Loddon Shire Mayoral Column

Published on 16 December 2019

Know Your Council

The Victorian Government’s ‘Know Your Council’ website has recently been updated with performance data for 2018. The website is a great source of information about the role of Victoria’s 79 local councils and how they work.

Anyone can view consistent information about council performances and compare up to four similar councils. It is a key initiative to improve the transparency and accountability of all council performance to ratepayers and to provide a more meaningful set of information to the public.

Satisfaction with Council decisions is an area in which Loddon residents are particularly interested. Data provided by Council shows that this satisfaction is gradually rising. In May 2019, Loddon Shire Council adopted a Community Engagement Policy which will ensure that decisions are based on community input.

Another area which residents are concerned with is waste management. Council reported increased resident participation in kerbside recycling which has impacted on the kerbside waste diverted from landfill. The cost of the recyclables collection has increased due to the need to source local handling.

Since the ‘Know Your Council’ website was launched in 2015, an average of 9,000 users have visited each week. To view the 2018 performance data go to knowyourcouncil.vic.gov.au.

Skilled Work Regional visa

Local employers might be interested to know that applications are open for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, which allows points-tested skilled workers and their families to live, study and work in designated regional area of Australia for up to five years as a pathway to permanent residence after three years.

The system encourages people who have an occupation which is in high demand to settle in regional Australia. In so doing, it gives local economies in regional areas access to the people and skills needed to grow and thrive.

For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit the website https://bit.ly/2PsAG5n

Bridgewater River Precinct opening

This Thursday I am looking forward to opening the upgrades to the Bridgewater River Precinct. This much anticipated project puts the final touches on the foreshore area to make this an attractive and vibrant place for locals and visitors to enjoy the river.

The works included the installation of solar bollards, seating, picnic facilities, turf and beautifully unique shade structures and was the result of community consultation. This will help drive economic growth in the area as visitors are encouraged to stop and make the most of the Loddon River and its recreational potential.

The opening, which will be followed by the Bridgewater Carols, will be a community celebration as people anticipate enjoying the revitalised facilities for many years to come. The project has been made possible thanks to $300,000 from Regional Development Victoria and $100,000 from Loddon Shire Council.

Shop locally for a happy Christmas

With just over a week until Christmas Day, there are a number of local events taking place, bringing our community together in the lead up to Christmas. The festive season is also a great opportunity for our community to shop locally.

Our residents do a fantastic job of supporting our Shire’s businesses throughout the year by shopping locally and Christmas should be no different. Shopping locally not only saves time, but also supports our local economy.

Whether it’s a unique Christmas gift, voucher or local produce for Christmas lunch or hamper, we have many wonderful, award-winning producers and artisans in our area as well as plenty of retail options for the holiday season.

What’s more, if you have family and friends coming to visit this Christmas, the holidays are a great time to showcase our Loddon region.

There’s much to see and do these holidays such as enjoying a barbecue or picnic in one of the many inviting outdoor locations, having a cool dip at one of the Shire’s swimming pools, lakes or waterways, exploring our historic towns, taking bushwalks or just enjoying a quiet fishing spot.

To find out more, drop by the Loddon Visitor Information Centre or one of the tourist stands across the Shire, check out the Visit Loddon Valley Facebook page or go to https://www.bendigoregion.com.au/visit-loddon-valley

Did you know

The Loddon Visitor Information Centre is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day. Volunteers assist the Loddon Visitor Information Centre when Loddon Shire Council staff are unavailable and also staff the centre on Sundays and public holidays.

Following on from last week’s International Volunteer Day, it’s a good time to acknowledge that valuable contribution to the Loddon Visitor Information Centre that these volunteers provide. Without their assistance Council would not be able to deliver such a good service for visitors exploring our region.

In October, Visit Loddon Valley Facebook and Instagram were launched to further promote our region to visitors. In just a few months, the reach of our posts has grown rapidly with the largest demographic coming from Melbourne, followed by Swan Hill, Bendigo and Cohuna. The followers speak a wide variety of languages including Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese. This shows that information about the many opportunities for visitors is effective in getting out into the world.