The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has welcomed the First People’s Assembly of Victoria for the first time to mark National Reconciliation Week in the Macedon Ranges.

National Reconciliation Week is held each year from 27 May to 3 June and is a time to learn about First Peoples’ histories, cultures and achievements.

This year’s theme ‘Now More Than Ever’ is a reminder that we must continue on the journey of reconciliation for First Nations peoples.

At a special event at Kyneton Town Hall on 28 May, Joshua Carter – proud Noongar and Bardi man and Youth Voice Coordinator – and Drew Berick – proud Dja Dja Wurrung man and Elder Voice Coordinator – spoke about the Youth and Elders’ Voice initiatives of First People’s Assembly. 

The First Peoples Assembly is an independent body that represents Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria.

Its members are Traditional Owners of Country who have been chosen by their communities to represent their hopes needs and ideas in the journey to Treaty.

Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, said it was a privilege for Macedon Ranges Shire Council to host the First People’s Assembly of Victoria at this year’s event.

“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to hear their stories and I encourage everyone to come along to learn more about truth-telling and the journey to Treaty,” she said.

“Participating in National Reconciliation Week events, which provide opportunities to build and maintain relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other Australians, is a key action in Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and we are pleased to be able to deliver on this again this year.”

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has endorsed a new Draft Heritage Strategy in recent days, ahead of inviting community consultation in response to its contents.

The draft strategy, a ten-year strategic planning tool that sets out Council’s approach to the management of heritage within the shire over 2024-34, was endorsed for a period of community consultation to begin in June. 

The draft strategy has been informed by input from council staff and feedback from the community, through an initial consultation period last year in which residents were invited to share what they love about the heritage of Macedon Ranges through photos and words. 

The draft strategy proposes a list of 26 actions, comprising 18 new actions and eight that have already been implemented and are ongoing, but which are worthy of continued support. 

Mayor Annette Death: “This updated draft strategy, complemented by the recently endorsed Thematic Environmental History, is essential to ensuring Council has a clear purpose and actions when it comes to protecting our shire’s heritage.” 

“I encourage anyone with an interest in the Macedon Ranges’ rich history to review the updated draft strategy and provide their feedback.” 

The EPA Victoria and Macedon Ranges Shire Council have raised serious concerns about building industry practices after inspected 34 building sites around Gisborne and New Gisborne.

Two teams staged a one-day campaign of unannounced inspections in the Willow Estate and Cathlaw Estate, checking that builders, developers and construction workers were meeting their safety, environmental and building compliance obligations.

The EPA issued seven regulatory notices – each one a legally enforceable order to fix a problem by a set deadline – with two more to follw. 

The EPA will also issue an Infringement Notice for a duty holder that had multiple sites with repeated non-compliances that required clean-up.  Four Official Warnings are also planned, which come with no sanction but go on the official record.

Council officers issued 52 infringements for breaches of local law related to building sites with lack of – or non-compliant – building site signage, incorrect management of building waste onsite, lack of toilet facilities, unsecure site fencing, skip bins on council land without a permit, and general rubbish on council land. 

Local laws fficers also issued three parking fines and referred seven unsafe sites to WorkSafe Victoria for further investigation.  

EPA Northwest Regional Manager Paul Ratajczyk says businesses and tradies must know their responsibilities.

“The warnings were about sediment being discharged from sites, paint-contaminated water entering the stormwater system, plaster, brick dust or cement washing into drains and creeks – careless breaches, easily fixed but they should never have happened,” Mr Ratajczyk.

“The regulatory notices dealt with actions such as clean-up of waste, building waste and concrete scraps that were dumped on an empty block,” he said.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council Director Planning and Environment Director Rebecca Stockfeld said Council would continue to take a strong regulatory approach to building site compliance.

“We want to ensure that all building sites across the Macedon Ranges are doing the right thing, for their own benefit and for the environment around them,” she said.

“Officers reported disappointment in the non-compliant state of many of the building sites recently inspected – this is simply not good enough, particularly given the warning of inspections ahead of time.” 

“We encourage members of the public to support us in our monitoring by reporting any alleged breaches directly to Council for further investigation.”

