Council meeting pieces

27 June 2019 - Media release

Funding Agreement for Basketball Victoria Country’s Junior Jamboree

Council has approved a five-year funding agreement with Basketball Victoria Country to support the delivery and growth of annual the state Under 12 Jamboree in Echuca.

The long term agreement was initiated this year with the first contribution of $5,000 to support the 2019 event which will be held from Saturday, 21 September to Tuesday, 24 September at the Echuca Basketball Stadium.

Of the event’s 25-year history, it has been held in Echuca Moama for the past 21 years in recognition of the area’s high-quality basketball facilities, geographic location, multitude of accommodation and activity options, and ongoing support of the Echuca Basketball Association. The funding secures the event’s future and location.

Part of Echuca Aerodrome to Be Used for Native Vegetation Offsets

Council has approved the use of 4.36 hectares of the Echuca Aerodrome for native vegetation offsets in perpetuity.

The safeguard of the already existing native vegetation will facilitate the issuing of a permit by DELWP for construction of the McKenzie Road Drainage Project to reduce the impacts of potential future flooding on local private properties in the area.

After several properties on MaryAnn Road, McKenzie Road and surrounding area were inundated following several significant rain events in the last decade, the identified solution included the creation of a series of easements through to the Campaspe River discharge. However, as the proposed route had some native vegetation which required offsets or avoidance, Council was required to set aside an area that met DELWP’s criteria, specifically for the Small-leaf Blue Bush. Upon investigation, the aerodrome was found to have the required area.

The native vegetation offset areas will be registered on the Native Vegetation Credit Register as follows: 1.204 General Habitat Units, 1.095 Species Habitat Units of Small-leaf Bluebush, 1.209 Species Habitat Units of Annual Buttons and 1.160 Species Habitat Units of Weeping Myall. As owner of the aerodrome, the offset areas will be maintained by Council.

Responsive Grants Program

An amount of $5,300 has been approved for six community initiatives as part of Council’s Responsive Grants Program.

This program provides an opportunity for individuals and community groups to apply for small grants towards the achievement of their goals and/or initiatives which benefit the Campaspe community.

Through the program, groups can apply for a grant up to a maximum of $1,000 and individuals up to a maximum of $300.

Recipients of the grants approved in June 2019 are:

Fight MND – to assist with costs associated with running the BIG FREEZE Echuca Moama event, $1,000. Rotary Club of Echuca Moama Inc. – towards the cost of new promotional signage for the Echuca Moama Australia Day celebration, $1,000. Echuca Football Club Inc. – towards the cost of the 2019 GVFL Indigenous Round game between Echuca and Kyabram at Victoria Park on 27 July, $1,000. Echuca Village CFA – towards the cost of hosting a men’s health event on 14 June, $1,000. Farmers Wellness (St Anthony Family Medical Practice Pty Ltd) – towards the cost of hosting a Farmers Wellness Day at Barlow’s Shearing Shed, Rushworth on 26 July, $1,000. Kiara Dean (Kerrie Dean) – towards costs associated with representing Australia at the ISSF Trench World Competition to be held in Italy and Germany from 1 – 15 July, $300.