The Macedon Ranges Shire Council will call on the federal gvernment to factor in wildlife trauma and fatalities metrics in federal road safety funding models.

At its recent March scheduled meeting the council endorsed the move which aligns with the council considering wildlife in its new Mobility and Road Safety Strategy.

At the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly in July, the council will submit a motion calling on the Australian Government to include wildlife trauma and fatalities metrics in federal road safety funding models.

The move aligns with collaborative discussions at the council’s ‘Reducing the wildlife road toll’ forum held last month.

The council will now also write to a number of relevant federal and state ministers advocating on the issue.

Beyond the Macedon Ranges Shire, way back in 2007 the Hume Region, in a collaborative effort with the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Melbourne University, created a project to build special world-first fauna bridges for gliders and other native animals to cross the road and – safely – reach the other side.

There followed three wildlife crossing bridges located over the Hume Freeway at Longwood and Violet Town.

The bridges consist of a rope ladder bridge, reinforced with wire rope, that’s suspended between wooden poles. 

Motion sensor activated cameras mounted on the structure have since captured many images of gliders and other native species utilising the bridges to cross over the freeway safely.

In the years the cameras have monitored these wildlife rope bridges across the Hume Freeway, thousands of animal crossings have been detected.

These have including threatened species like the cute little squirrel glider and brush-tailed phascogale and some amazing moments including a mother ringtail possum and her two babies, brushtail possums, cockatoos posing for the camera and even a goanna.

According to Regional Roads Victoria: “The research and findings have confirmed the importance of these structures and support the maintenance required to keep these crossings in good working condition.” 

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting input from the wider community to help shape the future of transport for the growing community of Riddles Creek.

The council’s draft Riddells Creek Movement Network Study aims to provide a strategic transport plan proposing infrastructure to accommodate long-term population growth within the Riddells Creek township boundary, and to address the community’s transport concerns.

Recommendations are provided for pedestrian, cycling and intersection improvements and speed limit
reduction.

Various stakeholders, including the Riddells Creek Community Planning Group and the Department of Transport and Planning, have provided earlier input into the draft study.

At its February meeting the council endorsed the study to now go out for broader community consultation, inviting input responding to the top 30 recommendations that have been shortlisted.

The consultation will run until March 31 with those keen to view it and provide feedback able to do so via the council’s webiste.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting community response to its new draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy that it has endorsed for community consultation at its February meeting.

The draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy has been developed to replace the Electronic Gaming Machine (Pokies) Community Policy, endorsed in 2009.

The updated policy confirms the council’s commitment to work with stakeholders to address the
harmful impacts of gambling in the community and supports the council’s municipal public health and
wellbeing plan 2021-2025.

The plan has identified preventing harm from gambling as a priority for the Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

The policy was developed using local demographics, including financial losses through electronic
gaming machines in the Macedon Ranges, as well as contemporary research into gambling harms
resulting in a public health approach being adopted.

The public consultation inviting feedback responding to the new draft Gambling Harm Prevention Policy will run until until March 31 with those keen to respond able to do so by visiting the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s website.

Users of the Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve will soon benefit from some better lighting thanks to a funding partnership between Macedon Ranges Shire Council, the state government and the community.

The Victorian Government’s announcment last week of a successful $200,000 grant application by the council, plus a $50,000 contribution from Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve Consultative Committee, will support the council’s budget contribution towards LED lighting upgrades in line with current standards.

The government funding comes through Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Country Football and Netball Program which, in partnership with the AFL, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria, assists regional sporting bodies to upgrade and develop facilities.

Mayor Annette Death says the council is proud to have collaborated on a positive outcome for the reserve’s many user groups that include the Riddell Football Netball Club, Riddells Creek Junior Football Netball Club and Riddell Cricket Club.

“Better lighting will make such a big difference at this ground and opens up so many more opportunities for user groups with the potential for night matches, a better night-time training experience and other events,” she said.

“I’d like to thank the Victorian Government for its support in collaborating with Council and the community to help make this important upgrade a reality for the community.”

Following last week’s confirmation of the funding, the council will now work to build on earlier cost estimates to progress with designs, tender out and award work to the successful construction company to complete the upgrades.

The council says it will also continue to work closely with user groups throughout the process with the timeline for the project yet to be confirmed.

