No images? Click here Friday 3 April 2020An update on Council's continued response to the COVID-19 virusVale David TurnbullIt is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news that Mitchell Shire Council CEO David Turnbull has passed away following a battle with cancer. Mr Turnbull joined Mitchell Shire Council as CEO in May 2016 and laid the foundations for a financially viable and professional organisation that is responsible and oversees the State’s fastest growing Local Government area. His professional life was dedicated to helping and assisting communities. Community values and interaction were at the forefront of his life in Local Government. Mr Turnbull served nine years as CEO at City of Whittlesea and 12 years as Director Planning and Development. He spent more than 40 years in Local Government. He will be remembered for his commitment to social justice, ensuring those most disadvantaged in communities were taken care of, a desire for quality services, strong community engagement, advocacy, innovation, strong financial management and, most of all, planning. He always said the phrase ‘failure to plan… is a plan to fail.' It summed up why he was so passionate about good planning in new communities. “You only get one chance - do it properly." His great love was his family and he leaves behind his wife Suzane, four children Tess, Tom, Alice and Angus, and son in law James. He was a wonderful leader who had so much pride in our people and organisation. He loved Mitchell Shire, and he had a significant impact on many staff both professionally and personally. His passing will have an impact on many. David was a great human being; he had all the qualities we aspire to. Helping our community respond to COVID-19As you are aware, COVID-19 continues to impact our community. As a Council, we have been flexible and adaptable in our approach to the pandemic. We continue to work for our community to manage the impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives. As a community, we must take action together. We implore you to follow all of the medical advice around Coronavirus and please stay home unless you need to leave for essential food, medical care or caregiving, daily exercise or work if you can’t work from home. Please follow physical distancing rules, as advised by both the State and Federal Governments. We have been working hard to assist and support our community and to keep as many of our services open as possible. While our doors may be closed, we are here for our community. There are many things you can do online at www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/COVID-19 or you can call on 5734 6200 and we will make every effort to assist where possible. Please take the time to read over the latest service changes and Council’s role in supporting our community. We are all in this together and we need to work as one to get through this crisis and save lives. Council updates and service changesSupporting vulnerable people Council has forged strong partnership with lead agencies in supporting community, especially our most vulnerable people. Right now, we are working with a number of these agencies to support the community. The details are as follows; · Red Cross, Victoria’s appointed relief agency, and Australia Post are coordinating support packages to people who are isolated and can’t leave home as well as to people who are facing hardship and need urgent food or support. Council is in discussions to enhance a local response and will provide support to establish this service in the area. · Love in Action is operating out of the Broadford Living and Learning Centre and is supporting a number of families Shire wide. The centre is a registered foodbank and we are working with Love in Action to increase support for up to 60 vulnerable families and people through the centre. Staff may be redeployed to undertake home deliveries, if needed. · Council will continue to meet with our local health and community services to establish a triage service through our Customer Service team. We will link people with the appropriate local service depending on their circumstances. As an example, we are working with Nexus Primary Health to support older individuals. For more information, contact us on 5734 6200. · People on the Mitchell Shire Vulnerable Persons Register will be contacted by their registered service provider. We are working closely with these providers to offer advice and support, as required. · We will contact 7000 library members and touch base to help break isolation and identify any unmet urgent needs. We will work with any vulnerable people to triage them to a support service either at a Federal, State or local level. The library has also commenced delivering library books which has been extremely popular with isolated people. · Our Leisure team are livestreaming fitness classes, which have been also well received. · Our Children’s Services program area is working on the possibility of providing remote education upon the commencement of term two which will include an individualised response to vulnerable families and those at risk of family violence. If you are unable to leave home, need to be approved for access to a supermarket priority online ordering form or need emergency relief (or if you know someone who needs help), please contact the Victorian Government Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit the website www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus Hardship support for our community We understand our community wants to know about rates and payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are advocating to State and Federal governments for support in recognition of our community’s ability to pay and the essential services Local Government provides during a crisis like this. We need our State and Federal counterparts to consider the impact of rates on communities and to provide the community and Council with relief support. We know there is a lot for the State and Federal Governments to consider as they respond to this unfolding situation. Our fourth instalment rates notices will be sent out in the next few weeks. We encourage those people who can pay to continue to do so. This will help us continue to provide support and services across the community. We are aware that the ability for some people and businesses to pay has been significantly diminished because