The Hepburn Shire Council has released a summary of progress towards delivering goals contained in its 2022/2023 Annual Plan.

Mayor of Hepburn Shire Cr Brian Hood said the council has been able to make good progress over the last 12 months, amid challenges.

“It’s very pleasing to reflect on some of the achievements over the last year, especially when you consider the challenges we have faced in terms of ongoing recovery from multiple storm and flood events, the rising costs of construction, challenges with supply chains and increasing financial pressures,” said Cr Hood. 

The Annual Plan serves as a progress tracker for the objectives outlined in the four-year Council Plan rather than an all-inclusive list of that plan. 

“Some of the highlights include completion of two major capital projects, the Trentham Sportsground Reserve Pavilion and Hammon Park Trailhead,” said Cr Hood. 

“Both projects have delivered considerable benefits for the community and are very well-used and popular spaces,” he said. 

Other features in the Annual Plan 2022/23 progress update include developing and implementing the Sustainable Hepburn Strategy and circular economy activities, adopting a Disability Access Inclusion Plan and youth strategy, and completing a flora and fauna assessment of Creswick township and surrounds. 

At the Council meeting last night Council also adopted its Annual Plan for 2023/2024. The plan highlights the delivery of 34 projects and initiatives aligned with the four-year Council Plan. 

Action items include the planned rollout of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) across townships to reduce landfill (expected in 2024), review of short-term accommodation, ongoing repair of sealed roads damaged by storm events, finalise a business case on aquatics provision, adopt an Integrated Transport Strategy, develop a new Reconciliation Action Plan, continue the strategic planning project Future Hepburn, renew Wheelers Bridge in Lawrence, support the transition to a circular economy, complete construction of the Trentham Community Hub, deliver enhancements to modernise Council’s planning services, conduct a review of Council’s Long Term Financial Plan and much more. 

Those keen to take a closer look can find more details on the Plans, strategies and studies page of the council’s website at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au. 

I am not much for Facebook in fact my FB friends could be dead and I wouldn’t know, but the other half told me recently of a post that made me wince from the Hepburn Shire Council (HSC).

Have you received a letter of invitation to be part of the Future Hepburn Engagement Pool?  

Just over 1,000 letters were sent out to randomly selected community members inviting them to register for the Future Hepburn Engagement Pool. Engagement Pool members will be randomly selected to join the township structure plan Community Panels with the purpose of developing structure plans for the townships of Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford-Hepburn Springs, Glenlyon and Trentham. Other opportunities for involvement include interviews, webinars, workshops and activities relating to all Future Hepburn projects. Don’t worry if you don’t receive a letter, you can still participate!

Now, I am not usually one to participate in these sorts of ventures, I am normally quite comfortable and better advised with my own committee of one. But back at the beginning of the pandemic when if a pig had of flown past the window, I would have simply accepted it as fact and waived at it, the world was that out of kilter, and in a much weakened confused and hazy state of mind, I put my hand up for the HSC business recovery committee. We were a bunch of well-meaning local business owners who had their hands full, pivoting and rerouting their own businesses and no time to waste. But one and all in the group thought it was a hugely important task to make sure all the local businesses had the resources to weather the storm.

After a few meetings, which lead nowhere, the committee was disbanded without notice or even an explanation. Emails to the HSC were met with the sound of silence. So you can see the reason for my wince when it comes to another HSC committee being announced.

If you have been around long enough and paid attention you find these committees don’t ever achieve much. The makeup of the participants that put their hand up to attend these assemblies are (and please allow me to generalise) folks with a bit of time on their hands, well-meaning certainly, but naïve to the fact that they are powerless. And then there is a sprinkling of other residents that will join, who will be pushing their own barrow containing a few well-ground axes.

For mine it is an old fashioned consultation method used by governments to check off the community consultation box and not much comes of it except tea and biscuits. It also seems to tick the box of community consultation, which is fantastic when it comes to the 2024 community satisfaction report.

Don’t get me wrong, our council do a lot of things well except they forgot to pick up my recycling for a couple of times in a row last month, but it turns out that is outsourced and it is impossible to get on the two way radio and call the bloke back. It has to go through a process – according to the very nice lady manning the HSC phones. And I must say a special shoutout to that lady (the name escapes me) who I told I was going away, and she offered to drag my bin in, another fabulous human working for the HSC.

But I would like to suggest that instead of ploughing human and biscuit resources into these type of aforementioned turnouts, HSC simply do what they are there to do. And that is rubbish, rates and roads. The portfolio did include looking after our elderly and vulnerable has even been outsourced and reasonably unsuccessfully I might add.

