Mayoral Column 5 March 2018

Published on 05 March 2018

Pet registration renewals due 10 April

If you’re a dog or cat owner in the Loddon Shire, you will shortly receive a notice regarding registration renewals for your pet/s. Registration renewals are due by Tuesday 10 April 2018.

Every dog and cat over the age of three months must be registered. If you are registering your dog or cat for the first time, you must provide Council with evidence that your pet has a microchip. You will also be provided with a lifelong registration tag for your pet.

Registering a cat or dog helps improve the chances of your pet being returned should it become lost. Microchipping dogs and cats also helps Council reunite you with your pet if it happens to lose its registration tag and becomes lost. The microchip allows Council officers to scan your pet and obtain your contact details.

It’s also important to make sure you keep your pet’s microchip details up to date. Microchip details can be updated online through the Central Animal Register at www.car.com.au

Dogs registered with Council as farm working dogs do not require a microchip nor have to wear a registration tag while they are working. For a definition of a farm working dog visit http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/pets/puppy-farm-legislation.

If your dog or cat is no longer with you, please let Council know so they can update their records and ensure you no longer receive registration renewals for that pet.

For more information on registering your pet, visit www.loddon.vic.gov.au or phone Council’s Local Laws staff on 5494 1200.

Autumn firewood collection season open

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has announced that the Autumn Firewood Collection Season for 2018 is now open until 30 June.

The season, which started on 1 March, means it will be legal to collect firewood from designated collection areas in state forests or parks (where collection is allowed).

Interactive maps showing designated collection areas are available at www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood or call 136 186 to find out more.

For those looking to collect firewood in Cohuna, DELWP has stated that Cohuna’s designated firewood collection area will open on Friday 16 March. Cohuna’s firewood collection area is open only to residents in Gannawarra, Loddon and Campaspe Shires and Swan Hill Rural City.

People are reminded to ensure they stay within collection limits – a maximum of two cubic metres per person per day and a maximum of 16 cubic metres per household per financial year. The felling of any trees for firewood is strictly prohibited.

DELWP and Parks Victoria staff will be patrolling parks, forests and reserves to make sure people are doing the right thing while collecting their firewood. Infringement notices, fines or even imprisonment can apply to those who don’t obey firewood collection regulations.

It’s also important to check whether a firewood collection area is part of the autumn planned burning program, which may require affected firewood collection areas to be closed at short notice. Go to www.ffm.vicvic.gov.au/plannedburn, download the VicEmergency app or call 1800 226 226.

For more information and updates visit www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood, or call 136 186. You can also call this number to report any information to DELWP about illegal removal of firewood for sale.

Long weekend events

With the Labour Day long weekend coming up, it’s a great time to be part of events in the Loddon Shire, or just get out and about and enjoy the autumn weather.

Get your long weekend started at Wedderburn’s annual wine tasting event WEDD'RWINEFEST on Friday 9 March from 7pm to 10pm at the Senior Citizens Hall. The evening will include tastings of local wines from areas such as Bendigo, Newbridge, Mildura and Marong or sample a hand-crafted beer. You also get a light supper and monogrammed tasting glass, all for just $15 entry.

On Saturday and Sunday (10 and 11 March), the 2018 Wedderburn Jamboree will take place at Hard Hill Tourist Reserve. Activities include prospecting and gold panning competitions and demonstrations, town garage sales, live music and market stalls. There are also junior and open token hunts, children’s activities and tours of local attractions. Entry for senior participants is $45, which includes breakfast on both days and live entertainment, or $35 for one day. Non-participants are free.

Don’t forget to also take the opportunity during the Jamboree to visit the Coach House Gallery and Museum, which will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm. View the exhibition by local artist Tracey Davis whose paintings showcase the wonderful outdoor scenery of our local environment.

Finally, if you’ve never had a chance to visit one of the markets in our Shire, don’t miss your chance this weekend.

The Lions Bridgewater Market will be on Saturday from 8am to 2pm in Bridgewater on Loddon’s Main Street. On Sunday you can head to the Wedderburn Country Market at Jacka Park. Held from 9am to 1pm, the market includes live entertainment, food, beautiful handcrafts, collectors’ items, plants and much more.

For more information on any of the events this weekend, visit www.loddon.vic.gov.au, go to “Visit” and then “Events calendar” or call the Loddon Visitor Information Centre on 5494 3489.