Quarterly Report - Summer 2015
CommunityConnect
Celebrate what’s great!
East Gippsland Shire Council is proud to support many of our
local community groups to host Australia Day celebrations
throughout the municipality on January 26.
See page 8 for a list of regional Australia Day events.
THIS ISSUE
New boat ramp proves popular
Staying healthy in the heat
Smart ways to connect with us
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3
4
Roll-out begins for Bright Futures
Round-up of regional projects
Performing arts
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6
7
CommunityConnect
Connect
with us
1300 555 886
5153 9500
[email protected]
PO Box 1618, Bairnsdale 3875
eastgippsland.vic.gov.au
@egsc
Customer Service Centres
Corporate Centre Bairnsdale
273 Main Street
Lakes Entrance
18 Mechanics Street
Mallacoota
70 Maurice Avenue
Omeo
179 Day Street
Orbost
1 Ruskin Street
Paynesville
55 The Esplanade
Service Centres can help with:
- Rate and property enquiries and payments
- Pensioner concession discount on rates
- Animal registration and renewals
- Planning
- Collecting applications
- Lodging permits
- Community laws and health
- Enquiries about adjoining fence owners
- Change of address
- Disability Parking permits
- New or replacement waste bins
- Raymond Island Ferry passes
- Roads, footpaths and bridge enquiries
- Marina and jetty enquiries and payments
- All your Council account payments
Outreach Centres
Bendoc Outreach Centre
Buchan Resource Centre
Cann River Community Centre
Council Meetings
Tuesday 3 February
Tuesday 3 March
Tuesday 7 April
Tuesday 14 April (Special Meeting)
Meetings are open to the public and
commence at 6.00 pm at the Council Chambers
273 Main Street, Bairnsdale
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CommunityConnect - Summer 2015
Message from the Mayor
Any time is a good time to be in East
Gippsland, but summer certainly has a
special feel about it. From all accounts, it
has been a busy summer holiday period
for our special part of the world, with
an influx of visitors enjoying the region
that we call home.
As our focus now turns to the year ahead,
we see our Council poised just over halfway
through its current term and on track for
delivering the outcomes contained in
the Council Plan.
Driven by the four pillars of Council’s fouryear plan – People, Place, Economy and
Stewardship, in 2014 we partnered with
East Gippsland communities to develop
strategies in education, early years learning,
disability, social inclusion, reconciliation and
many other important areas.
The new year will bring its challenges for
Council. A freeze on Federal Assistance
Grants and the likelihood of rate capping
by the Victorian Government will place
strain on the delivery of services across the
region due to its sheer geographic size and
limited rate base – but we will face these
challenges together and work through to
find sensible solutions.
In 2015, my Councillor colleagues and
I look forward to a year of continuing
engagement, consultation, advocacy
and providing stable leadership to the
communities that we serve across this
vast municipality. We welcome our new
Chief Executive Officer, Gary Gaffney,
and look forward to working with Gary
and staff in 2015.
With best wishes for a safe, prosperous and
happy new year to you all.
Cr Peter Neal
Mayor
Message from the
Chief Executive Officer
It is my pleasure to pen my first Community
Connect message since joining the
organisation in December 2014 as the new
Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
It has been something of a ‘homecoming’
for me, having spent my school years
growing up in East Gippsland, and I have
enjoyed refamiliarising myself with the
region and renewing old acquaintances.
I was previously CEO at the Shire of
Wyndham East Kimberley (Western
Australia) where I commenced in 2009.
I held various senior positions with Baw
Baw Shire Council between 1995 and
2003 and was appointed CEO at the
Mansfield Shire from 2003 – 2007. From
2007 to 2009, I was an Executive Director
for Regional Development Victoria, and was
seconded to lead the economic recovery of
all areas of Victoria impacted by the Black
Saturday Bushfires.
I believe my previous experience has
positioned me well to lead this organisation
and to assist Council with the many
opportunities and challenges that a large
municipality like East Gippsland faces.