A new road safety strategy aimed at protecting both motorists and wildlife features among several significant items that have been endorsed by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council at its final scheduled meeting for 2023.

Items given the green light by the council at its December meeting included the adoption of four different significant plans, reports or strategies, following earlier community consultation

Among them, the Mobility and Road Safety Strategy 2023-32 identifies key road safety issues in
the shire and will assist in implementing proactive initiatives to enhance safety for all
road users.

The strategy supports the council and the Victorian Government’s vision of reducing
road fatalities and crash injuries within the Macedon Ranges over the next ten years.

It also includes non-vehicle road user considerations in road design and targets a reduction in wildlife
road trauma.

The Macedon Ranges Shire has endorsed a new Climate Emergency Plan 2023-30 among multiple significant decisions rubber-stamped at its last scheduled meeting for the year that took place last week.

All up matters endorsed include the adoption of four different plans, reports or strategies following earlier community consultation.

The Climate Emergency Plan 2023-30 (CEP), developed through the Cooler-ER Changes
initiative, aims to accelerate action in the shire to address climate change.

It includes a total of 56 actions across six themes to mitigate and adapt to the current Climate Emergency, and was collaboratively developed alongside the community, relevant agencies and the Victorian Government.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has endorsed a number of significant items at its recent November scheduled meeting.

Matters endorsed include:

Macedon Ranges Shire Skate and BMX Strategy: Following another period of community consultation earlier this year, the council adopted the Macedon Ranges Shire Skate and BMX Strategy, which will guide the future development of skate and BMX facilities throughout the shire.

A key proposal of the council’s Sport and Active Recreation Strategy (2018-2028), the new strategy suggests a series of short, medium and long-term priorities to upgrade or expand on the council’s six existing skateparks and four BMX tracks.

The short-term priorities include the in-progress detailed design and construction of a new skatepark in Romsey, a similar approach for new facilities in Kyneton and a site feasibility study for new facilities in Gisborne, building on concept designs proposed for Gisborne Skatepark in late 2022.

Romsey Skatepark designs: The council endorsed a period of community consultation on designs showcasing what the new Romsey Skatepark would look like, with $550,000 committed by the Victorian Government and work continuing behind the scenes to secure the project’s full funding.

An upgrade driven by the Lancefield Romsey Lions Club for a number of years, including periods of community consultation throughout 2022 and 2023, the new skatepark would feature a large bowl, a quarter pipe, pump track and a series of hips and corners.

The council will lead the next phase of community consultation, set to formally begin in early 2024, to account for the upcoming extended school holiday period and to support maximum engagement (consistent with past consultations).

Positive Ageing Plan annual update: The council noted the Year Three annual review and Year Four action plan for Council’s five-year Positive Ageing Plan, PARTICIPATE, which responds to the needs, priorities, aspirations and challenges of older people in the shire.

Centred around four priority action areas, the plan’s recent related outcomes include the extensive transition out of in-home support services, the ongoing and highly engaging Village Connect program, and securing funding to deliver the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS).

Actions to target this coming year include supporting accessible and improved transport options, encouraging and supporting older people to participate in council volunteering opportunities, and reviewing all council plans against accessibility requirements.

In other matters, the council:

• endorsed the schedule of meetings for 2024 for both the council and planning delegated committee meetings
• endorsed funding adjustments to budgeted infrastructure projects as part of capital works monitoring, including increasing funds towards Kyneton Cricket Club net upgrades and Mission Hill Road bridge works, and reallocating funds to complete detailed designs for two key local reserves.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has declared Christine Walker as the successful candidate
to fill Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s extraordinary South Ward Councillor vacancy, following a countback held online on Monday.
The VEC-led countback was held to fill the vacancy left by the recent resignation of Anne Moore, with
all formal South Ward votes from the 2020 Macedon Ranges Shire Council Election redistributed to
candidates who were unsuccessful in 2020, but still eligible to be elected.
Macedon Ranges Shire CEO Bernie O’Sullivan: “I warmly welcome Ms Walker to Council, and look forward to working closely with her to deliver positive outcomes for the South Ward and the
Macedon Ranges community.”
Mayor Annette Death: “On behalf of all Councillors, I’d also like to welcome Ms Walker to Council
and I know we’ll all endeavour to support her as she transitions to the Councillor role.”
Ms Walker will commence her role as councillor after being officially sworn in today (15 November).

