Consultation - Have Your Say

35 Etty Street Castlemaine

Council is proposing to lease part of the former Castlemaine Secondary College campus at 35 Etty Street Castlemaine from the Department of Education and Training. Council will then sublease the site separately to Workspace Australia Ltd and Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre Ltd.

Workspace Australia Ltd currently operate out of the old Castlemaine Hospital in Halford Street Castlemaine. Their current lease expired in November 2018, the former Castlemaine Secondary College site is the most suitable site identified. Leasing of the site will enable Workspace to continue to provide vital support to local businesses as they start-up.

Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre Ltd and its partners plan to establish a life-long community education and industry innovation campus based around the local automotive culture. Occupation of the Castlemaine Secondary College campus will allow Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre Ltd to continue and expand collaborative projects.

Both leases will provide for an area of floor space to be set aside for community use.

Council’s involvement will ensure the site is leased from the State Government at a peppercorn rental, and that there is a local community benefit.

The head lease will be for fifteen years (5 years with 2 x 5 year options) with an annual rental of $120 per year. The permitted use will be office space, educational and community activities. All obligations from the head lease (between Council and the Department of Education and Training) to will be passed on to Workspace Australia and Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre Ltd through the sublease.

Council is seeking written comment on the proposal to lease these premises. Submissions will be considered 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.

Written submissions will be accepted until 5.00pm on Wednesday 31 July 2019.

Submitters who wish to speak in support of their submission will be heard at an Ordinary Meeting of Council on 20 August 2019.
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.

To discuss the proposed lease contact Lynne Williamson, Property Portfolio Coordinator, on 5471 1700.

Key documents
Draft sub-lease to Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre (PDF, 1MB)
Draft sub-lease to Workspace Australia (PDF, 1MB)
Map of the site (PDF, 124KB)

Mount Alexander Shire Council is developing a master plan for Camp Reserve.

The draft plan has been developed by sport and recreation experts in consultation with the reserve’s Committee of Management which is made up of user groups.

The master plan aims to strike the right balance between keeping historic features and traditions while bringing the major sports facility up to modern day standards.

Once finalised, the plan will provide the direction for improvements over the next 10 years and will play an important role in helping Council to secure funding for the upgrades.

Community feedback is now closed.

Camp Reserve Master Plan - draft (PDF, 5MB)
Camp Reserve Master Plan fact sheet (PDF, 215KB)
Camp Reserve feedback form
Media release - Have your say on master plan for Camp Reserve

Council has prepared a Proposed Budget for 2019/2020.

At a meeting on Tuesday 16 April, Council resolved to exhibit the proposed budget for public comment. Community members were encouraged to review the draft and make a submission. Copies of the document and a budget summary are available for public inspection during office hours at the Civic Centre in Castlemaine, or via the links below. Copies are also available at the Castlemaine Library, Visitor Information Centres in Maldon and Castlemaine, and the Newstead Rural Transaction Centre.

Submissions, in writing, were required to be lodged by 5.00pm on Wednesday 15 May 2019.

All submissions are being considered in accordance with Section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989. Those who wished to speak to their submission were heard at a Special Meeting of Council at 5.00pm on Tuesday 21 May.

Council will next consider the 2019/2020 Budget at an Ordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday 12 June. The meeting will start at 6.30pm at the Civic Centre in Castlemaine.

For more information contact Carolyn Ross, Acting Executive Manager Business Performance on 5471 1700.

Key documents
Proposed budget 2019/2020 (pdf - 3MB)
Proposed budget summary sheet

The draft Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Conservation Management Plan includes an assessment of the significant features of the heritage-listed gardens with policies and actions to renew and protect them for decades to come.

The plan covers the area gazetted as the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Reserve, including the caravan park and sunken oval which are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Community feedback is now closed.

Draft Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Conservation Management Plan (20MB, PDF)
Fact Sheet - Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Conservation Management Plan (195KB)

If you would like to access a copy of the initial Conservation Management Plan (Gilfedder and Walsh, 1991) please email info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Council received funding from Regional Development Victoria to develop a business case for the Maldon Streetscape Restoration project.

The project has three elements:
- Placing power underground in the central business district
- Implement the streetscape improvement plan
- Restoration of shopfronts.

The business case will provide costings, identify the likely economic impact, expected return on investment and propose a funding model.

Council is a member of the Maldon Streetscape Reference Group and will work with urban designers and economists on the business case. Property and business owners in the centre of Maldon will be contacted in coming months to determine their level of support for the key projects.

We expect the business case will be completed by August. The results will inform the future of the project and priorities. The following steps include completing further detailed designs and sourcing funding for the significant investment needed for construction.

The project is a great example of council working directly with community, business and state government representatives.
To discuss this project please contact Eva Parkin, Economic Development Officer, at e.parkin@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

If you have preschool aged children or have recently had children attend a 4 year old funded kindergarten program, we want to hear about your experiences with the enrolment process.

We have received funding from the Department of Education and Training to investigate the value of adopting and implementing a central enrolment scheme for kindergarten in the shire.

Complete the survey online.

Printed surveys will be available at local kindergarten and child care centres, the Civic Centre, Castlemaine Library and Maternal Child Health Centre at 15 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine.

The survey is open until 5.00pm on Friday 17 May.

For more information about the project please contact Sarah Gradie, Central Enrolment Project Officer, on 5471 1790 or email s.gradie@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Council sought feedback on a draft master plan and initial plans for a new play space at Stanley Park North at Harcourt. The designs were developed by a community group (made up of parents, grandparents, representatives of local organisations and Council staff) and local play space designers.

A copy of the plans is below.

Feedback on the plans is now closed.

Key documents
Stanley Park North Harcourt Play Space Draft Plan - 2019
Stanley Park North Draft Masterplan - Preliminary Concept - 2019

East of Harmony Way between Bridge Street and south of Market Street, Harcourt

Council proposes to discontinue a portion of the unused government road to the east of Harmony Way between Bridge Street and south of Market Street at Harcourt. Once the road has been discontinued the land will be transferred to the Crown and incorporated into the area known as Stanley Park Harcourt.

Submissions on this matter are now closed.

To discuss this proposal contact Lynne Williamson, Property Portfolio Coordinator, on 5471 1700.

Key documents
Public notice - Road discontinuation. Includes a map and further information. (205KB)
Public notice – as published in the Council Column on 26 February 2019. (567KB)