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South Gippsland Shire Council delegation attended Australian Local Government Association in Canberra and more updates

South Gippsland Shire delegation attended ALGA's Canberra Assembly. Council's motions on renewable energy and telecommunications gained unanimous support, alongside discussions with senior officials on regional priorities.

By news@gippsland - 4th July 2024 - Back to News

This week, our Mayor Cr Williams, Deputy Mayor Cr Hersey, Cr Sarah Gilligan and Chief Executive Officer Kerryn Ellis spent four days in Canberra attending the Australian Local Government Association's National General Assembly. South Gippsland Shire Council put up two motions to the Assembly, both of which received unanimous endorsement. One of those motions was regarding securing policy and financial support for communities directly impacted by renewable energy targets, and the other was about reclassifying telecommunications to an essential service.

Mayor Cr Williams, Deputy Mayor Cr Hersey, Cr Sarah Gilligan, and CEO Kerryn Ellis attended ALGA's National General Assembly in Canberra for four days

Canberra visit

While in Canberra they also took the opportunity to meet with the following Australian Government representatives to discuss matters of interest and benefit to our region:

Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister the Hon. Anthony Albanese
Advisor to the Hon. Kristy McBain MP - Minster for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
Brendan Moon - Coordinator General of the National Emergency Management Agency
The Hon. Catherine King MP - Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

In these meetings they raised a number of matters such as the need for:

Funding and policy support to ensure the developing offshore wind industry provides benefits for our community and businesses, and that infrastructure is provided at the cost of the offshore wind proponents, not Council
Urgent funding and support for the Mirboo North and other communities impacted by the February storm event
Coordinated national action to address the impacts of climate change on our coastal communities
Improved and more resilient telecommunications, particularly in emergency situations

This trip was a great opportunity to share our communities needs and advocate for South Gippsland.

Local Government Elections 2024

Local Government Elections for 2024 are fast approaching. To help prepare our community for the upcoming election period we have put together a webpage to ensure you're well informed about how to enrol, vote and even become a candidate. You can also find a list of key dates to mark in your calendar in the lead up to voting day.

If you are thinking of running for Council, we have collated a number of information sessions so you can pick the time and place that suits you the most. For more information, visit South Gippsland Shire Local Council Elections website.

Combating misinformation

Local elections are a terrific opportunity for people to help shape the future direction of their own community, but they can also attract people who either unintentionally - or intentionally - spread false or inaccurate information. As such, it's important to think carefully about all electoral information you see this election and be on the lookout for misinformation and disinformation:

Misinformation is when information is spread that is believed to be true by those who are sharing it, but which is actually incorrect. Disinformation is when information is designed to deliberately mislead and influence public opinion or obscure the truth for malicious or deceptive purposes.

Being cautious with campaign mail and digital links

In addition to being vigilant about misinformation and disinformation during the local election season, it's crucial to exercise discretion when receiving campaign materials via mail or email. Here are some tips:

QR Codes: If you receive campaign mail with QR codes, proceed with caution. While QR codes can provide convenient access to information, they can also lead to malicious websites or phishing attempts. Before scanning a QR code, consider the source and whether it's from a legitimate campaign or organisation
Email Links: Similarly, be wary of links in campaign emails. Cybercriminals often use email phishing to deceive recipients into clicking on harmful links. Verify the sender's authenticity, hover over links to see their destination, and avoid clicking if anything seems suspicious

Remember that your discretion matters. By staying informed and using critical thinking, you can help combat misinformation and protect yourself during the election period. For more information, visit Victorian Electoral Commission ( VEC ) website.

South Gippsland Shire Council's Community Safety team will visit homes for unpaid animal registration renewals due by April 10 annually

Pet registration renewals

South Gippsland Shire Council's Community Safety team will be knocking on doors to follow up unpaid animal registration renewals. Animal registration renewals are due by 10 April each year and get your pet back to you if they become lost. It also helps Council provide a range of services and programs to pet owners, which are in our Domestic Animal Management Plan 2022-2025.

We all forget things now-and-then, so if it simply slipped your mind to pay, you can do so by:

Calling our friendly Customer Service team on 5662 9200
Visiting Council's website and clicking on 'Pay' at the top of your screen

Seeing one of our Community Safety team members. They can take payment via EFTPOS or help you do it through the web portal.
An infringement with a value of $385.00 may be issued if you fail to renew your registration, however this is a last resort. If you are needing to renew your pets registration, please head to the South Gippsland Shire Pet Registration website.

