Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 7 December
Published on 07 December 2020
Reduce transport emissions: community panel
Infrastructure Victoria is inviting 450 Victorians to be part of an online community panel to discuss how we reduce the state’s transport emissions.
The online panel includes a series of activities between 25 January and 19 February 2021, to explore how we should make the move to low or zero emission vehicles.
Participants will hear from experts and take part in online activities where they can ask questions, discuss key themes, share their views and provide advice to Infrastructure Victoria.
Find out more and get involved.
Expressions of Interest are due by 11 December 2020.
Finalise your livestock fire plan now
Agriculture Victoria is urging livestock owners to get prepared for the possibility of a fire emergency on their farm. This includes identifying safer areas on-farm where livestock can be moved to.
The area you choose will depend on the type of livestock and their expected behaviour during a bushfire. To reduce potential injury and death to livestock you should consider relocating stock to designated low risk areas during days of high fire danger and Total Fire Bans.
Low risk areas include ploughed paddocks (areas cultivated and kept free of combustible vegetation) and bared-out paddocks (provided they are well defended by fire breaks). Other low risk areas include irrigated paddocks or paddocks containing green summer crops (green feed does not burn easily) or stockyards that can be wet in advance (yards must be well defended as the fire front passes).
All low risk areas should have enough drinking water for stock for extended periods of high fire risk and high temperatures, be protected by firebreaks and free of leaf, twigs and bark build-up. Areas where there are dams and swamps are another possible option.
For more information and help on preparing a farm and livestock bushfire plan go to Agriculture Victoria's emergency management page or call the Agriculture Victoria Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
Loddon celebrates International Volunteer Day
The United Nations International Volunteer Day was held on Saturday (5 December).
As part of its celebrations this year Loddon Shire showcased volunteers in our community and volunteers involving community groups. These volunteers were all nominated by someone in their community.
You can view these profiles on Council’s Facebook page.
Council also revealed the final design for the Volunteer@Loddon logo, which was initially designed by Volunteer@Loddon logo competition winner Ella Hocking. Ella worked with a graphic designer on the final design.
Council also launched its Volunteer@Loddon webpage. You can view the page on Council's website.
Pools open for early morning lap swimming
The Boort, Inglewood and Wedderburn pools are now open for early morning lap swimming until Friday 12 February 2021.
Early morning lap swimming is available at Boort pool on Monday and Wednesday from 7am to 8am, at Inglewood pool on Thursdays from 7am to 8am, and at Wedderburn pool on Monday and Wednesday from 7am to 8am.
Young people encouraged to have their say
Public consultation is underway for Victoria’s first-ever youth strategy, and the Victorian Government is calling for all young people to have their say on what matters most to them.
The new youth strategy will unify and strengthen the way the government works with young people across the state as we rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic.
Victorians are invited to contribute by filling out a short online survey or making a written submission by 14 December at Engage Victoria.
Have your say on a new animal welfare act
Proposals for a new animal welfare act are now out for public feedback. The new act would replace the current Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, which is currently the main piece of animal welfare legislation in Victoria.
The proposals aim to achieve three key objectives: improve the safeguarding of animal welfare, provide a simplified and flexible legislative framework and provide a better compliance and enforcement model.
You can read the proposals for the new animal welfare act, complete the survey or download a submission at Engage Victoria
The survey and submissions are open until 14 December 2020.