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Korumburra Community Hub official opens and other project updates from South Gippsland Shire Council

South GIppsland Shire Council updates on projects and programs that will benefit the community.

By news@gippsland - 16th November 2023 - Back to News

The Korumburra Community Hub officially opened its doors last Friday. The new building was opened by Mayor Nathan Hersey and Chief Executive Officer Kerryn Ellis from South Gippsland Shire Council together with Tom McIntosh Member for Eastern Victoria, Leanne Williams Chief Executive Officer Myli Libraries, Neil Coxon President Milpara Community House and Bob Newton, President Korumburra and District Historical Society.

Mayor Hersey, CEO Ellis, and local figures unveiled Korumburra Community Hub with Member McIntosh, Library CEO Williams, and community leaders

The need for a building to consolidate community facilities into a central location was first identified in the Korumburra Town Centre Framework over 10 years ago. It has taken time, but the end result is a modern building with a clean design that has been inspired by the surrounding environment.

Council would like to thank architects FJC Studio for their lovely design and 2Construct for the building work and everyone who has played a role in this project - however big or small. The facility has been shaped by our community and is expected to service Korumburra for many years to come. The blue skies added to the joyous occasion, making the Hub opening an experience enjoyed by all.

Council earned a Planning Excellence Award for the Coastal Strategy, a community-driven plan safeguarding coastal areas, recognized by PIA

Planning award success

Last week, Council was awarded a State Award for Planning Excellence for the South Gippsland Coastal Strategy. The Strategy is a forward-thinking plan designed to protect and preserve our coastal townships and area.

The Strategy was developed through extensive community consultation which helped to determine key actions. The award night was facilitated by the Planning Institute of Australia. To read the South Gippsland Coastal Strategy, please visit South Gippsland Coastal Strategy page.

Kindergarten in Mirboo North

Council is offering families an opportunity to provide their views on an Early Learning Centre for Mirboo North. With the introduction of funded three-year-old kindergarten, the announcement of pre-prep and the age of the existing building, Council has identified a need to provide new kindergarten facilities in Mirboo North to ensure local families continue to have access to quality kindergarten programs.

For more information and to provide your feedback, please visit Kindergarten in Mirboo North page. Submissions close Sunday 26 November.

Victoria and South Gippsland fund Early Learning Centre pre-planning. Families invited to share views via survey by 26 November 2023

Draft children and family plan

At Wednesday's Council Meeting, Council endorsed a proposed Children and Family Plan for community consultation. The draft was developed based on previous community feedback collected earlier in the year. The initial consultation heard from 700 people and was developed to help children and families in our Shire feel happy, healthy and able to develop to their full potential.

We encourage you to read through the Draft Children and Families Plan and let us know in the survey below if there is anything we have missed. To submit your feedback, please visit Draft Children and Families Plan page. Feedback closes on Thursday 30 November.

Success in securing TAC grant for analysing safety improvements along Princes Street, Korumburra, focusing on school precinct management, feedback closes on 8 December 2023

Korumburra School Precinct

Help us make the Princes Street, Korumburra school precinct safer. South Gippsland Shire Council has been successful in obtaining an analysis grant as part of the 2022 Transport Accident Commission's (TAC) Local Government Grant Program. This grant will enable us to investigate pedestrian and traffic management options to improve safety along Princes Street.

We are particularly hoping to hear from people who use this stretch of street often. To provide your feedback, please visit Princes Street, Korumburra page. Feedback closes Friday 8 December 2023.

Christmas giving tree

Christmas is fast approaching! For some, this time of year can be challenging and finding additional money for gifts and food can be hard. To help spread some Christmas joy, Council has teamed up with the Salvation Army to be a collection point for this year's Christmas Food and Gift Drive.

We encourage you all to help bring a smile to someone's face this Christmas by placing an unwrapped children's toy, books and clothes, as well as non-perishable food items under our tree at 9 Smith Street, Leongatha. Donations will be accepted until 5.00pm Thursday 7 December.

Council collaborates with Salvation Army for Christmas Food and Gift Drive. Donate toys, books, clothes, and food by 7 December 2023

Green waste amnesty period

Council's annual Green Waste Amnesty period is starting soon. The amnesty runs until 31 December 2023. Residents can dispose of their green waste for free at any of council's transfer stations until the end of the amnesty period.

The amnesty aims to encourage residents to prepare their properties for the fire season by removing potential fire hazards. To view the list of excluded plant species and find your closest transfer station, please go to Green Waste Amnesty Period page.

