Council meeting pieces - 20 November

22 November 2018 - Media release

Echuca Moama Torrumbarry Flood Study

Council has endorsed the appointment of community representatives to the Echuca Moama Torrumbarry Flood Study Reference Committee, following calls for nominations earlier this year.

The need for the study was triggered by the 2010-11 flood events which caused flooding around and within Echuca Moama from the Murray River and the need to upgrade flooding information to assist in managing growth of the two towns.

The committee has an advisory role to the Project Control Group, a group overseeing the project, and will contribute local knowledge and experience to feed into the flood study for the Murray River, from Barmah through to Torrumbarry.

The six community members are Alf Grigg, Dean Oberin and Ralph Kop as urban representatives, Andrew Humphrys and Russell Pell as rural representatives and John Williams and Neil Williams as Torrumbarry rural representatives.

The six members will represent the Victorian community with a similar process undertaken by Murray River Council for representatives from NSW.

Two parcels of land to be transferred to the VICSES

Council has approved the transfer of the land currently used by the Kyabram and Rushworth SES units to the Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES).

VICSES provide an emergency response service to the community. Transferring the land to their ownership and direct management will allow them to more appropriately plan and manage the facilities to meet their needs.

Council has been working with VICSES in the transfer of site ownership. The change will not only allow each unit to manage the sites better to suit their needs, it will allow the units more flexibility in applying to grant programs.

Changes to the emergency management plan endorsed

Council has endorsed updates to the Campaspe Shire edition of the Northern Victoria Integrated Municipal Emergency Management Plan, a plan which sets out emergency management arrangements.

Minor changes were made to the plan including updating contact details and information about statistics, public events, industry and incidents.

Council Plan Implementation update

Council was presented with the first quarterly update outlining progress of year two actions in the 2017/21 Council Plan. The plan guides the planning, decision-making and actions of council over a four-year term. It provides the overarching framework for the development and delivery of all other council plans, strategies, policies and services.

For the 2018/19 year, the action plan identifies 28 initiatives to be completed. Of the 28 initiatives, one is complete, 25 are underway and three have not started.

Some of the initiatives underway include:

Planning for introduction of food organics into the garden organics bin, within waste services Completing the Rushworth streetscape renewal project Working with Mount Camel wine growers to develop a Growers Network Reviewing the Campaspe Shire Events Strategy.

Responsive Grants approved

Council has approved an amount of $3,000 in responsive grants to go to four initiatives as follows:

Waranga News – to support the community paper’s 40th birthday celebrations, $1,000 Kyabram Chamber of Commerce – to support the November Gala Night, $1,000 Strathallan Family Landcare, to support the community bush dinner dance at the Strathallan Hall, $700 Wendy Moyle (Grace Moyle) – to support Grace Moyle in representing Victoria as part of the Victorian U12 State Girls Cricket at the National Championships, $300.