July Council Meeting news bites
Published on 04 July 2022
Northern Grampians Shire Council held its council meeting on Monday, 4 June 2022 in person in the Council Chambers, Stawell at 12.30pm.
Stawell Highway Visitor Information Service
Council resolved to support a volunteer run unaccredited visitor information service at the Pleasant Creek Historic Precinct on the Western Highway in Stawell and to monitor and review the service on a quarterly basis. Council was encouraged as sufficient volunteers had come forward to run the service.
Stawell Tourism Strategy and Action Plan 2022-23 and St Arnaud Tourism Strategy and Action Plan 2022-23
Council endorsed the tourism strategy and action plans for Stawell and St Arnaud.
Within the Stawell plan four strategic themes were identified:
- Experience agritourism
- Embrace nature
- Celebrate heritage
- Gold history and future
The Stawell plan was informed by an expression of interest process, state government and regional tourism board documents and a variety of community engagement methods inclusive of interviews with key tourism and hospitality businesses.
Within the St Arnaud plan, specific actions were identified to grow tourism capacity and profile. The plan focuses on:
- Tourism strategy
- Storytelling
- Place brand
- Community buy-in
- Amenities and services
- Compelling experiences
- Capable tourism operators
- Visitor servicing and events
Community engagement activities were conducted including an online comments wall, stakeholder interviews, a community workshop and a face to face expo. Grampians Tourism provided input into the plan.
Road named in honour of Australian cricketer
Council agreed to name the unnamed road off King and Hill Streets Stawell as Fleetwood Smith Way in recognition of Fleetwood (Chuck) Smith who was a spin bowler for the Australian Cricket Team during the 1930s and whose talent has been compared to the late Shane Warne. The Fleetwood Smith family are also well known in the district for their long involvement with the local newspaper and for Mr Fleetwood Smith’s father’s participation on the Stawell Gift organising committee.
Urgent Business
Cr Emerson moved that five items be considered as urgent business at the meeting. The items were:
- Inviting community comment on proposed amendments to the Council’s Governance Rules so that council can conduct virtual meetings on a permanent basis and provide for councillors to attend and be present at meetings by electronic means of communication. Other minor legislative changes are also proposed including incorporating gender neutral language.
- Nomination of Cr Erwin as Council’s endorsed applicant on Recycling Victoria Local Government Advisory Committee and the acknowledgement of the State Government legislation that sees regional waste management groups dissolved effective 1 July 2022. The State Government anticipates this new group will bring many benefits due to efficiencies of scale, the sharing of expertise and facilitating policy advocacy and education.
- Cr Dempsey moved that Council sends official thanks in writing to the Hon Shaun Leane MP, the outgoing Minister for Local Government for his commitment to Northern Grampians Shire Council. Minister Leane had supported projects such as the Pop Up Parks in Stawell and Halls Gap and the Women Building Surveyors Program. Cr Dempsey also highlighted Minister Leane’s focus on improving local government culture and support for women in local government. Council welcomes incoming Minister the Hon. Melissa Horne MP.
- Cr Ostarcevic moved that Council write to Regional Roads Victoria to request a reduced speed limit of 50km per hour on all three arterial roads (North Western Road, Silvermines Road and Mill Street inclusive of Dundas Street) that intersect with Napier Street in St Arnaud.
Outcome of Closed Council Section
- Council agreed to extend the contract for the provision of various trades services for a final year, and agreed to award the contract for a new records management system.
Livestream link: https://youtu.be/81trxNlVLGA