Public notice - 4 August 2020

A State of Disaster has been declared until 2 September 2020 to manage coronavirus (COVID-19).
Regional Victoria will move to Stage 3 restrictions from 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 August. This means there will once again only be four reasons to be out of your home:
• To shop for food and essential goods or services
• To provide care, for compassionate reasons or to seek medical treatment
• To exercise or for outdoor recreation
• For work or study, if you can’t do it from home.

All Victorians must now wear a face mask whenever you leave home.

With new active cases of coronavirus in the region, please take extra care to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Follow the public health advice, maintain hand hygiene and physical distancing.

Schools will move to remote learning from Wednesday 5 August but will remain open for vulnerable children and for the children of permitted workers. Specialist schools, kinders and childcare will remain open in regional areas.

Stay home if you are unwell, and get tested if you have any symptoms of coronavirus by making an appointment with your local GP or at a nearby testing centre in Bendigo, Kyneton or Maryborough. Be kind and don’t forget to check on family, friends and neighbours.

For more information call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.

Our Customer Service Centre closed at 5.00pm on Friday 31 July and will remain closed until further notice. The decision to close the Civic Centre to the public is due to a number of factors including staff wellbeing, resourcing, and the move to Stage 3 restrictions.

Council staff will continue to provide phone and online support during the closure.

Customers can contact us by phone, email or lodge a customer service request via the homepage on our website. Our Customer Service team is available on weekdays between 8.30am and 5.00pm on 5471 1700 or via info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au. Customers can continue to make online payments via our website or www.bpay.com.au.

If you require advice from technical teams such as Planning, Building, Environmental Health or Local Laws please contact Council to arrange a time to speak with a staff member over the phone.

If you have a question or need local information, support or a referral in relation to COVID-19, call our dedicated COVID-19 support number on 1800 512 446 during business hours, visit our online virtual emergency relief centre at
www.connectmountalexander.com.au or email covid19@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Crisis and suicide prevention services are available including Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 www.beyondblue.org.au; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au; QLife 1800 184 527 www.qlife.org.au or Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au.

Did you know that Castlemaine Community House (CCH) offers a range of financial services? Along with a Centrelink Agency they have specialists to assist you with financial counselling, tax help and no interest loans. All services operate by appointment only. To make an appointment contact CCH on 5472 4842.

Council is seeking community feedback on the development of the Governance Rules (incorporating the Election Period Policy) and a Public Transparency Policy. These are required for all Victorian councils under the new Local Government Act 2020.
The rules and policy outline the ways in which Council conducts meetings, elects the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, operates during an election period and supports the community to participate in local government.

Submissions must be made in writing and must be received by Council before 9.00am on Friday 14 August. Submissions should be marked Governance Rules and Transparency Policy and addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Mount Alexander Shire Council, Castlemaine 3450 VIC or info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Find the rules and policy at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay.

For more information contact Augustine Sheppard, Principal Governance Officer, on 5471 1700.

Muckleford Community Centre will hold its Annual General Meeting at 6.00pm on Monday 10 August 2020. The meeting will be held at the community centre at 364 Muckleford-Walmer Road.

The monthly Maldon Market has relocated from Fountain Street to the Bill Woodfull Reserve in Maldon to reduce the risk of spread and infection of COVID-19. Council has worked with market organisers to ensure steps are in place to protect community health including the widespread availability of hand sanitiser. Attendees are asked to maintain good hand hygiene, respect physical distancing requirements and wear a face mask. The next market is planned for Sunday 9 August.

If you are considering running as a candidate in the October local government election register now for a free candidate information workshop. The Victorian Local Government Association will host the session, which will cover the roles and responsibilities of council and councillors, current issues facing local government, candidate information, and campaign tips and tools. It will be held online via Zoom from 6.00pm to 7.30pm on Thursday 13 August. To register or to find out more information contact Augustine Sheppard on 5471 1700 or governance@mountalexander.vic.gov.au. Please note all candidates must attended a mandatory training hosted by Local Government Victoria. Details of these sessions will be available later this week at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/CouncilElections.

Small business operators are invited to attend two free online workshops in August to build skills and expertise. Sessions are:

Business planning essentials - Identify business opportunities and long-term goals for success. 9.30am to 11.30am on Monday 10 August.

Taking your business online - Get ready to launch your business online. 6.00pm to 8.00pm on Monday 17 August.

Places are limited so book now at www.bit.ly/MtAlexBoxOffice.

Council has extended the submission date for the Local Laws Review until 5.00pm on Friday 7 August. Find details on the proposed changes at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay or contact Jeffry Amy, Coordinator Safety and Amenity, on 5471 1764.

A Special Meeting of Council will be held from 6.00pm on Tuesday 11 August to hear from people who indicated they would like to speak to Council regarding their submission on the Local Law Review. The meeting will be broadcast live to YouTube. Search Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Darren Fuzzard
Chief Executive Officer

The next Council meeting will be live streamed via YouTube at 6.30pm on Tuesday 18 August. To raise a question at the Council meeting write to the Governance Team, Mount Alexander Shire Council, PO Box 185, Castlemaine 3450 VIC, or email governance@mountalexander.vic.gov.au by 12 noon on the day of the meeting.

The COVID-19 information was up-to-date at the time of going to print.

The Council Column is published in The Midland Express each Tuesday.

Public notice - 4 August 2020.


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