Council Meeting Pieces - September 2018

20 September 2018 - Media release

Planning Amendment C110 approved

Following a period on public exhibition, council has approved the Planning Scheme Amendment C110. The amendment affects eight parcels of land across the Campaspe Shire, rezoning land formerly owned by council, changing the zone of two existing cemeteries to enable growth, and correcting identified errors following the introduction of the new Campaspe Planning Scheme format

All zone changes align to how the land is being used, or planned to be used, and apply to both public and private land in Echuca, Rochester, Kyabram and Tongala.

The amendment will now be forwarded to the Minister for final approval. Once approved, the changes will be reflected in the Campaspe Planning Scheme, a document which sets out the use and development of land across the shire.

Campaspe Planning Scheme Review 2018

Council has adopted the Campaspe Planning Scheme Review 2018 Report, a review of the planning scheme in line with the Planning and Environment Act.

The planning scheme sets out the use and development of land across the shire and the review report provides council with:

An overview of the performance of the planning scheme since it was last reviewed in 2014. An understanding of the state, regional and local policies changes that have occurred. An audit of the existing strategic and statutory provisions in the scheme. A program for implementing future actions.

The review report will now be forwarded to the Minister for Planning.

The next change in the planning scheme is to implement the changes from the introduction of the new Planning Policy Framework (PPF). The framework was released in April 2018, gazetted in July 2018 and will require all councils to restructure their planning scheme into the new format.

The recommended changes from the adopted review report will require council to translate the front section of the Campaspe Planning Scheme. These changes will be made, together with the restructure of the planning scheme into the new PPF structure, and exhibited as a planning amendment in 2019.

Kyabram Flood Study

Council has approved an allocation of $50,000 towards the Kyabram Flood Study project, subject to being advised that a grant application for $120,000 under the Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme is successful.

The flood study will provide council with the information and data to assess drainage issues across Kyabram and provide more up to date modelling and information.

Responsive Grants Program

Council has approved an amount of $1,300 in responsive grants to go to two initiatives:

Lynda Reid – to assist with the cost of son Archie Reid competing in the Australian Cross Country Championships on the Gold Coast, $300. Bendigo Regional YMCA – to assist with the cost of purchasing trestle tables and water containers for the Sweat Vs Steam fun run in October, $1,000.

Years of service recognised

Council has acknowledged 48 staff members who have completed a number of years of service, clocking up significant milestones, totalling 790 years.

Of the staff, two have given 35 years, five have given 30 years, two have given 25 years, five have given 20 years, 16 have given 15 years and 18 have given 10 years.

The employees will be officially acknowledged at a special reception in October. More than 90 per cent of council’s staff live locally.