Great Victorian bike ride

The Bicycle Network's Great Victorian Bike Ride is coming to South Gippsland this December. This year, riders will be setting up camp in Fish Creek on Saturday 2 December. With approximately 2,000 riders participating in the event and support from 500 staff and volunteers, the Great Vic is a great opportunity to showcase our region's warm hospitality through organised events and activities.

To find out more about this exciting event coming to our region, please visit GVBR page.

VicEmergency Gippsland

Stay alert and aware of emergency-related information by following the VicEmergency Gippsland Facebook page. The VicEmergency Gippsland Facebook page aims to deliver targeted and localised information to the community, to help residents to prepare before, during, and after an emergency.

You can follow the Facebook page at VicEmergency Gippsland.

Things to know

Street light power outage in Nyora and Loch

Street lights in Nyora and Loch will be off between:

• 4.00am and 5.00am
• 10.00pm and 11.00pm
• Tuesday 21 November

This is due to an AusNet outage. Works may take longer or may be rescheduled due to weather or other unforeseen issues. For more information, please contact AusNet.

Temporary street light outage in Nyora and Loch on November 21, 4-5am & 10-11pm, due to AusNet maintenance

Great Southern Rail Trail: Koonwarra Underpass Work

The Great Southern Rail Trail will be closed on weekdays from Monday 13 to Friday 24 November, between Koonwarra and Meeniyan. A shuttle bus will be used to transport rail trail users between Koonwarra and Meeniyan. Timetables for the shuttle bus will be available at the pickup location in both towns.

Traffic controllers will be supervising the work site around the underpass to stop any unsuspecting pedestrians. The Shuttle Service will commence at 7.00am and end at 5.00pm. To keep up to date with the rail trail, follow the Great Southern Rail Trail on Facebook.

Things to do

Fishy Stories Festival

The two-day festival in Fish Creek is where families both local and visiting will converge in Fish Creek for a weekend of free workshops by authors and illustrators, ticketed children's performances and events including all day storytelling and story making.

Fishy Stories is on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November. For more information, please visit Fishy Stories page.

Royal Flying Doctor Celebration at Foster

You are invited to celebrate the expansion of the Flying Royal Doctor Community Transport across Victoria and recognise the incredible volunteers and local support that have enabled this growth.

Enjoy some morning tea and hear about the incredible impact that this service has on the health and wellbeing of individuals and the community. Here are the details:

• Location: Manna Gum Community House (33 Station Street, Foster)
• Date: Saturday 18 November 2023
• Time: 10.00am to 11.30am

For more information and to RSVP, please email: Royal Flying Doctor Celebration { Feel free to email us info@wkevents.co }

Funding opportunities

Get Active Kids Voucher Program

Round seven of the Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now open! Eligible families can apply for a $200 voucher and use them at their registered Get Active Kids Voucher Activity Provider without having to worry about upfront costs. These vouchers can help pay for sporting equipment, uniforms and even memberships for a range of activities like cricket and dance.

The program is open to children aged between 0 and 18 years. Get in quick as applications close when the voucher allocation has been exhausted. For more information and to apply, please visit Get Active Kid Voucher Program page.

Local history grants program

The Local History Grants Program (LHGP) encourages and fosters community activities that preserve, record and share the local, social and community history of Victoria and Victorians. The Program provides grants of up to $15,000 and supports the efforts of the many community groups and organisations that collect and preserve materials and memories from Victoria's past.

It aims to encourage collaboration and partnerships between volunteer groups to undertake projects, as well as to develop skills and resources to support community collections, while increasing the opportunities for the public to engage with the past. The Program is administered by Public Record Office Victoria on behalf of the State Government of Victoria. Applications close midnight Monday 11 December 2023. For more information and to apply, please visit Local History Grants Program page.

Feedback opportunities

Weed management workshop

South Gippsland Landcare Network invites you to learn from prominent soil scientist Declan McDonald on how to improve soil management to reduce weed infestation such as Ragwort and achieve a variety of other on-farm benefits. Representatives from Council and Agriculture Victoria will also be in attendance giving you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have on weeds in your patch. Here are the details:

• When - Saturday 25 November
• Where - Hallston Hall
• 2650 Grand Ridge Road, Hallston
• Time - 10.00 - 12.30pm (Registration and sign in opens at 9.45am)
• What to bring - Notepad and pen

For planning and catering purposed, please register your attendance at Weed Management Workshop. For more information, jane@sgln.net.au or call 0419 761 531.

