Notes from your Mayor - Robyn Machin
Spring Racing Carnival time is here with many great horses to choose from this year. I do not have any worthwhile tips but I have a hunch the odds for this year's Cup winner will be handsome. A number of Strathbogie Shire thoroughbreds are featuring during the carnival - so keep your eye on them.
DPI Drought Feeding Workshops
The DPI and the Shire of Strathbogie have arranged three workshops for our farming community to access information from a number of government departments and organisations to help with this dry season ahead of us. The workshops will provide information on feeding sheep and cattle, stock containment to protect paddocks, what feed can be used and sourced, what to keep and what to sell and animal health.
Information will be available also from Goulburn Valley Water of where to source potable water, from Goulburn Murray Water on sourcing water for stock and domestic purposes, and who to contact to cart water. Also information and representatives from VFF, Centrelink, NE Agcare - Carl Fraser and the Hume Corridor Outreach Health Service will be on hand. Please come to these sessions and share information - we are all in this together and need to support each other.
1 November - Violet Town Football Clubrooms
2 November - Moglonemby Hall
3 November - Longwood Community Centre
New farmers to the district and those on small holdings are advised to seriously consider your plans if you have any livestock. Many are choosing to sell livestock to avoid the worry of maintaining a small number of animals for an uncertain time.
Exceptional Circumstances Drought Declaration
Strathbogie Shire continues to be EC Declared. This has allowed a significant number of farmers to access financial assistance to help with:
Shire Rate Assistance
Health Care Card Access
Assistance equivalent to New Start Allowance
Interest Rate Assistance
Do not be too proud - this help is available and could really help you and your family - many have been able to get assistance so far as this is an exceptional year.
Tourism Lakes and Ranges
The official Shire Tourism Board is developing a shirewide Official Visitors Guide. The Marketing Prospectus will be distributed extensively to tourism businesses and associations throughout the region to encourage buy-in. If you wish your business to feature in this guide please contact Karen Hayes at the Shire. The guide will be widely distributed in Victoria.
Honeysuckle Ward tops building approvals
For both the months of August and September and for this quarter in the Shire. This is a great turnaround following the lacklustre performance over the previous 12 months which experienced very low building applications
Cultural Development Funding Program
This program provides a framework which demonstrates Council's encouragement and support of the many and diverse cultural activities occurring throughout the municipality. This funding policy aims to provide a basis for the allocation of council's financial support for cultural activities throughout the municipality with around $2000 still available for application. If you have any projects which address community heritage, history or culture/art you may consider this program.
Municipal Road Safety Strategy
A strategy has been developed following public meetings in all townships and villages throughout the Shire by the steering committee. The Road Safety Strategy develops a co-ordinated approach to Road Safety issues and identifies road safety hazards and risks, and possible treatment options.
Rural Works P/L of Violet Town facilitated its development. It was funded through a grant from Vicroads. The document is available for public exhibition and I thank all our communities for their input.
Pool Tender for 06/07 season
Tenders have been received from two contractors. The rates have increased considerably - one 60% and the other 24% above last years tender prices. The Shire annual budget for the VT Pool is $47,000 and the income from users is just $6,000. The deficit is therefore $41,000. Many will be aware that next year is the Jubilee year for the VT pool and there are celebrations being planned by the Friends of the Pool - so get involved and what better place to be this dry year than by the VT Pool this summer.
Drought Information Updates
Updates are constantly coming from many sources as well as new government assistance almost every week. Details are up to date on the Strathbogie Shire website or can be obtained by phoning the Shire Office. I shall continue to keep the Village Voice updated on information.
Please keep in touch with me on any comments you have or issues for discussion. Ph 041 749 6785 Shire website
For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858