of the impacts of COVID-19. Be assured we will work closely with our community and businesses to assist with support and options during the rating period. This means we will look at hardship provisions including deferment of fourth instalment rates payments from 31 May to 30 June in the first instance. Further arrangements can be discussed based on individual circumstances if needed. We also have options around payment plans. We won’t add interest charges for overdue accounts until 30 June 2020. We are here to assist. It is important for people to call us if they are unable to pay rates due to this crisis. We will work with them to get through this difficult period. Please don’t be too proud to ask for help. We are happy to help, but we can only do that if people contact us. We understand that people are also mindful of receiving letters via mail at this time and that there are delays in mail delivery. We are encouraging people to register to receive electronic rates notices (we can always change this back later if you decide you prefer hard copy mail). Making the switch is easy. Sign up online at mitchellshire@enotices.com.au and use the reference number that was shown on your most recent rates notice. Please call us on 5734 6200 during business hours or email mitchell@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au if you require a copy of your notice, need assistance in registering or to discuss your current circumstances. State and Federal supportWe have approached the State and Federal Governments, including our Local Members of Parliament, to increase Federal Assistance Grants and explore other options to allow councils to provide targeted relief for residents and businesses. We are pleased we are being heard and that there is consideration of what support the sector needs so we can best help our community and our businesses through this. We understand that a government support package will take time. As a key service provider, we will continue to strongly advocate for the needs of our shire and the sector. Council Budget: We are seeking advice from the State Government on our budget process. By law we have had to advertise our draft budget for input, but it will change significantly because of the COVID-19 impacts. We would still encourage you to participate in the consultation that is underway. We have already started our formal process for submissions, and we have a legislated timeline of 30 June to adopt the budget. You can find more at www.engagingmitchellshire.com Business supportLocal knowledge and assistance: We have been seeking advice and support through our Chambers of Commerce, business sector and local business strategists to understand the immediate impacts of the pandemic and to start the recovery process to support business. Economic Working Group (COVID-19): We will establish a coordinated response committee with local business representatives including Mitchell Business Network, local chambers and other stakeholders. This will ensure business voices are being heard. Service work: The Economic Development team is continuing its services and work, including offering businesses a Planning Concierge and Investment Facilitation service. We are continuing with preparatory work to support the Kilmore Rejuvenation for Sydney Street which is funded through the Growing Suburbs Fund. We will work behind the scenes and be ready to assist when event operators can begin safely holding events and will be ready to promote the Shire as a visitor destination as soon as visitors are able to return. We are also revisiting our business training and development programs to be ready to activate them as a key part of our recovery support. Stimulus: We are also exploring opportunities to stimulate the local economy by bringing forward projects to create work for local business and tradespeople. AdvocacyOur advocacy team continues to advocate for key projects to be funded to help move our organisation into the recovery phase including the following focus areas: · Improved mental health services is key for our community, in particular the youth mental health hub in Wallan. · Key infrastructure projects, which will provide employment for our region. These include the completion of the diamond interchange at Watson Street, Wallan, Kilmore Bypass, Camerons Lane, Gunns Gully Road and Wallan Electrification. · Vital health services with improved and increased funding to support residents gaining access to locally based health and community care. · Funding for key community infrastructure and advocating to government to invest in our community. ServicesCentrelink Terminal The Centrelink terminal which operates at the Kilmore Customer and Library Service Centre is still available for public use from 9am to 5pm weekdays although the centre has closed. Our staff are there to welcome community. The terminal in Wallan is now closed. Local Laws We are continuing to operate all functions with some precautionary measures in place to minimise face to face contact. This includes our animal management service for lost and found animals and livestock. Animal management Animal registration renewal payments have been extended to 10 May. This gives owners another month to register their animals. Meanwhile, animal management services are still available to our community. However, there are some restrictions and physical distancing measures in place. Officers are currently available for livestock on roads cases, cat and dog collection and urgent enquiries. Environmental Health All our Environmental Health services continue to ensure the health and safety of our community. We have made a number of other service changes at Mitchell Shire Council. For a full list of all service changes, please visit mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/COVID-19 We are providing regular updates in local newspapers, through our community radio stations, on our Facebook page, on our website and through our enewsletter as well as providing information directly to businesses. Sign up at www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/enews If you have any questions about Council’s services please visit www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/COVID-19 or call 5734 6200. Please take care in these times and know your Council is working for you. Cr David Lowe Mayor, Mitchell Shire Council Mary Agostino Acting CEO, Mitchell Shire Council |