Welcome to Mitchell Shire eNews

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Plenty of opportunities for you to get involved and have your say

Thank you for being part of our Community Voice Panel. We have a number of consultation opportunities available at the moment that we wanted to share.

In this edition: Wallan Town Heart Revitalisation | Draft Seymour Structure Plan and Whiteheads Creek Flood maps | How community input has helped shape our latest playgrounds | Join the Environment Advisory Committee | Get involved in Australia Day 2018 | Changes we've made to Question Time and our Hearings Committee.

WALLAN TOWN HEART SPRINGS TO LIFE

The heart of Wallan will soon be revitalised, but before work begins, we want to hear your thoughts on what’s planned.

The $4.09 million Wallan Town Heart project will transform the centre of Wallan into a more connected and vibrant community hub with a new outdoor plaza, pedestrian crossing and event space.

It is hoped the project will reinvigorate the precinct by developing better connections between the existing shops and Hadfield Park, making it safer for cars and pedestrians, improving roads and car parking, and beautifying the area to make it a more inviting place to visit.

This exciting project is funded by Mitchell Shire Council ($400,000), Regional Development Victoria ($1.5 million) and the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund ($2.19 million).

COMMUNITY WORKSHOP

A community workshop is scheduled for Thursday 21 September, so come along and view the plans and take part in our interactive workshop to share your ideas and help finalise the plans before construction begins.


	VIEW THE PLANS

Draft Seymour Structure Plan drop in sessions on now

DRAFT SEYMOUR STRUCTURE PLAN READY FOR INPUT

Final drop-in session today 2-8pm

Seymour has the potential to develop into a major employment centre over the next 30 years.

Based on previous community input, we've developed a draft Seymour Structure Plan and we need your input.

The draft plan outlines the type of land use planning and changes required over the next 10-20 years to support and encourage growth and development. The plan will also help Council advocate for funding and partnerships to develop and deliver key projects in the short and long term.

The draft plan includes locations of key community facilities, mobility plans, town centre improvements, building design guidelines, open space enhancements, economic growth, business and tourism development, and protection and enhancement of key landscape and heritage assets.

The last drop in session will be held on Thursday 7 September (today) from 2pm to 8pm (drop-in any time) at Chittick Park Community Place.

Submissions close on Monday 11 September.


	VIEW THE PLAN OR MAKE A SUBMISSION ONLINE

WHITEHEADS CREEK FLOOD MAPS OUT NOW

Help us to improve and finalise the Whiteheads Creek flood maps

In collaboration with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA), Mitchell Shire Council is currently undertaking a flood study of Whiteheads Creek and its tributaries around the Seymour township.

What is the aim of the study?

The study is aimed at gaining a stronger understanding of the flooding characteristics of Whiteheads Creek, to help with Emergency Management Planning throughout the Whiteheads Creek catchment, and to assist in future planning and development decisions necessary for Seymour's growth.

What are the next steps?

Council has run two drop-in sessions, with a third session today, to provide an update on the current draft flood mapping work.

We welcome your input on these maps, as well as any historic flood information you can provide, as this will be invaluable as we work to verify, improve and finalise the study.

How can you get involved?

Details on the drop in session, and draft maps can be found by clicking below.


	MORE INFORMATION

Mitchell Shire Environment Advisory Committee

Are you interested in Mitchell’s natural environment? Do you think sustainability and environmental management are high priorities? If so, joining the Mitchell Environment Advisory Committee could be the perfect role for you.

We're looking for people with expertise who can provide advice on managing and enhancing our environment as well as minimising the impacts of development, waste, natural disasters and climate change.

If you'd like to get involved, head over to the Engaging Mitchell website to find out more or place an Expression of Interest.

BROADFORD PARKS MAKEOVER UNDERWAY

A new local playground at Broadford's Govett Street Reserve is now open. The playground designs were finalised based on community input.

We've also received a great response to our recent survey from people who use Sutherland Reserve in Broadford. They used a budget allocator tool on our Engaging Mitchell website to help choose what equipment they'd like to see built at the playground.

We'd like to send out a big thank you to all those who contributed to these projects.


	FIND A LOCAL PARK NEAR YOU

Mitchell's newest citizens at the 2017 Australia Day ceremony in Pyalong

Help uncover our unsung heroes this Australia Day

Are you passionate about highlighting the fantastic contributions made by our community? Are you interested in hosting Mitchell's Australia Day Awards and citizenship ceremony?

We're looking for people to join our Australia Day Awards Committee and for communities who are interested in hosting our Australia Day awards and citizenship ceremony in 2018.

Each Australia Day we present four awards for the Citizen, Young Citizen and Community Event of the Year, as well as an Access and Inclusion Champion.

To find out how you can nominate for the Australia Day Awards Committee or to host the annual Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony, head to the Engaging Mitchell website.

ON THE AIRWAVES

Keep up to date with our monthly community radio shows

We take to the airwaves once a month to bring you the latest news and information on Seymour's 103.9FM and Kilmore and Wallan's OKR FM.

Our next shows

Seymour: 10-11am, Thursday 21 September, 103.9FM

Kilmore: 10-11am, Monday 25 September, 98.3FM in Kilmore or 97.1FM in Wallan.

The shows are a great way to stay up to date with the latest developments, and provide a unique opportunity to hear from your Councillors and Council staff.

If you've got something you'd like us to cover in our next show please send us an email using the button below.


	MAKE A SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT SHOW

NEW QUESTION TIME

New name for Hearings Committee to encourage more public questions

Did you know there is a dedicated monthly forum where you can pose a question to Council?

Each month, we run a Hearings Committee for people to ask questions of Council and to hear from people who may be affected by an item coming up for consideration at a future Council meeting.

In a bid to increase community awareness of the meeting, we've renamed our Hearings Committee to Community Questions and Hearings Committee.

You can submit a question online (or in hard copy). Questions need to be received by 11am on the day of the meeting.

Our next Community Questions and Hearings Committee meeting is on Monday 11 September at 7pm at the Broadford Civic Centre. All welcome.


	SUBMIT A QUESTION

Mitchell Shire Council, 113 High Street Broadford, Vic 3658
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