Our organisation delivers more than
100 services across an area equivalent to
10 per cent of the state of Victoria. With
an emphasis on efficiencies and increasing
levels of customer service, my first focus in
2015 will be on the organisation structure
to ensure that the alignment enables us to
deliver the range of services we provide
to East Gippsland communities in the most
efficient and effective way.
I am excited to lead the staff in support
of our elected Councillors representing
the needs of our communities now and
into the future.
Gary Gaffney
Chief Executive Officer
CommunityConnect
New ocean access boat ramp proves popular
A new dual-lane ocean access boat ramp at Mallacoota
has proven popular with recreational fishers since
opening for use in December.
Weather information
Launching conditions at the Bastion Point boat ramp can
be viewed via a live webcam maintained by Gippsland
Ports at www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au/webcams.php
The project was completed at a cost of almost $6.5 million, funded
primarily by a Victorian Government grant of $6.115 million.
The facility provides a significantly safer launching option to what
was previously available and has increased boating tourism
for the township.
The boat ramp opened to the public on December 19, in time for
the busy summer holiday period.
Prime contractor was GPM Constructions from Sydney, who worked
closely with the project supervisor Bairnsdale-based Crossco
Consulting Engineers.
Construction commenced in November 2013 and the team
worked closely to ensure the project remained on track under
at times testing weather conditions, and was delivered to a
very high standard.
Members of the Mallacoota Ocean Access Boat Ramp Community
Advisory Committee provided valuable input during both the
planning and construction phases of the project, to achieve a
balanced outcome, taking into account key factors including
environmental and safety considerations.
Looking after vulnerable community members
Extreme heat can kill. Heat-related
illness can range from a rash or
cramps to very serious conditions
such as heat stroke, which is
potentially fatal.
Those most at risk are people over 65 particularly those living alone, the very
young and those with a pre-existing
medical condition.
Residents should plan ahead of hot
days and think about where they can go
when the heat hits.
Heat health alerts are issued by the Chief
Health Officer as required when a period of
hot weather is predicted that could impact
on human health, community infrastructure
(such as the power supply and public
transport), and services.
Do you know or can you identify
a vulnerable person within your
community? Is this person in a position
to care for themselves in times of an
emergency such as a fire, flood, storm,
heatwave or earthquake.
The Shire maintains a Vulnerable Persons
Register to ensure that these members
of our community are supported during
times of emergency.
If you are aware of any members of
your community who you believe are
vulnerable and don’t have the community
support needed during an emergency,
please contact the Shire’s Emergency
Management Team.
Hazards exist within all communities,
whether they are recognised or not.
Planning for these hazards enables
communities to be prepared and cope
better when an incident occurs.
East Gippsland Shire Council assists
communities to plan for incidents before
they happen. We also support the response
agencies during an incident and support
communities and other agencies after an
incident, in the recovery phase.
Council’s Municipal Emergency
Management Plan addresses the
prevention of, response to and recovery
from emergencies within the Shire and
is the result of the co-operative efforts of
the Municipal Emergency Management
Planning Committee.
Contact the Shire on 5153 9500 or visit
www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/emergency_
information for more details.
Staying healthy
in the heat
• Lookafteryourself
•Look
after yourself andothers
and others
• Drinkplentyofwater
•Drink
plenty • Keepcool
•of
Stayoutofthesun
water
For more information, visit:
•Keep
cool
www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/heatwave
•Stay out of the sun
For more information, visit:
www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/
heatwave
CommunityConnect - Summer 2015
3
CommunityConnect
Make a summer splash in our outdoor pools
East Gippsland Shire operates outdoor pools in Orbost and
Bairnsdale over the summer period offering a safe environment
for all ages to cool down and relax with friends and family.
Don’t forget our indoor pools in Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale for those
cooler days or when it’s just too hot.
Our recreation centres offer great facilities to help you and your family keep fit,
healthy and active.
Locations, opening times and prices are available on our website
www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/recreationcentres or contact your nearest
customer service centre (details on Page 2).