Anti-committee rant over…

Hepburn Shire Council residents still can’t get no satisfaction with the performance of council, according to the annual JWS Research Victorian Community Satisfaction Survey.
The survey found that the council performed worse than the average of small rural councils in 15 of the 17 services monitored and worse than the statewide average in 16 of the 17 services.
In this year’s overall small rural councils, Hepburn Shire Council was higher than by one point in both customer service and tourism development, and in this year’s overall statewide averages it was higher by one point in tourism development.
A council media release said the council had received “positive results” in the survey.
“The survey found there to be an improvement in satisfaction over last year in overall performance, value for money, community consultation, making community decisions, customer service, overall council direction and waste management.
“Satisfaction fell in relation to sealed local roads, which the Mayor of Hepburn Shire, Cr Brian Hood, said was expected,” the release said.
“The upward trend across a number of measures is extremely positive – especially given there has been a downward trend in small rural councils and statewide. We also acknowledge there is much more work to be done,” Cr Hood said.
The council’s results were: Overall performance – 49 (2023) 47 (2022) 55 (Small rural) & 56 (Statewide); Value for money – 41 39 49 49; Overall council direction – 41 39 47 46; Customer service – 66 61 65 67; Waste management – 64 61 66 66; Tourism development – 62 63 61 61; Appearance of public areas – 60 62 71 67; Recreational facilities – 57 59 67 68; Environmental sustainability – 56 54 59 60; Business & community development – 54 51 55 57; Enforcement of local laws – 53 55 61 61; Consultation & engagement – 46 44 53 52; Lobbying – 44 44 52 51; Community decisions – 42 41 52 51; Slashing & weed control – 39 42 47 46; Planning & building permits – 39 40 45 47; and Sealed local roads – 33 39 44 48.
Held annually and in its 24th year, the survey asks the opinions of local people about the place they live, work and play.
Link: www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Council/Plans-and-publications/Performance
Words: Donna Kelly

The Hepburn Shire Council has adopted a $59 million budget for 2023/2024, with investment focused on completing major capital works and delivering services to the community.

Rate increases have been capped at 3.5 percent in line with the Victorian Government’s Fair Go Rates System. This compares to a seven percent CPI increase in the year to March 2023.  

And the shire’s annual waste charges will increase on average by 6.20% reflecting increased service costs to users of the service.

This increase will amount to an average additional cost of $35 per property per year.  The standard annual fee for a residential property (weekly garbage collection and fortnightly recycling) will now be $570 or the equivalent of $10.96 per week.  

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the new budget had been carefully developed in ‘one of the toughest financial environments in recent history’.   

“Council will deliver $19.4 million of capital works, completing some of the committed projects across the Shire and carrying out regular renewal works,” Cr Hood said. 

“This is in addition to our day-to-day operations which include delivering important community services such as libraries, community grants, parks and gardens, road maintenance, tourism, reconciliation and events, just to name a few,” he said. 

Cr Hood said this is a fiscally responsible budget that is constrained by many factors outside the council’s control.  

“Our Shire has been significantly impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic and multiple storm events over the last few years. Now we are also facing high inflation and interest rates, sector-wide shortages of construction contractors and extraordinary increases to material and construction costs,” said Cr Hood. 

“Council is in a delicate and challenging financial position which must continue to be prudently managed if community needs are to be met and longer-term viability enhanced. 

“The budget could aptly be described as a business-as-usual budget, in terms of service delivery, but with a major focus on stabilising the longer-term outlook and completing storm recovery works, especially on the road network.” 

Major project investment includes: 

• $5.90 million – completion of Creswick Trails. 
• $3.00 million – renewal of the Historic Wheelers Bridge in Lawrence with $2.8 million Federal Government funding. 
• $2.73 million – renewal, resealing and gravel re-sheeting of roads across the Shire. 
• $2.02 million – completion of the Trentham Community Hub in early 2024. 

• $1.00 million – Stage 1 of remediation works at Daylesford Town Hall, with a further $200,000 for scoping and planning of staff accommodation and Birch ward community facilities. 
• $150,000 for detailed design of the Glenlyon Recreation Reserve Pavilion. 
• $100,000 to further designs for the Clunes Recreation Reserve Masterplan. 
• $140,000 for remedial works at Trentham and Drummond tennis courts. 

“Rates and charges make up over half of Council’s annual budgeted revenue and are vital to enable us to provide the services and facilities that our community needs. Council has not applied to the Essential Services Commission for a rate cap variation,” said Cr Hood. 

