Introducing new council worker, Layla
Layla is not your average Border Collie/Moodle cross. As a trained Positive Response Assistance dog, she offers unwavering support and grounding to her owner and Council librarian, Caitlin. These dogs assist people whose lives are often severely compromised by anxiety and fear.
CVC councillors don’t want to decide pay rises
Clarence Valley Council will put forward a motion at the annual Local Government NSW conference requesting that councillors shouldn’t have to vote annually to determine their own pay rises ... Cr Bill Day put forward a motion to the Local Government NSW conference in November 2023 requesting that councillors shouldn’t be determining their own remuneration, which doesn’t happen at other levels of government.
Councillors divided over post flood motion
A motion to address community and business concerns following the 2021 and 2022 floods that devastated the region has divided councillors at the May 23 Clarence Valley Council meeting. The motion was moved by Cr Novak and seconded by Cr Alison Whaites before Climate Change Committee CCC chair Cr Greg Clancy asked Cr Novak how many meetings of the committee she had attended.
Council appalled as transmission line steamrolls over community concerns
Northern Grampians Shire Council is appalled that widespread community opposition has had no material impact on Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) final recommended alignment for the controversial VNI West power transmission project ... “Landowners need clear and concise answers to the questions they have asked and not simply to refer them to some other arrangement as a reference to how it might work here": Mayor, Cr Kevin Erwin.
Qantas steps up to fill gap
Following Rex Airlines’ decision to exit its operations from Whyalla, Qantas has announced additional flights to help address the gap that will be created by Rex’s departure ... “There is still a lot of work to be done to fill the gaps in service, so we are working extensively with the broader airline industry to explore options to help minimise the impact of Rex’s decision”: Mayor Phill Stone.
Trash to treasure: The tool saving money and the planet
From timber and metal to stationery; and crafts and organics to soils, a range of material otherwise destined for landfill is being traded – and given new purpose - using the online marketplace-style ASPIRE platform ... Early adopters of the platform are two local businesses Rockcote, Australia’s leading paint manufacturer, partnering with the Yandina Community Gardens’ Food Loop program.
End of native forestry – Victorian Government fails to see the forest for the trees: Timber Towns
The State Government’s decision earlier this week to end the native forestry industry effective January 2024 came as a shock to the whole sector, clearly with zero consultation with any forestry industry representatives. Timber Towns Victoria calls the decision ‘reckless’ and ‘irresponsible’, condemning the decision.
Cook Shire Council adopts its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan
Cook Shire Council has made formal its continued commitment to Reconciliation by adopting its first ‘Innovate’ Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-25 (RAP) at the May Ordinary Council Meeting, and ahead of Reconciliation Week. The RAP outlines the internal organisational framework Council will employ over the next two years to target the four key focus areas outlined by Reconciliation Australia: Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance.
National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week
Friday is National Sorry Day, the annual event held on 26 May to acknowledge the pain, injustice and enduring impacts of the stolen generations on our First Nations communities.
Gannawarra Shire Council adopts flag policy
The new policy governs the flying of flags ... locations in the municipality where flags can be flown on a temporary basis, and the process to apply for a request to fly additional flags ... My petition titled ‘Fly the flag, be the change’ was to highlight a grave inequity and discrimination that existed, one based on what appeared to be fear and phobia more than logic or science ... Council shelved the request, citing the need for a flag flying policy.
Learn, share and be a voice during National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week 2023 has been launched at TribalLink in Mapleton with a fire ceremony, traditional dance and presentations from Sunshine Coast Elders. Hundreds gathered on Jinibara Country to celebrate and learn more about First Nations’ history and culture.
It’s game on at the shire’s sports and recreation reserves
Planned sporting facility upgrades at the Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve in Maldon are one step closer following a recent meeting of Mount Alexander Shire Councillors. On Tuesday 16 May, Councillors unanimously voted to award a contract for the construction of a new all gender pavilion at the reserve to local builder BLR Provincial Pty Ltd.
Have your say on proposed rail trail
Mount Alexander Shire Council is partnering with Central Goldfields Shire Council and community group Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail Inc. to determine the feasibility of a shared rail trail between Castlemaine and Maryborough. The proposed trail is 55km long and passes through the communities of Campbells Creek, Guildford, Newstead, Moolort and Carisbrook.
Give a sheet ® for the planet with this one simple action
Single, doubles or queens – it’s time to dig deep into the depths of your linen cupboard to give those old sheets a second chance at life. To celebrate World Environment Day, Sunshine Coast Council and Noosa Council have teamed up with BlockTexx and St Vincent de Paul Society to hold a community textile recycling event, ‘Give a Sheet ® for the Planet’.
Livelihoods destroyed at the hands of the Victorian Premier: Wellington Shire Council
"In three years, we haven’t seen any evidence or sign that the Premier ever had plans to deliver on his promises to support the native timber industry with new pine plantations or any form of alternative supply. Now the livelihoods of hundreds of locals are shattered in an instant without a single word from the Premier or his government": Cr Ian Bye, Wellington Shire Council Mayor
Council to hold off on Fisherman Bay fences
Michelle Daw. Barunga West Council appears to have backed down on plans to immediately tackle the issue of unauthorised fences around homes at Fisherman Bay ...The Papps family had erected a fenced enclosure at the rear of their property to keep [retired greyhound] Max safe, and are awaiting more information about fencing requirements from Barunga West Council.
The facts on regional road programs: King
The Albanese Government’s review of the Infrastructure Investment Program will consider how the Commonwealth can further support local councils through much needed road funding programs such as Roads to Recovery Program and Black Spot Program. We know how important these programs are to local communities, especially in our regions, and the Government is committed to ensuring these programs continue to deliver for communities in the best way possible over the long term.
Indigenous film fest is back
The Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival is back in 2023 to celebrate National Reconciliation Week ... Festival screenings include High Ground, DJAKAMIRR, Storm Boy, Carriberrie, Night Cries, Gurrumul, The Lake of Scars, Fighting Giants, The Drovers Wife, Emily in Japan and The Last Daughter.
The Wolfe Brothers to headline the Day at the Dam Music Festival
Council is thrilled to announce that the Wolfe Brothers will be the headlining act ... This exciting event will provide a platform for local service providers, disaster recovery and employment agencies to showcase their products and share resources to the attendees, through trade displays and a mini job fair.
New plan outlines the Gannawarra’s flood recovery targets
A new plan developed by Gannawarra Shire Council in partnership with more than 30 agencies will guide the Gannawarra’s recovery from the October-December 2022 floods. The Gannawarra Municipal Flood Recovery Plan features 48 priority actions across 11 recovery target areas that Council and other agencies will work on to guide recovery efforts.
Damaging increase in emergency services levy: Rate rise won’t cover costs
Narrandera Shire Council will join protests from other local government councils in representations to the Treasurer, the Minister for Emergency Services, the Minister for Local Government and local State Member Steph Cooke in expressing their strong opposition to the NSW Government’s last-minute decision to impose an enormous Emergency Services Levy (ESL) cost increase on councils for 2023-24 by scrapping the ESL subsidy for councils and at a time after Council has publicly advertised its Operational Plan and annual budget to the community.
Top turtle queries from students on World Turtle Day
From kindergarten to high school, Sunshine Coast students are turtle-y in love with turtles ... “Hatchlings are the most popular topic with the kids wanting to know if they can breathe under the sand, how they get out of the nest, what happens if they get left behind and if a mother turtle can find the hatchlings if the nest is relocated": Leisa Baldwin.