Attend our Parmas evening to connect, share stories, and support our community after recent storm events, featuring motivational speaker Warren Davies

Parma for a South Gippsland Farmer

Join us for an evening of Parmas and an opportunity to connect, share stories, and stand together after the storm events that took place earlier this year. Warren Davies, from the Unbreakable Farmer, will be in attendance to share his insights and have a chat with our local farmers. His motivational talks aim to empower farmers helping them navigate challenges and thrive in their livelihoods.

The night is a great opportunity to connect with fellow community members, local businesses and organisations who are dedicated to supporting our farming community. This is a FREE event. Seats are limited, so bookings are essential. Please register your attendance at Parma for a Farmer South Gippsland page.

Hard waste collection

Bookings for the annual hard waste collection service are now open. This provides residents with a convenient way to dispose of hard rubbish, particularly if they are unable to attend a transfer station themselves. All residents are eligible to receive one collection at a fee of $157 per property. A reduced rate of $56 applies for pension card holders. Bookings close in August.

Residents can now book for the annual hard waste collection, offering a convenient disposal option for hard rubbish at $157 per property

Community engagement

Draft Waste and Resource Recovery Plan

As our region continues to grow and evolve, the effective management of waste becomes increasingly critical in order to preserve our environment and quality of life. Therefore, it is important Council plans the provision of waste services not just for the present but also for the foreseeable future.

Council has developed a Draft Plan to not only respond to environmental concerns but also to changing regulatory frameworks and community expectations. Feedback on the Draft Waste and Recovery Plan closes this Sunday 7 July. To read the Plan and provide your feedback, visit Waste and Resource Recovery Plan page.

As our region grows, waste management is crucial for preserving our environment and quality of life. Council's Draft Plan seeks community feedback by July 7

EOI: Exhibit at Coal Creek

Coal Creek Community Park and Museum is seeking Expressions of Interest from individuals or collectives to exhibit at the Park in 2024 and 2025. Coal Creek boasts two exhibition spaces: the Entry Gallery and the Auditorium. Both spaces are open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday during school terms and every day during the school holidays. Applications close on:

11.59pm Friday
2 August 2024

Find out more or submit your Expression of Interest, visit Expressions of Interest Sought for Exhibitions at Coal Creek website.

Coal Creek Community Park seeks exhibitors for 2024-2025 in its Entry Gallery and Auditorium. Applications close August 2, 2024, at 11:59 PM

Gippsland Odyssey Extension: Woolamai to Nyora

Bass Coast Shire Council has an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed Gippsland Odyssey Extension. The proposed extension will connect Woolamai to Nyora - a 25-kilometre link that will extend the trail to beyond 1,100 kilometres.

To find out more and provide your thoughts before 19 July, please visit the Gippsland Odyssey Extension - Woolamai to Nyora website.

NAIDOC Week event

South Gippsland Shire Council invites you to celebrate NAIDOC Week. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and to participate in celebrations of one of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

This event will commence with a smoking ceremony which will be followed by an art workshop lead by contemporary Aboriginal artist, Kobi Sainty - activity suitable for all ages.

Here are the details:

When: Thursday 11 July from 10.00am to 12.00pm
Where: Leongatha Dakers Centre (23 Smith St, Leongatha)

This is a FREE event. To keep count of attendees, please register at the 2024 NAIDOC Week page.

Community training

Ever wondered how community groups make their flyers and social media posts look so good? It's easy with Canva! Canva is a design platform that can help you to create eye-catching graphics, flyers, newsletters, videos, presentations, social media posts (plus much more) for your community group.

This session will walk you through the basics of using Canva and how not-for-profit groups and organisations can make the most of this online design tool. Here are the details:

Thursday 11 July
6.00pm to 8.00pm
Korumburra Hub, Little Commercial Street

South Gippsland community members, volunteers, community groups and non-profit organisations are encouraged to register for these exciting training opportunities. To register, visit South Gippsland Shire Community Training website.

Funding opportunities

Community grants

The first round of South Gippsland Shire Council's Community Grants are open now until Saturday 31 August. Grants can be used for both minor and major projects and equipment, planning and developing reports, as well as festivals and events. Community grants provide endless opportunities to level up your community group and enrich our broader community.

Don't miss out on the chance to secure invaluable funding for your not-for-profit organisation. For more information or to apply, visit the South Gippsland Shire Community Grants page.

The SRC program by the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal supports rural communities with grants up to $25,000 for resilience-building initiatives. Apply via the provided link

Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) - Prepare and Recover

The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal's SRC program supports remote, rural, and regional communities in Australia. These Programs aim to enhance resilience and support climate-resilient remote, rural, and regional Australia. They offer grants of up to $25,000 for community-led initiatives that strengthen local capacity and prepare for future disasters

For more information and to apply, please visit Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) website.