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Great Victorian Bike Ride in South Gippsland on 2 December 2023 and other council updates

South Gippsland Shire Council project updates.

By news@gippsland - 29th November 2023 - Back to News

The Great Victorian Bike Ride is riding through our region this weekend. There will be around 2,000 riders and 500 staff and volunteers camping at Fish Creek on Saturday 2 December. The day will be jam packed with activities and events scattered throughout the township of Fish Creek. It will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase our region's warm hospitality, as well as a chance to provide further support to our recently heartbroken Fish Creek community.

Riders gathering at Fish Creek: 2,000 participants, 500 support members, showcasing regional hospitality via organised events and activities

Please be mindful of cyclists on our roads and drive carefully when travelling along the Great Victorian Bike Ride route. For information about upcoming road closures and the riding route, please visit Great Victorian Bike Ride website.

16 Days of Activism

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. In South Gippsland, there are a number of events happening to help raise awareness of gender equity and family violence prevention:

Walk Against Family Violence
Wednesday 6 December 12.00pm
Meeting in front of Leongatha Memorial Hall

Photo pop-up with Artist PollyannaR: Thursday 7 December from 12.00pm to 3.00pm in the laneway next to Memorial Hall, Leongatha. Find all your orange clothes, bring your workmates, friends and family, and join us as we stand in solidarity with those who have been affected by domestic violence. For more information, please visit Walk Against Family Violence page.

Let's Chat Gippsland is a community campaign that began as part of the annual international United Nations (UN) 16 Days of Activism initiative that runs from the 25 November to 10 December each year

Have your say

Why not head on over to Your Say South Gippsland and get involved in any (or all) of our current engagement projects? Currently we have the following:

Mirboo North Kindergarten - pre-planning has begun on a potential Early Learning Centre in Mirboo North including a location and services that may be offered
Korumburra Railway Precinct Mural - a project to transform the laneway that leads to the Precinct is now taking public votes
Princes Street, Korumburra - help us understand what potential improvements can be made at the Korumburra school precinct so it is safer

To provide your feedback, please head to Have Your Say page.

Salvos team up with Santa's Little Helpers (Uniting Care) to spread Christmas joy to local households in need via donations

Get your gifts in!

Christmas is fast approaching and for some in our community, it can be a challenging time trying to find the money to give gifts or put food on the table. 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 everyone who can, to help bring a smile to someone's face this Christmas by placing unwrapped children's toys, books and clothes, as well as non-perishable food items under the Christmas tree at 9 Smith Street, Leongatha.

The Salvos will then work with Santa's Little Helpers (Uniting Care) to ensure local households in need receive some Christmas cheer. Donations will be accepted until 5.00pm Thursday 7 December.

Green waste amnesty period

Council's annual Green Waste Amnesty period 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.

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 VicEmergency Gippsland Facebook page.

BikeSpot is Aussies map biking safety perceptions. Publicly available data aims to enhance cycling safety for all individuals involved

BikeSpot

BikeSpot is a map that allows every Australian to say where they feel safe or unsafe while riding their bike. The data generated from the project will be made publicly available to help ensure BikeSpot insights have the biggest impact possible in making cycling safe for everyone. BikeSpot is only open for a limited time, so go to BikeSpot website and add your spot to the map.

Road closure

Please avoid travelling Boolarra - Foster Road, between Schmidts Road and Turton's Creek Road, from Monday 4 December. The Road will be closed for two weeks to facilitate lands slip repairs. We advise drivers to seek an alternative route when driving. Updates will be shared on South Gippsland Shire Council Facebook page when the road becomes operational.

Avoid Boolarra - Foster Road (Schmidts Rd - Turton's Creek Rd) from December 4. Closure for two weeks for landslip repairs. Seek alternatives

EV charging stations

South Gippsland Shire Council is installing six electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers across the municipality. These chargers offer public EV charging for visitors and locals alike, and will facilitate increased visitation to the region, by providing crucial charging opportunities for the rapidly-growing EV market. The locations are:

Leongatha: 9 Smith St, in the car park between council's Main Office and Woolworths
Korumburra: At the railway precinct car park, just off Bridge St
Foster: Just off Station Rd, in the car park behind the Uniting Church and shops
Mirboo North: Baromi Park car park, corner Ridgway and Baths Rd
Meeniyan: Tompkins Rd car park, behind the shops
Yanakie: On the road reserve, in front of public toilet / playground

The Leongatha and Yanakie chargers are currently operational, with the others to follow during December 2023. For more information, please visit EV Charging Station page.

Six new EV fast chargers installed for public and local use, boosting region's appeal for growing EV market

Carols at the creek

Carols at the Creek returns for another beautiful night of your favourite Christmas singalongs, with the Coal Creek Choir and South Gippsland Concert Band. The family friendly event will be a joyous evening of song and celebration. Bring your picnic rugs, camp chair and Christmas cheer for another year of Carols at the Creek. For more information and to book this FREE event, please visit Carols at the Creek website.

Council invites you to bring a picnic rug or a chair and sing along with the pop-up Coal Creek Choir and the South Gippsland Concert Band on 15 December 2023

Funding opportunities

Tiny Towns Fund

Have you checked out the Tiny Towns Fund yet? From hiking trails, splash parks, and community hall upgrades to gallery fit outs, communities can apply for funding to support a range of projects that will make locals even prouder to call their town home. Applications are open for the Victorian government's new fund, supporting projects for small communities with up to 5,000 people. To find out more and to apply, please visit Tiny Towns Fund website.

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 website.

Application closes on 11 December 2023, late submissions won't be considered. Please review the Application Guidelines beforehand

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.

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: