More than 150 people attended a community consultation at the Daylesford Town Hall last Saturday, June 1, over the proposed Hepburn Shire Town Structure Plans.

Among them was farmer Ned Powell, pictured above talking with Hepburn Shire Council Development executive director Ron Torres, who is concerned about the potential rezoning of his East Street, Daylesford farm land to residential.

Mr Powell said it was a shock for his family to discover the move on the draft plan for Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. Mr Powell said his family bought the farm in 1921 and had continuously farmed the property. And he says, despite the potential for profit, they were completely opposed to the idea of rezoning.

Mr Powell is concerned his rates could go up if the land was rezoned and it could also be subject to the state government’s windfall gains tax, introduced last year.

Many people have raised other concerns with The Local including that the plans are rushed, with a deadline of June 12 for community input.

Mayor Cr Brian Hood has said “getting it right is more important than timing”. However the proposed plans are pencilled in to be passed at the August council meeting.

The plans are part of Future Hepburn, which since its start four years ago has cost about $1.3 million. Community sessions on the town structure plans have been held throughout the shire.

Meanwhile, a community-led grass roots movement, Pastures NOT Pavements, has formed with farmers, residents, business owners and “the wider community of people that are concerned about the Daylesford and Hepburn Springs Draft Structure Plan”.

The group says it wants “to preserve active farmland that is essential to maintaining the rural character of our townships and not succumb to unnecessary ‘greenfield development’, because once it’s gone, it’s gone”.

The group wants to stop the rezoning of the East Street farmland, preserve productive agricultural land, protect the Smith’s Creek and farmland water catchment, remove Central Springs Road as a freight spine, support incremental and distributed housing growth within the town boundaries and prevent the business centre and traffic being drawn eastwards.

Link: www.participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/future-hepburn

Words & image: Donna Kelly

Central Highland Rural Health has launched a series of community information events as part of its Living and Ageing Well project.

Healthy Conversations are monthly events held at each local neighbourhood house or centre in the Hepburn Shire with speakers from CHRH covering a range of health-related topics.

They will also include guest speakers from various government and local organisations.

In June, two events will be held at the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre with Dementia and carers’ support to be held on Tuesday, June 11 at 11am and Staying Physically Strong and Increasing Independence to be held on Tuesday, June 25 at 11am.

RSVPs can be emailed to admin@dncentre.org.au or phoned in on 5348 3569, while those interested are also being welcomed to “just drop in” on the day.

‘Unnecessary and damaging conclusions’

Hepburn Shire Council have completed a tremendous task in producing the Future Hepburn Housing Strategy, but they have reached some unnecessary and damaging conclusions.

The most contentious is to extend the town boundary along East Street in what the council officer confirmed could be to a 100-house suburb.

The council has at no stage in drawing up this draft strategy consulted the Powell family who have farmed the land for over 100 years or any of the residents who live in the area. Council also confirmed there are 380 vacant blocks of land in Daylesford which is between 15–25 years’ supply.

The 100 houses and mooted shops to support the new suburb have the potential to change the character of Daylesford by dragging traffic through the streets east of Vincent Street and taking business away from the main street. Residents, tourists and farmers will all lose.

By the council’s own admission this rezoning of vital farmland isn’t required, but the consequences for all who love Daylesford are clear. The council at the end of the consultation process must abandon the rezoning of farmland.

From Brendan Hutchinson, Daylesford

Sprawl: a serious threat to food security

While the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance applauds Hepburn’s efforts in the Rural Hepburn Strategy to protect agricultural land from further inappropriate development for so-called lifestyle blocks we assert that the town structure plans as drafted will thwart this intent to the detriment of both valuable farmland and the character and liveability of our shire’s towns.

First, rezoning agricultural land to expand the Daylesford town boundary will merely open it up for inappropriate development wildly out of character with its historical development. Making the 14 hectares at East Street available to development is not ‘planning for predicted growth’, it is pre-empting growth – making it almost a certainty that the town will grow quickly and uniformly for the profit of some distant development company.

It will not benefit locals by delivering more affordable housing stock, including rental houses, and the developments are nearly guaranteed to be a mundane monoculture of drab and unsustainable design.