The Orbost Outdoor Pool has proven a popular place for locals and
visitors to cool off during the summer days.
Images courtesy of Snowy River Mail (s258-61 and s258-60).
Grants program moves to online applications
The East Gippsland Shire Grants
Program aims to support community
based groups, organisations, services
and artists to undertake activities or
improve facilities.
Through its grants programs, the Shire
supports a wide range of services and
innovative activities that strengthen our
communities, build pathways to environmental
sustainability and health and foster cultural
diversity, the arts, strong local economies and
knowledge communities.
Two funding rounds are offered
each financial year.
The East Gippsland Shire Grants
Program categories are:
Arts and Heritage Alliance
• Quick response – $500
Community Grants (up to $5,000)
• Arts projects – $5,000
• Community projects
• Major arts projects – $10,000
• Community facilities
Regional and District Events Sponsorship
(RADES) – up to $10,000
Workshops will be held to help with writing
a grant application and how to use the new
online process.
The Shire has moved to an online
application process; hard copy forms are no
longer available.
The next round will open in May 2015. Funding
guidelines and application forms are available
from www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/grants.
• Community festivals and events
• Community Environment and
Sustainability Projects
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CommunityConnect - Summer 2015
This will make applying for a grant much
easier and Shire staff are available to support
applicants through the process.
CommunityConnect
Focus on Energy Efficiency
Roll-out begins for Bright Futures project
East Gippland has secured over $1.7 million for energy saving projects
in Australian Government grant funding. The money will be used to cut
electricity and gas costs and reduce carbon emissions from the Shire’s
major energy using sites.
The Shire looked at its energy use across all its facilities, worked out the major energy
consumers and targeted where the greatest savings could be made. The Shire recognises
that it must understand its power use in order to mitigate rising energy costs.
Street lighting
The single biggest action the Shire can
take to reduce its carbon emissions is to
replace almost 3,000 80-watt mercury
vapour lights in residential streets with
LED streetlights. These 18-watt lights use
less than a quarter of the electricity of the
mercury vapour globes. The LEDs also last
a lot longer, reducing the maintenance
and replacement cost.
In these times of rising electricity costs
these savings will help the Shire manage
its operational costs.
Streetlights are currently 80
watt mercury vapour lights.
The new streetlights will be
18-watt LEDs.
Recreation centres
The Lakes Entrance Aquadome and
Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre
are very large consumers of gas and
electricity. Natural gas (Bairnsdale) and
LPG (Lakes Entrance) are used to heat
pool water and the pool deck areas.
The Shire is aiming to minimise this heat
demand using pool blankets and heat
recovery equipment.
Pool blankets can save up
to 30 per cent of the heating
demand of a pool mainly
by stopping evaporation
overnight.
The next step in the project is to install
efficient heating equipment. Lakes
Entrance Aquadome will have electric
heat pumps and Bairnsdale will have
a combination of co-generation and
electric heat pumps. Gas furnaces will be
retained as a back-up.
The lighting at both centres will be
upgraded to LED fittings with smart
controls where appropriate.
Similar to the street lights, the new LEDs
offer a huge reduction in power use and
are longer lasting. These cost savings are
important considerations and mean the
investment in this type of technology has
rapid financial paybacks.
Corporate Centre
Energy efficient heating and cooling has
been installed in the Shire’s main office
building and lighting has been upgraded
to energy efficient LEDs with smart controls,
such as motion sensors.
The Corporate Centre
Bairnsdale’s new air
conditioning unit will
run up to 40 per cent
more efficiently than the
older technology and
incorporates an economy
cycle that uses fresh air
when appropriate.
AT YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS
Take control of rising energy bills
Another important aspect to the Bright Futures East
Gippsland project is to encourage home owners
and businesses to look at the opportunities of saving
energy themselves.
There are many opportunities to reduce power bills
and they don’t all require large investment.
Many people think that the way forward is to
jump directly to solar energy systems. Whilst solar
power can be a good option to reduce power
bills this is not always the case and there are often
less costly options.
