May 2023 Scheduled Council Meeting wrap

Last updated on 25 May 2023

A number of important items were actioned by Councillors at last night’s Scheduled Council Meeting, including:

Council adopted the Single-use Plastic Policy (2023), which supports phasing out single-use plastic items across Council's operations and aligns with the Victorian Government's state-wide ban in effect since 1 February 2023.

Council has already been actively working to reduce plastic use in operations and in the community over recent years, including updating the procurement policy; accepting soft plastics at resource recovery centres and facilitating safe processing; and undertaking the kerbside soft plastics recycling trial in Romsey in collaboration with the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC).

The new policy is a key item from Council’s Towards Zero Single-use Plastics Action Plan and builds on the Waste and Resource Recovery Management Strategy 2021-2026 objectives, to support Council and the community working to reduce waste to landfill.

As part of ongoing capital works monitoring, Council endorsed the creation of a new project – and funding of $10,000 – to undertake minor repairs to reopen the Federation Trail.

The work funded will fill hazardous depressions and scoured areas caused by the October 2022 flood event, which had resulted in the temporary closure of the trail for public safety.

Council will work with a locally based contractor to complete these initial repair works and aim to have the trail to reopen by July. Additional works to fully restore the trail are still required and Council continues to pursue funding options for these longer-term repairs.

Council endorsed that a new 12-month funding agreement be signed with Goldfields Library Corporation to continue library services across the shire, with the option to extend for an additional 12 months.

With the current library agreement due to expire on 30 June 2023, the new agreement allows for services to continue at Council’s four libraries in Kyneton, Romsey, Woodend and Gisborne. Goldfields Library Corporation also operates library services in neighbouring Council areas including Greater Bendigo, Loddon and Mount Alexander.

A total of $1.48 million – a figure similar to that allocated in previous two financial years – is proposed to support these services in 2023/24, as part of the draft Budget due for consideration at the June Scheduled Council Meeting.

Council endorsed consultation inviting community feedback on the direction of Ross Watt Reserve in New Gisborne.

This important area of passive and active open space currently offers grassed areas, a playground, public toilets, BMX humps and tennis facilities with four courts. Future upgrades identified include a new tennis pavilion, two new synthetic grass courts and a picnic shelter with a barbecue.

Like other recreational master plans recently endorsed or underway, this will provide a long-term road map for the future development and improvement of Ross Watt Reserve in a pre-planned, strategic manner, with individual projects being subject to funding and detailed design.

Feedback is invited on the draft Ross Watt Reserve Master Plan from 2 to 30 June. 

You can watch video recordings of past Council meetings - generally available within two business days of a meeting.