While the inspections were unannounced, EPA and the Council had separately written to more than 50 companies working on the Estates, reminding them of their responsibilities under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Community Local Law 2023.

The General Environmental Duty (GED) in the Environment Protection Act makes it everyone’s job to take reasonable actions to protect the environment.  

For builders that means understanding how their activities can impact land, water and air quality, or cause harm from waste and excessive noise.

Two Macedon Ranges Shire Council programs driving sustainable agriculture practices and waste reduction measures have been announced as finalists in the 2024 LGPro Awards for Excellence.

The Healthy Landscapes program and a suite of practical Resource Recovery initiatives have both
been nominated in the Sustainability Initiative category as part of the annual awards, which recognise
the outstanding work by individuals and teams working in local government in Victoria.

The Sustainability Initiative category recognises initiatives that demonstrate excellence in the delivery
of environmentally sustainable processes or projects, ensuring present needs are met without compromising future generations.

The council’s increased efforts to ‘close the loop’ in recent years have led to a range of initiatives being
implemented, all aimed at helping residents recycle more and waste less.

The council became one of the first Victorian councils to implement a shire-wide four-bin system.

It also partnered with the Australian Food and Grocery Council on a soft plastic recycling trial in Romsey.

It recently introducing polystyrene and textile recycling at resource recovery facilities.

These initiatives have resulted in, more than 5,700 tonnes of glass, 28,900 tonnes of green waste (FOGO) and 8,400 tonnes of recycling being diverted from landfill.

They’ve also resulted in two tonnes of soft plastic being collected and processed into reusable oil and 300m3 of polystyrene and 11 tonnes of textiles diverted from landfill.

The winner will be announced at the 2024 LGPro Annual Conference Awards Dinner, to be held on
Thursday 2 May at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting community feedback on its draft infrastructure master plan for Stanley Park in Mount Macedon with submissions able to be lodged up until April 19.

The six-hectare forest, grassland and passive recreation park has been used by residents and visitors for walking, picnicking and nature study for more than 100 years.

This is the second stage of consultation for the popular reserve following previous community consultation for the Stanley Park Environmental Management Plan in mid-2023, and its endorsement by the council at the December 2023 council meeting.

The EMP provides recommendations to protect the site’s flora and fauna values and has helped to guide the draft IMP.

The council’s Director Planning and Environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said the key aim of the draft IMP was to balance the needs of the reserve’s users, while safeguarding its ecological values through considered infrastructure design.

“It’s important we provide opportunities for the community and visitors to enjoy everything Stanley Park has to offer, while making sure we protect the natural environment which makes it so unique,” she said.

“We will continue to work closely with the community to find out what they would like to see for Stanley Park and how they would like the park to be managed going forward.”

Key features of the draft IMP include updated interpretive signs and provision to update or maintain existing infrastructure such as footbridges, stone steps, toilet facilities, the car park and fencing near waterfall vegetation.

A long-term vision for the park includes consolidating all infrastructure to focus passive recreation in the north-east corner of the site.

This involves the staged removal of existing infrastructure in the north-west section as it reaches its end of life, and rehabilitation of the former playground, picnic area and car park in accordance with the EMP.

The draft IMP proposes the new north-east passive recreation zone, including a nature play area and other recreation infrastructure that celebrates the site’s natural values. 

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is continuing to host a range of activities and events for children and young people in the shire throughout the April school holidays.

Among them, the Kids Creative Building Jam is taking place at the Kyneton Town Hall, April 8-10.

It’s described as being “a hands-on, super fun creative school holiday collaboration for children aged 6-13 years”.

The concept is that “someone is in trouble and 100 creative-minded kids are needed to help design and build a safe place for them”.

Using “a huge range of reclaimed materials, we will collaboratively dream up and build a never-before-seen structure in the town hall” a council spokesperson says.

The program will run over five separate two-hour workshops, culminating with a public grand opening to celebrate the build.

More details and registratins are available through the council’s website.

Romsey residents – and those living within five kilometres of the Romsey Hotel – are being invited to complete a survey relating to an application for gaming machines, to help inform the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s submission to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).

In response to an application to the VGCCC for 50 gaming machines at 90 Main Street in Romsey (Romsey Hotel), the council has commissioned an independent consultant to deliver a Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA).

