Mayoral Column 12 February 2018

Published on 12 February 2018

What’s happening with recycling?

You may have heard (or read) recent reports of potential impacts on the recycling industry, after China placed restrictions on receiving recycling from Australia.

I wish to advise our residents, at the time of writing, that this is not currently impacting Loddon Shire’s kerbside recycling collections.

As stated by Council’s Chief Executive Officer Phil Pinyon, in an article earlier this month by the Bendigo Advertiser (2 February), when it comes to recycling, it is still currently business as usual for our Shire. Collection services remain unchanged and Council is asking our residents to continue kerbside recycling as normal.

Together with the Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource Recovery Group, Council will work with the Victorian Government and industry to respond to any issues posed by the China restrictions on recycling, to ensure it will not impact on our residents.

According to the Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource Recovery Group, Victorians have a great record when it comes to recycling. Since 2001, the amount of recyclable household material diverted from landfill has increased by 70 per cent.

Overall, Victoria recovers up to 70 per cent of its waste, with almost eight million tonnes of valuable materials being diverted from landfill each year.

One of the best ways you can help keep resources out of landfill is to buy recycled products, which helps close the recycling loop. Choosing Australian-made recycled office paper and 100 per cent recycled toilet tissue are easy options for any household or workplace.

Council welcomes kindergarten hours funding

Council has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government that it will provide funding for 15 hours of kindergarten each week for four-year-olds until 2019.

This funding announcement of $440 million nationally, provides greater certainty when it comes to childhood education for children in the Loddon Shire area.

In the past, short-term funding has made it hard for kindergarten services to plan, due to the uncertainty about the cost and availability of preschool from year to year.

This funding until 2019 will enable our kindergartens to plan and support Loddon children to have the best start in life when it comes to their education.

According to the Municipal Association of Victoria, high-quality early childhood education is linked to higher levels of employment, income and financial security, improved health outcomes and reduced crime. Early childhood education also helps children build skills they will need for lifelong learning and securing future employment.

Healthy Minds video launch

Following its reschedule from December last year, the official launch of the Who are mental health carers? video will now take place next Friday (23 February) in Serpentine.

Who are mental health carers? focuses on the carers of people with mental health issues and discusses their experiences as a carer.

The video will be officially launched by the Minister for Public Transport and Major Projects, and Member for Bendigo East, the Hon. Jacinta Allan MP. The event will be hosted by the Loddon Healthy Minds Network in partnership with the Bendigo Health Carers Support Program.

As well as focusing on who a carer is and their role in caring for someone with a mental health issue, the carers featured in the video emphasise the importance of all carers looking after themselves.

This includes recognising mental and physical exhaustion, and ensuring a carer has their own support. This may be through their GP, a mental health professional or informal support such as friends or family.

Who are mental health carers? will be launched next Friday 23 February at Serpentine’s Janiember Park Recreation Reserve at 12.30pm.

All are welcome to attend. Please RSVP healthyminds@loddon.vic.gov.au