Loddon Shire Mayoral Column
Published on 22 April 2019
Lest we forget
This Anzac Day, Loddon Shire, together with the nation, will remember those who have lost their lives in military and peacekeeping operations.
The communities of Boort, Bridgewater, Inglewood, Korong Vale, Calivil, Pyramid Hill, Mologa, Newbridge and Wedderburn will hold local Anzac Day ceremonies.
Not only do these ceremonies honour those who have served our country, but they 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 Anzac Day ceremony list and times, visit Council’s website, www.loddon.vic.gov.au and go to “Ceremonies” under the “Live” tab.
Community satisfaction survey underway
The next round of community satisfaction surveys has been sent out to randomly-selected households in the Shire.
If you have received a survey asking you to provide your views and opinions about Loddon Shire Council, please ensure you take the time to complete your survey by Monday 29 April.
You can complete your survey either online (via the link provided on the survey) or by completing the hard copy of the survey and sending it back through reply paid post.
The survey is an opportunity to have your say on the Council services that matter most to you and provide feedback regarding Council and other issues. The input you provide is also valuable in terms of helping Council improve future service provision.
If your household has received a survey and you have any questions or feedback about the survey, please call Thinkfield on 1800 671 887.
Great news for Mitiamo pipeline
It was an honour to join the Mitiamo community recently where Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack announced $14.5 million in funding towards the Mitiamo pipeline, enabling to project go ahead.
Not only is this a great outcome for the community, it is also recognition of the resilience and dedication of the Mitiamo Pipeline Committee which has been working hard for a long time to achieve this successful outcome.
Ramp Up Resilience wants to hear from you
The challenges of weather and climate as they impact people at the local level is the central theme of a new community initiative.
Running from April to October this year, Ramp Up Resilience aims to generate relevant discussion and effective action for individuals, businesses and towns.
Led by Make a Change Australia, communities are invited to participate any way they like – online, at events in Rochester, Inglewood or Raywood, or via local community groups.
The first event Curious About Climate will be held at the Rochester Shire Hall on Thursday 20 June from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
The Inglewood event Caring for Climate will be on Thursday 8 August at Inglewood Neighbourhood House from 10am to 4pm.
The final event Combatting Climate Change will be held at the Raywood Hall on Tuesday 17 September from 10am to 4pm.
Please note, participation is free, however spaces are limited. You can also provide your thoughts online via at www.surveymonkey.com/r/rampupresilience
For more information (and to register for an upcoming event) visit www.makeachange.org.au/ramp-up-resilience
Recycling – what happens to e-waste?
Given the amount of electronic appliances we now have available at our fingertips, it is not surprising to learn that electronic waste (e-waste) is accumulating three times faster than any other municipal waste stream.
According to Sustainability Victoria, e-waste is any item that has a plug, battery or cord that no longer works (or is wanted). This financial year, 5.4 tonnes of e-waste has been collected in Loddon Shire (this does not include hard waste collections).
E-waste can be environmentally harmful if disposed of in landfill as it contains toxic and hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated fire retardants.
However, these hazardous and valuable materials can be recovered when they reach the end of their working life. In fact, 98 per cent of the components in your computer or television can be fully recycled. Mercury, plastics, printed circuit boards, ferrous metals and aluminium are separated from e-waste for recycling.
You can dispose of your e-waste at any Council’s landfills and transfer stations during normal operating hours. Please note, computer monitors, laptops and TVs are subject to a fee as they contain toxic chemicals which require special handling.
For operating hours, please visit www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Live/Your-home/Garbage-and-recycling and click on “Landfill (tips) and recycling timetable”.
Did you know?
Council is in the process of upgrading infrastructure at the Inglewood Transfer Station and Boort Landfill in preparation for the upcoming e-waste ban beginning on 1 July 2019. These upgrades have been made possible through State Government funding and will allow for greater stream separation, diversion and reprocessing of all electronic waste items.