A countback to fill an extraordinary vacancy on Macedon Ranges Shire Council for South Ward will be held online at 10 am on Monday 13 November. The vacancy is due to the resignation of councillor Anne Moore.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) will hold a countback of all formal votes from the 2020 Macedon Ranges Shire Council, South Ward election to fill the vacancy. Votes will be redistributed to candidates who were unsuccessful in 2020 but are still eligible to be elected.

The countback is based on the proportional representation method of counting, which means candidates must achieve a proportion of votes known as a quota.

“The candidate who gets the quota will be elected. If no candidate reaches the quota, the candidate with the highest number of countback votes will be elected,” Election Manager Kathy Georgiou said.

A link to join the countback will be available from 9:30 am on Monday 13 November at vec.vic.gov.au

Candidates and other interested parties can watch the countback.

The result will be published online at vec.vic.gov.au

Romsey residents are being urged to provide feedback on the draft Romsey Structure Plan, currently
open for consultation until Monday 25 September.
The draft Romsey Structure Plan provides direction for the planning and development of the Romsey
and the immediate surrounds in regards to housing, employment, transport, community infrastructure
and the natural environment, while also determining the town’s protected settlement boundary.
The draft plan seeks to guide Romsey’s growth until 2050. It includes infrastructure suggestions, with
an opportunity to advocate for and further explore a range of community infrastructure to support the
current and future community needs.
The consultation period is open for six weeks, longer than the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s standard four-week consultation period, to give sufficient time for community members to review the plan, or attend scheduled drop-in sessions and workshops for further information. Through the consultation period the council hopes to hear from the community and stakeholders about their views on shaping Romsey’s future and how the draft plan reflects this.
The council’s Director Planning and Environment, Rebecca Stockfeld said the draft plan builds on
extensive consultation between 2018 and 2022 through the Romsey Issues and Opportunities Paper
and Romsey Emerging Options Paper.
“Along with the feedback received from the community to date there has been an extensive amount of
research and analysis that has informed the development of the draft plan over time to get to this point,” she said.

“I encourage residents to have a look at the plan and take advantage of the drop-in sessions and upcoming workshop, and speak with Council officers to have their questions answered and clarify any
concerns.”

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s award-winning Holistic Grazing Management course will return in September, with local farmers encouraged to participate and learn about sustainable farming practices.

Since winning the Premiers’ Regional Recognition Award at the 2021 Premier’s Sustainability Awards, the Healthy Landscapes program has run two of these courses, resulting in positive outcomes for local farmers in the region.

The course is designed to help large and small landholders improve their knowledge about grazing livestock, pasture growth, animal health, retaining water in the landscape, soil biology and weed management.  It will assist farmers to improve soil health, reduce exposure to climate risk, enhance biodiversity and increase on-farm productivity and resilience.

2022 course participant Stuart from Newham shared this feedback: “It really has been a world-class program, delivered by knowledgeable, engaging and highly credible people with a wonderful balance of theory, practical application, on-farm support. I could not give the course higher praise!”

The council’s Director Planning and Environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said it was pleasing to hear the positive feedback and to see the practice change that farmers have implemented as a result of attending the course.

“It’s important we continue to support landowners to implement land management practices that improve both the natural environment and agricultural productivity,” she said.

Landholders with grazing livestock in the Macedon Ranges, Hepburn Shire Council or the City of Greater Bendigo are all eligible, with the cost of the course only $150 per property. Limited spaces are available.

For more information and to hear from previous participants on how the course has helped them, join a free webinar ‘Local farmers: where are they now on their journey in holistic farming’ on Tuesday 15 August at 7pm.

The Healthy Landscapes program is also holding a number of events hosted by previous participants of the course including a ‘Grazing and Farming Discussion Group’ in Drummond on 13 August and in Longlea on 1 September, and a ‘Lambs on Grass field day’ in Elmore on 24 August. 

Register your interest in the course, webinar, other Healthy Landscapes events, or sign-up to the eNews.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has reinforced a commitment to help locals residents make their own well informed and carefully considered choice in the nation’s upcoming Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum.

At its recent July scheduled meeting the council endorsed a notice of motion in relation to the Australian Government’s Voice to Parliament.

The move reinforces the council’s commitment to share information to enable residents to make their own considered and informed choice in the referendum.

