Notes from Loddon Shire 23 November
Published on 22 November 2020
Mayor elected
Congratulations to Cr Neil Beattie on being elected as Loddon Shire Council Mayor for the coming year.
This is the third time Cr Beattie has been elected Mayor. Cr Beattie was previously Mayor in 2015 and 2016.
Councillors were also officially sworn in at the Special Council Meeting, taking the Affirmation of Office and making a written declaration that they will abide by the Councillor Code of Conduct.
Fire danger period for Loddon Shire
The 2020/21 Fire Danger Period (FDP) for Loddon Shire is now in effect.
The FDP, which is declared by the Country Fire Authority (CFA), started at 1am this morning (Monday 23 November). The FDP will run through the warmer months, ending on 1 May 2021.
During the FDP fires cannot be lit in the open air without a written permit from the CFA or a Municipal Fire Prevention Officer.
For more information about the Fire Danger Period and restrictions visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/restrictions-during-the-fire-danger-period
To find out what you can and can't do during the declared FDP and on days of Total Fire Ban visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/can
Customer service office reopens
Council’s Wedderburn customer service office has reopened, with COVIDSafe measures in place.
All visitors to Council’s customer service office must follow these COVIDSafe measures, which includes sanitising your hands on entry and following social distancing markers. Face masks must be worn unless you have a valid reason to not wear one.
Until otherwise advised, cash payments will not be accepted by Council’s customer service staff. If you wish to make a payment by cash, please go to your local Australia Post Office.
Meetings with non-reception Council staff will be by appointment only. To arrange an appointment, please call Reception on 5494 1200.
As many Council staff are still working from home (as per the direction from the Victorian Chief Health Officer) most appointments will be conducted via video conferencing. Please let Reception staff know if you need help with video conferencing when making your appointment.
In some cases, a meeting room and Council computer may be used for video conferencing. For people familiar with video conferencing, you can use your smart phone, tablet or home computer.
Swimming pools now open
Council’s five public swimming pools are now open for the 2020/21 season.
Swimming pools are located at Boort, Inglewood, Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill and Wedderburn.
To make our pools safe and to operate within current COVID-19 guidelines, restrictions are in place at all pools.
This includes using the QR code access system or providing staff with contact details upon entry to pools, wearing of masks when outside of the pool and maintaining social distancing.
Hand sanitiser will be available at the entrance/kiosk for use by attendees when entering pools and any time as needed.
During busy periods, attendees will be asked to stay no longer than two hours at the swimming pool. There will also be a maximum number of people allowed in a pool at any one time.
For more information, including COVID Safe operating measures in place at pools and opening hours, visit
www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Services/Community-facilities/Swimming-pools
Virtual Loddon Valley Business Network evening
The next virtual Loddon Valley Business Network evening will be held tomorrow (24 November) at 7pm.
The topic of the meeting will be the new Loddon Valley branding toolkit. The toolkit provides business operators with information regarding the Loddon Valley brand. The aim is to help make it easier for business operators when it comes to making marketing decisions, as well as promote their own business and the region.
To find out more or to RSVP, please call 5494 1257 or email loddonvisitorinformation@loddon.vic.gov.au
You will then receive a link to attend the meeting.
Volunteering@Loddon logo design
Congratulations to Ella Hocking on winning the Volunteering@Loddon logo design competition.
Council would also like to acknowledge and thank the competition’s finalists Rhiannon Last, Callum Hercus and Elektra Ward for their entries, as well as everyone who voted in the competition.
Ella now has the opportunity to work with a graphic design artist on her logo before it is unveiled on International Volunteer Day on Saturday 5 December 2020.