Strathbogie Shire Council

Friday, 18 August, 2017

Euroa residents of the Campbell Street area may soon benefit from a new drainage scheme designed to improve their properties and minimise future flood risk as part of a landowner-funded Special Charge Scheme.

Strathbogie Shire Council could install new kerb and channel, nature strips and more constructed driveways in parts of Campbell Street and Palmer Avenue.

This project proposal has been developed in consultation with residents and land-owners of 10 properties in the area.

Since March, Council has introduced the concept to residents, who are supportive of the project.

Once complete, all stormwater along Palmer Avenue will be redirected back to Campbell Street.

Council are also working on creating additional parking spaces for the eastern side of Campbell Street, allowing more space for school traffic.

The school enhancements are part of a second stage, further planning and design work.

Funded in the 2017/18 Budget, a new stormwater pipeline from Palmer Avenue to Bury Street will also be created, as well as a turning lane at the Clifton/Campbell Street intersection and the filling of redundant drainage infrastructure from Palmer Avenue to Bury Street, within certain properties.

Mayor Amanda McClaren said Council was pleased this project has been strongly supported by the effected residents of the Campbell Street and Palmer Avenue areas.

"A Special Charge Scheme is something more and more councils are doing throughout the state, and something we’ve done in the past on Rowe Street in Euroa," she said.

"It’s important that our residents have their say on how they want their homes (and street) to look, particularly if it’s going to help solve a drainage problem."

Council, at its Ordinary Meeting in September, will vote for the intention to declare the Special Charge Scheme, opening the project up to public submissions, which close on 27 October.

Once all submissions are heard, Council will then vote to officially declare the scheme in the November Ordinary Meeting.

If successful, the project will begin in 2018.

Caption: The corner of Campbell Street and Palmer Avenue as it is seen today, pre-drainage scheme.

Monday, 7 August, 2017

If you have fruit trees growing on urban residential land you may qualify to have your fruit trees removed. Fruit trees on urban residential land are a major concern for local fruit growers as they can attract and support the breeding of Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF).

An initiative has been implemented across Greater Shepparton, Moira Shire, Campaspe Shire and Strathbogie Shire to encourage land owners of urban residential land to make application to have unwanted fruit trees removed free of charge.

This is an initiative that has arisen from the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Action Plan (GMVFFAP) which has been developed by the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Group (GMVFFG).

The GMVFFG includes representation from major horticultural producers, local and state government and community members from the area.

Fruit trees you no longer require or are unable to maintain can provide breeding grounds for QFF which in turn can have a serious impact on our fruit growing industry and our home gardens.

Strathbogie Shire Mayor Amanda McClaren said Shire residents can be proactive and submit an application now to have their unwanted fruit trees removed to fight the Queensland Fruit Fly,

"Strathbogie Shire is in the heart of Victoria and a place with a lot of home-grown produce, which are under threat with the QFF," she said.

"We need to protect our areas from fruit fly and this is a fantastic initiative to do so."

"QFF is a serious concern for regions that have a significant agricultural footprint such as Greater Shepparton, Moira, Campaspe and Strathbogie. This is one of the several actions that have arisen from the GMVFFAP," Fruit Fly Coordinator Ross Abberfield said.

Winter is a great time to remove potential breeding sites as the QFF is relatively dormant during this period when the weather is too cold for them to be active.

Applications to have fruit trees removed from urban residential land are available at participating Council/Shire Offices. Given funds are limited, applications will be assessed and actioned accordingly.

For more information please contact Strathbogie Shire Council on 5795-0000.

Thursday, 3 August, 2017

Over 100 residents attended the launch of Strathbogie Shire Council’s Bogie Bulk Buy program in Euroa recently.

The event, which took place at the Euroa Memorial Oval on 29 July, provided a great platform for local residents to gain relevant information about solar energy options, batteries and their energy future.

Peter Maruff from AusNet kicked things off with an inspiring presentation on their work with solar-powered towns in Mooroolbark and Yackandandah.

Attendees also heard from the program’s independent energy experts Yarra Energy Foundation who described how they assess solar providers, and how they assist with assessing solar and battery quotes for the community for the 12 month bulk buy period.

Solar providers Cherry Energy, who are the preferred Bogie Bulk Buy providers, were also able to do some myth busting and take residents through the process of installing solar.

A Model X Tesla car was the star attraction, and was accompanied by a presentation from Tesla about their new Powerwall 2 battery.

Council is collaborating with Tesla to install a six bay Supercharger station at the Kirkland Avenue carpark in Euroa.

Mayor Amanda McClaren said these sustainable initiatives are driven by Council’s commitment to addressing sustainable living now and into the future, as part of their Sustainable Strathbogie 2030 strategy.

"Council is committed to supporting our residents, businesses and producers to live better in a changing climate and to reduce their emissions, waste and income risks," she said.

Dr Malcolm Altson from Euroa was one of the residents who attended the launch and was pleased to see such a great response from the community.

"It is fantastic to see our Shire embracing renewable energy options and future possibilities of energy sharing," Malcolm said.

Malcolm was an early solar-user, but is excited to explore the possibility of installing solar for the medical practice.

Those who weren’t able to attend the launch have the opportunity to attend one of the remaining free information sessions in Nagambie, Violet Town, Avenel and Strathbogie in the coming weeks and can register on www.bogiebulkbuy.com.au.

Strathbogie Shire residents who have any questions or would like a quote for solar panels can call Yarra Energy Foundation on 1300 866 634, who provide free advice from 9am-5pm weekdays for the next 12 months.

Yarra Energy Foundation and Cherry Energy are also offering to donate a solar system to a community building for every 50 kilowatts purchased in the bulk buy program.

Residents will be able to vote for a community solar donation from a shortlist of community buildings that have a proven annual high energy use.

Wednesday, 2 August, 2017

Strathbogie Shire has officially become a Refugee Welcome Zone, after the declaration was signed by Mayor Amanda McClaren recently.

The initiative was developed by the Refugee Council of Australia in 2002 and there are now over 140 official Welcome Zones across the country, 40 of which are Victorian.

Mayor Amanda McClaren and her fellow Councillors attended the Welcome Scroll, an initiative of Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR), when it came to Euroa on Tuesday 4 July to celebrate the endorsement of the initiative.

Becoming a Welcome Zone is a commitment to embracing and showing compassion and empathy to refugees who integrate into the community.

This is central to Council’s vision of building flourishing communities and the values of respect and inclusion driving the new Council Plan.

The drive to support this initiative came from Council’s consultation sessions through their ‘Let’s Talk- We are Listening’ campaign held earlier this year.

Cr McClaren said she was honoured to officially adopt the community driven initiative.

"It became clear through the conversation cafes held in the eight townships that becoming a Refugee Welcome Zone was something incredibly important to the Strathbogie Shire community," she said.

Cr McClaren explained that this declaration is also "an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions refugees have made to Australian society."

The pledge also promotes cultural and religious diversity and builds social cohesion throughout the community.

"One of the biggest strengths of our Shire is its strong sense of community and this commitment further acknowledges that we are a welcoming, friendly and inclusive place to live and work," Cr McClaren said.

Ruth Fluhr, coordinator of the Strathbogie Shire RAR said "a friendly, helping hand makes a huge difference in the transition of people to a new, productive life in a new country."

"Diversity within community is a true strength, and Strathbogie Shire stands to receive many gifts in extending a welcome to people with an urgent desire to improve their lives and to contribute to their new community," Ruth said.