In the interest of brevity, we make a final point, looking to the loss of peri-urban agricultural land around Melbourne, such as at Koo Wee Rup and Werribee, and say that while it may be ‘only’ 14 hectares this year, how many next time, and the next?

Drawing a line to protect farmland to feed our communities must be a priority in all rural strategies. There is plenty of space within the town boundary as outlined by council itself, if subdivision permissions are eased and the 380 vacant lots developed instead of farmland.

A policy to discourage or even prohibit the proliferation of short-term accommodation that leaves up to 40 per cent of houses vacant on any given night would genuinely address the housing crisis, whereas cheap, ugly peri-urban development will not.

We recommend reading the Foodprint Melbourne reports to better grasp the long-term implications of allowing towns to sprawl, which presents a serious threat to food security and the well being of local communities.

From Tammi Jonas, president, Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance Co-custodian, Jonai Farms & Meatsmiths, Eganstown

Keep housing within the town boundary is the ‘No 1 ask‘

I want to start by acknowledging the sheer enormity of the work council staff have undertaken in the development of the draft structure plans for the entire shire.

And no doubt a rewarding effort for council staff if this is endorsed by councillors in the upcoming council meetings. However, the expense, effort, process, content and outcome have massively let down the community that this council supposedly serves.

I’m a resident in Daylesford’s east and it was an enormous shock to see a proposed town boundary expansion over active and exquisitely picturesque farmland be dropped like a nuclear bomb into the draft plan.

Described as a “minor” piece of land in the report, the proposition is given a whole lot of non-conclusive reasons for proposing such an expansion. As a community we will continue to interrogate this and it’s very apparent already that the town boundary is not needed to expand to accommodate understandable and projected growth requirements into the future.

I will also declare that I was one of the voluntary community engagement panellists that has been referenced continuously by council communication as being part of the backbone of “community consultation”.

This is not the case. The panels did not contribute to tactical or planning outputs, instead we were invited into well facilitated and target discussion groups that worked around vision (also not unanimously endorsed) and identifying core focus areas like housing, business and economy, urban design, environment and heritage etc.

The exaggerated use of this panel’s input is not acceptable. And as found in the council’s Wayfarer Consulting Report (June 2023) available on its website, the #1 ask of the community was to keep housing within the town boundary. Unsurprisingly, this was also articulated in the engagement panel workshops at multiple times.

It is a giant leap from these loose, yet productive panel workshops and community questionnaire to this draft plan that proposes to steal farmland from multi-generational farmers.

It is at complete odds with the council’s ‘Agricultural Land Study and Rural Settlement Strategy’ draft plan, that’s also been released, and would dismantle the townships hamlet feel pulling it eastwards (and with the traffic through the cosy streets of town) to a proposed 100+ housing estate. And not forgetting the enormous environmental oversights.

Remarkably, in the draft plan the spring and creek know as Smith’s Creek, that rises from this farmland and meanders down through Cornish Hill and into Lake Daylesford, is conveniently not listed as one of the creek/water sources that will be preserved in the draft plan. This needs a lot of explanation.

This draft plan does not serve the community or the land and to enable it to be rushed through prior to imminent council elections should not be tolerated by our community. We deserve better. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone!

My heart sinks when I see the rich soils of ‘Middleton Fields’ be trenched, but its prudent to remember that while these proposed developments generated much community protest, it was already seemingly too late. The rezoning had already been done well prior. The town boundary proposition in the east has not.

From Graeme L, Daylesford

Perplexed

After attending Tuesday (May 14) afternoon’s meeting, I am still perplexed as to why the council has spent money on four consultants for over two years to come up with a solution that is not only basic and unimaginative but directly contradicts both the community feedback (via the consulting group of 21 residents and the community survey) and its own Agriculture Land Study and Rural Settlement Strategy.

They are determined to silo projects even when they are intrinsically linked which results in outcomes that are limited, short sighted and doomed to failure. We currently have enough vacant land for 380 new homes within the existing boundary. By their own admission – this is 20 years of stock. This doesn’t include any infill, subdivisions or existing developments. So why even commission this study?

