and connection to dismantling work culture that is damaging to wellbeing, to recognising nature as being central to human wellbeing. “It’s not an abstract idea that nature is good for us. There is overwhelming evidence that having access to green space is good for us. It lowers stress levels, improves our long term resilience and bolsters connection. “We can’t treat our way out of Australia’s mental health crisis. Psychologists and doctors will always be a part of the solution, but we need to look at community level approaches which can help. Making spaces greener is one way to do that,” Chris Gambian said. 

2026 has arrived and the festivities have come to an end. Suddenly, it hits you. The next phase of your life is about to begin.

Suddenly, you’re frantically googling. How do I enrol in my classes? When is my first day again? What stationery do I need? Will I need a new bag?

Let’s hit pause on the panic button for a second. If you’re heading into full time study or training this year, we’ve got news you’ll want to hear.

Here’s what you need to know!

Services Australia has a range of student payments to help you financially while you study and now is the time to apply.

Financial support that can help set you up

If you take just one thing away from this, let it be this – you don’t need to wait for your course offer or your course to start before claiming a student payment.

A common myth is you need to wait for a course offer before claiming support. Some people think they need to wait until they start the course itself.

But you don’t. In fact, if you claim over the summer break, you may be able to get student payments now, before their course or training begins.

Now, what payments might be available for you? Keep on reading.

Youth Allowance

Youth Allowance is a payment for young Australians aged 16-24 who are studying, training, or working in full-time apprenticeships or traineeships.

Applicants must be Australian residents and meet income and assets tests, including a parental means test if they’re considered dependent.

Students can receive up to $677.20 per fortnight while living away from home and up to $482.40 per fortnight living at home.

ABSTUDY

If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student or apprentice, ABSTUDY offers different payments and allowances tailored to your situation.

If you’re thinking about university or TAFE, this can help with living costs, high essential course costs like union fees, library fees, laboratory fees and textbook costs, as well as travel and lodging.

Apprentices can also get support with living costs while they complete their training.

Other support available

There are additional supports available for students who are moving away from home to study or who need extra support with upfront costs.

The Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a payment of up to $5000, designed to support students under 23 years of age, moving from regional or remote areas for their first year of tertiary study.

You can look up your address on the Services Australia website to work out if you’re moving from an area eligible for the Tertiary Access Payment.

The Student Start Up Loan, which is a voluntary loan of $1,349, twice per year, which is available for students to help with the costs of textbooks, living expenses or laptops. It’s important to remember that you will need to pay back the amount you borrow plus indexation.

Relocation Scholarship is also available for students moving from a regional or remote area for study. If you are receiving Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY, you could be entitled to an extra $5,707 in the first year of study.

There is also an allowance called Fares Allowance, which is available to students who are living away from home to study and are receiving a student payment. This covers the cost of the least expensive and most available form of public transport in Australia.

Lastly, you may also be entitled to Rent Assistance if you are receiving a student payment and paying rent. Depending on your situation, you could get up to an additional $215.40 a fortnight, if you are single and your rent is more than $152.00 a fortnight.

How to claim these payments

You’ll need to link Centrelink to your myGov account to apply. If you don’t have a myGov account, you’ll need to create one.  There is a step-by-step guide here.

After you’ve created one, you can link services to your account and lodge your claim.

You may need to provide supporting documents, including details about your course, your home location, and your parents’ income.

So go ahead – celebrate your results, breathe and get excited about what’s next to come! No matter your path, Services Australia is here to help you start strong.

You’ve got this!

In another win for our visitor economy, Melbourne will host an upcoming World Conference on Lung Cancer – the biggest lung cancer conference globally.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today announced the city will welcome the 2029 edition of the conference – bringing more than 6,500 experts from 100 countries.

The event will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and is expected to inject more than $34 million into the state’s economy.

The conference is presented by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) – the only global network dedicated to research and eradication of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies.

The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) worked with the IASLC and Cancer Council Victoria to secure the Congress, supported by the Allan Labor Government and Business Events Australia.

