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Welcome to Mitchell Shire eNews, May 2019
 
In this edition
 
New town welcome signs have arrived, catch all the action from the Beveridge library opening, get the facts about rural rates, see how we acknowledged Reconcilation Week, plus don't forget to get your kindergarten enrolments in by Saturday.
 
 

Taungurung Elder, Uncle Larry with representatives from Mitchell Shire Council and the Local Aboriginal Network at the launch of a new guide to help our community learn more about Acknowledging Traditional Owners. 

 
 
RECONCILIATION WEEK

As part of Reconciliation Week this week, we're launching our first ever Acknowledging our Traditional Owners Resource Guide.

By having this guide, we're hoping to provide knowledge and information that will help residents learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community.

Mitchell Shire's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has grown by 62 per cent since 2011, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons now account for 1.59 per cent of Mitchell Shire's population.

GET THE GUIDE
 

Uncle Larry conducting a Welcome to Country Ceremony as part of Reconciliation Week. 

 
 
BEVERIDGE LIBRARY Open Mondays and Thursdays
 

Beveridge's new micro library has opened its doors at the Greater Beveridge Community Centre, and there's been no shortage of locals making the most of its services.

There's a great selection on offer - around 1200 resources in fact.

Residents can sign up as members and access the collection, or if there's something in particular you're after, you can order and collect items from the full library catalogue.

The micro library is open from 9am to 1pm on Mondays and Thursdays. These hours will be reviewed in July.

 
VIEW IMAGE GALLERY
 
 
KINDER IN 2020 Applications close Saturday 1 June
 

If you have a little one heading off to kindergarten next year, applications for first round offers for Mitchell Shire Council's 4-year-old kindergarten and 3-year-old program close on Saturday 1 June.

If you miss this deadline, late applications will be processed after round 1 offers have been made, however, places at your preferred kindergarten might be full so we urge everyone to get their applications in by the deadline.

With kindergartens in Beveridge, Broadford, Flowerdale, Kilmore, Pyalong, Seymour, Wallan and Wandong, you’re sure to find one near you.

 
REGISTER ONLINE
 
 
Volunteers wearing hats
CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS

As part of National Volunteer Week, Mitchell Shire Council last week celebrated the work of hundreds of volunteers across the municipality with special thank you evenings in Kilmore and Seymour.

Mitchell Shire Council also used the week to encourage groups who may be seeking volunteers and people who may be thinking about volunteering to visit the Volunteering Mitchell portal to add or view current opportunities.

The Community Directory on Mitchell Shire Council’s website also lists many active community groups and organisations.
 

VISIT THE VOLUNTEER PORTAL
 
Garden chemical bottles in a shed
 
DETOX YOUR HOME Safely dispose of chemicals
 

10am to 12pm, Saturday 15 June, Seymour

Start your spring clean a little earlier this year at the free Detox Your Home event.

This is your chance to clear your home of all those toxic household chemicals that you don't need anymore, so start having a look around your home to see what you can dispose of.

You can bring as much as you like, so long as each container is less than 20 litres or 20 kilograms. Decanting is not permitted, so be sure to bring chemicals in disposable containers.

The event will be held at Council's Seymour Works Depot, behind Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre (entry via Pollard Street).

 
WHAT CAN I BRING?
 
E-waste symbol and bin showing a laptop, mobile phone and printer. Take your e-waste to a better place.
 
E-WASTE CHANGES State wide changes from 1 July
 

To help protect the environment and recover more precious resources, the Victorian Government is banning all e-waste from going to landfill from 1 July 2019.

This means e-waste can’t go in any bin. The good news is that most e-waste can be taken to your local Resource Recovery Centre for free.

Resource Recovery Centres are located in Broadford, Pyalong, Seymour and Wallan. 

What is e-waste?

E-waste is any item with a plug, battery or power cord that is no longer working or wanted. It covers a whole range of items from phones and refrigerators to fluorescent light tubes.

 
FIND OUT HOW TO RECYCLE YOUR E-WASTE
 
 
YOUR FEEDBACK WANTED
Improved play spaces and parks for Kilmore and Wallan
 

We've received funding through the Victorian Government's Growing Suburbs Fund to activate Ryans Creek Reserve in Kilmore, add a new half basketball court to the Botanical Avenue park in Wallan and refresh the play space and park in Danaher Reserve in Wallan.

We need your feedback before we go ahead with more detailed plans.

 
Ryans Creek Reserve, Kilmore
 
Danaher Reserve and Botanical Avenue Reserve, Wallan
 
Engaging Mitchell
 
 
KILMORE DROP IN SESSION
 

Ryans Creek Reserve

4pm to 5pm, Monday 3 June. Meet at Ryans Creek Reserve (near the corner of the southern end of Pauline Way).

In the event of wet weather, please meet at the Kilmore Customer and Library Service Centre instead. 

 
 
WALLAN DROP IN SESSIONS
 

Botanical Avenue Reserve

4.30pm to 5.30pm, Tuesday 18 June. Meet at the reserve.

Danaher Reserve

4.30pm to 5.30pm, Wednesday 19 June. Meet at the reserve.

In the event of wet weather, please meet the Wallan Customer and Library Service Centre at Wellington Square.  

 
 
GET THE FACTS ON AGRICULTURAL RATES

There has been a bit of misinformation circulating about rural rates increasing by 13.55 per cent in Mitchell Shire. We’ve prepared some average figures based on preliminary valuation data from the Victorian Auditor General’s Office to help set the record straight.

GET THE FACTS
 
 

For large agricultural properties (more than 100 hectares), rates will actually decrease by 4.65 per cent, on average. For those on properties between 40-100 hectares, there will be an average rate increase of 1.6 per cent. Please note, these figures may change slightly as the valuations are still being confirmed across the state by the Victorian Auditor-General's Office. 

 
Infographic with average rate changes (same as text in article above)
 
Mitchell Shire Council, 113 High Street Broadford, Vic 3658
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