This entire rezoning proposal will only create 100 new lots whilst having a devastating impact on our town, our farming, agriculture and tourism

And even then, it does not address the most significant cause of the current housing crisis: the conversion of hundreds of homes from owner-occupier/permanent rentals to short-term holiday rentals (currently over 400 just on Airbnb alone).

This “boom” has not only resulted in many locals living in streets without any neighbours, but long term holiday rentals becoming less and less viable as the market becomes saturated.

It could also be argued that the altered “balance” between permanent and holiday properties could have contributed to the marked increase in domestic burglaries of late. It doesn’t take blind Freddy to think that a vacant holiday house is easy picking for a criminal.

If the council lacks the skills, passion or desire to achieve great outcomes, they should let us devise the solutions. This community has more talent, expertise and passion than the council gives us credit for. We are not an “everyday” run-of-the-mill country town. We need a vision that reflects the nature and character of our town – innovative, sustainable and extraordinary.

From Sarah Lang, Daylesford

Pastures not pavements!

I am writing to voice my disapproval of the proposed Hepburn Shire Council Draft Plan to change the town boundary along a section of East Street directly across from where I live.

My main objection is that it is prime productive farming land which has been farmed for generations and should remain that way into the future.

While this is presently an East Street issue, I believe the entire Daylesford community should rally against this inappropriate land grab and the lack of council consultation in respect of the sudden announcement three weeks ago.

We were all blindsided, including the farm owners. Pastures not pavements!

From Sandy Breen, Daylesford

By Donna Kelly

It will be interesting. So many people against the idea to turn productive farmland into residential land in East Street, Daylesford, but can they change the Hepburn Shire Council’s mind?

I hope so. It seems crazy that you would talk about the importance of farmland – including what AusNet hopes to get hold of – and then go and carve it up for houses that are not yet needed.

And the poor bloody farmer and his family. We are taught from a young age to try and make a living for ourselves and our families, give back to the community and look after ourselves if possible.

Yes, there are safety nets there for people if needed, and I have been on the dole a couple of times in my younger days, but I reckon I have more than paid back my fair share of tax.

But the farmer and his family are going to be hit with higher rates and the added boot up the backside of the state government’s windfall gains tax. As Graham Kennedy said so well, apparently imitating a crow…”Farrrkkkk”.

So even if the farmer and his family want to keep farming, which they do, they may not be able to afford to stay on their own land. Their land. Maybe someone from The Castle can help them out.

And then Hepburn Shire Council’s Development executive director Ron Torres, who seems like a nice enough bloke, says planning is not allowed to take into account any monetary issues. They may not but the farmer has no choice. Life is all about monetary issues.

(Quick aside. Why do organisations like all levels of government twist their titles around? Mr Torres’ real title is Executive Director Development. I always change them back. Just for fun. Obviously I need more in my life.)

Anyway, we will see if the council will listen. Mayor Brian Hood, who I do like, says the council is hoping Future Hepburn will be a legacy for the current crop of councillors but they only have until September before they go into caretaker mode for the next election.

Cr Hood says getting it right is more important than the timing so we will see.

And legacy projects are not always all they are cracked up to be. The Rex, anyone? I also wonder why the council is not looking at residential land at the end of Jamieson Street. Lovely rolling hills, nice views, no farmland to chop up. Apparently there are concerns over the steepness of the land and potential bushfires. Hmmm.

I also wondered about the cost so far for all the planning consultants and experts. I am sure they have worked hard but we must have paid them pretty well – and that means ratepayers. (The council says $1.3 million to date.)

And some of the statistics are a little mind blowing. For example, Glenlyon’s documents say the town had a 2021 population nearing 450 which is expected to grow by 60 people by 2041. The same document says research expects demand for 54 new homes over the next 15 years. So this is 2024 and by 2039 we will need 54 new homes for 60 people. Are we just planning for divorcees?

The document then says housing capacity, including both infill and greenfield development, is only 47 dwellings, and “due to over-riding environmental and servicing factors” some of this demand could be accommodated in nearby Daylesford. Maybe in East Street? WTAF?

I guess it’s another watch this space but I hope the council goes for getting it right over getting it done. Just sayin’..

