Mayor's Message – 5 February 2025
Published on 05 February 2025
Hi everyone,
It’s hard to believe we’re already a month into 2025! I hope you’ve all been keeping cool in this very warm weather! I find January a strange month, without its regular rhythm and routine, but it’s nice to have a bit of a break, too.
The kids and I took a trip to the beach (which was lovely) and came home with a puppy (also lovely BUT very hard work). Her name is Elphie, and she’s a seven-month-old kelpie/border collie. The cats are not impressed, but we’re settling into a “normal”, with the house essentially divided in half so that everyone has a safe space. I am learning how to be a good dog owner (Elphie is my first dog) and slowly building my confidence and competency.
Both the kids went back to school last week – Dessy started grade four and Rory had her first day of high school (eek!). There were lots of big feelings – but we all got through the first days, and everyone has had a positive start!
Councillors return to our regular schedule of Briefings and Meetings this week, which is exciting! It’s tricky timing to have Council elections so late in the year – we only got a few weeks together before everything slowed down for Christmas. January is always a juggle with so many people away and kids still home on holidays. I’m really looking forward to being back in the Council Chamber with everyone – although it’s going to get very busy, very quickly.
Over the next few months we’ll be developing our new Council Plan and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (both massive pieces of work that will guide our direction and decisions over the next four years), as well as our 2025/2026 Budget (another huge – and challenging – task). We’ll also be continuing our induction program, meeting Council teams and staff, undertaking further training, and learning more about our roles and responsibilities.
Funding for Frederick Street/Mechanics Lane redevelopment
We received some fantastic news on 16 January, with a funding announcement of $12.2 million from the Federal Government to redevelop Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane in central Castlemaine. Councillors and our Executive team joined Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Catherine King MP, and Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters MP, for the announcement of our successful application to the Federal Government’s Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.
As background, this project was identified as a priority in the Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards, adopted in June 2020, by the previous Council. This plan was developed over a number of years, starting in late 2016, and included extensive community consultation through surveys, listening posts, and community reference groups. You can read the plan here. Since its adoption, Council has been applying for grants funding to complete priority projects – and have finally been successful!
To read more about the Frederick Street/Mechanics Lane project, click here.
I know there has been some confusion and frustration from some community members about why this project is considered a priority and why the funding can’t go towards housing instead. Unfortunately, we don’t get to choose what grants we receive and we have to spend the funding on the allocated projects. We have made several grant applications for funding to progress our housing projects (particularly in Templeton Street, Maldon and Newstead) but have not been successful so far. Affordable housing in our shire is incredibly important to us and we’ll continue to seek opportunities to increase housing availability and affordability.
Bendigo TAFE’s new Community Health and Learning Hub at Dhelkaya Health
The following week, I attended a smoking ceremony and gathering to celebrate works beginning on Bendigo TAFE’s new Community Health and Learning Hub at Dhelkaya Health. This new space will offer allied health, nursing and aged care students training facilities that replicate the real-world environments they will be caring for clients in – right here in Castlemaine!
This significant project has been made possible by a $4 million State Government investment from the Building Better TAFE Fund, a funding stream set up to help ensure students have the best facilities to train in, close to home.
You can read more about the project here.
Along with Maree Edwards MP and Bendigo Kangan Institute’s CEO, Sally Curtain, I also visited a new space at The Mill, in Castlemaine, where Bendigo TAFE will soon be offering its first female and gender diverse construction course! You can read more about this exciting (and very tempting) opportunity here.
Australia Day – Survival Day
My final Mayoral engagement for the month was on 26 January – one of the biggest days of the year for Council, and one that means different things to different people – Australia Day – Survival Day.
It was a beautiful day. The event started with music from the Castlemaine Pipe Band, whose stirring music always sets the scene and quiets the crowd. From there, our two MCs, Director Lisa Knight and Director Michael Annear (no relation), began proceedings, and Uncle Rick Nelson offered a moving Welcome to Country.
As Mayor, I had the honour of presiding over the Citizenship Ceremony, and helped eight community members complete their journey to becoming Australian Citizens. Uncle Rick provided a personal blessing of welcome and protection to each person, as their feet touched Djaara Country for the first time as Australian Citizens. It is a very special and moving ceremony to be a part of and I wish our new Australian Citizens all the best!
Next came our Australia Day Awards, with winners across four categories.
Congratulations to the 2025 winners:
Citizen of the Year – Rachel Stewart
Young Citizen of the Year – Thea Sydes
Senior Citizen of the Year – Trish Bowles
Event of the Year – Castlemaine Idyll 2024
Your hard work, dedication and generosity does not go unnoticed.
We see the ways you’re making our community an even better place to live, and we’re very lucky to have such passionate and caring people living amongst us!
The second half of the event was the Survival Day concert. An incredible lineup of artists captivated the crowd, and by the end of the afternoon almost everyone was on their feet.
Have your say on the 2025/2026 budget
Finally, I’d like to remind everyone that it’s your last chance to have your say on our 2025/2026 Budget.
Last year our budget included the resources needed to deliver over 100 services for our community.
This includes roads and bridges, waste and recycling, maternal and child health, aged care, emergency relief and recovery, and lots more.
It also includes projects and initiatives suggested by community groups such as Castlemaine Community House, Metcalfe Community Association, MainFM, and Harcourt Valley Heritage and Tourist Centre.
There’s also a nifty ‘spend your rates’ tool where you can prioritise services and let us know which ones you value most!
This is a great opportunity to have your say on projections and initiatives that will be funded in the upcoming financial year.
Project submissions and general feedback close this Friday 7 February.
All this information and lots more is available online at Shape Mount Alexander.
That’s it from me (for now).
Rosie
Mayor Rosie Annear
Mount Alexander Shire Council
Photo by Diana Domonkos.