Yarri Yarns

19 March 2021 Newsletter

The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 24 March at 9:30am in the Council Chambers. The agenda and Zoom link for the public will be available on Monday 22 March via Council's website. The minutes from the February 24 meeting are now available on the website.

GWM Water Roadshow coming to Warracknabeal!

GWM will be near the Post Office on Scott Street from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm on Wednesday 24 March. Head along and chat with GWM staff on their new customer portal and their long term plan for the region's water supply and infrastructure. More info and COVIDSafe Event Checklist: gwmwater.org.au/roadshow

Community Road Safety Grant Program
This grant program encourages the Victorian community to improve road safety issues in your local community as laid out in the Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. Grants are provided to local not-for-profit community groups and other community organisations. Projects that support vulnerable road users (people walking, riding bicycles and motorcycle riders) will be prioritised. Click here to find out more about the Community Road Safety Grant Program. Grants open on Wednesday 7 April and close on Friday 7 May.

Disability Parking Permits are changing
From 22 March 2021, we will be moving our disability parking permit system to a new online platform - the Accessible Parking Permit (APP) Scheme and new online service. The new APP Scheme and online service will provide significant improvements in the administration and enforcement of disability parking in Yarriambiack Shire, freeing up parking bays for the people who really need them.

What’s changing?
The new APP Scheme aligns with the national Australian Disability Permit Scheme (ADPS) and provides for a consistent process and permit across Victoria.
Many improvements have been made, including:
• making sure the eligibility criteria for a permit is consistent across the state,
• allowing occupational therapists to complete assessments, in addition to GPs,
• introducing a permanent disability classification, so many will no longer have to return for reassessment,
• increasing the permit length from three years to five years for individuals,
• providing temporary permits for 6, 12 or 24 months, and
• a new single permit design to be used across the state.

Centralisation and digitisation of the scheme will reduce the subjectivity of the functional assessment and enable greater ability for councils to enforce the scheme.

A reduction in duplicate and misused permits will occur through system-wide crosschecks and visibility across council boundaries. Councils will now also have state-wide visibility on permits at the parking bay to assist with enforcement. All existing Yarriambiack Shire Council permits will remain valid until they expire.
For more information on the coming changes to disability parking visit vicroads.vic.gov.au/app

Council invites all residents across the shire to attend a Community Engagement Session to discuss the future needs of their town. The Community Engagement Sessions are the first activity in the extensive process of developing the 2021 – 2024 Council Plan.

The 2021 – 2024 Council Plan will include:

A community vision for the next 10 years: in 2031, what does your town look like, who lives here, what services and infrastructure are needed?
A strategic plan to work towards for the next 4 years: What can we do by 2024 to achieve these community goals?
A financially stable budget plan for the next 10 years: How do we best use Council funds to achieve these goals? What grants and alternative funding opportunities are required?
An Asset Management Plan: We need to plan for maintenance as well as new projects. How do we balance this over time?

This is your opportunity to tell Council what your community needs!

It is important to us that we engage with all members of the community during this process. Tier 1 sessions are a general forum covering all aspects of Council and community. Tier 2 sessions will include specific discussions with Councillors and the extended Senior Leadership Team on 5 areas:

Roads and Infrastructure
Family and Health
Economic Development And Tourism
Sport and Recreation
Council Services

In addition to the community engagement sessions there has been a survey developed to obtain additional information. The survey is available here or at the Customer Service Office. A copy of the survey, as well as a flier detailing the community sessions has been distributed via Australia Post.

For enquiries regarding the sessions please contact Director Community Development and Wellbeing Mr Gavin Blinman on (03) 5398 0131 or email gblinman@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au.

Complete Community Survey

The Salvo’s and Woodbine are currently not collecting goods in the donation bins. Warracknabeal's Woodbine Second hand shop is collecting but only during opening hours. Please do not dump at their door afterhours. Disposing of these goods is a costly exercise and means that your pre-loved items will end up land fill.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Minor Building Works – Warracknabeal Leisure Centre (Q139-2021)

NEW TENDER: Supply of Meals on Wheels & Centre Based Meals – Request for Tender (C277-2021)

Early Childhood Teacher - Murtoa (Full Time)
We're looking for someone to join our passionate Early Childhood Team as our Early Childhood Teacher in Murtoa. We're looking for an individual who can lead their staff and support them to deliver the best. possible education to our youngest residents. Find out more.

GAMES DAY EVERY THURSDAY AT THE YARRIAMBIACK LIBRARY WARRACKNABEAL 1PM TO 4.30PM

Warracknabeal Library has an exciting occasion for you! Every Thursday from 1pm to 4.30pm the Library will be hosting board games. This opportunity is for everyone to socialise, make new acquaintances, meet with old friends and most importantly have fun. By offering over 10 different board games everyone is inspired to come along and embrace the library for all it has to offer.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITY PACKS

The Yarriambiack Library has worked hard on creating a fun activity pack for the school holidays!

If you are interested in an activity pack please send us a private message or phone us on: (03) 53981270. Activity packs can either be picked up at the Warracknabeal Library or be delivered through words on wheels!

COMMUNITY NEWS

Warracknabeal – We’re coming to visit!
We’ll be near the Post Office on Scott Street from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm on Wednesday 24 March. Come and chat to us about…

The Customer Portal. We can help you sign up, answer your questions and collect feedback. Registering for the Customer Portal also puts you in the draw to win an iPad mini!
Renewable energy. Solar installations across our region have helped us reduce our carbon emissions by 17% since 2018/19 and in time we’ll be generating more power than we need – so what should we do with it?
Your expectations of GWMWater – What should we be aiming to achieve for our customers and communities through to 2028?

More info and COVIDSafe Event Checklist: gwmwater.org.au/roadshow

Wind farm generates grants opportunity

The Murra Warra Wind Farm 1 Sustainable Community Grants Fund will provide financial support to promote social and environmental sustainability initiatives for the benefit of communities within the Horsham Rural City, Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack shire councils.

It is part of the wind farm’s community investment program.

Wimmera Development Association project manager Vernetta Taylor said $55,000 was available across the three municipalities. Not-for-profit groups or organisations can apply for small grants of up to $5000 or large grants of up to $20,000.

“It also aims to strengthen community connections and social wellbeing in developing projects focusing on long-term sustainability; to develop projects that enhance and encourage healthy and active communities; and to develop projects which enhance cultural diversity, creative community activities and projects.”

Applications open on March 1 and close at 5pm on April 12.

Applications forms are available via www.murrawarrawindfarm.com or www.wda.org.au

Hard copy application forms are available on request.

For more information please phone Vernetta Taylor on 0419 114 274.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES - DOWNLOAD HERE

LINK TO ONLINE APPLICATION - CLICK HERE

LINK TO PRINTABLE APPLICATION - CLICK HERE

Have you got a photo you'd like to share with the Yarriambiack community? Send it to kcolbert@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au