The Labor Government is strengthening Victoria’s position as a world leader in cancer survival and innovation – backed by the Victorian Cancer Plan 2024–2028. This ambitious roadmap aims to improve outcomes by focusing on prevention, early detection, equitable care and world-class research.

Melbourne is home to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia’s only public hospital dedicated to cancer treatment and research, and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, a global hub for oncology.

The announcement builds on other major medical events recently secured for Melbourne – including the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress in 2027, which will attract 2,500 delegates and generate an expected $14 million in economic impact.

The city will also host the 30^th annual Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Congress will be held in 2028 – drawing more than 2,000 delegates and delivering an estimated $14 million boost to the economy.

Melbourne will also welcome the 16^th annual International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation (ISLRR) conference in 2027, bringing in 750 delegates and more than $3 million in economic impact.

For more information about any of Victoria’s upcoming major conferences, visit melbournecb.com.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos

“This event will boost our visitor economy, filling hotels, supporting local businesses and driving jobs.”

“It reinforces Victoria’s reputation as a leader in innovation and a premier destination for major international conferences.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas

“Victoria is driving global progress in cancer research – backing our brightest minds through funding, fellowships and cutting-edge infrastructure.”

“By supporting researchers and investing in advanced treatments, we’re breaking new ground in prevention, diagnosis and care.”

Quote attributable to Melbourne Convention Bureau Chief Executive Julia Swanson 

“Hosting international medical conferences here not only drives knowledge exchange and collaboration but also delivers significant economic and social benefits to the city and the wider community.”

Quotes attributable to Cancer Council Victoria Chief Executive Officer Todd Harper

“Australia has long been at the forefront of global efforts to reduce the burden of lung cancer – the leading cause of cancer-deaths worldwide.”

“Bringing the world’s leading experts together here provides a powerful opportunity to accelerate progress and ultimately save more lives from lung cancer.”

Quote attributable to Cancer Council Australia Chief Executive Officer Professor Dorothy Keefe PSM MD

“Hosting the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Melbourne highlights Australia’s dedication to world-class research, early detection and equitable care.”

The Labor Government is getting on with delivering world-class healthcare for families in Melbourne’s north eastern suburbs, with major works to expand the emergency department at the Austin Hospital officially underway.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne today visited the hospital in Heidelberg to make the significant milestone – made possible by a $275 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2024/25.

Once complete, the new three-storey expanded emergency department will have the capacity to treat 30,000 more emergency presentations each year, adding up to 29 extra treatment spaces and an upgraded short stay unit – treating patients sooner and getting paramedics back on the road where they are needed most.

No parent wants to see their child unwell, so a dedicated paediatric zone within the emergency department will create better services in a calm, family-friendly environment for both patients and their families, closer to home.

The upgrade will also give the dedicated health workers expanded staff amenities and improved clinical administration spaces, ensuring they have the best facilities to care for families in this growing area of Melbourne.

During the first phase of the complex construction, workers will establish site sheds, demolish the facades at the entrances to both the Austin and Mercy Hospital for Women and build access tunnels to allow patients and visitors to move between the two hospitals while works are underway.

To enable construction of the new building, these existing main entrances will be closed for the duration of the works to make way for a new entrance – during this time, wayfinding, signage and volunteers will be in place to help guide people where they need to go.

Both hospitals will remain open during construction with the project delivery team working closely with the health services to minimise disruptions, ensuring this vital upgrade can be delivered alongside existing patient care.

The project is part of the Labor Government’s Hospital Infrastructure Delivery Fund, investing $1.6 billion to redevelop three of Victoria’s busiest metropolitan hospitals, with construction underway on each project.

At the Northern Hospital an $813 million redevelopment will deliver a new emergency department, including a mental health and AOD hub, new inpatient beds, a dedicated acute behaviour treatment space and a paediatric treatment zone.

While a $535 million upgrade at Monash Medical Centre will see a new seven level tower that will include an operating theatre complex, a new intensive care unit, an expanded birthing unit and maternity inpatient beds.

The three projects will support Victoria’s construction workforce creating 3,700 jobs during the construction period.

The project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority and Built, in partnership with Austin Health and Mercy Health, with construction on track to be completed in 2028.

Premier Jacinta Allan

“We said we would expand the Austin Hospital’s emergency department and that is exactly what we are doing.”

“It’s only a Labor Government who invests in our hospitals, and this project, along with our $15 billion pipeline of health infrastructure projects across the state is proof.”

Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne

“The new three-storey emergency department expansion will provide families in the growing north-east with better care, closer to home with the capacity to treat 30,000 more patients each year once it is complete.”

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas

“The Austin’s ED is one Victoria’s busiest, seeing more than 88,000 presentations in 2024/25 alone – that’s why this expansion is so critical to support patients and our world-class frontline workers now and into the future.”

Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines

“This expanded ED will be a game changer for the local families, with a dedicated paediatric zone and more treatment spaces helping deliver care sooner.”

Member for Eltham Vicki Ward

“Not only will the new ED help to drive down wait times for locals, it will also get our paramedics back on the road sooner where they are needed most.”

Member for Bundoora Colin Brooks

 “The new Austin ED will support so many people across the community, delivering world-class care on their doorstep.”

West Ward Councillor Kate Kendall, left, is the new mayor of Macedon Ranges Shire Council. East Ward Councillor Cassy Borthwick, right, has been elected as deputy mayor.
Mayor Kendall said following a year of listening and action in her role as a councillor and as deputy mayor, she was pleased to be given the opportunity to lead as mayor for the coming year. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with my fellow councillors, council staff and the community. I’m excited to genuinely engage across platforms and across generations to bring everyone into the local government process. I aim to build trust, transparency and tangible progress on priorities for the benefi t of all ratepayers and
residents of our amazing shire.” Deputy Mayor Borthwick thanked councillors for their support and confi dence in her ability to take on the role. “In my first year as a councillor, I’ve eagerly learnt the ins and outs of the role, listened intently to residents, and stood for what I believed in. As deputy mayor, I’ll continue to build on these initial stepping stones and advocate strongly on behalf of
my community to action meaningful change.”

Environment groups are celebrating the creation of three new national parks and two conservation parks by the state government in Victoria’s central west.
Legislation passed the Legislative Council on November 18 to create the Wombat-Lerderderg, Mount Buangor and Pyrenees national parks along with the Hepburn and Cobaw conservation parks. The Wellsford State Forest has been reclassified as a regional park. Wombat Forestcare members have been campaigning for greater protection of Wombat Forest for 15 years, and park status is a recognition of the very high conservation and catchment values of the forest. Over that time, Wombat Forestcare, working with the Victorian National Parks Association, has lobbied the state government to protect these forests in parks. Wombat Forestcare convenor Gayle Osborne, pictured with the ‘Yes Park’ sign, said the forests exist in a landscape that has been highly cleared of native vegetation and represent incredibly important habitat for the persistence of very many threatened plants, animals and fungi. “This is a massive step for the protection of the amazing and wonderful plants, animals and fungi that inhabit our forests. “We congratulate the state government for legislating these parks. National parks are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation in Australia, and the creation of these parks will ensure that these forests are safeguarded for future generations.” The Wombat Forest is a stronghold for the protection of threatened native fauna and flora including the greater glider, powerful owl, brush-tailed phascogale and the endemic Wombat leafless bossiaea.
Th e park will also protect the Wombat Forest as a water catchment with the headwaters of seven major river systems contained in the forest, and the value the forest provides in terms of ecosystem services and carbon sequestration.
Image: Sandy Scheltema

Hepburn Shire Council has condemned an attack on CEO Bradley Thomas where a cup of coff ee was thrown at him outside a Daylesford cafe on November 19.
The matter has been referred to the police who are investigating. At its November 25 meeting, the council passed an urgent motion condemning the attack, reaffi rming its support for all councillors and officers in the work they carry out and asserting that they are entitled to a safe working environment. Mayor Cr Tony Clark said the attack was unacceptable and intolerable, and that violence was never the answer. “Abuse, aggressive attacks and threatening behaviour are never okay. Everyone deserves to feel safe when at work and out and about in our community,” he said. “Council will request an urgent meeting between myself as Mayor, Mr Thomas and the Minister for Police and Minister for Local Government to discuss what improvements will be made to legislation to safeguard the physical and online safety of councillors and council officers.”

