Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 21 September
Published on 21 September 2021
New Chief Executive Officer appointed
Council has appointed Lincoln Fitzgerald as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at a Special Council Meeting today.
Lincoln will commence in the role at Loddon Shire on 1 November 2021.
I’d like to welcome Lincoln to Loddon Shire Council. Council looks forward to working with Lincoln, particularly as Council prepares to embark on its new Council Plan, which guides Council’s priorities over the next four years.
Lincoln comes to Council with a wealth of experience in Local Government, coming to us from the City of Greater Bendigo and having previously worked for Mount Alexander Shire Council.
Lincoln’s current role is Manager, Active and Healthy Lifestyles at the City of Greater Bendigo, and he previously held the role of Manager, Property Services.
Lincoln’s career has focused on building, leading and managing diverse teams and large businesses in the region and overseas.
I’d also like to thank Acting CEO Jude Holt for her work in the role – including her highly effective leadership during these past months – while the recruitment process for a new CEO was underway. Ms Holt will be finishing in her role on 31 October 2021.
Roadmap launched
On Sunday the Victorian Premier launched the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan, detailing the steps to open up Victoria.
As outlined by the Victorian Government, the Roadmap is based on modelling from the Burnet Institute and is set against COVID-19 thresholds including hospitalisation rates, and vaccination targets set out in the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response.
The Roadmap outlines the step-by-step easing of restrictions once certain vaccination thresholds are reached (80 per cent single dose, 70 per cent fully vaccinated and 80 per cent fully vaccinated). This easing will depend on public health advice and health system capacity.
There are separate restrictions outlined for regional Victoria, until the state reaches a rate of 80 per cent fully vaccinated, where regional Victoria and Metro Melbourne will come together under the same rules. This is indicated to occur on 5 November 2021.
More details regarding the Roadmap – including indicative dates for easing of restrictions – can be found on Victoria's Roadmap webpage.
Farmers urged to have a plan
Agriculture Victoria is urging farmers to have a plan in place to protect their farm business from the impacts of COVID-19.
The department says it’s important that COVIDSafe Plans are up to date and that farmers have a plan for how their business would cope if they or one of their workers needed to self-isolate.
According to Agriculture Victoria, this is particularly important with the grains and horticulture harvest seasons approaching, and avoiding untimely disruptions to farm operations.
Dairy farmers and livestock producers also need to consider if they become unwell, how milking would continue and how animals will be cared for.
As an ‘authorised workplace’, farm businesses can continue to operate during the current restrictions. However, businesses should continue to implement the six principles of COVIDSafe workplaces to protect themselves and their workers, and to reduce the risk of COVID-19 impacting their business.
Measures such as maintaining physical distancing, practicing good hygiene, keeping records and creating workforce bubbles will help to keep farmers and farm workers safe, and the business to keep operating.
Details about the six principles of COVIDSafe workplaces can be found at the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website.
Farmers and farm workers needing to travel, including interstate, should make sure they have their required travel and authorised worker permits before they leave home.
Information about the Victorian Travel Permit System can be found here.
AgTech Entrepreneurs Initiative
The Victorian Government has launched the $2.2 million Victorian AgTech Entrepreneurs Initiative, a partnership between Agriculture Victoria and the startup agency LaunchVic.
The initiative will support the development and adoption of new technology that can help improve farm productivity and grow agriculture industries.
The Victorian AgTech Entrepreneurs Initiative will provide eligible organisations with grants of up to $600,000 to run pre-accelerator programs, which provide support for early-stage startup founders who need help developing their product, honing their business model and connecting with investors.
Victoria’s AgTech sector will be further strengthened by a series of regional events to connect industry, farmers, researchers and aspiring founders at each of Agriculture Victoria’s regional SmartFarms.
The initiative is part of the $15 million AgTech Regional Innovation Network funded through the Victorian Government’s 10-year Agriculture Strategy.
Eligible organisations with the capability to run a Victorian AgTech pre-accelerator program are encouraged to apply now for this initiative.
Applications close on 27 October 2021. For more information or to apply, visit the website.