 A significant component of Council’s operating expenditure for the financial year ($6.50 million) relates to costs associated with storm recovery works undertaken by Council to support the community. 

This budget proposes $5.9 million of new borrowings to support the delivery of key infrastructure projects.  This includes $1.0 million allocated as stage one of vital remedial works for the Daylesford Town Hall and $4.9 million for the construction of the 60-kilometre Creswick Mountain Bike Trail Network.  The project is expected to be delivered for $9.4 million (2017-2024) with secured government funding of $2.57 million.   

Since developing the draft budget, the council has received $6.1 million in Federal Government Financial Assistance Grants, which was paid in June 2023 rather than in the expected period of four payments throughout 2023/24. This is simply an issue of timing in receiving this funding.  

A number of other minor changes were made by the council due to funding announcements, a review of the capital projects listing, and necessary corrections.  These changes, which are mainly timing, mean that Council’s targeted unrestricted cash balance as at 30 June 2024 has reduced from the draft budget amount of $1,044,000 to $963,520 in the adopted budget. This is recognised as a very small buffer against unforeseen events. 

“We will be undertaking a full review of the ten-year Financial Plan in coming months, along with a broad review of service offerings,” he said. 

“Balancing the financial outlook, community expectations and statutory responsibilities will continue to be challenging, especially given the pressures on government grant funding and from the State Government rate cap. 

“Despite the tough financial environment, we are pleased to have adopted a budget that allows us to fund important programs and projects that align to our Community Vision and Council Plan, while allowing us to continue the repair of Council’s financial position. 

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to make a submission on the budget and identify opportunities for future projects.” 

The newly adopted budget is now publicly available for those interested to view on the council’s website at https://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/budget.

The Hepburn Shire Council has won two awards, including one for its work towards acknowledging the Indigenous Frontier Wars.

The council was selected as one of the inaugural winners of the Maggolee Awards 2023 for facilitating the Frontier Wars Memorial along Malmsbury-Daylesford Road in Daylesford.

The Manna Gums site for the Aboriginal Peoples Memorial recognises and honours the loss of lives, the sacrifice and suffering inflicted on Aboriginal people during the frontier wars.

The Maggolee Awards recognise Victorian councils that have shown excellence working in partnership with First Peoples to support self-determination, advance reconciliation, and strengthen inclusion of First Peoples’ voices. 

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said this award acknowledges the excellent work being undertaken in Hepburn Shire.

“It’s wonderful to be recognised as leaders in the area of reconciliation,” said Cr Hood.

“Our work in this area is about encouraging unity and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our non-indigenous community,” he said.

“It is particularly meaningful to have this acknowledged during National Reconciliation Week, a time when we explore how we can contribute to achieving reconciliation.”

Council also won a Local Government Professionals (LGPro) award for its Aged Care and Disability Services Transition, in the category of Outstanding Small Rural Council Initiative. This was a three-year project where Council assessed the impacts of Commonwealth funding reforms on the delivery of its aged care services, ultimately transitioning from delivery into a focus on positive ageing.

“The decision to withdraw from aged care provision was not an easy one for Council, but our focus was on the best interests of clients, families and carers, staff and the community. The sensitive and complex project was managed in a caring and considerate way,” said Cr Hood.

“Council has an ongoing commitment to resource and lead the implementation of our ‘No Barrier’ Positive Ageing Strategy 2022-2030, to help improve outcomes for older people our community,” he said.

The Hepburn Shire Council has released its $59.10 million draft budget for 2023-24, which is now open for community feedback.

Any member of the community can now view the draft budget and budget summary online at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/draft-budget and make a submission by 5pm on Thursday 8 June. Council will consider the budget at a Special Council Meeting to be held on Tuesday 27 June. Council meetings are livestreamed via Facebook.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said that the draft budget includes a record $19.56 million investment in capital works projects, which are predominately funded by Council.

“The budget has been prepared in one of the toughest financial environments in recent history. Our Shire has been significantly impacted by the COVID pandemic, multiple extreme natural disasters, rising inflation and interest rates, sector-wide shortages of construction contractors and extraordinary increases to material and construction costs,” said Cr Hood.

“We have sought to deliver a fiscally responsible budget that aims to achieve actions in our Council Plan, whilst balancing available resources and community expectations. We are in a delicate and challenging financial position which we will continue to manage prudently,” he said.

“While we have aimed to deliver a financially responsible budget, we are continuing to invest in projects that are important to our community and that align with priorities in our four-year Council Plan and the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.