As autumn settles in the Central Highlands, so does the occasional uninvited guest – the field mouse.

While some may brush off their presence, for others it triggers a phobia of mice or musophobia which is an irrational fear that can overwhelm. Musophobia, one of the most prevalent phobias, affects a significant portion of the population.

For those grappling with this fear, it’s far more than a mere inconvenience; it’s a serious challenge that can disrupt daily life and cause considerable distress.

Enter Deanne Cooper (pictured above) an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner, dedicated to mental wellness. She offers a solution with a free community workshop on Thursday, May 30, from 1pm to 2.30pm at her studio – The Pond Room, 80 Patterson Street, Daylesford.

“EFT works by tapping on specific points of the body to release accumulated stress and tension,” Deanne explains.

“This process sends signals to the brain, informing it that the stress response is no longer necessary. As a result, the body can relax, and individuals often experience a reduction in feelings of stress and anxiety.”

During the workshop, Deanne will demonstrate how EFT can address the fear of mice, empowering participants to feel at ease.

“Participants will come away from the workshop not only with a new-found sense of freedom from their phobia but also equipped with the tools to release any future or anticipated trauma stemming from their fear of mice.

“This empowering experience promises to offer lasting relief and a path to reclaiming control over their emotional well-being.”

Drawing from her expertise as a life coach, trauma-informed therapist, and practitioner of various healing techniques, Deanne creates a safe and judgment-free space for individuals to thrive.

“My approach is rooted in gratitude and positive psychology,” Deanne emphasises. “I believe in releasing blame, shame, and guilt, empowering individuals to embrace their true selves.”

Deanne’s own journey to mental wellness began when she realized chronic fear and anxiety were taking a toll on her health.

This resulted in a premonition that she would die if she didn’t change the way her mind was working. Determined to change, she embarked on years of study and exploration, which led her to EFT.

“It fast-tracked everything,” Deanne recalls.

“I completed advanced practitioner training, combining EFT with life coaching and other trauma informe and somatic modalities to cater to individual needs.”

With a spiritual foundation guiding her practice and lived experiential wisdom that helps people get truly transformative results, Deanne invites the community to explore what she can offer on their mental wellness journey.

Words & Images: Supplied

Rosalind Brooks was born on February 5, 1955 to Gertrude and Roy Brooks. She came into the world in a taxi on the way to Royal Women’s Hospital.

Sadly, once they reached the hospital Gertrude became unwell and died just four days later. Ros was taken to the Berry Street Babies’ Home and then the Allambie Children’s Home in Burwood where she stayed for eight years.

In a memoir she wrote in 2003, Ros said the next move was to the Saint Nicolas Hospital in Carlton where she lived for four years. After another move to a hospital in Sunbury Ros was told to pack everything and was picked up by her grandmother, who took her to live in Reservoir.

Ros was treated like a daughter by her grandmother, and stayed with her until she died. She then went to live with her father, step-mother and siblings.

In 1997 Rose was living at the Marong Caravan Park and noticed a man walking past at 7am every day “taking his little dog for a walk”.

“This went on for about nine or 10 weeks and one morning I was sitting by myself out under the nice big shady tree that was close to my caravan annexe and I said hello to him and asked if he would like to have a cuppa with me.

“He said ‘yes please’, so into my van we went and I made us both a cup of coffee. I told the man my name and he told me that his name was John and that his little dog’s name is Joey.”

The couple got to know each other well and eventually moved to Bendigo where they stayed for three years before taking a drive to Daylesford.

“We went to all the real estate agents in Daylesford and we had a look in the front shop window of the supermarket and we saw a notice about a house for rent, so we got the phone number and rang up and, guess what, we got the house.”

Ros and John married, with the help of the Daylesford Football and Netball Club, and Ros wrote she had many great memories of the time they spent together.

“John was a gentle man and he was great to know, He is now resting at peace with his mum and dad in the lawn cemetery at Ballarat. I still love you forever my darling John!”

A funeral service for Ros was held at the Verey Chapel, Daylesford on Tuesday, May 21.

Daylesford has many memorable persons. One of the more noticeable was Ros Brooks.

