Weed Trade Day

 

Are you sick of pesky weeds clogging up your garden?

 

If so, we have the event for you!

 

Council is holding a Weed Exchange Day on Saturday July 20. Mayor Jim Child said the idea of the Weed Exchange Day is that residents come along and swap their weeds for a native plant – for free!

 

“Weeds are a big issue in Yarra Ranges – which is why it’s important that Council hold event such as these, to try and reduce the amount of weeds throughout the Shire.

“There will also be plant advice for those who are keen to improve their gardening skills and knowledge.

 

“Free skips will be available on the day for people to put their weeds in. So bring along as many weeds as you have!”

 

The event will be run in partnership with Friends of the Lilydale and Warburton Rail Trail, Friends of Mt Evelyn Aquaduct, Friends of Owls Land, Friends of Water Race and Quinn Reserve and Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA).

 

Lunch will also be provided on the day, so why not come along to this free informative event which promises to be lots of fun too!

 

 

When: Saturday July 20

Where: Cnr Wray Crescent & Birmingham Road, Mt Evelyn

Time: 10am-2pm

Cost: FREE

 

For more information contact Council’s Environment team on: 1300 368 333

Or visit: www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au

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Winter Shirewide out now

Check out the latest Winter edition of Shirewide online

This edition features:

• Budget overview
• Sporting facilities
• Monbulk Town revamped
• Healesville feature
• Monbulk Aquatic Centre
• Library Lobby
• New playgrounds
• No Wrong Door
• Are You Really Ok to Drive?

Shirewide online

You can also fill in the form on this page to receive Shirewide via email.

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Family Fun at Upper Yarra

Families can enjoy a day of free fun activities at the Upper Yarra Family Centre these school holidays.

The Family Expo Day will be on Friday 12 July from 10am until 1pm.

Activities will include craft, music and entertainment, giveways, food, face paint and roving performers.

There will be appearances from Harold the Giraffe and Bookaburra as well as a photo booth, live art, young children’s music workshops, story time and pilates.

The event will showcase the services on offer at the centre.

So put the date in your diary and take a look around the centre while enjoying free entertainment.

 

Check out more about the Upper Yarra Family Centre on Council's website:

 

Upper Yarra Family Centre

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Council Budget Signed Off

Work will begin on a host of capital works projects, road improvements, open space and new community facilities after Yarra Ranges Council signed off on its 2013-14 Budget last night.

Councillors voted to pass the draft budget and council plan following a period of public exhibition.

Council’s 2013-14 budget includes $155.4m of operating expenditure and a $39.5m capital expenditure program.

A 4.8% average rate increase is needed to enable council to provide the 120 plus services and carry out important projects.

This year’s budget focus is on renewing ageing infrastructure while continuing to improve council efficiency and deliver quality services.

The Yarra Ranges is such a large municipality with diverse needs and infrastructure that is ageing and needs to be replaced or upgraded.

This year Council will spend $8.8m supporting the aged and those with disabilities, $9.5m providing programs for families and young people as well as $3.2m supporting economic development and $4.1m on art, culture and heritage.

The capital works program includes:

·        $8.9m for roads

·        $4.3m for open space including playgrounds, parks and trails

·        $12m for major projects including the Regional Netball Centre, Monbulk Soccer Facility, Olinda Community Sports Pavilion.

·        $3m for buildings

·        $3.9m for plant and equipment

·        $1.8m for drainage

·        $2.7m for footpaths

·        $0.9m for townships.

 

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Warburton Mountain Bike Feasibility Study

Our Recreation Services team is currently working with World Trail to potentially set up a network of mountain biking trails around the township of Warburton.
As part of this project, World Trail is seeking input from the community, especially those who are into cycling and mountain biking.

If you've got a few minutes and want to have a say, we'd love to hear from you.

We've set up an easy-to-follow survey so that you can let us know what you think. It shouldn't take more than ten minutes and your feedback will help shape the project as things develop.

You can complete the survey here.

The survey is open until 11pm on Sunday 7th July 2013.

For more information contact Ben Bainbridge, Executive Officer Recreation Services for Yarra Ranges Council on (03) 9294 6758

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Young Leaders needed

Are you a Yarra Ranges young person looking to develop your leadership skills?

 The Young Leaders program is kicking off on July 1 and looking for young participants.

The young people needed to be aged 16-25 and live, work or study in the Yarra Ranges.

The program’s theme for this year is “Be the Change” and we are looking for young people who want to get involved in their community and make a difference.

 This program offers an opportunity for young people to learn some really useful skills that will benefit them and their community.

If you think you'd be right for this program or you know someone who would, contact Samantha Ruckle in Youth Services on 9294 6716 or email s.ruckle@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

 

 

 

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Council supports World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Wearing purple for WEAAD

Last Friday, Council's Aged and Disability Services team decked themselves out in purple gear to promote World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (which fell on Saturday 15 June).

Elder Abuse is defined by Seniors Rights Victoria as "any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust such as family or friends."

Abuse can be physical, sexual, psychological, financial or social and the definition includes neglect.

Between one and five per cent of older people may experience Elder Abuse, however cases are often not reported or discussed within the community.