The key is to try and understand your energy use and
target the most cost effective solutions. For a wealth
of information check out the shire website at www.
eastgippsland.vic.gov.au energy, or call the Positive
Charge helpline for free one-on-one advice.
Positive Charge helpline
Please call the Positive Charge energy helpline on 03
9385 8555 for free independent advice.
The Shire has subscribed to the independent energy
efficiency advice service Positive Charge, based in
Melbourne, for our residents.
You can book a 20-minute phone consultation
for more detailed technical advice and to discuss
building plans or your own energy concerns in more
detail. Positive Charge is an independent organisation
created to help you cut through confusing information
and give you peace of mind.
You will learn ways to reduce your energy costs
around your home or business, and have a place to
go to discuss options (e.g., is solar right for you, or is
there something else you can do?)
For more information phone Positive Charge on
03 9385 8555 or visit www.positivecharge.com.
au/eastgippsland
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Project cost
$3.065 m
Funded by
East Gippsland Shire Council $1.298 m
Australian Government $1.766 m
Disclaimer: “The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Commonwealth of Australia, and
the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.”
CommunityConnect - Summer 2015
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CommunityConnect
Regional round-up
SHIRE-WIDE
Inclusive plan complete
Council adopted the East Gippsland Diversity,
Access and Social Inclusion Plan late last
year. The plan aims to develop communities
where everyone has access to the services they
need and where all people are appreciated,
respected and valued.
Victorian Government and the Paynesville and
District Community Bank® branch contributing
$300,000 and $125,000 respectively.
LAKES ENTRANCE
Revamped visitor
centre opened
This includes making sure everyone can
take part in education, employment and
community activities.
local community, including the Patterson Park
Reference Group, local organisations and
schools. Community members also helped with
tree planting and laying out the rocks in the
park’s stream feature.
BAIRNSDALE
Projects improve
safety, access
The plan is available on the Shire’s website
under Policy Documents and Publications.
Walks in East Gippsland
The Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre
re-opened in time for the busy summer holidays
following a two-month renovation. It is the
busiest Visitor Information Centre in Gippsland
with more than 100,000 visitors each year.
With the longer days and warmer weather
now is the perfect time to explore your own
backyard. A range of walking maps have been
created, detailing the distance, estimated time,
a grading for each walk and an outline of the
features you’ll see along the way.
As well as town maps, there are walking maps
for landmarks such as the Oriental Claims in the
High Country and The Entrance Walk at Lakes
Entrance. You can print off a copy of a map,
or access it via a mobile device. Other walking
maps are available at Visitor Information
Centres. Find out more at www.eastgippsland.
vic.gov.au/walks
The design included improving accessibility
and creating larger service counters. Each
workstation now has a computer, which will
improve service levels. Other features include
accessible toilets, purpose-built storeroom and
a meeting room.
The Shire received $260,000 from the Victorian
Government’s Local Government Infrastructure
Program to complete the upgrade.
METUNG
Playground ready for action
The upgraded Patterson Park opened for use in
mid-December and was put through its paces
by locals and visitors over the busy summer
break. The project had a lot of input from the
All abilities access to each cubicle is one of
the features of the new Main Street Toilets in
Bairnsdale, which opened late last year. The
facility has seven unisex accessible toilets and
has been built at street level, improving access
and visibility of activity in the area.
One of the cubicles is an accessible family
room, which includes change table, toilet,
seating for baby feeding, a hand basin and
wash trough. The $500,000 project was fully
funded by Council.
Macleod Street
Public transport users have a safer gateway
to East Gippsland thanks to intersection
improvements at the corner of Macleod and
Pyke Streets in Bairnsdale. A roundabout has
been installed to formalise traffic flow and
pedestrian crossings make getting to and from
the station easier for those on foot.
PAYNESVILLE
New look for Paynesville’s
esplanade
Stage one of the $750,000 Paynesville
streetscape project is complete, with a centre
median streamlining vehicle and pedestrian
traffic in the busy retail precinct on The
Esplanade. The median strip includes pedestrian
crossings, tree plantings, and street lighting.
The focus of the project has been on enhancing
the pedestrian experience with the inclusion of
three designated crossings.
The second stage of the project will begin after
summer to ensure that there is no disruption
during the town’s busiest time. This work
will involve landscaping the foreshore side
of The Esplanade.
The Shire contributed $325,000, with the
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CommunityConnect - Summer 2015
All smiles as the Paynesville Esplanade works are finished ahead of the Christmas rush.
(From left) Chair of the Paynesville and District Community Bank Branch, Martin Richardson;
manager King and Heath Paynesville, Joan Carter; Mayor, Cr Peter Neal; manager
Paynesville and District Community Bank Branch, Julie Small; Paynesville Business and
Tourism Association chair, Janet McLeod; and Shire Chief Executive Officer, Gary Gaffney.
CommunityConnect
What’s on at the Forge Theatre & Arts Hub
Boys in the Band
Wednesday 11 February, 7.30 pm
“The feel good show of the year”
International high energy hit show
that celebrates 50 years of the
world’s most iconic bands - The
Beatles, The Bee Gees, Frankie
Valli and the Four Seasons, The
Platters, The Jackson 5, The Beach
Boys, The Drifters, Simon and
Garfunkel and the Backstreet Boys.
The One Day
of the Year
Wednesday 11 March, 7.30 pm
“It’s ANZAC Day this week,
that’s my day, that’s the
old Diggers’ day.”
War veterans Alf Cook and
his friend Wacka Dawson,
commemorate history, celebrate
heroism and conjure national
pride on ANZAC Day
- via one too many at the Pub.
On the 100 year anniversary
of the Gallipoli landing, HIT
Productions brings a thoroughly
fresh take on this truly
Australian classic.
Klezmania
28 August
“Sounds of Silent”, this five
piece dixieland style jazz
band recreate an authentic
silent movie experience from
the 1920s by providing live
music accompaniment to the
Buster Keaton silent feature
film “Steamboat Bill Jr.“ as
well as the Laurel Hardy short
film “Wrong Again”.
Klezmer music that ranges
from heart rendering ballads
to exuberant wedding dances.
Enjoy rhythms that blend flavours
of East and West combined
with emotion charged vocals
in both Yiddish and English,
infectious joyous.
Taliska
8 May
Highland pipes, harp, fiddle
guitar beautiful vocals deliver the
much loved music of Scotland.
Be transported by songs of
Robert Burns, airs, sprightly
jigs soaring reels.
Tijuana Peanut
30 October
Dressed impeccably in Safari
suits this band is the natural
successor to Herb Albert’s
Tijuana Brass. You’ll hear The
Little Spanish Flea Tijuana
Taxi, as well as more modern
tunes in their very happy
danceable repertoire.
All Café Culture shows are held at the Mechanics Hall,
Mechanics Street, Lakes Entrance, doors open 6.30 pm
and commence at 7.00 pm. To book phone 5152 1482.
Friday 27 March, 7.30pm
Tom Burlinson:
Simply Sinatra
Friday 13 March, 7.30 pm
Café Culture 2015
Sounds of Silent
27 February
The Entire Pirates
of Penzance
A swinging celebration of
the music and career of the
legendary Ol’ Blue Eyes.
The Man from Snowy River film
star Tom Burlinson, along with
his all-star band, sings over 20 of
Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits and
talks with considerable knowledge
about some of the highlights of his
extraordinary career.
On a Humorous Note
Thursday 19 March, 11.00 am
Put a smile on your face! Classic
comedy songs from the funny
side of the street.
Join favourite performer Hilary
Henshaw with special guest Will
Conyers on a rib-tickling tour de
force including singing funnies,
rediscovered gems, modern mirth
and beautiful signature songs.
The Gilbert Sullivan Company
of Australia return with the most
popular of the entire GS repertoire,
performed with a cast of only six!
How can it be
done? Pandemonium!
Starring Alison Rae Jones, Phillip
Gould and the hilarious
Brian Hannan in his farewell tour.
The Listies make
you LOL!
Sunday 29 March, 1.00 pm
School Holiday comedy for kids
(and their adults).
LOL! is a raucous, messy,
unruly and hilarious show
for kids guaranteed to have
the whole family (even
dads) LOLing, ROFLing and
ROFLSHALBOWCOing.*
Don’t miss it!
(*Rolling On the Floor Laughing So
Hard a Little Bit of Wee Came Out)
The Paris
Book online at
Underground Cabaret eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/
Friday 20 March, 7.30 pm
Draw the curtain on a stage that
will reveal a subversion of the
classic French cabaret that will
darkly seduce and intoxicate
through a moveable feast of
magic, song, dance, burlesque,
comedy, circus and cabaret. A
blend of surprises and visual
attractions of international renown.
forgetheatre or phone
5152 1482.
Alternatively, bookings
can be made at the Forge
Theatre & Arts Hub 80
McKean Street, Bairnsdale.
CommunityConnect - Summer 2015
7
CommunityConnect
Monday 26 January 2015
Proudly supported by
East Gippsland Shire Council
Orbost
Free community
breakfast from 7.30 am
provided by Rotary Club
of Orbost
• Address by Australia
Day Ambassador Mr
Ian Coutts, proudly
supported by
Woolworths
• Gumboot throw
• Local and shire-wide
Australia Day awards
• Treasure hunt
• Big lamington cake
Formal proceedings
from 9.00 am
Venue: Forest Park
• Flag raising
Wet weather venue:
• Citizenship ceremony
Orbost Snowy Rovers Football & Netball Club Lochiel Street, Orbost
• Locals Tom Reeves
and Lilly Miralles to
lead the National
Anthem
• Mayoral address by Cr Peter Neal
Nicholson Street, Orbost
Time: 7.30 am
(Formal proceedings from 9.00 am)
Bairnsdale
Lindenow
Omeo
Free community
breakfast, flag raising
and award ceremony
Venue: Main Street
Free community
breakfast, flag raising
and award ceremony
Venue: Community Hall
Free community
breakfast, flag raising
and award ceremony
Venue: Courthouse
Gardens
and Amy Shand Park
Gardens
Time: 7.00 am
Rotary Club of
Mitchell River
Time: 7.30 am
Lions Club of
Lindenow
Time: 8.00 am
Lions Club of Omeo
Lakes Entrance
Mallacoota
Free community
breakfast, flag raising
and award ceremony
Venue: Mechanics Hall
Time: 7.30 am
Lions Club of
Lakes Entrance
Junior game, Senior
reconciliation match and
presentations
Venue: Mallacoota
Sports Oval
Time: 11.00 am
Mallacoota Cricket Club
Note: The Bruthen Australia Day event has been cancelled for 2015. Contact Bruthen and District Citizens Association for further information.
Paynesville
Free community
breakfast, flag raising
and award ceremony
Venue: Paynesville
Memorial, The
Esplanade
Time: 8.30 am
Paynesville Business
and Tourism Association
Our Councillors
8
Cr Peter Neal
Mayor
p. 0458 019 507
e. [email protected]
Cr Richard Ellis
p. 0419 023 673
e. [email protected]
Cr Mark Reeves
p. 0419 016 581
e. [email protected]
Cr Michael Freshwater
Deputy Mayor
p. 0427 007 392
e. [email protected]
Cr Jeff McNeill
p. 0400 835 092
e. [email protected]
Cr Jane Rowe
p. 0429 331 929
e. [email protected]
Cr Ben Buckley
p. 0429 857 750
e. [email protected]
Cr Marianne Pelz
p. 0428 115 667
e. [email protected]
Cr John Wilkin
p. 0419 024 049
e. [email protected]
1300 555 886
[email protected]
eastgippsland.vic.gov.au
5153 9500
PO Box 1618, Bairnsdale 3875
@egsc
CommunityConnect - Summer 2015