Mayoral Matters – December 2021
Published on 17 December 2021
The weather has been fantastic this week and the countryside is looking glorious. With a bumper harvest underway, we could certainly claim that we live in the land of plenty here in Northern Grampians Shire.
Agriculture is one of the main economic drivers in our region and also our shire’s second largest employer. The benefits of what is going to be a record-breaking year for our farming sector will be felt locally and throughout the country for months to come boosting our economy when it needs it most. Who could feel anything but optimistic right now!
It is so lovely to see our townships in full swing again and festivities for Christmas underway. Everyone is certainly doing their part to shop local and get together. Our retail strips, our cafes, restaurants and pubs and other service providers are bustling with patrons and positively alive. Tourists aplenty are arriving for the summer holidays and it is fantastic to see December data show that a staggering 3,096 nights in the outdoors have already been booked for our latest drawcard, the Grampians Peaks Trail. This in turn will no doubt generate good flow on income for our tourist operators. The Pop Up Parks in Stawell and Halls Gap that we launched last month are demonstrating their wellbeing worth proving to be a popular spot for catch ups and just the other day a group of schoolkids were seen enjoying hopping around the rocks of the Halls Gap Park.
If there was ever a greater indicator of what kind of community we live in, it will always be felt when we are impacted by an emergency. True to our country town ways, we have shown this year that we are a tight-knit mob and we look after each other, rallying together during the outbreaks in St Arnaud, Halls Gap and Stawell, tuning in for community information sessions and supplying food to people in isolation. Can I take this opportunity to commend you all for extending a hand to those in need and for doing exactly as instructed by authorities consequently reducing our exposure to the virus.
With Omicron on our shores, we know we’re not out the other side yet so keep listening and keep looking after each other. The main message right now is to stay masked up in retail settings, to isolate and get tested if unwell or exposed and ensure you maintain your immunity with vaccination. Council is continuing to meet weekly with health agencies and volunteer organisations to prepare for future waves and support our community as best we can with the resources on hand.
On the subject of emergency management, I would like to highlight an opportunity for the community to engage directly with emergency planning by nominating to be part of the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee or MEMPC. Being part of this committee requires a very small time commitment but in return you can have a big impact on how we and other agencies respond in emergency situations. Council is keen to encourage a younger voice on this committee and has extended nominations to include young people 16 years and older as well as people from various backgrounds and sectors. See the Emergencies page on our website for further information.
If emergency management is not your cup of tea, do not forget that there are always plenty of ways you can engage with Council either as a volunteer or simply by having a say via a survey or a face to face engagement session. Here are some current examples of how you can get involved at council:
- Nominate to join the Stawell Recreation Advisory Group
- Be a part of the St Arnaud Tourist Action Plan or forthcoming Stawell Tourist Action Planning
- Complete a survey about our Meals on Wheels service
- Complete a survey concerning the State Government’s glass recycling survey
Council is also currently seeking nominations for Australia Day Awards so if you know of a worthy recipient or group of recipients, and you live within the shire, please consider submitting a nomination via our website.
As a final note to the community for the year, I would like to encourage you to make your loved ones your focus this festive season. Many of us have been separated from each other with hard interstate border closures and the interminably long lockdowns especially Melburnians. Invite them all here, show off our sights, enjoy some laughs, some fresh air and a hike in the hills and go out of your way to spoil them with good old-fashioned country hospitality.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Safe New Year from me and my fellow councillors.
Cr Tony Driscoll
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor