The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting community feedback to help develop a new community equestrian facilities plan.

At its July meeting held last week the council endorsed the release its new Draft Macedon Ranges Community Equestrian Facilities Plan for public feedback.

The Macedon Ranges has one of the highest participation rates in recreational equestrian activities in Victorian LGAs.

Development of the plan is aimed at providing clearer direction for the management and development of equestrian facilities across the shire.

The council is now inviting community feedback up to August 22 to help inform the final plan with more information available on the council website.

Police were left shocked after a Sunday swill saw a driver caught at more than quadruple the legal alcohol limit.

Nunawading Highway Patrol members were patrolling the Mitcham area when a Toyota Yaris drove past them on Whitehorse Road about 12pm on Sunday.

Officers were stunned to watch the 24-year-old man driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other tipping back a bottle of wine.

The Ashburton man was intercepted nearby on Cochrane Street where he underwent a breath test, returning an alleged reading of .234.

His vehicle was impounded, and licence immediately suspended. He was also expected to face court with drink driving charges.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council Director Assets and Operations Shane Walden will depart the
organisation in the coming weeks to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer at Golden Plains Shire
Council.

Macedon Ranges Shire Chief Executive Officer Bernie O’Sullivan has congratulated Shane on his achievements during his five years at Macedon Ranges Shire Council, leading a significant team of staff across complex areas of operational services and project delivery.

“Shane has left an indelible mark on our organisation and his team through his leadership, skill and
approach,” he said.

“Shane has been a valued member of our Executive Leadership and Senior Leadership teams and a
great support and colleague to me and many across the organisation, and regionally across our
neighbouring shires. Councillors have also greatly appreciated Shane’s knowledge, diligence and
collegiality.

“His strong list of achievements was highlighted by the recent delivery of Stage 1 of the Macedon
Ranges Sports Precinct in New Gisborne, which just opened to acclaim and is the biggest single
($30M) capital project delivered by Council.

“We are all incredibly proud of Shane and congratulate him on his appointment and wish him and his
family every success in the future. Thank you, Shane.”

The council will shortly commence a recruitment process for the Director Assets and Operations role.

The Macedon Shire Council has rubber-stamped a new plan that sets a protected settlement boundary and will be used to guide Gisborne’s development until 2050.

At its July meeting held last week the council endorsed the new Gisborne Futures Structure Plan that
will set a protected settlement boundary to protect the surrounding landscape from further outward
growth.

The newly endorsed plan was developed following extensive planning and consultation over six years.

A total of 129 submissions were received and considered during the most recent consultation period for the
revised plan in late 2023.

The council will now write to the Minister for Planning to request an amendment be prepared for the
protected settlement boundary as indicated in the plan.

Police detected over 130 offences during an ongoing road safety operation across Victoria’s west last month.

Bendigo, Campaspe and the Macedon Ranges division have been the worst affected area in the state’s west with 13 lives lost to the end of July this year, followed by the Ballarat and Moorabool division with a further nine lives lost to the end of last month.

Operation West Connect saw highway patrol units enforcing across major arterials in Western Victoria targeting high-risk driving behaviour associated with road trauma.

It came as 141 lives were lost on the state’s roads up to the end of July this year, with 44 of those occurring on roads in Western Victoria.

There have been seven fatalities in the Horsham/Northern Grampians division, five fatalities each in the Geelong/Surf Coast, Warrnambool/Southern Grampians, and the Mildura/Swan Hill divisions.

There had been 11 fatal collisions on roads in Western Victoria to the end of July.

Operation West Connect is an ongoing operation focused on detecting speeding, distracted and impaired drivers.

Almost half offences detected in July were for speeding, with the majority of speeding drivers detected between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.

Police conducted 469 preliminary breath tests and 44 preliminary oral fluid tests for drugs, detecting 12 drug driving offences and one drink driving offence.

The total 132 offences detected during Operation West Connect on Monday 22 July 2024 included:

• 62 speeding offences;

• 15 unregistered vehicles;

• 12 drug driving offences from 44 roadside drug tests;

• Seven disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers;

• Six seatbelt offences;

• Five heavy vehicle offences;

• Three vehicle impoundments;

• Two mobile phone offences;

• One drink driving offence from 469 preliminary breath tests; and

• One disobey traffic signal

Operation West Connect will now continue across Western Victoria – encompassing major arterial roads from Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Bendigo and Echuca as far west as the SA Border, and from the Surf Coast, Warrnambool and Portland as far north as the NSW Border.

Western Region Road Policing Inspector, Justine Ryan: “Unfortunately it’s been a terrible period on roads in Western Victoria, with 11 lives lost to date in the last month alone”.

“We’re continuing to run Operation West Connect to help keep all road users safe on roads out in the state’s west, and drive down these high levels of road trauma we’re experiencing.

“Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to serious injury and fatal collisions on regional roads, and yet we overwhelmingly throughout this operation, we continue to catch so many people going over the speed limit.

“Slowing down and sticking to the speed limit, as well as something as simple as putting on your seat belt, are things we can all do to remain safe on the roads”

The Victorian state government says it’s continuing to back the next generation of nurses and midwives with a free education scholarship program for those hoping to enter the profession.

Applications for the third round of the Undergraduate (entry to practice) scholarship program are now open, delivering free education for new domestic students enrolling in professional-entry level nursing or midwifery course.

The scholarship is part of the Labor Government’s $270 million Making It Free to Study Nursing and Midwifery initiative, which is boosting the state’s healthcare workforce by providing scholarships worth up to $16,500 to more than 10,000 nursing and midwifery students.

As part of the state government’s work to strengthen Victoria’s nursing and midwifery workforce, a sign-on bonus of $5,000 is also available to nursing and midwifery graduates who graduate in 2022, 2023 or 2024 and start their career in a Victorian public health service.

So far, more than 5600 graduate nurses and midwives have received the first half of their bonus, and more than 3600 new graduate nurses and midwives have chosen to start their careers this year in our public health system.

The program recognises that the cost of study is a financial burden for prospective and existing nurses and helps our health services maximise the recruitment of new nurses and midwives in key areas of need.

The initiative also includes:

• Scholarships for postgraduate nurses to complete studies in specialty areas such as intensive care, emergency, paediatrics and cancer care – worth an average of $10,000
• $11,000 scholarships for enrolled nurses to become registered nurses, covering course costs and boosting the number of registered nurses
• $12,000 scholarships to support training and employment of 100 new Nurse Practitioners in both acute and community settings
• More than $20 million to provide more support to the growing numbers of graduates and postgraduates as they transition to working in our hospitals – ensuring they have access to the clinical educators, preceptors and study time they need.

Police have seized a significant quantity of illicit tobacco during a search warrant at a tobacco store in Bacchus Marsh last week.

The investigation commenced after police received intelligence to suggest large amounts of illicit tobacco and cigarettes were being sold at the store.

On Wednesday 31 July, detectives from the Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at the tobacco store in Bacchus Marsh.

As a result, police seized:

• Over 12,000 cigarettes.

• Significant quantity of dried loose-leaf tobacco.

• 25 vapes.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Investigators continue to appeal to anyone, especially store owners and staff, who have information about illicit activity to come forward to police.

Anyone with information about these incidents or with further information about illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

In a move that’s pleased plenty of keen mountain bikers, the Hepburn Shire Council has opened 32 kilometres of Creswick’s new mountain bike trails network (Djuwang Baring) – five months ahead of schedule.

Hepburn Shire Mayor, Cr Brian Hood says the early opening was a significant milestone for the transformational project.

“We are very proud of our construction contractor Dirt Art and the council team for getting this project to the point where we can open 32 kilometres of trails five months before the scheduled opening date of December 2024,” Cr Hood said.

“Djuwang Baring will be a unique asset for our local community. It will have a strong positive impact on tourism, visitation and in turn, provide strong returns to local and regional businesses and tourism destinations,” said Cr Hood.

Since receiving external funding in 2018, the project has made steady progress towards completion and when completed Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails) will be a 60 kilometre network of mountain bike trails starting from the Hammon Park Trailhead, a five minute walk from the centre of Creswick.

Funding for Hammon Park and Djuwang Baring has been provided by the State Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund ($4.66m) and Creswick Community Bank ($250,000 for Hammon Park) with Council funding the remainder. 

Planning and design for the network was completed with the issue of the construction planning permit in early 2022.  The Hammon Park pump track was opened in 2019, Hammon Park Trailhead in mid-2023 and construction commenced on trails in early 2023 with a projected completion date of December 2024.

Djuwang Baring – which means ‘long track’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language – is managed and maintained by Hepburn Shire Council.

“Progress towards completion has been steady and we are pleased to announce this early opening. Council has worked hard to fast-track part of the trails network so that we can realise the tourism and visitation benefits to the region earlier than anticipated,” said Cr Hood.

The council also celebrates the partnership with the Traditional Owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung and acknowledges that the trails are located on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

The project has been instrumental in strengthening the relationship between Hepburn Shire Council and DJAARA with the name for the whole trail network as well as half of the trail segments in Dja Dja Wurrung language.

The branding and signage suite has been designed by DJANDAK and features art by Nukara Nicholls-Moore, a Djaara artist.

“Sharing Dja Dja Wurrung creativity and language and seeing it on Country, in the landscape where it belongs, benefits Djaara People and the wider community” said Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation Group CEO Rodney Carter.

“It’s wonderful people can access part of Djuwang Baring ahead of schedule.”

To facilitate the early opening, temporary signage is in place on the advanced sections and the remaining 28 kilometres and permanent signage is expected to be ready later in the year.

Trails begin from Hammon Park Trailhead where there is parking, toilets, BBQ, cycling jumps and children’s play areas.

The council is now requestion that people please stay off the remaining trails that under construction and are marked with signage, fencing and orange flagged bunting in order to assist in the completion of the balance of the trails in the network.

A formal community celebration is planned to be held in December 2024 when the full trail network will be officially opened.

Those keen to get more information on the trails can visit the website djuwangbaring.com 

GRAMPIANS Health hopes to bring more clinical trials to regional Victoria.

The aspirations for more local health research come as Grampians Health releases its research annual report pointing to progress it has made in clinical discoveries.

The report shows that in 2022-2023, the regional health organisation had approved 161 new research projects and had 272 active ones.

“Our researchers are continuing to bring a strong focus on research to regional Victoria, giving our regional communities access to lifesaving medical treatment in our own backyard,” Grampians Health chief medical officer, Professor Matthew Hadfield says.

Professor Matthew Hadfield says it’s important to have clinical trials undertaken in regional Victoria and that the organisation hopes to bring more clinical trials to regional areas.

“With most clinical research being conducted in metropolitan areas, it’s significant that Grampians Health has had over 200 research projects running in regional Victoria,” he said.

“Clinical research is fundamental to enhancing healthcare at Grampians Health, where our focus is effective patient care and improved health outcomes for our community.

In 2022 to 2023, 800 patients were recruited to clinical trials and 112 research papers by clinicians were published.

“It’s been proven that an organisation with strong research values has better outcomes for both staff and patients,” Mr Hadfield said.

“While we know regional Victoria is a great place to live, we acknowledge that there is disparity between regional and rural Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to bringing more research opportunities to regional Victoria to start lowering that disparity, give more representation in clinical research to regional patients and communities, and more opportunities for regional and rural patients to have access to world class medical treatments closer to home.

“We’re proud to support our staff to continue finding and undertaking research to help our current patients and to add to medical knowledge for the future.”

A Ballarat woman who disappeared from a Warrenheip property, triggering a police appeal for assistance from the public to help locate her, was last week found safe after a search lasting for about eight weeks.

Renee King (pictured above) had been living in accommodation in Warrenheip before she left unannounced on Thursday, May 30, and was subsequently reported as missing.

She had been reportedly sighted a number of times around Ballarat in the days after leaving the accommodation.

On July 8 Ms King’s daughter and police had issued a public plea for members of the public to come forward with any information regarding her whereabouts, and also urging her to get in touch.

Last Tuesday, July 30, police publicly confirmed that Ms King had been located safe and well in Ballarat.

A Ballarat fast food store sited on the Creswick Road looks likely to remain closed for the foreseeable future after its owner recently went into voluntary administration.

The Carl’s Jr Ballarat store is among 20 such stores nation-wide which in recent days has been reported as closing immediately.

Late last month KPMG Australia had been appointed the voluntary administrators of CJ’s QSR Group, which operated 24 Carl’s Jr restaurants across the country.

Of those 24, only four stores now remain open: Dandenong, Melton, Bringelly, and Tarneit.

However, 25 stores independently owned and run by third-party sub-licensees, will likely continue to operate unaffected, KPMG said earlier.

Plans for a glamping development at Elevated Plains now looks to have been indefinitely shelved.

The glamping development that had been mooted for a site at Charlies Rd, now seems to to have been abandoned following a four year fight in Hepburn Shire Council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

VCAT had recently approved a planning permit for the site after protracted hearings but put a raft of conditions on the proposed development which may potentially have significantly reduced the commercial viability of the project.

The Hepburn Shire Council had initially considered a planning application by Hilltop@Hepburn for the development in June, 2020.

The proposal was for tourist accommodation, with safari tents and yurts on a site of around eight hectares.

The land was zoned as a Farming Zone and had bushfire and environmental significance overlays.

Although council officers at the time recommended approval of the project, councillors had knocked back the application on the grounds that it was inappropriate use of land zoned for farming and that there was a high fire risk and poor access along Charlies Rd.

The Council decision was later supported by VCAT.

The developer had resubmitted the application with a new draft bushfire emergency management plan that was approved by the CFA.

However, the council had once again overruled council officers and again refused the application which had then returned to VCAT in June 2022.

VCAT eventually set aside the council decision and approved a planning permit in June 2024. The permit included strict conditions to mitigate fire risk.

A requirement that the site be closed on fire risk days meant that the site would not be able to open for most of the summer period and may have made any bookings subject to cancellation at short notice.

The property is now for sale, listed with JellisCraig with a price range of $1.6-$1.7 million.

During the 2019-20 bushfire season North West Region avoided significant fires, but CFA members observed increased anxiety in sections of the Greater Bendigo community particularly those who had recently settled here from overseas.

Bendigo is home to more than 4,000 Karen residents, more than 300 Afghan Hazara, and increasing numbers of South Sudanese community members.

Bendigo is surrounded by bushland with an extreme fire risk and a high risk of flooding. CFA members realised that these new community members didn’t understand the natural risks they faced and didn’t know how to access the most appropriate help when needed.

A lack of understanding of how emergency services work in Victoria contributed to this dilemma.

With a strong connection to community, Bendigo Health Services partnered with CFA, VICSES and the City of Greater Bendigo to develop a program to boost the community’s understanding about bushfire, flood and heat health, and where to find information about these risks.

Crucial to the success of the program was the decision to recruit local, trusted members of the communities as ‘community champions’ to help deliver the key messages.

CFA members, along with other program coordinators, gave education and training to these champions so they could help deliver the messaging. This program truly put the community at the centre of everything we do.

CFA’s District 2 community safety presenters and community champions delivered the fire component in the field, and the champions provided continued support to their communities after the face-to-face sessions.

The champions were invaluable because of their insight into the best ways to engage the various communities.

The community safety presenters are enthusiastic about the program and they can see real results.

“I’ve worked with several Karen groups made up of all ages from toddlers to the elderly,” presenter Lin Quarrier said.

“I’ve found the secondary school age kids so supportive and respectful of their families.

They helped to install the VicEmergency app on their parent’s phones and contributed to the session well.”

Words & Image: CFA

Ballarat’s line-up of annual January 26 activities and events are set to continue unchanged following a decision by the City of Ballarat Council.

The City of Ballarat will continue with its current offering of events and activities on 26 January after the council, at its recent scheduled July meeting, endorsed a report into community engagement relating to future activities and events to be held on the day.

Following a resolution at the December 2023 council meeting, a survey was hosted on the City of Ballarat’s MySay page to gauge community interest in activities and events on the public holiday.

The results showed that there is a variety of suggestions and opinions shared by the community and that the current mix of 26 January activities is providing options that appeal to different community members.

The current line-up of events and activities on 26 January that will continue includes: the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony and associated activities, Picnic in the Park and Citizenship Ceremonies.

The Ballarat City Council has endorsed a new strategic direction for the regional city’s airport.

The council adopted the Ballarat Airport Strategy and Master Plan 2024 at its recent scheduled July meeting, setting out a clear vision ahead for the Ballarat Airport.  

The document outlines key strategic objectives for the airport including plans to:

• Pursue revenue opportunities
• Ensure safety and compliance
• Plan for infrastructure upgrades
• Identify development constraints
• Safeguard airport operations; and
• Consider emerging aviation technologies

During earlier consultation the council had heard that the community and industry are supportive of improving the airport’s capability to allow for increased services for the region, but cautious to ensure noise levels are not impacting nearby residents.  

The council also requested a future report considering the alignment of existing heritage overlays with future plans for the airport huts.

The full Strategy and Master Plan can be read on the City of Ballarat’s website.