Mayoral Column 28 January 2019
Published on 28 January 2019
Loddon celebrates Australia Day
I’d like to congratulate all our community groups and volunteers for another fantastic year of Australia Day celebration events, which were held across the Shire on Saturday 26 January.
I would like to congratulate our Australia Day award recipients, including Loddon Shire’s Citizen of the Year Ron Grimmett from Laanecoorie.
Ron has a long history of community service, including 14 years as secretary of Laanecoorie Recreation Reserve, 12 years as a member of the Laanecoorie School committee and Member of the Laanecoorie Hall committee for 45 years. He is also a life member of the Woodstock West Fire Brigade and life member of the region, and received the National Medal for long service given to emergency services.
Additionally, Ron has been involved in all local sporting clubs and has a passion for agriculture and generosity to his community.
I’d also like to congratulate Dingee’s Katie Baker on being awarded the Young Citizen of the Year. Katie has shown great dedication to her community. She is involved in various community groups and clubs, and led positive change in her school through her role as SRC President.
I’d like to acknowledge our other Australia Day award recipients. This includes the Campbells Forest and District Community Action Planning Group which received the award for Community Group of the Year.
Other award recipients were: Jennifer Weaver (Boort Community Service Award), Fred Shea (Inglewood Community Service Award), Denise Bridges (Tarnagulla Community Service Award), Kevin Pollock (Terrick Community Service Award) and Robert Steel (Wedderburn Community Service Award).
Furthermore, I’d like to congratulate all of our Loddon Shire Australia Day competition winners for colouring, literature and photography.
Finally, it was an honour to preside over two citizenship ceremonies on the day, which coincided with the Australia Day celebrations. The first ceremony took place at the Eddington Australia Day breakfast, and the second that evening at the Pyramid Hill Australia Day celebrations.
Footpath construction contract awarded
At its meeting last week, Council resolved to award a contract for footpath construction projects in Boort, Mitiamo, Wedderburn, Newbridge and Bridgewater.
The works involve the construction of concrete footpaths and other associated improvements, providing an all-weather footpath and improved connectivity and safety for pedestrians.
In total, 729 metres of footpath will be constructed over seven locations – Station Street and Godfrey Street in Boort, Joffre Street in Mitiamo, Lyons Street in Newbridge, Lyndhurst Street in Bridgewater and two sites along Godfrey Street in Wedderburn.
Events highlight our Loddon River
As summer continues, the natural beauty of our Loddon River at Bridgewater remains a highlight, not just through the many recreational activities on the river, but also through major events.
This includes the recent Australian Masters Water Ski Championships, hosted by the Bridgewater Water Ski Club (and featuring some of Australia’s best competitors), as well as the 16th Annual Bridgewater Triathlon and Duathlon this Sunday 3 February.
Works are continuing to take place along the foreshore as part of Stage 1 of the Bridgewater Foreshore Project, including the laying of turf and installation of the irrigation system.
Further works will see the installation of shelters and seating, and interpretive signage along the foreshore.
This first stage of the project has been made possible thanks to $300,000 from Regional Development Victoria and $100,000 from Loddon Shire Council.
Council has applied for funding for Stage 2 of the Bridgewater Foreshore Development project, which includes the construction of a boardwalk and viewing platforms.
This application is part of the broader funding package submitted with our Victorian and New South Wales counterparts to the Federal Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
In addition to the Bridgewater Foreshore Stage 2, the package includes upgrades for the Wedderburn, Pyramid Hill and Boort caravan parks.
Pet greyhounds are now muzzle free
Did you know that all pet greyhounds are now allowed to be muzzle free in public?
Prior to 1 January 2019, only greyhounds that had been assessed and awarded a green collar by the Greyhound Adoption Program could be muzzle free.
However, for their safety, greyhounds must still be leashed at all times in public.
If you would like to know more, please visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/pets/dogs/greyhounds
Did you know?
In 2017/18 there were 2,123 dog registrations in the Shire and 390 cat registrations. Pet registrations are due annually on 10 April.