Mayor's Message – 1 August 2024

Published on 01 August 2024

August was a very busy month here at Council and I’d like to share some news, opportunities and highlights with you.

We have a number of grants on offer at the moment, which are all great opportunities to get your community projects, events and celebrations off the ground.

We’re proud to be able to support our community with Community, Event and Christmas Grants, and I’m looking forward to seeing what our creative and dedicated residents do with the funding.

Head over to www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Grants to see what’s on offer.

In other news, we’re looking for community input which will feed into our new Youth Plan.

Listening to young people is very important to us at Council and that’s why we’re working on this plan, which will outline our youth programs, activities and events for the next four years.

To make sure we get it right, we’re asking our community to have their say on services, programs, opportunities and challenges that affect young people aged 12-25.

We have three online surveys available: one for young people, one for parents and carers, and one for youth service providers.

The surveys were developed in partnership with our Youth Advisory Group, and we’re really proud to involve local young people in the development of this plan.

Have your say before Sunday 25 August at www.shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Another way you can get involved in shaping the future of our shire is by expressing your interest in joining the Affordable Housing Trust Advisory Committee.

Increasing affordable housing in the shire is something we’ve been hard at work on here at Council, and the trust is one of our big projects to make that happen.

It will be an independent charitable organisation which will hold land and funds for the development of local affordable housing. The land and money will then be used to develop and build affordable homes in our shire.

We’re at the stage in the project where we’re appointing an advisory group to advise the trust on housing needs in the shire, bring a range of professional expertise, and represent the community.

We currently need people who have skills and expertise in the philanthropy, finance and legal sectors. If that sounds like you, I encourage you to express your interest in joining the advisory committee.

Visit www.shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au to fill out an application, learn more about the trust and ask a question for us to answer.

If you’d like to talk to a Councillor about the trust, we’re hosting a listening post with Deputy Mayor Rosie Annear this Saturday 3 August at the Wesley Hill Community Market. Our Housing Solutions Broker, Clare Richards, will also be in attendance.

You can find all the details at www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/Events.

To finish, I’d like to encourage you to visit an amazing new mural at the Norwood Hill Recreation Reserve.

We’ve been working to revitalise the reserve with a new and improved space for sports, new paths, a picnic setting, shady trees and a barbecue shelter.

We’ve just put in the last finishing touch, which is a mural created by Djaara artist Daikota Nelson.

The mural aims to make the space welcoming for all park visitors, including young people, children, families, local residents and First Nations communities.

Daikota is a proud Djaara woman living and working on ancestral lands on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Her work explores her connection to Country and what it means to be a contemporary First Nations woman living with continuing connection to culture.

The artwork is inspired by colours of Country, colours from the landscape and Norwood Hill. It creates a warm welcome and tells an important story that connects us with Djaara culture.

I want to say a big thank you to Daikota for sharing her artwork with the community. It’s truly an incredible piece that brightens up the space.

Before I sign off for this month, I’d like to remind you to contact your local Councillor if there’s an issue you’d like to raise – we are here for you.

Till next month, take care.

Mayor Matthew Driscoll
Mount Alexander Shire Council