Consultation - Have Your Say

Mount Alexander Shire Council will hold a public Climate Change Forum to inform its future action on climate change. The forum will help Councillors better understand what a climate change emergency would mean for the shire and other ways to tackle climate change as an organisation and community.

The forum follows the presentation of a petition from Mount Alexander Climate Change Emergency Team (MACET) at the Council Meeting in October, requesting that Council declare a climate change emergency. In response, Council resolved to invite interested parties to present to Councillors to inform a whole of community approach to tackling climate change.

The Climate Change Forum will take place over a series of sessions from 9.00am to 8.00pm a the Civic Centre on Monday 9 December 2019. Sessions will run from:

- 9.00 am – 12 noon
- 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
- 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm.

Council would like to hear a range of views and anyone is welcome to speak, attend the forum and/or make a submission.

Read more information below to find out how to have your say and what Council is already doing to tackle climate change.

Register your interest to speak at the forum by Monday 2 December, or make a written submission by close of business on Thursday 5 December.

If you would like to attend the forum as an observer please send us an email including name, email and which session(s) you would like to attend to info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

For more information contact Jodi Newcombe, Climate Change Coordinator, on 5471 1700.

Climate Change Forum – Invitation (PDF, 300KB)
Climate Change Forum – Registration form (PDF, 230KB)
Mount Alexander Shire Council – Action on Climate Change – Background information (PDF, 2.5MB)

Mount Alexander Shire Council is encouraging community members to provide feedback on a draft streetscape plan and design standards for Castlemaine.

The high level plan aims to create a more attractive and functional town centre while working with and preserving the historical features of the picturesque 19th century town. The plan and standards will guide Council and the community in the management, maintenance and improvement of the town’s public realm.

The plan provides a strategic approach to improving safety, access and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, more street trees and landscaping, strategically located street furniture, strengthening street character and improving public spaces.

The design standards provide details on elements such as street furniture, lighting, plantings, paving materials, crossovers and bins, guided by fixtures that have long been part of the Castlemaine streetscape.

The draft plan and designs are on public display at the historic Market Building on Mostyn Street in Castlemaine until Sunday 8 December. You can also view or download them below.

To provide your feedback, please complete our feedback form and email to info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or post your feedback titled Castlemaine Streetscape Designs to Council or by 5.00pm on Sunday 8 December.

Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards – Draft plan (PDF, 11.1 MB)
Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards – Poster 1 – Introduction (PDF, 4.4 MB)
Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards – Poster 2 – Key features of plan (PDF, 11.5 MB)
Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards – Poster 3 – Design standards (PDF, 5.6 MB)
Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards – Feedback form (PDF, 216 KB)

The draft Plan Harcourt, incorporating the Harcourt Framework Plan and Shine Harcourt Leanganook, is open for community review and comment.

To find out more about the plan head to a drop in session from 4.00pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday 11 December at the ANA Hall on High Street in Harcourt, or chat to the project team at the Harcourt Twilight Market on Saturday 23 November.

Read the draft plan and fact sheets at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/PlanHarcourt or view a copy at the Civic Centre.

Submissions close on Monday 6 January 2020

We are preparing our budget for the 2020/2021 financial year. Rather than wait for input on the draft budget in April, staff and Councillors would like to hear from the community now about what projects and services are important to you.

We’re more than half way in delivering on our 2017-2021 Council Plan which means many priorities are set. At the same time, we want to consider any new ideas or initiatives that align with our Council Plan priorities under the pillars of Our People, Our Place and Our Economy.

Complete the online survey by Friday 13 December or pick up a hard copy from the Civic Centre, or Visitor Information Centres in Castlemaine and Maldon.

Online survey - Have your say on Council's budget

Council is seeking input from children aged 8 to 12 years, their families and carers as we start to develop a new Middle Years Plan.

A short online survey for parents and carers will help to better understand the needs of children in this age group and guide the development and coordination of middle years’ services, programs and activities in the shire.

Complete the survey online.

By completing the survey you can opt into a prize draw to win a $100 voucher.

The survey closes on Friday 22 November.

A printed survey will be distributed to local children through primary schools. Copies are also available at the Civic Centre, Castlemaine Library and community hubs.

For more information about the Middle Years Plan contact the Community Partnerships Team on 5471 1700 or email youth@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

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. Council will consider the outcomes of the consultation at a future Council Meeting.

Camp Reserve Master Plan - draft (PDF, 5MB)
Camp Reserve Master Plan Fact Sheet - June 2019 (PDF, 215KB)
Community information - Camp Reserve Tree Assessment (PDF, 192KB)
Camp Reserve Tree Assessment Report - April 2018 (PDF, 5.6MB)

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.