Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 4 April 2024

Published on 04 April 2024

Gavan-Holt.jpg

2024 Loddon Valley Official Visitor Guide

Last week, I was proud to be part of the launch of the 2024 Loddon Valley Official Visitor Guide.

The Official Visitor Guide (OVG) is the key tourism print publication, which, as well as aiming to bring visitors to the Loddon Valley, also looks to increase their length of stay and exploration of the region. The guide highlights the region’s history and heritage, arts and culture, gastronomy, natural environment, tracks and trails, First Nations, tours, events, and more.

These experiences are featured via unique and compelling stories, itineraries, local profiles, must-dos and editorial. In addition to featuring culturally enriching experiences, trails, local profiles, and a list of must dos, the new visitor guide really puts a spotlight on the Loddon Valley’s diverse tourism offerings.

Featuring over 40 businesses as well as Loddon Shire’s key tourism destinations and experiences, the 80-page, A5-format visitor guide includes QR codes and links to online content to ensure tourism information is always up to date. The guide is available at Visitor Information Centres and other tourism agencies across central Victoria, as well as local Loddon businesses, key community events and digitally online.

For more information about what to see and do in the Loddon Valley and to download a copy of the guide, visit www.bendigoregion.com.au/visit-loddon-valley

March Council meeting outcomes

At the March Council Meeting, a number of items were presented for Councillors’ consideration.

  • Adoption by Council of the Public Interest Disclosure Policy (Version 2).
  • Adoption by Council of the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy (Version 5)
  • Approval by Council of the Strategic Risk Report  - March 2024
  • Endorsement by Council of the Audit and Risk Committee Remuneration Report
  • Endorsement by Council of the Unlocking Loddon’s Growth Potential – Action Plan

A reminder that Council Meetings usually take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 3pm. Meetings take place in the Council Chambers, Peters Street Wedderburn and are open to the public.

Council Meetings are also streamed via Loddon Shire’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/LoddonShire

To view the March Council Meeting agenda and minutes, visit https://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Agendas-and-minutes/Agendas-and-minutes-2024

Broad feedback received for recreation, open space and aquatic strategy

The importance of sports facilities and clubs to the community has been highlighted during recent consultation for Council’s Recreation, Open Space and Aquatic Strategy (ROSA).

Community members provided their feedback for the ROSA via face-to-face drop in sessions, a survey and direct engagement with sporting organisations and schools.

More than 170 adults, children and young people participated in the six drop-in sessions held across the Shire, while 56 community surveys and 30 sports club/association surveys were completed.

There has been a great amount of community engagement around the ROSA so far, and I’d like everyone who took the opportunity to share their views,

A detailed report regarding the community feedback is being prepared and will be available on Council’s website once completed.

More information regarding the ROSA, including the next steps, is available from https://connect.loddon.vic.gov.au/recreation-open-space-and-aquatic-strategy  

Here is some of the feedback we received from our community:

Sports facilities and clubs

  • Loddon sports facilities and clubs are important to community.
  • Supporting sporting clubs and maintaining sports facilities and competitions are important to children and young people and adults.
  • Encouraging greater use of these facilities was an opportunity.

Access

  • Improving access and maintaining footpaths and trails are important to seniors in the community.
  • This includes providing access to water stations, shade and seating.

Diversity

  • Children and young people want diversity in their play experiences.
  • They want to see more water play and nature play in playspaces, as well as active recreation experiences like pump tracks and junior bike skills tracks for riding.

Pools are valued

  • Loddon pools are valued in our community.
  • They provide a safe place for people to learn to swim and cool down, which is important in rural communities with riverways, farming channels and dams.
  • Key periods for pools to be open are before school for lap swimming and after schools so families can go there directly from school.
  • Communicating with the community about times pools are open and providing community events would encourage greater use of pools.

Nature-based recreation

  • Providing nature-based recreation activities such as mountain biking, bouldering, bushwalking, canoeing and fishing would encourage residents and visitors to enjoy our bushland and waterways.

Fitness stations

  • Adults support the gyms, fitness stations and fitness sessions as ways of being fit and healthy in a supported way.

Community events

  • There is support for more community events in our open spaces, particularly events encouraging people to be active.

2024 Anzac Services

This Anzac Day, Loddon Shire together with the nation, will remember those who have lost their lives during military and peacekeeping operations.

Several communities throughout Loddon Shire will hold local Anzac Day ceremonies, including Boort, Bridgewater on Loddon, Calivil, Inglewood, Korong Vale, Mologa, Newbridge, Pyramid Hill, Rheola, Tarnagulla and Wedderburn. 

These ceremonies not only honour the brave individuals who have served our country but also remember the spirit of ANZAC, including its qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice. These qualities continue to be relevant to our sense of national identity today.

To view the list of Anzac Day ceremonies along with their timings, please visit https://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Ceremonies/ANZAC-Day

Thank you to all community members involved in organising this year’s services.

 Expand Your Impact Program

Council is pleased to partner with Make a Change Australia to bring their Expand Your Impact program to our Shire.

Expand Your Impact is a collaborative initiative designed to encourage locals to think a little differently and grow success in any area of life. Participation can be via subscribing to receive resources; attending online workshops; joining a supportive network, or all the above.

From March to June 2024, this program will be available to all Loddon residents, businesses and organisations free of charge. I encourage everyone to participate and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to grow and succeed in any area of life.

Expand Your Impact explores six key areas useful for making change happen:

  • Vision: Discovering and rediscovering ‘what lights YOU UP?’
  • Projects: Giving thoughts and ideas the structure to MAKE THEM HAPPEN
  • Story: Creating YOUR compelling narrative, to ENGAGE OTHERS
  • Audience: Identifying your audience and activating participation to ACHIEVE your goals
  • Team: Building networks, growing communities and enlisting SUPPORT
  • People: Working together effectively for GREATER OUTCOMES

For more information on the project visit and to register to participate, visit https://makeachange.org.au/expand-your-impact

Dipper’s Destinations – Loddon Shire episode out now 

In September 2023, Hawthorn Football Club legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico visited Loddon to film an episode for his TV show called Dipper’s Destinations. This episode puts a spotlight on our unique local attractions, small businesses and close-knit community. 

To watch the episode on Channel 7, visit https://7plus.com.au/link/Episode/DIPD02-004

 

Tagged as:
Back to top