Strathbogie Shire Council

Thursday, May 4, 2017

In a bold new move that is sure to get property investors excited, the Strathbogie Shire is proposing a two year rate free exemption for eligible first home buyers, in its draft Council Plan and Budget released for public exhibition yesterday (Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017).

Fresh out of its "Let’s Talk" community consultation program, the Strathbogie Shire is now keen to show its local community that it has listened to all feedback received during the program and is building a plan for the future that is both balanced and representative of the wants and needs of its municipality.

Strathbogie Mayor Amanda McClaren said the "the two year ‘rate freeze’ for first home buyers is all part of a wider strategic plan to reinvigorate the Shire, through the attraction of new residents and industry."

"Remaining consistent with the Fair Go Rate Capping System of no more than two per cent rate increases, this 2017/18 Draft Budget is also expected to provide a significant boost to our local community with $24.9 million to be spent on services such as Libraries and Arts, Maternal and Child Health, Emergency Management, Tourism and Events, Planning and more," said Cr McClaren.

The Strathbogie Shire will also roll out of a $13.08 million Capital Works Program with the following highlights:

 Roads ($5.94 million) – resealing, re-sheeting and rehabilitation

 Bridges ($2.44 million)

 Drainage ($1.26 million)

 Footpaths ($0.186 million)

 Buildings ($1.412 million)

 Plant and machinery ($0.98 million)

Cr McClaren went on to say that "further improvements to road safety within the Shire are also proposed, with plans to move some of the least maintained/unsealed roads within the Shire to an increased maintenance program."

"This item is part of the direct feedback received in our Let’s Talk – We are Listening Campaign. Council received a comprehensive wish list of items in need of attention by residents and ratepayers," she said.

The draft Council Plan, if implemented, will see a series of strategic plans be acted upon over the next four years.

Both draft documents are now available for you to provide feedback and can be accessed online at the Strathbogie Shire website or at the Council Office in Euroa.

The public exhibition period for both documents closes at 5pm on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, with Council hearing submissions at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 5pm.

Both documents will be formally adopted at a final Special Meeting on Tuesday, June 27 at 5pm.

click here to view the Draft Council Plan, while the Draft Budget can be found here.

Further Detail on "Two Year Rates Freeze for New Home Buyers"

 No rates payable for the first two years

 Proof of eligibility for and receipt of State First Home Buyers Grant ($20,000) to be provided

 Land must be rated as vacant residential land if a house does not exist on it

 House must be constructed within a period of two years from date of contract to purchase

 In the case where a First Home Buyer acquires a new house, Council would excuse those rates for a two year period.

Monday, May 1st, 2017

The Euroa Criterium and Ride the Ranges weekend held on April 21 and 22 was a great success, attracting several hundred people to the area.

But while it is unknown where the money will go, event director Neil Tubb said the Rotary Club of Euroa, who organised the event, would make the decision.

He said he was very impressed with the efforts of everyone involved in making the event happen.

“What really pleases me about organising this event is that we are able to bring money into our Shire that will go directly to a local cause,” he said.

“We are able to bring money into the town from outside sources, with majority of this fundraising coming from Melbourne.”

The second Euroa Town Criterium race more than doubled in size, with 111 competitors and a string of talented cyclists from across Victoria gathering to compete.

The Criterium took place on the Saturday, with the closure of parts of Kirkland Avenue, Railway, Binney and Brock streets to clear the way for the 1.3km circuit.

“The Criterium brought in some really talented cyclists this year,” Mr Tubb said.

“The winner of the A Grade race, Scott Sunderland, has won 3 gold medals and one silver medal at the Delhi and Glasgow Commonwealth Games.”

Neil attributed some of this new talent to the increase in prize money, to the tune of $6000 in total.

The event was such a success that organisers are looking to run it on its own across two days in the future.

“The Cycling Victorian representatives said they love the way we run our event and expressed an interest in making it a two-day event, with time trials on the Saturday and the main event on Sunday” he said.  

Neil said they were discussing the possibility of moving this to the same weekend as the Euroa Gift to increase spectatorship, but said this was “still in the pipeline.”

Ride the Ranges also delivered, with an excess of 200 participants across the three distances.

Participants in the 30km ride followed a loop around to Shean’s Creek Rd. Those in the 85km ride travelled to Miepoll, Violet Town and back to Euroa via Kelvin View.

Cyclists in the challenging 130km event also rode to Miepoll and Violet Town, and then looped around through Strathbogie and also returned to Euroa from Kelvin View.

The next Ride the Ranges and Criterium weekend will fall on April 21 and 22, 2018, but this will be subject to possible changes to the Criterium event.  

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes was in Euroa on Tuesday (April 18) to announce the successful grant for a State Government contribution of $100,000 towards a state of the art netball court for Euroa.

The funding announcement completes the overall budget for the project, including Strathbogie Shire Council’s contribution of $50,000 and a community contribution of $63,000, raised by a passionate display of support for the project by local and regional businesses, and our generous community.

The driver for the project, Kate Petersen, has worked on turning this dream into reality over the past two years.

In first gathering a project committee representing both Euroa’s Senior and Junior Football Netball clubs, Kate oversaw successful submissions to Council for local funding for the project.

Ms Petersen highlighted the growing number of netballers across the junior and senior age groups and the need for a competition class court and facilities to support them.

The project committee has worked closely with Shire CEO Steve Crawcour and Director Asset Services Roy Hetherington, as well as Memorial Oval Committee of Management representatives to ensure all the relevant parties are part of project planning.

The State budget planning for Netball Facilities documents a two stage plan Euroa’s facilities in the provision of a court in Stage 1 and a much needed construction of new change rooms in Stage 2.

Shire Mayor Amanda McClaren praised the project and the journey to get to this exciting stage of development.

"This project is a great example of community consultation, with Council working closely with the sporting clubs and committee members involved to ensure the dream of enhancing this fantastic sporting precinct to become a reality," Cr McClaren said.

"It is great to see significant progress in the promotion of women’s sport, particularly in Euroa where over 100 girls across junior and senior grades are getting out on the court to represent their community."

Thursday, April 20th, 2017

Fresh from its successful Let’s Talk – We are Listening campaign, Strathbogie Shire Council has launched its annual Community Satisfaction Survey.

This is a great chance to give constructive ideas on how you think Council is faring with all of its services and operations, ranging from the stock standard ‘roads, rates and rubbish’, asset management or Maternal and Child Health.

The Community Satisfaction Survey will arrive in every letterbox in our Shire soon with a reply-paid envelope to ensure its safe delivery back to Council.

Or, if you would prefer to fill out your survey online, simply jump on our website and click the ‘Have Your Say’ button on the home page.

Mayor Amanda McClaren said it was a State Government requirement that Councils conduct yearly community satisfaction surveys in relation to service standards and how they are delivered.

"This Council conducts a much broader survey than that of the State Government to ensure it receives feedback on what the community has told us through the Conversation Cafes," she said.

"The results of the surveys will be fed back inti the community and will assist Council in making improvements where necessary."

All of your information is entirely confidential and will form the basis of a Council Report, which will be made public in the coming months.

This report will provide Council with a comprehensive guide on how our residents feel about how Council is tracking with the services they provide to the community.

The online survey is best viewed by tablet or PC – not on a mobile phone and is accessible on our website at www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au.

The Community Satisfaction Survey will be open for one month, with the results expected to be released in July.