The council also called on the local community online forums to value open debate but ensure that it stays grounded in fact and respect, and will request an urgent update from the Municipal Association of Victoria on its progress to address occupational violence, as passed at the October State Council Meeting. A Victoria Police spokesperson said police are investigating the assault.
“It is understood an unknown man threw coff ee at another man at a café on Albert Street about 1pm. Th e victim was not seriously injured. The investigation
remains ongoing. “Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confi dential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au”

Words: Donna Kelly | Image: HSC

Cr Tony Clark’s professional background is vast. He has an honours degree in science and a masters in communication.
A large part of his career has been in the not-for-profi t sector with Vision Australia – he was deemed legally blind at the age of 20. As an executive he spent his years travelling up and down the eastern seaboard. More recently he worked with the state government, as director for Communications and Engagement for the Victorian Health Building Authority.
Tony is also an accredited trainer for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and on the board, as a non-executive director, with the State Trustees of Victoria. He is also on the board of the Engagement Institute, the peak body for community engagement, where he was chair for six years, ending in October this year. Away from work he has been a leader for more than 35 years in the Scout Association, dealing with Venturers and Rovers, the senior age groups. And now he is the Mayor of Hepburn Shire Council. “I’ve had an interesting life. And looking forward to more as I go,” he said.
Back in 2010, Tony stood for the federal seat of Higgins, Peter Costello’s old seat, and then Deakin in 2016 with the slogan ‘No sight, great vision’. It didn’t work.
Is council a stepping stone for another crack at a federal seat? “No, I’m past that. I have a view though. If you stop and think, since Federation
in 1901, there have been about 10 people elected to federal government with lived experience of disability. Just 10. And I think the only way things will actually change
and you can really aff ect some equity is you’re going to be at the table of decision. “I think that it is actually a mark of some of the progress that we still need to
make in Australia. We talk about equity and we talk about meaningful inclusion, yet at our base level in politics where decisions are made, there is still such a gap. “I think we need advocates inside politics to actually help change the machine that makes the decisions from the start. And one of the outcomes of my work was that the Victorian Labor Party is the only political party in Australia to have developed a disability action plan. “But that (standing for a federal seat) was a long time ago now. And now I think
I’m enjoying just being local. I have no desire to work 80-hour weeks, to be honest.” Tony said over the next 12 months he was looking forward to continuing to build community trust.

“I think there are some really good opportunities to improve and expand what happens. And having been the chair of the Australian peak body for community engagement, I’m really hoping to bring some of that experience into the shire. I think the shire actually does a reasonable job at it, but I think there’s some ways we can improve and uplift. “And once you start to do that engagement, you get a two-way opportunity to share information and community understanding, but also inform the decisions that we’re elected to do, to make and help in the whole process. Because change is never easy for anyone. And I think the more we talk, the more we can get some shared understanding.”

Tony says in terms of the shire’s fi nancial viability things are OK. “We were heading to a very diffi cult place and there is no doubt about that. And to the previous council’s credit, because this is where it started, they made some very tough decisions, and we’ve done that, and I actually think we have a reasonably solid foundation moving forward.
“We’ve got to be careful and I think what a lot of people don’t actually appreciate is this is an issue for the entire local government sector. Governments are cost shifting in a huge way. Costs are going up and councils have very limited and constrained revenue opportunities.

“We’re just going to have to make very sensible, well-considered decisions as we go forward, which won’t align to perhaps what people are hoping we’ll be able to spend.”
Tony said having a disability gave him a diff erent perspective.“We’re all a product of our own experience. Th ere’s no doubt there’s things that I miss in terms of a visual perspective, but there’s a whole lot of other stuff I will also pick up. And one of the great strengths of our democracy is that I am but one of seven decision makers. You know, it’s not all about me. “And everyone, all the council offi cers, all the councillors, and the whole community, I have found are embracing and positive.”
Tony said his top priorities for his term were listening to the community, working with councillors and council officers, and working out how to improve and build
community trust. He is also looking forward to working with the state government and funding bodies – “that’s a really important one”. “I am keen to work with local businesses and work out how we can, in the longer term, set things up for them to thrive and grow because they are in many ways the lifeblood of the really important things in our shire. “And I am excited to continue to work on the planning scheme amendments which the long-term future of our community depends on in terms of what we build, where we build and how we grow over the coming decade. “There’s economic, sustainability, diversity and planning, and there’s a whole lot of sub-areas that fall into that, whereas before you might have had tourism and local business. They actually should just be economic, because they all integrate one way or another.
“This is where the engagement stuff in my mind comes in, you know, how do we actually make sure that we’re developing appropriate plans and going to experts in the space to say what do you know and stress testing it. I’m not a fan of saying, ‘here’s a blue sky, what would you like?’ That just sets up a whole lot of expectations that you’re probably never going to be able to do. “If we can get some of that happening in the next six to nine months, I think that’ll be pretty good. The reality for council and businesses is things don’t happen fast. And I’d rather do it a little bit slower, but do it well.”
Tony said he was keen to have constructive, positive and respectful conversations. “I think there are some issues around safety and respect, which I really hope we work on together as a community. Because there are some individuals who have overstepped the line, particularly in the online space.”

THE REIV   has written to the State Treasurer, requesting an urgent change to the process that is currently in place for a commercial landlord to receive the coronavirus land tax relief.

REIV CEO Gil King said the current method was overly bureaucratic and greatly disadvantaged commercial property owners who have negotiated a rent reduction in good faith.

Currently, a commercial tenant who is seeking rent relief from their landlord due to coronavirus has to lodge a form online. The form cannot be completed by any other party, including a landlord.

“Our primary concern is that there is no incentive for the tenant to do this, and there are no consequences for the tenant if they fail or refuse to do this.

“The completion of the form will be a low priority for tenants, and we have had examples reported to us where the tenant is effectively holding the landlord to ransom by requesting additional rent relief before they will complete the form.

“An illustration of the bureaucracy around the process is evidenced by this extract from the State Revenue Office’s website: ‘Once you have completed the form online, you need to send it to your landlord. You can download a copy, or email a copy to yourself, which you can then email to your landlord, or send it to them directly by entering their email address on the final page, titled ‘Form Complete’.”

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria requests that an alternative process be enabled to ensure landlords are not unduly disadvantaged.

One suggestion is that the rent reduction does not commence until the tenant submits the online form. Alternatively, the balance of the rent relief is to be considered as rent deferral until such time as the form is submitted by the tenant.

There are also issues in the residential rent relief space where tenants are falsely lodging “agreements” with Consumer Affairs Victoria in circumstances where no agreement has been negotiated.

CAV acknowledge the false rent reduction agreement, and when landlords or property managers contact them advising that no agreement has been reached, they are told that CAV cannot change the ‘agreement’ terms and that a new agreement with the correct details needs to be submitted.

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied

Melbourne African Traditional Ensemble (MATE) are headed to Creswick later this month to bring their irresistible sound to Odessa at Leavers Hotel.

Set for 7pm, Saturday June 28 this gig promises to be lively and rhythm-rich.

The Melbourne African Traditional Ensemble is a Pan African music project that brings together a range of traditional instruments from different parts of Africa to create new musical concepts based on the principles of Ujamaa.

The idea of Ujamaa emerged from the writing and speeches of Tanzania’s first president, Julius K Nyerere, from the late 1950s and into the 1960s.

Usually translated as “familyhood,” it was a form of African socialism that blended broadly conceived socialist principles with a distinctly “communitarian” understanding of African societies, and a strong commitment to egalitarian societies.

More details are available through the venue’s website with booking online via Humanitix.

The City of Ballarat’s food organics and garden organics (FOGO) and glass recycling kerbside collections will begin from Monday November 3.

The initiative, in line with State Government changes for all Victorians to move to a four-bin collection system, marks a major step forward in improving local waste management and reducing waste going to landfill.

FOGO kerbside collection has proven successful in the neighbouring Hepburn Shire since it was introduced just over a year ago in April 2024, with glass kerbside collection in Hepburn already in place fortnightly as part of general recyclables collection.

The City of Ballarat has launched a five-month countdown until the introduction of the changes, at the new Buninyong FOGO receival centre located at Scope Australia.

The business will receive the FOGO where it will then be transferred to Green Care Mulching’s composting facility at Balliang.

All City of Ballarat residents will soon receive information in the mail about the waste collection changes. Information will continue to be provided to the community in the lead up to the introduction of the FOGO and glass services.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the new FOGO and glass recycling kerbside collection services will make it easier for everyone to reduce waste and recycle smarter.  

“The introduction of a new FOGO service is a proud moment for our community,” she said.

“FOGO helps households turn food and garden waste into something valuable.

“By using a local site, those garden and food organics will be received right here before it is recycled into compost.”  

Scope Australia Director John Kennedy said the business’ goal for the Ballarat region has always been to build strong partnerships and drive a genuine circular economy.

By Donna Kelly  

By the time you read this, something I just can’t believe will have happened.  I will have turned 60.

“How could this be so?” I hear you ask. “You look so young in your photo,” you  cry. Thank you, but I assure you it is true, and also that this photo is about 12 years old.

If something ain’t broke and all that…  

I am writing this two days before my birthday on May 29 so I don’t yet know  what 60 feels like, but I don’t feel like 60. Something around the 40 mark perhaps.  

The body, of course, tells a different story now and again. Lately more now. I  decided last year, turning 59, that I would work hard to become a fitter 60-year-old.  

Then I broke my wrist celebrating my father-in-law’s 80th so that put the gym off for a while.  This year, with my wrist all good, I went hard at the gym and am now suffering from Achilles heel tendinitis.

It is not the end of the world but I can sort of see it  from here, especially if I stand on my tiptoes. Makes the gym hard again.  

So I am stumbling through the 60s goal posts a little worse for wear. I was also  going to take a nice long break from alcohol, as you should now and again, but I think I chose the wrong life to give up drinking.

I mean, I have to deal with Kyle on a daily basis.  Celebrations, or commiserations, have already been taking place.

I am one of  those people who like a “birth month” although that seems to have fallen on deaf ears  to those around me. Just Kyle really.

I was hoping for a gift a day but I don’t think I will even see a gift on Thursday. That’s OK, I have more than enough, and am really  at the point where I need to start giving things away.  

I remember the last few years with Mum. Every time we left her place, she would call me back in and ask if I wanted a bag, a scarf, a set of golf clubs way too short  for me, and I don’t play golf. I took them all. I guess it was her way of letting things  go.

When I think about it she might have been a bit of a hoarder. Not in a “can’t get  inside the house way” or “there is nowhere to sit down” but in a “I bought another shirt and now it’s in the wardrobe with 20 more with tags still on them”.

Maybe she was just a serial shopper.  Anyway, back to me. I haven’t yet applied for a Seniors Card, I just can’t even.  And when I am offered seniors price seating at the cinema, I still say no. Just makes it  all a bit too real.  

But we were talking to friends the other night on the phone and they shared the news that their nephew, all of 32 years, a really nice bloke, and has spent a year living  with them and in and out of Peter Mac, has now been told his cancer is terminal.  Anything from six months to two years.  That makes you think.  

So I will wake up on May 29, wish myself  Happy Birthday and start the guilt game with Kyle when he says things like “you told me not to get you anything”.

The only thing I really do want is a cake. I ordered it four years  ago and it never happened. Something called lockdown got in the way. So if this turns up I will be a happy woman. Although I am not  sure how anyone can slice it up. Just sayin’…