Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 23 August 2023
Published on 23 August 2023
August Council meeting outcomes
Council adopted the 2022/23 Financial and Performance Statements Principle Report, 2022/23 End of Financial Year Variation Analysis and Governance Rules v3.
Council also noted quarterly activity reports for local laws and planning compliance, public health, building services, statutory planning permit activity, and Road Management Plan defect rectification compliance.
Additional agenda items addressed included:
- Pyramid Hill Kindergarten Assessment and Rating outcome
- Expressions of Interest for Stage 2 and 3 of the Pyramid Hill Community Centre through the Growing Regions Program.
- Formal recognition of Rheola Community Planning Inc.
- Planning Application Bridgewater Maldon Road, Bridgewater
For more detailed information on these topics and others discussed during the August meeting, please visit our website at https://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Agendas-and-minutes/Agendas-and-minutes-2023
To watch the August Council Meeting visit https://www.facebook.com/LoddonShire/
Loddon Valley Arts Trail
Our upcoming Arts Trail, open to all Loddon residents, promises to be an extraordinary showcase of regional creativity. This event not only provides a platform for artists to promote their work, but also offers art enthusiasts and explorers a chance to connect with local talent.
For two days in October the artists, makers and creatives of Loddon Shire are inviting you into their studios, galleries and pop-up exhibition spaces for the Loddon Valley Arts Trail.
The Arts Trail is a unique way to explore everything this incredible region has to offer, and your chance to uncover some of Loddon Valley’s hidden creative gems.
Are you an artist or craftstman residing in or working within Loddon Shire? If you’re interested but lack a studio or exhibition space, don’t worry –there’s still time to get involved!
You have until 30 August to register your interest. The team at Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House (ICNH) can assist with finding you a pop up space or a group exhibition to ensure you don’t miss out. ICNH can be contact on 03 5438 3562 or email info@icnh.org.au
Event details
Betterment funding
Loddon Shire Council has welcomed funding from the Federal and Victorian governments to improve the resilience of assets through the Council Priority Betterment Program.
The funding will enable assets like roads, bridges and footpaths to be repaired and rebuilt to a more resilient standard.
Building key Council assets to be more resilient is a significant step in the preparation for future emergencies. Having assets such as culverts and roads able to better withstand natural disasters such as flooding, is absolutely vital for our communities and emergency services.
This key infrastructure is hugely important in helping ensure connectivity and reducing hardship not only during a disaster, but in the aftermath as well. We saw this with the October 2022 flooding across Loddon Shire, which resulted in around 1,300 flood-damaged sections of Council’s 4,800-kilometre road network. Roads were severely impacted and the restoration of affected roads and infrastructure is still ongoing.
We therefore welcome any additional funding assistance that can help our infrastructure withstand these sort of emergencies, reducing severe disruption to our communities and businesses.
The Council Priority Betterment Program is jointly-funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Municipal Association of Victoria – Media Statement
Recommendations from the Operation Sandon report include changes to planning system reform, council governance, donations and lobbying.
Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Councillor David Clark says that as the most transparent level of government, we know how important the governance recommendations are and we’re committed to working through them with our members and the State Government.
Cr Clark said the MAV will work through the planning recommendations with the sector.
“The recommendations offer an important opportunity to improve transparency and accountability within the planning system.”
To read the full MAV media release please visit https://www.mav.asn.au/news/spring-street-backrooms-dont-equate-to-more-transparency