She attended The 5,000 Club at Stanbridge Hall for years, enjoying the company and the meals, and was a volunteer for some time. Her task was wrapping the cutlery in paper napkins, while carrying on a spirited conversation at top volume.

Ros also featured at Coles, where she loaded her trolley while calling out greetings to people whom she recognised.

As she had met my two grandchildren when they were helping at the Christmas lunch, she invariably called out to me across the aisle:

“How’s your grandchildren?” She was genuinely interested in hearing of their growth and achievements, and sent them her love and good wishes.

Battling many and various health issues did not dampen Ros’s positive attitude and her unfailing optimism.

It is very sad that this dear, kind and hearty woman will no longer spread her uncomplicated goodwill to all who knew her.

There is surely a lesson for us in her bravery and positivity against such obvious odds, which did not seem to diminish her.

Farewell, Ros, it was good to know you. You will be missed.

Words: Loretta Little, former president, The 5,000 Club, Daylesford

With thanks to celebrant Beverley Risstrom & Verey Funeral Director

with Eve Lamb

Tipperary Track, Daylesford – Tipperary Springs to the Blowhole via Bryces Flat and return (8.6km)

‘One day,’ I’d always thought, while driving past the Twin Bridges picnic area on the Midland Highway just out of Daylesford.

Well today was the day. Sort of…

A preliminary reconnoitre visit revealed an officious little sign, instructing that The Tipperary Track between Twin Bridges and Tipperary Springs was currently closed. Although I could see folk – and their dogs – enjoying this “closed” section of the track that I had in mind to explore, I decided discretion was needed.

Afterall, the beauty of Daylesford’s Tipperary Track (total distance 16km from Lake Daylesford to Hepburn Springs) is that you can divide it neatly into sections.

So, with Paddy H along for company on a recent sunny Sunday, we set out to sample the section of the Tipperary that follows Sailors Creek, starting at Tipperary Springs and continuing on to Bryces Flat  (3.3km) … then a further 1km to The Blowhole, making a leisurely 8.6km the round trip.

Driving first to the Tipperary Springs picnic ground, (via the Midland Highway and then Tipperary Road) we first spent some time appreciating this beautiful little spot and Paddy H struck up a conversation with a man filling multiple bottles at the spring.

“Been drinking it all my life,” the man said, exuding good health.

Paddy H sampled some of the water. “Try it,” he suggested. “This one tastes good.”

Promising I would, later, we set off following the footpad that runs along the western side of Sailors Creek, and quickly affords very pretty views, from surprising elevation, down over the creek.

Stone relics from the 1800s mining days are visible along the way, and after 3.3 km Bryces Flat made a great stop for a creek-side lunch.

Paddy H struck up a conversation with a young man who was busy fossicking for gold in the creek.

“Found anything mate? Paddy H enquired.

The dude had. Some tiny, weenie little flecks of gold and also some garnets which he said he planned to “facet”.

Later, following this exchange, I thought it prudent to do a bit of research to determine the legalities around fossicking for gold in the Sailors Creek, and was relieved to find that: “Fossicking for gold is permitted along Sailors Creek – all adults must hold a current Miners Right to engage in fossicking”.

Fully caffeinated after our lunch stop, we continued on, crossing over the Bald Hill Road creek ford and resuming the walking track on the eastern side of the creek, after following the road uphill, and to the left, for a very short way, passing a house in the process.

A really lovely bushland kilometre further on we arrived at the Blowhole which features a newish boardwalk and lookout from which a beautiful view down over a tranquil pool below well rewarded the effort made to get here.

But to appreciate said Blowhole it was necessary to walk down to the bottom of the steps here, and then look up from which point this man-made diversion tunnel was suddenly evident.

At the top of the boardwalk section signage had offered a potted history of The Blowhole Gold Diversion Tunnel which is listed on the Victorian Heritage register for being both historically and scientifically important.

The tunnel was created by the diversion of the creek and estimated to have been built in the early 1860s when the area was being extensively worked by European and Chinese miners.

It was used to divert the creek waters, cutting off a section of the original creek alignment and enabling the resultant dry creek bed to be extensively worked by the gold-smitten.

A 2005 photo included as part of the signage shows the tunnel after heavy rain, and it is an impressive sight.

