Strathbogie Shire Council

Friday, 26 May, 2017

Friday, 19 May, 2017

A review of Strathbogie Shire Council’s Community Planning Program is now complete, with a new management model recently announced which reduces administration for groups, maintains existing funding levels and continues a focus on community-led outcomes.

Community planning is about enabling communities to identify, find solutions and implement projects that address social, environmental, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, cultural and economic goals, issues and opportunities.

At the May Ordinary Meeting, Councillors voted that non-incorporated Community Action Groups should become

‘Community Planning Reference Groups’ (CPRGs).

With the exception of Violet Town Action Group (which is incorporated and therefore have their own operating structure), the seven groups in Avenel, Euroa, Graytown, Longwood, Nagambie, Ruffy and Strathbogie will be guided by a Community Planning Reference Group Charter.

All groups can continue to trade under the moniker of Community Action Group if they wish.

The Community Planning Reference Groups will be community based committees with the responsibility to provide feedback and advice to Council on the following objectives:

Represent the community through a democratic process of open, community planning sessions and the development of a Community Plan.

Implement actions which are identified in the Community Plan which strengthen and develop communities.

Advocate on behalf of the community to other government agencies for appropriate funding for initiatives identified by communities.

Balancing the present and future interests of all Shire residents and visitors.

Funding allocation processes for all groups will remain unchanged for the 2017-18 financial year, with new Community Planning guidelines being introduced to assist with planning, funding and reporting into the future.

Council undertook consultation with all action groups, which raised issues such as confusion over the roles of action groups and Council, excessive red tape and potentially losing funding.

Following a Council briefing, Honeysuckle Creek Ward Councillor Kate Stothers moved the recommendation to start the transition from action groups to CPRGs, being seconded by Mt Wombat Ward Councillor Alistair Thomson.

"We (Council) need to be as flexible as we can to ensure each group is structured," Cr Stothers said.

"We want to also ensure these groups know what their community priorities are."

Cr Thomson said the Community Planning Review was an "in-depth process".

"The Shire is committed to community development," he said.

"Community planning is all about volunteers wanting to undertake important projects for the community, by the community.

"A structure is needed for the groups’ funding going forward but really, the goal is about community planning."

Hughes Creek Ward Councillor Malcolm Little, who chaired the meeting, said Council will meet with action groups individually to start the transition.

"The process moving forward is going well, with action groups understanding what’s involved," he said.

"Our volunteers are valuable people and this is another step towards a successful partnership with these groups moving forward."

Thursday, 18 May, 2017

Nagambie’s central business district will benefit from increased angle parking after Strathbogie Shire Councillors voted to bring the change in (pending VicRoads approval) at their Ordinary Meeting recently in accordance with the recommendations of the Nagambie Masterplan.

In December last year, Council voted to form a Nagambie Parking Community Working Group to develop parking plans for High Street as a direct result of changes to traffic flow post bypass.

A total of five residents participated in the group, together with V/Line, Public Transport Victoria, VicRoads, Nagambie Lakes Tourism and Commerce and Council representatives, with three meetings held this year.

The group comprehensively reviewed and considered the submissions which Council received when the angle parking proposal was out on public display but sought further input from traffic industry bodies.

One of the main submissions against angle parking, received last year, focused on the tourist precinct directly facing Jacobson’s Outlook and the Black Caviar statue.

This fact was considered by Lake Nagambie Ward Councillor Deb Swan, who recommended that angle parking in this section be deferred until October 31 this year. This deferral also provided an opportunity to review bicycle lanes in the design.

Other changes to the original angle parking design that came out of the working group included:

 Widening of the 45-degree angle spaces from 2.6 to 2.8m

 Provide a line-marked, short-term set down/pick up area for buses in the manoeuvring space and abutting bike lane adjacent to Jacobson’s Outlook

 Alter the median opening opposite Marie Street to one-way from west to east and restrict its use to buses only

 The existing right turn deceleration lane into the above median opening can be closed and used for additional on street car parking spaces

 V/Line bus stops to be removed from High Street and relocated to the train station.

