Consultation - Have Your Say

Council wants to hear from people who have an interest in access and inclusion within the community.

You may be a person living with disability, a family member, friend or carer of a person with disability, an older resident, a parent that uses a pram or have English as a second language.

We want to know about your views and experiences in the shire, including what is and isn’t working. We also want to hear about any initiatives you have experienced or ideas you have that will help make it easier for local residents to participate better in community life.

You can complete the survey online.

Council also has printed copies available at the Civic Centre at Castlemaine, Castlemaine Library and key locations in towns across the shire. If you would like a copy posted to you or require help to participate phone the Community Wellbeing Team on 5471 1700.

The survey will close at 5.00pm on Friday 31 August.

Key documents and links:

Online survey – access and inclusion
Word document – access and inclusion survey – plain English
Word document - access and inclusion survey - easy English.

The second draft streetscape designs for five local towns are now available for public comment. The designs consider things like the placement of trees and plantings, traffic management, pedestrian safety and creating social spaces.

The initial streetscape designs were based on the priorities identified in community plans for Chewton, Campbells Creek, Guildford, Newstead and Taradale. The designs have been revised following a number of community workshops and public consultations.

Council has budgeted $100,000 to begin implementing streetscape designs in its 2018/19 Annual Budget, and will seek external funding for some of the larger elements of each design as required.

The revised draft streetscape designs can be downloaded below and viewed at various locations in each of the five towns.

Feedback on the revised draft streetscape designs can be sent via an online survey or by email to info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au. Feedback can also be sent by post.

The public exhibition period for the revised draft streetscape designs is open from Monday 30 July to Sunday 26 August.

Download the revised streetscape design for Campbells Creek

Download the revised streetscape design for Chewton

Download the revised streetscape design for Guildford

Download the revised streetscape design for Newstead

Download the revised streetscape design for Taradale

Designs are expected to be finalised in October.

Council is also finalising streetscape design guidelines for Castlemaine and Maldon as part of a separate project.

For more information or to discuss your feedback on the designs contact Customer Service on 5471 1700.

In accordance with the Road Management Act 2004 (Act) and the Road Management (General) Regulations 2016, Council gives notice that it proposes to amend the Mount Alexander Shire Road Management Plan.

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to:

• review the road hierarchy for road related infrastructure
• amend and add new intervention service levels to ensure a broader range of hazards are managed
• improve response times for road related infrastructure
• alter the inspection frequency for Minor road assets
• standardise response times for reactive and proactive inspection frequencies.

Council will receive feedback and comments on the proposed amendment until 5.00pm on Friday 24 August 2018.

Download the relevant documents below or inspect a printed copy from Council’s Customer Service Centre during business hours.

Post written submissions to the Chief Executive Officer, Mount Alexander Shire Council, PO Box 185, Castlemaine 3450 VIC, email info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or drop into the Civic Centre at 25 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine.

For more information contact Anita Squires, Asset Management Coordinator, during office hours on 5471 1755 or a.squires@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Key documents:
Public notice information - Amendment to the Road Management Plan 2018
Findings of the Review of the Road Management Plan
Draft Mount Alexander Shire Council Road Management Plan.

Council released the 2018/2019 Proposed Budget for public comment in April. Public submissions closed on Wednesday 23 May. Council will consider submissions at a Special Meeting on Council on Tuesday 5 June (see details below).

The $37.04 million budget seeks to maintain and improve infrastructure, and deliver more than 100 services to the community in the year ahead.

It outlines the staffing and resources needed to achieve the strategic objectives in the Council Plan 2017-2021, under the three pillars of Our People, Our Place and Our Economy. The proposed budget will deliver an $11.35 million Capital Works Program.

Rates will increase by an average of 2.25% in line with the Victorian Government’s Fair Go Rates System, as council continues to find more efficiencies and advocate to the state and federal government for more funding.

Council has removed the municipal charge as per our rating strategy. Kerbside bin collection charges will increase by an average of 5.4% per property, in response to cost pressures associated with the rising costs of waste management.