Join South Gippsland Landcare to learn soil management tips from scientist Declan McDonald, plus Q&A with council and Ag Vic on 25 November 2023

Small business bus

The Small Business Bus is coming to Korumburra. The Small Business Bus travels to locations across Victoria providing advice and support for small businesses in metro and regional areas. The Bus will be coming to Korumburra, and parking in the car park adjacent to Kelly's Bakery. It will be there from 10.00am to 4.00pm for appointments and walk-ins.

Joining the Small Business Bus will be Stacey from the EPA during the morning and then heading to Council Offices in Leongatha for the afternoon. She will be available to answer questions or help you learn more about the EPA. To learn more about the Small Business Bus and book an appointment, please visit Small Business Bus page.

Victoria's transmission to renewable energy

As part of Victoria's transition to renewable energy, VicGrid is coordinating new transmission for offshore wind in Gippsland. For information and an opportunity to provide your feedback on the Offshore Wind Transmission In Gippsland and Portland, the department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action will be attending some local markets, and some pop-ups in South Gippsland

Gippsland migration strategy feedback

The Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC) at Federation University is working in partnership with the Gippsland Regional Partnership (GRP) to implement a project entitled "Development of a network to support Gippsland's migration strategy".

The engagement part of this project is calling upon people with experiences and/or perspectives for migrants from non-English speaking countries. If you would like to share your insights and experiences with this project, please visit Gippsland's Migration Strategy page.

Other updates

Garage Sale Trail - The Garage Sale Trail is on again this weekend. Find Garage Sales in South Gippsland at Garage Sale Trail page.

Snap Send Solve - Spotted a dangerous pothole? Or maybe some broken playground equipment? Get it fixed quickly and easily using Snap Send Solve. It's free! Download an app to your phone or report it below.

Council meeting date - Next week a special Council Meeting will be held to elect our next Mayor and Deputy Mayor. This will be held on Wednesday 22 November at 2.00pm. To find out about future Council meetings, head to Council Meeting Dates page.

Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Danny O'Brien urges Gippsland Sporting Clubs to register for Get Active Kids Voucher Program reopening on October
  Danny O'Brien urges Gippsland sporting clubs to register for the Get Active Kids Voucher Program, supporting families with up to $200 per child for sports fees, uniforms, and equipment.
• Danny O'Brien warns Bayside Health merger threatens Gippsland communities, confirming hidden health service consolidation
  Danny O'Brien criticises Labor's Bayside Health merger, warning it will reduce local hospital autonomy, limit community input, and risk services for Gippsland residents, prioritising bureaucratic cost-saving over patient care.
• Labor government slammed as Gippsland crime soars, Danny O'Brien warns communities are failed by weak laws
  Danny O'Brien says Gippsland crime is surging under Labor, with major increases across all councils. He warns weakened laws, police shortages, and neglect leave communities unsafe, demanding stronger action and real consequences.
• From Job expos to farms and sports awards connecting communities across East Gippsland through events and advocacy
  From jobs expos to farm visits, sports awards, and community projects, recent weeks highlighted East Gippsland's talent, resilience, and collaboration, advocacy, and opportunities that strengthen local communities.
• Cowes Foreshore Precinct Project begins, for safer, more accessible visitor experience from $9.6M shared investment
  Work has begun on the $9.6 million Cowes Foreshore Precinct Project, delivering staged upgrades to create a safer, more accessible, pedestrian-friendly destination while supporting businesses and preserving Cowes' vibrant visitor appeal.
• Melina Bath urges action on Gippsland youth crime with tougher penalties, stronger policing, and restored diversion funding
  Melina Bath has demanded urgent action on Gippsland's escalating youth crime, calling for tougher penalties, stronger police presence, and restored diversion program funding to protect communities and restore safety.
• Bass Coast celebrates Victorian Seniors Festival this October with events, workshops, performances and community connection
  The Victorian Seniors Festival returns to Bass Coast this October with the theme Connect, Create, Celebrate, offering workshops, performances, games, tours, and free transport for Seniors Card holders.
• Latrobe City Council endorsed applications for the 2026/2027 Black Spot Program, targeting high-risk crash sites across the shire
  Latrobe City Council has applied for the 2026/2027 Black Spot Program, proposing safety upgrades at Traralgon, Morwell, and Newborough crash sites. Successful projects will involve community consultation during the design phase.
• Victorian Health Department sets Gippsland priorities, access, workforce, safety, shared services, and mental health expansion
  The Victorian Department of Health has set four Gippsland health priorities: access, workforce, safety, and shared services, while highlighting mental health needs and significant workforce investment at Warragul's regional health leaders' forum.
• Danny O'Brien urges Labor government to fund new Port Welshpool Coast Guard vessel for community safety
  Danny O'Brien urges the Allan Labor government to urgently fund a new $2 million vessel for Port Welshpool Coastguard, ensuring volunteers can safely cover Corner Inlet, Wilsons Promontory, and protect locals.
• Latrobe City Council endorses submissions on Hazelwood and Yallourn declared mine rehabilitation plans
  Latrobe City Council has endorsed submissions on Hazelwood and Yallourn mine rehabilitation plans, promoting sustainable restoration, strong coordination, environmental accountability, community benefits, and long-term regional resilience.
• Darren Chester welcomes Buchan Recreation Reserve redevelopment with pavilion, changerooms, community hub
  Darren Chester welcomed progress on the Buchan Recreation Reserve redevelopment, delivering a new pavilion and modern changerooms, with government funding and volunteers supporting a safer, more vibrant hub for sport and community activities.
• Darren Chester met Tom Harms in Canberra, praising his WorldSkills selection as testament to talent and community support
  Maffra apprentice Tom Harms will represent Australia in Electrical Installations at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, after excelling through national trials. Darren Chester praised his achievement as Gippsland talent showcased globally.
• Danny O'Brien announces finalised Loch Sport groyne designs, Gippsland Ports to seek tenders before Christmas
  Erosion works on Loch Sport foreshore will begin next year, with designs finalised for new groynes. Danny O'Brien praised the community's persistence and vowed to push for further coastal protection.
• Lightfoot Wines combines tradition, creativity, and Gippsland flavours with award-winning wines, regional platters, and scenic views
  Perched on a limestone bluff above the Mitchell River, Lightfoot Wines blends tradition and innovation, offering tastings, regional platters, and acclaimed wines, cementing its role in Gippsland's food and drink scene.
• Two weeks left to join Darren Chester's 2026 #lovegippsland Calendar Competition celebrating iconic Gippsland
  Two weeks remain to enter Darren Chester's 2026 #lovegippsland calendar competition, celebrating Gippsland's landscapes and talent. Entries close October 3, with winners featured among 30,000 distributed calendars showcasing 'Iconic Gippsland'.
• Tim Bull slammed labor for $13M machete amnesty waste, penalising Gippslanders while failing to target urban crime effectively
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull criticized Labor's $13 million machete amnesty, calling it wasteful, ineffective, and unfairly punishing rural Victorians while targeting areas with no machete problem.
• Tim Bull urges state government to fund Surf Life Saving, preventing East Gippsland ratepayers covering government shortfalls
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull urges state government to fund Surf Life Saving Victoria, warning councils face doubled contributions while new Emergency Services levy strains East Gippsland and Wellington budgets.
• Melina Bath slams Agriculture Minister Ros Spence for ignoring Gippsland farmers' struggles under Labor's tax regime
  Melina Bath criticised Agriculture Minister Ros Spence for refusing to advocate for Gippsland farmers, citing VFF survey results showing overwhelming concern over new taxes and Labor's disregard for regional agriculture.
• Join Omeo's visitor economy through tourism mapping and justice precinct masterplan vision sessions on 14 September 2025
  Omeo visitor economy's future will be shaped through community sessions presenting the Tourism Ecosystem Mapping Report and Draft Justice Precinct Masterplan, highlighting heritage, recreation, and opportunities to attract investment.
• Danny O'Brien warns Labor is risking beachgoers safety by forcing councils, ratepayers to cover LSV funding shortfalls
  Danny O'Brien warns the Allan Labor government is forcing Gippsland councils and ratepayers to cover Life Saving Victoria shortfalls, risking reduced lifeguard patrols despite billions in new emergency services taxes.
• Danny O'Brien slams Labor's repeated 'Better Roads Blitz' claims as Gippsland roads continue crumbling
  Nationals MP Danny O'Brien has slammed Labor's latest "Better Roads Blitz," saying Gippsland roads remain neglected, unsafe, and underfunded, with locals enduring potholes, hazards, and long-term speed reductions instead of real maintenance.
• Darren Chester welcomes nearing completion of $2.2M Ensay Recreation Reserve redevelopment project
  Darren Chester welcomed nearing completion of the $2.2 million Ensay Recreation Reserve redevelopment, praising community volunteers. The project delivers modern facilities, boosting sport, tourism, resilience, and connections.