Women in Leadership event

Hear Australian netballer Sharelle McMahon and a panel of other inspiring women share their stories at a free event this month.

Sharelle will join a panel including; Yarra Ranges Councillors Samantha Dunn, Maria McCarthy and Fiona McAllister, WNBL player and captain of the Swinburne Kilsyth Lady Cobras Chantella Perera and Metabolic Nutritional and Certified Body Transformation Specialist Annette Shepherd.

When: Wednesday 21st August 2013
Where: Club Kilsyth, Cnr Canterbury Rd & Colchester Rd, Kilsyth
Time: 6.15pm start

The free event will conclude with a light supper.

Places are limited and bookings can be made to Roxann Jenkins 9294 6370 or r.jenkins@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

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Community Safety Plan - Give Us Your Thoughts!

The term “Community Safety” covers a wide range of issues beyond the prevention of injury and crime in the Yarra Ranges. And it was this kind of thinking that led to the development of a Community Safety Plan – a strategy that we want your input on!

Council’s Community Safety team paired up with a number of local health, emergency and social services providers to identify the most pressing Community Safety issues in our region, and formed a Community Safety Steering Committee to come up with some ideas on how to address these. The group’s findings are detailed in the Community Safety Plan.

The six Priority Areas that the plan focuses on are:

·        Alcohol

·        Emergencies

·        Falls

·        Family Violence

·        Roads

·        Suicide

The draft Plan was recently released, and will be available for comment until Monday 2 September. Community Safety affects all Yarra Ranges residents, and we’d encourage you to take a look at the documents and have your say.

 View the Community Safety Plan here

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Help Us Shape the DAMP!

Freddy and Jack

What is a DAMP? It stands for "Domestic Animal Management Plan" and is a document used by Council's Local Laws team to guide their focus on all things pet-related.

A draft version of the DAMP that covers the next four years (2013 - 2017) was endorsed by Council last week, and is now out for public consultation.
Pet owners in Yarra Ranges are encouraged to read the plan, and give us any feedback on it by visiting www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/DAMP

We've also enlisted the help of a couple of furry residents who are directly impacted by the DAMP to help explain some of the plan's key areas of focus.

Check out the first in a series of videos starring Freddy and Jack below. And keep an eye out for more of Freddy and Jack's adventures in coming weeks.

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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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