Mayoral Column 7 August 2017
Published on 07 August 2017
Loddon Campaspe Assembly coming up
Next Thursday (17 August) the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership will be hosting its 2017 assembly in Bendigo – and the partnership wants to hear from you.
Topics to be covered include creating the best start for our children, improving transport systems and digital technology, health, natural environment, growing our economy, skills and pathways to employment, and sustainability and renewables.
This year’s assembly will help the Regional Partnership to better define our region’s needs and further pick up on anything missed last year. The assembly will also report on the progress of feedback it received from the 2016 event.
If you’d like to attend the assembly (or find out more) you can register your interest by going to https://engage.vic.gov.au/Loddon-campaspe.
There are limited spaces available, so please make sure you register by 5pm this Friday, 11 August.
If you can’t get along to the assembly on the 17 August, you can still take part by sharing your thoughts through the Regional Partnership’s online conversation, by visiting the website above.
Small business survey
If you’re a small business owner involved in the visitor economy, then the Victorian Government is keen to hear your opinion through a short survey about cutting red tape.
Responses will help provide information towards reforms around reducing the costs of regulation on small businesses, helping to free up their time.
Consultation is being focused on visitor service providers, wine and agritourism, small events and festivals, small accommodation providers and barriers to establishing new ventures.
The survey takes no more than 20 minutes and as an added incentive, you have the chance to win an iPad and Square Contactless Chip Reader.
You can access the survey by going to https://smallbizreview.economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/visitor-economy.
But get in quick – responses to the survey close Tuesday (8 August).
Championing our volunteers
One of the fantastic things about our Shire is our incredible rate of volunteerism. In fact, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, in 2016, 32 per cent of our Shire population was involved in volunteering, compared to 19 per cent Australia-wide.
Statistics aside, we all know someone within the Shire who does an absolutely stand-out job when it comes to volunteering and making a difference in our community.
That’s why I’m encouraging everyone to think about nominating a volunteer for the 2017 Victorian Premier’s Volunteer Champions Awards. The awards formally recognise, celebrate and thank volunteers for their extraordinary and selfless contributions to Victoria.
To highlight the significant number of volunteers, and the variety and impact of volunteering efforts across Victoria, the awards will formally recognise up to 60 volunteers across four categories: Leadership, Impact, Service and Teamwork.
Nominations close by 5pm on Monday, 14 August 2017. To find out more and nominate outstanding volunteers visit www.volunteer.vic.gov.au/awards.