Mayor's Message – 10 November 2025

Published on 10 November 2025

Hi everyone,

I’m a bit sick, unfortunately, so may not be as loquacious as usual in this month’s update. But don’t be fooled, it’s been another big month and I’m keen to share some highlights with you!

Listening post at the West End Festival

I love living in the West End and have done since moving there from the other side of Castlemaine, just over ten years ago. Thus, it was an absolute pleasure to hold a listening post at the inaugural West End Festival, itself held at the West End Hall, playground and tennis courts. I had some fantastic conversations with local residents, covering themes such as traffic concerns, local events, nature strips, iconic venues, green waste, waste management and the need for more places for teenagers to hang out. The festival itself was lovely, drawing a large crowd and I left feeling blessed to be part of this micro community in West Castlemaine.

Castlemaine Historical Society meeting

It was an honour to be invited to a meeting of the Castlemaine Historical Society, as their guest speaker, and to be given a tour of the premises beforehand. As I get older, I’m getting more and more excited about ‘old things’, fragments of the past that tell the stories of people and places, and how we got to where we are now. I really enjoyed looking through all the rooms full of old papers, books, newspapers, photographs and more – and even spent some time reading an old version of the Local Government Act (who have I become?)! It was lovely to chat to some of the attending members and to offer them some of my own personal history, my thoughts on Council and what it’s like to be the Mayor of your home shire.

MAV 2025 Annual Conference and Dinner and MAV State Council

Acting CEO, Michael Annear (no relation), and I spent a couple of days in Melbourne attending the Municipal Association of Victoria’s (MAV) annual conference and dinner, and the biannual MAV State Council. The conference was interesting – Michael and I took a divide and conquer approach, attending lots of different sessions on topics like housing, planning, AI, leadership, innovation and youth councils.

As part of the dinner, Councillor Service Awards were presented to Councillors who have served on Council for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years, as well as the Mayor Emeritus Award, for those who’ve been in the Mayoral role for three years or more. It blew my mind that there are some currently serving Councillors who have been on Council almost as long as I’ve been alive!

Finally, we attended the second MAV State Council meeting for 2025, considering motions raised by Councils from all across the state. We had submitted a motion regarding advocacy to State and Federal Governments for more equitable and flexible funding for affordable housing. Our motion passed with unanimous support. To view the motion in full, check the minutes from the August Council Meeting.

Castlemaine Goods Shed Open Day

It was a pleasure to attend and speak at the public open day at the newly redeveloped Castlemaine Goods Shed, home of the Castlemaine State Festival. This project was made possible through funding from the State Government and has transformed the space into a community arts hub, featuring purpose-built, flexible spaces for exhibitions, performances and creative activities.

The Maine Gala Spring Fashion Show

When I returned from leave in mid-July, one of my many voicemails was from the lovely Phee Broadway asking if I would be a surprise special guest in a local fashion show happening later in the year. I will admit, it’s not something I ever thought I’d do, but Phee convinced me that it would be fun. And it was! The Maine Gala Spring Fashion Show took place in the packed-out Castlemaine Town Hall and featured a range of local models showcasing the style of five local businesses: RIKE Design, Aolita Boutique, Ivy & Grace, Corner Store Merchants and Mensland. By all accounts, it was a wonderful evening and I walked a runway for the first (and likely last) time in my life. It wasn’t as scary as I’d thought, honestly – and far less scary than being the Mayor.

October Council Meeting – Net zero emissions

Oh my gosh, the October Council Meeting was a BIG one. I could write pages and pages recapping it alone! But I’ve done a number of recap videos (which you can find on Council’s social media), and I’d like to focus here on three agenda items that tell a pretty exciting story about Council’s climate action over the last six years.

In late 2019, Council declared a climate emergency. This momentous decision followed huge community support and advocacy, led by the Mount Alexander Climate Action Team (MACET), with over two thousand locals signing a petition, and 150 speaking to Councillors at an open, all-day briefing, to inform their decision. As part of the climate emergency decision, Council committed to approve and implement a roadmap that will lead to zero net carbon emissions for Council operations by 2025 and to develop a new climate strategy.

Council’s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality was adopted in 2020 and laid out the needed emissions-reduction and offsetting actions that would lead Council operations to be carbon neutral by 2025.

Council adopted its new Climate Change Strategy in 2023, which outlines how Council will continue to take action on climate change, now and into the future.

Earlier this year, Council adopted its Carbon Offsetting and Drawdown Policy, which guides decisions on how residual greenhouse gas emissions (those that Council cannot yet reduce to zero) can be offset by purchasing certified carbon credits or investing in local drawdown projects.

At the October Council Meeting, Councillors noted the closure report for the Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality, the 2023-2025 progress report and 2025-2026 annual plan for the Climate Change Strategy, and implementation report for the Carbon Offsetting and Drawdown Policy.

This sees Council meeting two of the big commitments from its 2019 climate emergency declaration.

We followed the roadmap, reducing as many operational emissions as possible over the last six years. Those we can’t yet reduce or remove, we have offset through investment in high-integrity accredited projects (all based in Australia) and locally verified drawdown projects (including YIMBY community composting, the Growing Abundance harvest program and projects at two local schools). We have met our target of net zero emissions for Council operations by 2025!

It's a big achievement but, of course, that’s not the end of the story. We will continue our commitment to ongoing climate action through the Climate Change Strategy, and beyond.

I probably haven’t done the story justice in these few paragraphs – but I was trying to keep it short. I spoke for fourteen minutes about during the Council meeting, so you can always watch that too!

Really, I just wanted to share this again because it’s such an exciting milestone in our climate action journey. We are honouring the community members and past Councillors and Council officers who contributed to the climate emergency declaration in 2019, making good on the commitments of the past and continuing to do what we can into the future.

Launch of the Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane Redevelopment Project

We recently launched the Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane Redevelopment Project, for which we received over $12 million in federal funding. This project will revitalise and transform two streets that run through the heart of Castlemaine, and play a vital role in the connectivity, travelability, usability and ‘vibe’ of the town.

Works will begin in the new year (likely February), with the undergrounding of powerlines by Powercor and further works likely to begin in April. Updates will be shared as the timeline is further locked in, and businesses and community facilities will remain accessible, as much as possible.

To learn more and stay updated, visit the project page here.

Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail AGM

It was a pleasure to recently attend the Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail’s AGM and to speak to the project alongside Grace La Vella, Mayor of Central Goldfields Shire. Both our Councils have supported aspects of the CMRT’s journey so far, contributing funding to the initial feasibility study and to the current pre-construction phase.

If constructed, the trail will stretch for 61 kilometres, following the disused rail line from Castlemaine to Maryborough (or vice versa), and running through Campbells Creek, Guildford, Newstead, Moolort and Carisbrook.

Community consultation on the rail trail’s design is currently open, so please make sure you have your say here before 16 November.

South Castlemaine Kinder visit

I always enjoy the time I get to spend with kids and young people, so it was a joy to be invited to South Castlemaine Kinder to spend some time with their students and admire their new building, currently under construction. The kids were all very excited about the new space! I had some great chats with three, four and five-year-olds about what they think a Mayor does (tells everyone what to do?) and their ideas for improvements in the shire (more swings, more slides, more trees, etc.). I received an absolutely wonderful portrait of myself from one child, which is now proudly displayed in my office. I was very excited that she chose to draw me with a tail!

The construction works at South Castlemaine Kinder mark the first stage of redevelopment. Once the second building is completed, works will begin on upgrading the existing building, making it more accessible and useable for kids, teachers and families.

Final Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel meeting

The last meeting of this year’s Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel (LGMAP) was held recently. We had a working dinner at Parliament House, and it was full of constructive and valuable conversations. This is my second time sitting on the LGMAP, advising the Minister of Local Government on behalf of the sector. The current Minister is Nick Staikos, and I found him to be a very open and genuine person who was willing to listen and receive feedback. It was lovely to get to know the other mayors on the panel too, and to hear about their experiences, challenges and successes in different council settings.

Community Christmas Lunch 2025

This is just a little spruik for something Council-adjacent: Community Christmas Lunch, an event which is very close to my heart and brings me (and many others) a lot of joy each year! Council helps to fund and organise the event (led by Castlemaine Community House), which provides Christmas lunch, presents, company and festivities to over 200 people each year on Christmas Day. If you’d like to attend, or have capacity to volunteer, or donate presents, decorations or food items, please visit the event page for more information.

Budget 2026/2027

Council is currently asking community organisations and members to make submissions for consideration for our 2026/2027 Budget (yes, it’s starting again, already). For more information about this (and other current consultation opportunities), please visit Shape Mount Alexander. Budget submissions close on 28 November.

Phew, that wasn’t very short after all! But I definitely ran out of steam a bit towards the end.

That’s it from me (for now).

Mayor Rosie Annear
Mount Alexander Shire Council

Image: The Maine Gala Spring Fashion Show