“There is a lot of work to be done as part of our recently adopted strategies, such as the Early and Middle Years, Youth and Positive Ageing strategies, Disability Action and Inclusion Plan and Gender Equality Action Plan,” he said.

The budget also continues the implementation of the Sustainable Hepburn strategy, including initiatives relating to circular economy, reducing emissions, protecting the natural environment and biodiversity, low waste initiatives and climate and water resilience.

Capital works highlights

· Major investment in roads of $2.73 million, made up of $1.28 million for pavement rehabilitation, $950,000 for road renewal, and $500,000 for gravel road re-sheeting.

· Construction of the Creswick Trails ($5.9 million).

· Renewal of the historic Wheelers Bridge ($3.2 million, supported by $2.8 million from the Federal Government).

· Renewal works to protect and improve the historic Daylesford Town Hall ($1.0 million).

· Completion of the Trentham Community Hub ($2.02 million), which will deliver a library, Council hub and community facilities.

· Detailed planning for Glenlyon Recreation Reserve Pavilion redevelopment ($150,000).

· Repairs to Trentham and Drummond tennis courts ($140,000).

· Detailed designs for the Clunes Recreation Reserve Masterplan ($100,000).

· Cyber security initiatives for data protection ($130,000).

· Review options for increased regulation of short-term accommodation properties ($30,000).

The budget proposes $5.9 million of new borrowings to support the delivery of key infrastructure assets, including $1 million for stage one of critical remedial works for the Daylesford Town Hall to ensure the long-term structural integrity of the building, and $4.9 million to be allocated to the construction of the 60-kilometre Creswick Trails.

The total cost of the Creswick Trails project, which started in 2017 and is under construction, is expected to total $9.4 million. Council has secured government funding

of $2.57 million towards this project and is continuing to lobby government for additional financial support.

“Along with hosting Commonwealth Games competition in 2026, the Creswick Trails network will be one of Australia’s key mountain biking destinations,” said Cr Hood.

The budget continues the important delivery of more than 100 services to the community, including road maintenance and repair, library services, early years, youth and positive ageing programs, emergency management response, major projects, tourism, grants and more.

Hepburn Shire was severely impacted by storm events in June 2021 (east of Shire), in January 2022 (west of Shire), and in October 2022 (Shire-wide). Forecast expenditure on storm events is $20.8 million by June 2024, with a net cost to Council (after government grants) close to $2.5 million, equivalent to 12.4% of Council’s annual general rates revenue.

“Planning for our future is an important component of our draft budget, with $2 million allocated to further enhance and support both our statutory and strategic planning activities. This includes development of critically important town structure plans as part of our Future Hepburn project,” said Cr Hood.

“We will also invest $130,000 in cyber security initiatives to ensure protection of data and will review possibilities of increased regulation of short-term accommodation properties ($30,000).”

Rates and charges

Rates and charges make up over half of Council’s annual budgeted revenue and are vital to provide the services and facilities that our community needs. Rate increases have been capped at 3.5% in line with the Victorian Government’s Fair Go Rates System.

“There has been a 7% CPI increase in the past year (to March) and we know that households are struggling with the increase in living expenses,” said Cr Hood.

Properties are revalued each year by the State Government and rates are based on the value of a property.

“There can be a misconception that Council receives additional revenue when the property market increases. This is not the case. The rate revenue for 2023/24 can only increase by 3.5% over the amount of rates collected in the 2022/23 (current) financial year,” said Cr Hood.

Consequently, based on property value, some residents will incur a rate increase of more than 3.5%, while others will incur an increase of less than 3.5% and some will see a decrease in rates.

Pensioners who qualify under the State Government’s Pensioner Rebate Remission scheme will be entitled to a Council-funded rebate of $21.

Under the draft budget the annual waste charges will increase approximately 6.2% on average to meet the increased costs of the service. The standard annual fee for a residential property (weekly garbage collection and fortnightly recycling) will be $570 (or $10.96 per week).

Clunes locals and visitors will soon have less excuse to delay exercise.

The town is getting some new public excercise equipment and it’s being installed alongside the creek, connecting in with the scenic creek walk that’s already pretty popular with walkers and joggers.

The Hepburn Shire Council is installing the new Creek Walk Outdoor Fitness Space and reports that the equipment is being installed creekside at the bottom of Clunes’ Scenic Drive over the next few weeks, with some pieces already in place.

Pieces include an aerobic walker, dexterity bar, hand cycle, push up bar, step up, and chin up bar.

It’s all expected to be up and running – and to get locals up and running as well – by the end of March.