Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 8 June 2020

Published on 08 June 2020

Loddon Shire COVID-19 updates

In order to keep moving the state towards the easing of restrictions yet still limit the spread of the virus, the government has announced that the State of Emergency will be extended until 21 June.

This will ensure that measures remain in place to enforce physical distancing relating to businesses, working from home, mass gatherings and recreational activities. It has been stressed that those who are able to work from home must continue to do so. By limiting the number of people moving around, it helps protect those who do have to go to work.

In other updates, Parks Victoria has opened most parks, with some limitations. This includes some campgrounds and caravan parks. For details, check with Parks Victoria: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/safety-in-nature/covid-19-update.

In addition, many tourism businesses and attractions are resuming operation. In order to protect staff and visitors, the Tourism Industry has released guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions which focus on cleaning, maintaining distances and adapting business practices to ensure everyone’s safety.

Full details may be found on the website: https://www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-planning/coronavirus-covid-19/tourism-industry-guidelines-for-coronavirus-covid-19.

Business Adaptation Program

Financial support is available for eligible food production businesses and farms in Victoria to adapt their workplace and supply chain as a result of changes imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Individual grants of between $10,000 and $300,000 will be provided to support businesses meet the cost of adapting to provide health, safety, and physical distancing requirements in order to keep critical food supply businesses going.

Grants are aimed at covering 50 per cent of the adaptation process and may include purchase of machinery or appliances in order to maintain operations. To find out more, visit http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/emergencies/coronavirus/agriculture-workforce-plan.

Agriculture Workforce Plan

The second part of the government’s plan to ensure the agriculture sector has what it needs to continue operating, is the Agriculture Workforce Plan. This plan supports workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic to find paid work.

The plan aims to match workers with employers in the agriculture sector, providing practical backing for the state’s food industries. Support will also be provided for relocation, accommodation and training, if required.

For details and eligibility visit http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/emergencies/coronavirus/agriculture-workforce-plan.

Cooperative conversations

One way for farmers and producers to be more resilient and profitable is work together collaboratively. To help them achieve this, the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) has developed inspiring content to help educate and inform the agricultural sector about collaborations.

A 10-part livestream/on-demand series has been created which showcases farming cooperatives and their stories. Respected agricultural journalist Pete Lewis will talk candidly with primary producers who have set up or run successful businesses. A roundtable will follow with farmers, business leaders, researchers or professionals discussing the benefits of cooperative farming and talking about some of the biggest issues facing Australian primary producers.

The first issue airs on 17 June at 6.30pm and looks at the topic ‘Could cooperative farming future proof Australian farmers?’ For more details or to register, visit the website https://conversations.coopfarming.coop/.

Serrated tussock

Now is the time to check your property for the noxious weed, serrated tussock. Recent rains have been good for the growth of the weed.

Serrated tussock can germinate any time but particularly in autumn and winter and after good rain. Newly germinated seedlings appear bright green and stand out from other grasses in a pasture.

A mature plant can produce thousands of seeds in a season that could blow up to twenty kilometres from the parent plant. Information on how to identify and control serrated tussock may be found at http://www.serratedtussock.com/.

Agroforesty – have your say

Scientists from the University of Tasmania are working on a project that aims to understand how farmers make decision about planting trees on their farms. They hope to find out about decisions affecting erosion control, shelter, cost and farm restoration and how they might influence decision-making.

Take part in the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TJRNNDY and be eligible to win a Bunnings voucher.

Boost for Boort Agriculture and Pastoral Society

It was good news for Boort with the recent announcement that the Agriculture and Pastoral Society had successfully gained $10,000 for the installation of sheep yards at the Boort Showgrounds.

The 2019-20 Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program are aimed at helping agricultural societies from across Victoria encourage greater local involvement in show activities and provide direct benefit to agricultural communities.

Silence is deadly

With the onset of winter, the CFA is once again reminding us that smoke detectors save lives, but only when they are working.

New statistics have revealed that many Victorians still do not have a working smoke alarm in their home. A properly placed, working smoke alarm will give you a vital early warning that could save your life, in the event of a fire.

The CFA urges all of us to make sure that smoke alarms in our homes are tested and the batteries or entire unit is replaced if necessary.

Deadline extended for pool and spa owners

The deadline for mandatory registration of private pools and spas has been extended due to the impact of coronavirus.

Private pool and spa owners now have until 1 November 2020 to register their pools with Council – an extension from the original deadline of 1 June 2020. The new deadline is an acknowledgement of the increased pressure on families due to the pandemic.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of preventable death in young children aged up to five years. In Victoria, 40 per cent of drowning incidents in this age group occur in home swimming pools.

To improve the safety of pools and spas, owners of properties that contain a swimming pool or spa are required to register the swimming pool and spa with Council’s Building Services by no later than 1 November 2020.

An application to register a swimming pool or spa may be obtained from Council’s website www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Forms-and-permit-applications under “Building”.

More about solar

Loddon has partnered with the More Australian Solar Homes (MASH) community solar bulk-buy. This bulk-buy program has been running for over five years with enormous success in neighbouring shires.

It has helped over 1,500 households install solar panels on their homes and donated over $100,000 in free solar for community groups and schools. The bulk-buy is owned and managed by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, a not-for-profit organisation established to help our region make the transition to renewable energy.

An online solar power meeting will be held on Thursday 11 June from 5 to 6pm which will aim to give you the information you need to know when considering going solar; the rebates available (which apply for the whole of Loddon Shire) and the systems and prices available through the MASH bulk-buy.

For more information visit the website: https://mash.org.au/ or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mashcastlemaine/.