After lingering at this beautiful and history-rich landmark for about half an hour, we then retraced our steps, well pleased to have finally explored some of this great local walk and already looking forward to sampling some more of it into the future.

One word of warning, though: take care to watch your step on the Bryces Flat-Tipperary Springs path as the drop-off is both steep and very close to the edge in places.

Words: Eve Lamb

The Spa Quilters Guild of Daylesford are raffling a unique quilt in the lead up to their biennial quilt show happening over the King’s Birthday weekend.

The beautiful keepsake creation featuring colourful blocks of work done by multiple guild members is first prize in the raffle, with three further three attractive prizes also to be won.

The first prize quilt is now on show at the Bendigo Bank, Daylesford, and features scenes of winter, the theme of this year’s show.

The biennial show is the guild’s major fundraiser supporting its charitable works and will be held in St Peter’s Catholic Church in Daylesford’s Duke Street on Saturday June 8 from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday June 9 from 12noon to 4 pm.

 “The church provides a unique and interesting venue to exhibit our patchwork and quilting efforts,” guild president Charlotte Brunt says.

Trading tables will be available and a food van will be on site, with entry to the show by gold coin donation.

The guild is running street stall sales of the raffle tickets and they will also be available to buy at the show, with the draw to take place on Sunday afternoon at the show.

Mooted boundary changes are sad

It is sad to hear of boundary changes that are being proposed in this historic town.

To turn productive food producing land, some of the best in Victoria, into housing and industry.

From: John Ravell, a 60+ year Daylesford resident & returned service person

Daylesford resident Natasha Morgan is sharing a Go Fund Me page for her friend Claire Spencer, who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

“Claire is a mum at my kid’s tiny school and the breadwinner in her family. She’s a member of my community and an incredible human,” Natasha said.

“In 2019 Claire was diagnosed with cervical cancer and managed to overcome it, that’s until very recently when amidst a host of health complications she found out the cancer is back – this time though it’s metastasised and it’s Stage 4 with masses in her stomach.

“Claire desperately needs help and I’m hoping you might be able to spare some change as part of a Go Fund Me page that’s been set up for her. Any amount whether it’s $2 or $20 will make a difference and will be so appreciated.”

On her page, Claire wrote on May 15 that she had been released me from hospital and “got my first night’s sleep in my own bed in over a week – Heaven!”.

“I’ve got about 10 days before treatment starts, and I’m just focusing on rest. Today the palliative care team called me. They discuss things like chronic pain management, financial support and physical aids.

“Looks like I’ll be getting some kind of walker to help me plod along further than three metres at a time. Being a creative at heart, I’m trying to work out whether to yarn bomb the shit out of it, or bedazzle it. It cannot look like an old person’s zimmerframe. Nope. No. Not today or ever.

“Each hour I’m humbled by your generosity, and just know it’s allowing me to rest without panic or fear. I’m so thankful. Each day is truly a miracle. Big love.”

Link: https://gofund.me/4c292095

Planning

I write in concern about the proposal Hepburn Shire Council has to rezone prime farming land on the outskirts of East Street in Daylesford.

I have lived opposite this beautiful farming land for near on 30 years this September. Our home was purchased with the understanding that we were purchasing unique and peaceful quiet land out of the township to enjoy a very rural lifestyle while still having the opportunity of a very close-by community with all the facilities to raise our family.

We were always of the understanding that the land opposite was rich, valuable, farming land and would always remain this as per the zoning of it.

In all my time of living in my family home this amazing piece of land has been farmed by generations of families whom continue to honour the rich soil that it sits on.

It has always been cropped, grazed or rested as per old school farming practices. Often on a hot summer night I listen to the tractor frantically raking or bailing hay to beat the oncoming rain.

Many a day and night I listen to the sound of baby lambs as they are delivered onto this sacred farming land. Not a year goes by when this land is not honoured for the use it has been set aside for.

The council must reconsider this proposal, it will destroy a beneficial farm that supply’s our farming sector with much needed product. I have attached a photo (above) of said land for your viewing pleasure to enjoy its beauty.

From: Ann Maree Mackley, Daylesford