Key dates
• 5.00pm, Wednesday 23 May 2018 – closing date for public submissions.
• 6.30pm, Tuesday 5 June 2018 – Special Meeting of Council to hear budget submissions, Civic Centre, Castlemaine.
• 6.30pm, Tuesday 26 June 2018 – adoption of the Annual Budget at Ordinary Meeting of Council, Civic Centre, Castlemaine.

Budget
• 2018/2019 Proposed Budget
• 2018/2019 Proposed Budget Summary
• Media release - Proposed council budget open for comment
• Media release - Council invests in vital infrastructure

Fitzgeralds Close Wesley Hill Business Park

Notice is given under Section 189 of the Local Government Act 1989 that Council intends to sell nine remaining lots in Fitzgeralds Close, Wesley Hill Business Park that are currently owned by Mount Alexander Shire Council. These are formally known as Lots 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 PS629772. A copy of a plan of the lots is below.

This land was acquired and developed by Council for the purposes of sale for a business park.The land is to be sold by private treaty through Real Estate Agents appointed by Council. An anticipated sale timeframe for each of the lots is not yet known.
Prior to accepting any offers, Council will obtain an independent valuation in accordance with section 189 of the Local Government Act, and will not sell the land for less than this valuation amount.

Members of the public may wish to make a submission in accordance with Section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989. Submissions should indicate whether the person or a person acting on their behalf wishes to be heard before Council.

For any questions regarding this matter, please contact Daniel Borton, Property Portfolio Coordinator on 5471 1700.

Written submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm on Tuesday 17 May 2018.

Submitters who wish to speak in support of their submission will be heard at the Ordinary Council Meeting at 6:30pm on Tuesday 19 May 2018 at the Civic Centre Castlemaine.

Submissions should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Mount Alexander Shire Council, PO Box 185, Castlemaine VIC 3450, or email info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Key document
Map of proposed blocks for sale at Fitzgeralds Close Wesley Hill Business Park

Council is developing a management plan for the 70 hectares of Creekside public land currently under public license to Council.

The draft plan has been developed by Council in collaboration with the Friends of Campbells Creek and the Castlemaine Landcare Group to further improve the amenity of the 70 hectares of creeks and adjoining public land located in the urban parts of Chewton, Castlemaine and Campbells Creek.

Council invites your comment on the draft Castlemaine Creekways Management Plan.

How to provide feedback

Download a copy of the draft Castlemaine Urban Creekways Management Plan.
A hard copy is available for viewing at Council’s reception, the Civic Centre during business hours Monday to Friday.

You can provide a written submission entitled Castlemaine Urban Creekways Management Plan submission by:
Email: info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au
Post: Mount Alexander Shire, PO Box 185, Castlemaine Vic 3450
In person: Civic Centre, Corner Lyttleton Street and Lloyd Street, Castlemaine.

Written submissions will be accepted until Tuesday 1 May 2018. For more information contact Council's Natural Environment Officer on 5471 1700.

Key document
Draft Castlemaine Urban Creekways Management Plan

The final designs of the six flood protection levees planned around Castlemaine and Campbells Creek are now complete.

Read about the 10 recommendations in the Flood Management Plan brochure.
Read the full Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton Flood Management Plan 2015.

View the final designs of the flood protection levees below:
Cover Sheet
Gingell Street
Castlemaine Central Cabin and Van Park
Elizabeth Street
Campbells Creek
National School Lane

For more information contact Marcus Goonan, Team Leader Engineering, on 5471 1776.

Council is developing a creative play space at Victory Park in Castlemaine, where people of all ages and abilities can play, explore, socialise and connect.

The concept designs encourage imaginative play and include musical, swinging and spinning elements in response to community feedback. They are sympathetic to the park’s history and include seating, shade and barriers to the road and car park.

Public submissions on the designs concepts are now closed. For more information, contact Edwina Reid, Active Communities Officer, 5471 1740, or email e.reid@mountalexandervic.gov.au.

Victory Park Concept Designs - link to download designs, artists impressions and mood boards.