Issuing a media statement, the council is encouraging local residents to visit the Australian Electoral Commission website to gain further information, and says its positioning statement on the upcoming Referendum aligns with its Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-23.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has endorsed several significant items at its recent July scheduled meeting.

Items that have been endorsed by councillors include the following public consultations:

• Draft Macedon Ranges Skate and BMX Strategy (Consultation period: 1 – 28 August): Informed by earlier consultation with the community and key users earlier this year, this draft strategy aims to guide the future development of existing skate and BMX facilities throughout the shire.
• Proposed closure of Raglan Street, Lancefield (1 – 28 August): Working in collaboration with Council and the Department of Transport and Planning, St Mary’s Primary School is seeking to progress a proposal that would see Raglan Street permanently closed to traffic at Chauncey Street. This would build on a current arrangement that sees gates closing the road temporarily during school hours.
• Draft Mobility and Road Safety Strategy 2023-2032 (1 August – 1 September): Informed by earlier consultation with the community and key users in 2021, this strategy aims to enhance and promote sustainable transportation choices and create an environment that prioritises safety for all road users. It covers pedestrian safety, cycling infrastructure, public transport, interaction with wildlife and overall road safety improvements.
• Proposed road discontinuance/transfer – Jackson Street, Macedon (8 August – 5 September): The section of unmade road in question has been enclosed within the property at 10 Margaret Street in Macedon for over thirty years, and this proposal aims to formalise the sale of this land – no longer required for public use – to the landowner.
• Proposed acquisition of 51 Coop Drive, Gisborne (8 August – 5 September): For the benefit of the public and consistent with the area’s approved Development Plan, Council has an opportunity to purchase this area of open space for the expansion of Gisborne Fields Park.
• Draft Romsey Structure Plan (14 August – 22 September): Building on extensive consultation between 2018 and 2022 through the Romsey Issues and Opportunities Paper and Romsey Emerging Options Paper, the draft Romsey Structure Plan provides direction for Romsey’s planning and development in areas such as housing, employment, transport, community infrastructure and the natural environment, while also determining the town’s settlement boundary up until 2050.

More information on each of these consultations can be found at Have Your Say closer to their launch dates.

Updates to a number of the council’s grant programs were also tabled and endorsed:

• 2023/24 Community Funding Scheme allocations: Following an application period between May and June 2023, Council received 30 applications for these grants totalling $250,729. With a  budget of $192,400 available including surplus carried over from last year’s grants, officers recommended 24 applications for funding with a combined value of $192,229.
• 2023/24 Events and Festivals Grant Program allocations: Following an application period between May and June 2023, Council received 15 applications for these grants totalling $103,622. With an annual allocation of $75,000, and $16,000 of that already committed to multi-year agreements, officers recommended 12 applications for funding with a combined value of $59,000.
• Environment Group Support Grants: In line with Council’s Community Grants Policy adopted in April this year, the grant guidelines have been reviewed by Council officers. The grant application process has moved online, using the SmartyGrants program. In addition, the Environment Group Support Grants have a new category – a Biolink Boost Grant, which will be co-funded with Macedon Ranges Community Enterprise Ltd (Bendigo Bank) as a community partner.

The council also endorsed a notice of motion in relation to the Australian Government’s Voice to Parliament, whereby it reinforced its commitment to sharing information to enable residents to make their own considered and informed choice in the referendum.

Residents are encouraged to visit the Australian Electoral Commission website for information. Council’s positioning statement is available here, which is aligned with Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-23.

Video recordings of past Council meetings are available at webcast.mrsc.vic.gov.au (generally available within two business days of a meeting).

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting community feedback to help shape the future direction of the Ross Watt Reserve in New Gisborne.

The local reserve is recognised as an important area of passive and active open space and currently offers grassed areas, a playground, public toilets, BMX humps and tennis facilities with four courts.

Future upgrades that have so far been identified include a new tennis pavilion, two new synthetic grass courts and a picnic shelter with a barbecue.

Like other recreational master plans recently endorsed or underway, this will provide a long-term road
map for the future development and improvement of Ross Watt Reserve in a pre-planned, strategic
manner, with individual projects being subject to funding and detailed design.

The council is receiving public feedback on the draft Ross Watt Reserve Master Plan from 2 to 30 June, with more information available at mrsc.vic.gov.au/your-say