To inform the SEIA, the council is undertaking a community survey via independent company Insync, using a publicly available database from the Victorian Electoral Commission to target letterbox drops to all Romsey residents and those within five kilometres of the venue.

The council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, said there may be people who have moved to the area more recently – or turned 18 and are newly eligible to vote – who are not captured in this database.

“We know this is an important matter for many Romsey residents and we want to ensure that we are giving as many eligible people (within five kilometres of the venue) as possible the opportunity to participate in our survey,” she said.

“It is important to Council that our SEIA is as well-informed as it can be, to ensure that our submission to the VGCCC best represents the sentiments of our community.”

Eligible residents who haven’t received a letter directly must “opt in” to complete the survey, showing proof of residency to ensure validity of the data collected. Residents can do this by contacting the council on 5422 0333, or by visiting a council office in person.

Individual survey results will be completely private and de-identified by Insync and a summary of results will be included in a future council report, expected to be listed for decision at the April 2024 council meeting.

Members of the public who live outside of the five-kilometre survey area but would like to share their opinion on the application, they can make a submission directly to the VGCCC.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting the community to join a special free lunch event and shared storytelling at the Kyneton Town Hall on Friday 22 March to celebrate Cultural Diversity Week.

Cultural Diversity Week is an annual state-wide celebration held in March that recognises the value cultural diversity brings to our community.  Its timing coincides with the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March.

In partnership with Regional Victorians of Colour, Kyneton Community House and The Kindness Collective, the council will bring together culturally diverse people living in the community to share their stories along with information from the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health.  

The event will also feature a lunch lovingly prepared by community chef Valme, who will bring a taste of the Philippines to the town hall.

The council’s community director, Maria Weiss, said the event reflects this year’s theme of Our Shared Stories – Celebrating Together and will be the first since the council adopted its inaugural Cultural Diversity Statement in 2023.

“Council is committed to promoting an inclusive community ensuring that people of all faiths, cultures, languages, genders and abilities are welcome and connected,” she said.

“We warmly welcome everyone to join us in this inclusive event to celebrate and reflect on the value what cultural diversity brings to our community.”

According to the latest 2021 Census data, overseas-born residents living in the Macedon Ranges form about 13 per cent of the population, with non-English speakers representing about 4.5 per cent.

The free event will be held from 11am-2pm.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has renewed its reusable nappy, sanitary and incontinence product rebate program to reduce waste in landfill and assist residents in accessing affordable reusable items.

The program, which was piloted last year with over 100 rebates given back to the community, provides up to 50 per cent back on the cost of reusable items such as cloth nappies, nursing pads, cloth pads, leak-proof and period underwear (capped at $100 for reusable cloth nappies and associated products, and $50 for sanitary and incontinence products).

The council’s Director Assets and Operations, Shane Walden, said the rebate not only offered an incentive to reduce waste, it would also help residents save money on essential items.

“We know people are doing it tough with the cost of living, so this initiative goes some way towards helping with that while at the same time helping the environment,” he said. 

“Around 660 million disposable nappies, sanitary and incontinence products end up in landfill in Australia each year, so every little bit we can do to help reduce this number helps.”

The rebate program is open until 30 April or until funds are exhausted, and all Macedon Ranges residents are eligible to apply.

The council has also launched a Waste and Recycling Secondary School Grant Program, where secondary schools in the shire can apply for up to $2,000 to tackle a waste problem at their school.  

The proposal must consider long-term solutions and sustainability under one of three categories: 

• Recycling solutions (e.g. updated bin signage around the school)
• Food waste reduction (e.g. ‘Eat what you pack’ campaign) 
• Waste reduction (e.g. swapping to reusable materials at the canteen)

“Young people in our shire are very proactive in wanting to help the environment, and this program will get them thinking about what else they can do in their day-to-day activities to help with waste reduction,” Mr Walden said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what innovative initiatives our local schools develop to help tackle this issue.”

Applications for the grant program close on 30 April with more information available from the council.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has launched a new online hub to help it gain useful feedback from the community on significant council policies or initiatives.

People will be able to view current public consultations and have their say in new ways through the
new Your Say hub, which has the capacity to host surveys, interactive maps, Q&As, forums and more.

The launch of Your Say supports a strategic priority in the Council Plan 2021-2031 to ‘Enhance
customer experience through the transformation of our services, to ensure they are easy to access
and provide user-friendly experiences’.

It also supports a specific Council Plan action also set to be completed this financial year, with new
Community Engagement Guidelines under development to better guide council staff in undertaking
effective, relevant, and transparent community consultation.

Macedon Ranges Chief Executive Officer, Bernie O’Sullivan (pictured below) said it was integral to hear from the community to help tailor the projects, policies and services Council delivers.

“We have subject matter experts here at Council who work hard to develop initiatives relevant to their
field, but two-way conversation is essential to make sure we’re hitting the mark,” he said.

“Council is committed to genuine consultation and closing the loop with the community. This new
online engagement hub – together with the new staff guidelines – will support that commitment. I
encourage residents to continue taking the time to review public consultations and provide feedback.”

A number of draft policies or initiatives endorsed by the council for public consultation late last year are currently inviting feedback including:

Romsey Skatepark designs – proposed designs for a new skatepark that would feature a
large bowl, a quarter pipe, pump track and a series of hips and corners. Funding of $550,000
has already been committed by the Victorian Government towards construction, while Council
allocated $20,000 towards initial planning works in the Budget 2023/24.

Draft Complaint and Unreasonable Behaviour Policy – this policy outlines how Council will
manage complaints and unreasonable behaviour and provides clear guidance for both the
complainant and Council.

Draft Special Charge Scheme Policy – this policy applies to Special Charge Scheme (SCS)
infrastructure projects such as resident-funded upgrading of roads and drainage.

Draft Fair Access Policy – this policy supports Council in the identification and removal of
systemic factors contributing to gender inequality relating to the availability of quality
community sports infrastructure at times that are suitable.

Those keen to have input are invited to jump online and visit yoursay.mrsc.vic.gov.au to view current consultations, provide feedback and sign up to receive tailored alerts about future consultations as they are listed.

A jam-packed program of arts and culture events is being rolled out this year in the Macedon Ranges Shire.

Tickets have gone on sale for a diverse mix of performances and activities ranging from iconic musical acts and laugh-out-loud comedy, through to inspiring theatre performances and creative workshops.

The program kicks off in February with Ross Wilson and The Peaceniks playing live at the Kyneton Town Hall and celebrating 50 years of hits, including all of the Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock favourites.

In March, the Kyneton Museum will launch Unmasked, an exhibition on loan from Her Place Women’s Museum Australia, that celebrates nursing and midwifery in the Macedon Ranges Victoria and beyond.

Throughout April, a range of local bands and artists will perform in the inaugural Live & Local series across the shire’s charming community halls, as part of the 2024 Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival.

Featuring You Am I’s Tim Rogers, Juliarna Clark, The Whiskey Rogues, Valley Road and more, and complemented by local wines and food trucks featuring regional produce, this is a series of events that’s expected to be a strong visitor drawcard to the shire.

Children can also burn some creative energy during the April school holidays with the Creative Kids School Holiday Program, where they can join a hands-on, fun collaboration ‘Kids Creative Building Jam’ facilitated by artist and designer Anna Åkerlund over five separate interactive workshops.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council will welcome 35 new citizens and present the shire’s 2024 Community Awards at the Kyneton Town Hall, tomorrow, Thursday 25 January.

The council will acknowledge courageous and inspiring members of the community through the presentation of community awards in the following categories:

Connecting Communities Award

Healthy People and Environment Award

Business and Tourism Award

Citizen of the Year

The shire’s new citizens this year originate from New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, Thailand, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Philippines, Samoa, Vietnam, and the Netherlands.

At the ceremony each new adult citizen will receive a certificate of Australian citizenship, an Australian lapel pin, and Australian native plant. The council will also present each new child citizen with a small gift.

The Kyneton Municipal Band will provide entertainment at the event which will be attended by dignitaries including Macedon Ranges Shire Council CEO Bernie O’Sullivan, Mayor Councillor Annette Death, Councillors Jennifer Anderson, Rob Guthrie, Geoff Neil, Bill West, Christine Walker, and Mark Ridgeway, Cr Dominic Bonanno (TBC) and Member of Parliament: Mary-Anne Thomas MP (State Member for Macedon).

A Draft Complaint and Unreasonable Behaviour Policy is among several iniatives for which the Macedon Ranges Shire Council will invite community feedback early in the new year.

During its last scheduled meeting for 2023 held earlier this month the council endorsed putting out a number of iniatives for public consultation in early 2024.

The iniatives include the:

• Draft Complaint and Unreasonable Behaviour Policy: the draft policy outlines how Council will manage complaints and unreasonable behaviour and provides clear guidance for both the complainant and Council.  The draft will be available for public consultation in February 2024.

• Draft Special Charge Scheme Policy: this policy applies to Special Charge Scheme (SCS) infrastructure projects such as resident-funded upgrading of roads and drainage. It outlines the decision-making process and criteria for SCS projects where providing these services or infrastructure items is deemed to provide a special benefit to property owners or certain community members.

• Draft Fair Access Policy: this policy supports Council in the identification and removal of systemic factors contributing to gender inequality relating to the availability of quality community sports infrastructure at times that are suitable.

Residents in the Macedon Ranges Shire have been urged to prepare for an increased likelihood of warmer and drier conditions over summer, with the Fire Danger Period having come into effect from Monday this week.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) declared the Fire Danger Period for the Macedon Ranges began from 1am on 27 November 2023 and will end on 1 May 2024 (unless otherwise advised). No fires can be lit in the open air without a permit during this period.

The council’s CEO, Bernie O’Sullivan, said the Bureau of Meteorology’s declaration of two key weather events – El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) – meant an increased risk this fire season.

“Those who have experienced fire will know how dangerous and unpredictable it can be – it is crucial that we take collective responsibility to ensure others do not have to experience it,” he said.

“There are a range of useful resources available to help you prepare for the upcoming fire season, including the CFA and Council websites, with the VicEmergency app and your local ABC radio station both working to provide the latest information on current conditions.”

The council says it’s focused on working with the community to collectively reduce the shire’s fire risk, including undertaking an annual roadside slashing program across council-managed roads to reduce the likelihood of fires starting from hot vehicle exhausts, mechanical failures and collisions.

This roadside slashing program began earlier this month and will continue throughout December, prioritising high-use roads and working within strict guidelines to complete these works safely. An annual program to slash council-owned land and reserves across the shire is also well underway.

Regional Roads Victoria undertakes its own program to maintain state-managed roadsides.

Additionally, the council’s Municipal Fire Prevention Officers are conducting private property inspections across the shire to check for fire hazards, issue Fire Prevention Notices where appropriate and work with landowners to reduce risks.

Residents were reminded of the importance of being prepared for fires, and to ensure their properties are maintained to minimise flammable fuels including stockpiles of green waste and foliage in gutters.

Free green waste disposal is available for ratepayers and tenants at the council’s transfer stations in Kyneton, Romsey and Woodend.

Following the Victorian Electoral Commission recent countback to fill a councillor vacancy in Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s South Ward, successful candidate Christine Walker was officially sworn in to her new role as councillor at a ceremony on Wednesday November 15.

Here is a brief Q&A to get to know Cr Christine Walker a little better:

Tell us a bit about your life to date

I grew up in regional Victoria, Western Australia and Papua New Guinea, as we moved for my father’s job as a local government engineer.

Following secondary school, I moved to Melbourne and studied psychology at Latrobe University. I subsequently undertook a Masters of Social Research and most recently, a Diploma of Interior Design.

I have had a very extensive career as a social and market researcher for large corporations and in consulting roles. I have lived overseas and in Sydney for short periods for work and sat on a few professional boards.

Our family moved to Macedon Ranges about 12 years ago and live in Mount Macedon. The whole family has been involved in the Mount Players and I love gardening, keeping active and playing Canasta.

What inspired you to want to run for the councillor role?

I was inspired to be a councillor because I believe local government is important – it affects the places and the way in which we live our lives.

What do you hope to be able to bring to the council, and what do you want to achieve in the next 12 months?

I hope to be a thorough and well-considered Councillor, and be able to offer up fresh perspectives coming in three years into the current term.

I’m also excited to get up to speed with what the priorities have been and are currently for Council.