 Conversion of the existing V/Line bus stop near the Nagambie Lakes Waterfront Hotel and the bus stop outside of the Foxhole café to on-street parking.

 Introduction of short-term parking restrictions in some kerbside parking areas on Farmers Market days.

Councillors took part in a rigorous debate on the issue, with Cr Swan leading the argument, saying a lot of work had been done by the community and Council to get to this point.

"Right now, the community is half and half about angle parking," she said.

"I feel this solution addresses a lot of the issues we’ve heard from residents, which included how the area in front of the lake would look if angle parking was introduced.

"On the Easter long weekend, High Street was very busy and more parking was needed. We need to look forward now."

Cr Malcolm Little agreed, saying this would be a very big change for Nagambie.

"We must also bear in mind that VicRoads need to approve this recommendation," he said.

Cr Alistair Thomson said Council would need to evaluate the impact angle parking has had on Nagambie, particularly the inclusion of the bike lane, should VicRoads approve the change.

Mayor Amanda McClaren explained "that whilst this change may take a little getting used to, ultimately the creation of additional car spaces will benefit our businesses. With community involvement in the working group, I feel we have come to an outcome that is better balanced with the needs of the Nagambie community."

"We would like to thank all of the working group members for their contributions to this point and for those who made submissions into the process."

Council is ready to implement the design in stages – as soon as VicRoads approval can be obtained.

Tuesday, May 9th, 2017

Strathbogie Shire Council has thrown its support behind two local families whose members are currently battling cancer.

Council, together with local Shire residents Dustin Perry and Steven Jeffery, are hosting a special movie screening of Cars 3 at the Euroa Community Cinema to raise money for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation in July.

Eight-year-old Chloe Perry, the youngest child of Dustin and Shannon of Euroa, was diagnosed with neurological glioma, which is a rare form of cancer.

Chloe is currently undergoing chemotherapy for the illness, which has affected not only the family, but the entire Euroa community as well, particularly those who go to St John’s Primary School with Chloe.

Meanwhile local real estate agent Steven Jeffery, who has been battling leukaemia for the past several months, has forged a strong friendship with the Perry family and has joined forces to raise more funds and awareness of brain cancer.

The two met a few years ago when Steven sold Dustin’s house but reconnected as they discovered they were going through a similar ordeal.

In April, Dustin wrote a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and when he didn’t receive a response, sent another letter, this time to

The Australian newspaper, explaining his concern that more funding needed to focus on finding a cure for brain cancer.

He later appeared on Network Ten’s

The Project and was interviewed by presenters Carrie Bickmore and Waleed Aly, who were both inspired by his letter.

"The Australian Government’s years’ of ignoring this disease is what makes this kind of fundraising event so important for all Australians," he said.

Dustin is still in discussions with Mr Turnbull and Federal Minister for Health and Sport Greg Hunt about the lack of brain cancer funding.

"The mortality rate of brain cancer in Australian children is higher than that of any other disease, yet it continues to be neglected by our government.

"This rate hasn’t improved in 30 years, yet the government is currently allocating less than five per cent of its cancer funding to it," he said.

He said it was an important cause to anyone and it "could affect your child tomorrow."

"Our community is pretty strong," Steven said.

"They have helped me since I started battling leukaemia and I feel this fundraiser would be a way for the both of us to give back to the community.

"All of the funds raised at the cinema are going to a cause that affects so many people and we are happy that Strathbogie Shire is 100 per cent behind this."

Mayor Amanda McClaren said Council were pleased to support the community in raising awareness and much needed funds for such a worthy cause.

"We encourage the community to get behind these local families and their effort to make a difference," she said.

The Cure Brain Cancer Foundation Fundraiser will be held at the Euroa Community Cinema on Wednesday, July 26 at 7pm.

Tickets are available now at Council's Main Foyer, The Hub and St John's School Euroa and cost $15 for adults and $10 for kids.

All proceeds go to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.