Strathbogie Shire Council

Monday, 28 August, 2017 

Community groups, event organisers and everyday Strathbogie Shire residents have another chance to apply for Council’s 2017-18 community grants program.

Council has awarded close to $30,000 to community groups as part of the 2017 -2018 Community Grants Program.

The entire grant funding allocation, worth $56,500 was spread out into four categories: Community Matching Grants, Events Grants, Quick Response Grants and the William Pearson Bequest.

Eight applications were received and the successful grant recipients were:

• Nagambie Mechanics Institute – sanding and re-sealing of the hall flooring - $4450
• Strathbogie Golf Club – outdoor furniture and BBQ - $3140
• Euroa Agricultural Society – NR Ralston Pavilion, flexible exhibition and event improvements - $5000
• Avenel Recreation and Cricket Reserve – seating and undercover area at the new skate park redevelopment - $5000
• Avenel Tennis Club – kitchen refurbishment - $4898
• Strathbogie Memorial Hall – Strathbogie Arts Show - $1680
• Violet Town Business Group (auspiced by VTAG) – The Nightmare Continues - $3000
• Euroa Citizens Band – funding stipends for musical directors and some annual expenditure - $2500

Due to there being significant funding still available Council have decided to offer Strathbogie Shire residents another opportunity to benefit from community grant funding with a second round opening on Monday, 11 September 11, 2017.

Mayor Amanda McClaren encouraged all Strathbogie Shire residents and community groups to take advantage of this second round of the Community Grants Program.

 "Council’s Community Grants Program is very worthwhile as it gives residents from all walks of life a chance to complete a project that may have been in the pipeline for a long time or to make community events the best they can be, supporting social cohesion," Cr McClaren said.

"I strongly encourage anyone to apply for either a Community Matching Grant or Events Grant before October 27 this year."

This round will be open for applications for Community Matching Grants and Events Grants only and will close on Friday, 27 October, 2017.

Quick Response Grants will continue to be open at any time for applications.

For assistance in applying for a grant, visit our website at www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au/community-funding/community-grants-program or contact a member of Council’s Liveability team on 1800 065 993.

Monday, 28 August, 2017

Community groups from Nagambie and surrounds can now enjoy administrative support from a brand new community hub on the main street.

The first time initiative supported and sponsored by the Bendigo Bank, officially opened mid-August, has been established to assist local community groups to access technology and facilities they need to deliver their services.

The Nagambie Community Office will be operating out of the Bendigo Bank office on High Street and is equipped with a computer with professional software, a colour printer, meeting spaces and staff assistance.

This facility aims to enhance the productivity and capacity of community groups by reducing the expenses associated with administrative tasks.

Strathbogie Shire Mayor Amanda McClaren said she was honoured to be able to officiate the opening and is excited to see the positive outcomes that will be generated from the services.

"Community groups are the lifeblood of rural communities such as those in the Strathbogie Shire, so it is absolutely fantastic to see them recognised and supported in their work, she said.

"Nagambie is known for its strong community sentiment and large volunteer base and this facility will remove access barriers to assist members in addressing issues that impact our communities."

The need for support of community groups in the region became evident to the Bendigo Bank through their sponsorship programs and will be a great pilot program for similar projects to be implemented at other branches around the country.

The office will be open on Monday, Thursday and Friday and bookings are recommended to ensure the team can meet demand requirements.

To access the service, contact the Community Office on (03) 5794 2565.

Friday, August 18, 2017

Strathbogie Shire Council is urging all land-owners and occupiers, who are required under law, to make their properties safe from fire in the lead-up to the 2017-18 fire period.

Failure to make your property safe may result in a fine of $1586.

Council considers the safety of its residents very seriously and will be taking a stance on areas containing fire hazards in the lead-up to the warmer months.

Residents need to be aware that it is their responsibility to make their homes safe and hazard-free, with Shire-wide inspections taking place soon.

Properties within townships should remove all flammable rubbish from their yards and make sure the grass is kept cut, and rural properties are strongly encouraged to slash their boundaries.

Council also urges residents to ensure they have smoke alarms, fitted with brand new batteries, as failure to act now could mean potential disaster in the event of an emergency.

Strathbogie Shire recognises it has a large population of residents over 65 and they are able to help the more vulnerable residents which may struggle with checking and replacing smoke alarm batteries.

Please contact Council if you or a family member or friend needs support with this.

In addition to this, each year local fire brigades issue new batteries to all residents in their area.

All enquiries regarding this can be made to the Strathbogie Shire Fire Prevention Officer, Ken Ross, who is available on 1800 065 993.

Toxic household chemicals - such as solvents, poisons, cleaning products, fertiliser and car care products - can be safely disposed, at no cost, on 'Detox your Home' collection days in Melbourne and across regional Victoria. Collected items are recycled for recovery and diverted from landfill.

The 'Detox your Home' service is for household chemicals only. There's no restriction on the number or volume of household items that you can bring, however:

• The maximum acceptable weight or size of any single container is 20 kilograms or 20 litres
• Decanting isn't permitted, so bring chemicals in disposal containers.

There are up to 31 'Detox your Home' collections which rotate according to an annual schedule. Victorian residents can take household chemicals to any collection point - no matter where you live.

Here's how you do it:

1. Select a 'Detox your Home' collection point and date

The next Detox your Home event for the Goulburn Valley is at the Shepparton Resource Recovery Centre on Wanganui Road, Shepparton on Saturday, 2 September between 10am and 12pm.

2. Label your items

• Retain original labels on containers
• If there is no original label but you know the contents, write a label and stick it on
• If you're not sure of the contents, label the container 'unknown chemical'. Don't guess the chemical's name.

3. Take your items

On collection day, take your items to the collection point. Once you're there, the process takes about 10 minutes. (Note that it could be longer depending on the time of day and the number of residents that attend).

There are a number of safety precautions to observe when transporting chemicals, including:

• Travel with your car windows down if carrying flammable or odorous materials
• Keep chemicals in their original containers. Ensure lids are tightly fitted.
• Protect taps on drums so that the tap does not break off.
• Place containers of liquids in a tray or plastic bucket so that they do not spill or fall.
• Pack powders and solids securely.
• Keep corrosive chemicals, such as battery acid, away from poisons.
• Keep oxidising agents, such as peroxide, away from all other materials.
• Double-wrap old liquid containers in plastic bags to prevent leaking.

For more information, visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StrathbogieShireCouncil/ or Sustainability Victoria's website http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/detoxyourhome.