Mayoral Column 3 July 2017
Published on 03 July 2017
Victorian Government invests in our region
It was fantastic to hear the news that the Victorian Government will put $1 million towards the solar company RayGen’s new 0.5 megawatt commercial power plant in Newbridge.
The funding was announced by the Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio during a visit to our region last week.
This is terrific news, with the project expected to generate 22 jobs during the plant’s design and construction, and three ongoing jobs once it’s completed and operational.
It’s always great to see this kind of investment in our region and I thank the Victorian Government and Minister D’Ambrosio for supporting innovative businesses such as RayGen in our Shire.
100 years of Maternal and Child Health
With celebrations underway to recognise 100 years of Maternal and Child Health across Victorian councils, I’d like to pay tribute to Loddon Shire’s own Maternal and Child Health service.
This very valuable and free service, funded jointly between the State and Loddon Shire Council, is available to all families in our Shire with children aged from birth to school entry age. The service provides important support around the health and wellbeing of children and parents.
The Shire’s Maternal and Child Health service is staffed by registered nurses who have midwifery and maternal and child health nursing qualifications. It offers families information, guidance and support around issues such as breastfeeding, child health and development, nutrition, immunisation, parent emotional and physical health, and much more.
From 2014 to 2016, 600 clients in the Loddon Shire were seen as part of the Maternal and Child Health service. State wide, more than 827,000 consultations are held each year by more than 1100 trained nurses.
An afternoon tea at Inglewood Children’s Centre is planned for the 18 July. Past Loddon Shire Maternal and Child Health nurses and families who have used the service will be invited to come along and share their memories of Maternal and Child Health in the Shire.
Budget and Council Plan adopted
Among other agenda items, last Tuesday’s Ordinary Meeting saw the formal adoption of Council’s 2017/18 Budget and Council Plan 2017-2021.
As mentioned in a previous column at the start of May, the budget has seen the continuation of a strong cash position for Loddon Shire Council. It includes funding for the Community Planning program as well as projects and initiatives included in Council’s various strategic plans. Council also remains debt free, with no new borrowings in the budget.
The Council Plan 2017-2021 addresses and responds to a number of key factors (identified through its development) that could impact our Shire significantly during the next four years. These challenges are reflected in the Plan’s themes of Population, Economic Prosperity, Liveability, Sustainability and High Performance Organisation.
I’d like to thank all those who helped contribute to the development of both these documents, including the community, businesses and Council staff who provided feedback (both informal and formal) to the draft Council Plan.
Council is looking forward to working with our community towards achieving the vision and objectives of the plan to enhance the sustainability and liveability our Shire.
Citizenship congratulations
Finally this week, I’d like to congratulate our Shire’s newest Australian citizens Babylou and Roberto Caniza, and their son Robiel.
The Caniza family, who are originally from the Philippines, now live in Pyramid Hill. It was an honour to present the family with their citizenship certificates during last Tuesday’s ceremony at the Serpentine office.