An ageing population (one quarter of Victoria's population will be over 60 years old by 2030) is likely to mean an increase in Elder Abuse cases in future years.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) seeks to "lift the rug" on this problem by highlighting the nature and prevalence of the issue, and offering support for those affected.

Council's Aged and Disability Services officers are also involved in the Elder Abuse Awareness Network (EAAN) and supports the work of Seniors Rights Victoria, who operate a free helpline and offer support services to victims of Elder Abuse and their families.

If you are concerned and would like to discuss any issues, please contact Seniors Rights Victoria on 1300 368 821

Further information of Elder Abuse can be found on the Victorian Health Department website.

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Skate and BMX plan review

Do you like to “Pop an Ollie” after school? Or maybe you “grind” your way through weekends.

If that’s the way you roll, Yarra Ranges Council needs your opinion.

We are reviewing our Skate and BMX Plan and want to hear from schools, community groups, parents, users and spectators as part of its consultation process.

The revised Skate and BMX Plan will provide us  and the community with a clear direction on the future development of Skate and BMX facilities in the Yarra Ranges.

Extreme sports like skating and BMX riding are one of the fastest growing areas of recreation participation in Australia and young people in particular are passionate about it.

 

We are keen review our plans to ensure we are providing the best skate & BMX facilities we can so we are surveying people on their views. There are prizes up for grabs for participants.

Find the survey at www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/SkateBMX.

Young people can also have their say at three local events these school holidays.

Council and Simply Skate have joined forces to run a mini Skate, Scooter and BMX event series;

·        Lilydale Skate Park on Friday 28 June from 3.30-5.30pm,

·        Upwey Skate Park on Tuesday 2 July from 2-4pm

·        Yarra Junction Skate Park on Friday 12 July from 1-3pm.

 For more information on the review contact Recreation on 1300 368 333.

 

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Pop-Up Museums Popping Up in Your Area

Pop-Up Museum - Main St Project



Yarra Ranges Regional Museum is heading out on the road for 12 weeks of ‘pop-up’ events from June to August 2013, and we want you to be involved and share the story of your main street!

What is the pop-up museum?

The idea of the pop-up museum is that it will literally ‘pop-up’ in approximately 16 places over 12 weeks, covering the huge geographical reach of Yarra Ranges.

The pop-up museum will be a temporary extension of the permanent museum, comprising collections displays and museum staff in a community venue. It provides a mini museum experience to townships across the region.

The theme of the pop-up museum is small business and retail in local main streets. As well as showcasing museum displays, the pop-up museum is a place to share community knowledge about our main streets.

The Regional Museum will then develop an exhibition focused on this theme, to be displayed at the Regional Museum between November 2013 and March 2014.

 

How does it work?

The pop-up museum will invite communities in Yarra Ranges to share their stories, items and photographs related in some way to their local main street. The pop-up museum event will last approximately two hours at each location.

Visitors will be asked to write a ‘label’ and contribute it to the temporary display. If you don’t have a story to share, there will be plenty to hear, see and do.

June Dates & Locations (July & August to be announced soon):

MOOROOLBARK

Friday 14^th June

Mooroolbark Community Centre, 11am-1pm

 

MONBULK

Wednesday 19^th June

Monbulk Community Hub, 11am-1pm

 

HEALESVILLE

Friday 21^st June

Healesville Memo Hall, 11am-1pm

YARRA GLEN

Wednesday 26^th June

Yarra Glen Memo Hall, 2pm-4pm

WARBURTON

Friday 28^th June

Upper Yarra Arts Centre, Warburton, 11am-1pm

 

We invite residents, business owners and community groups from these and neighbouring towns to share stories about their main streets past and present!

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Hidden Art in Monbulk

Monbulk residents can explore their creativity by making art from things old and new to be hidden in the main street as part of a community art project.

 “Hidden”, presented by the Monbulk Arts Project, is a joint effort of Council and the Monbulk Business Network.

The project includes an opportunity for people to make art for the street, then temporarily hide it on the walls of Monbulk.

The project follows the streetscape project that has rejuvenated the shopping district last year.

The project will include free workshops for community groups or school classes to be held between June 23 and July 3.

The Monbulk Arts Project group is calling for expressions of interest for the workshops which can be held at their own venues or the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre.

The two-hour workshops can include Mandala painting, crochet, collage, natural dyeing, illustration, stencil spray art, felting, studio time, guided artistic tours of Monbulk.

Expressions of interest in art workshops can be made to Jenny Watson from the Monbulk Business Network on 9756 7566 or John Coleman on 9014 9733.

The project will be launched with a sausage sizzle at Monbulk Hub on Sunday 23 June from 12-2pm.

 

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Have your say on Child and Youth Plan

Parents and young people can have their say to help shape a new strategic plan for children and young people in the Yarra Ranges.

Council is developing its Child and Youth Plan 2013-2018 and wants to hear from the community.

There are two surveys, one for parents and caregivers and the other for young people. The results will help council in developing its plan.

This is the first time youth and children will be included in the same plan.

The surveys are one step of the consultation process with the draft plan expected to go to Council for endorsement in November 2013.

Young people can fill out the youth survey by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/youthplan-survey.

Parents/caregivers can fill out the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Parent-PrimaryCareGiver.

The surveys can also be found on Council’s website  www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

Surveys close 30 June 2013.

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