September 2011 Tattler.pdf - Platypus Country

More documents

Recommendations

Info

L O C A L G O V E R N M E N T N E W S E A S T G I P P S L A N D SHIRE COUNCIL East Gippsland Shire Council grants program Applications for the East Gippsland Shire Council Grants Program closed on September 7. Community grants of up to $5000 are available. The Neighbourhood House worked on a grant application to cover the cost of a band for Taste of Tubbut next year. Ambitious plans to partner with our local school to apply for funding to bring Cha Cha Sam to Goongerah and Tubbut for several days to work with the students and community had to be disbanded due to the total cost and the need for us to find matching funds. Council Meeting August 2, 2011 Council considered progress in implementing its East Gippsland Shire Council Plan 2009-2013. At June 30th, of the 87 actions in the plan, 66 are on track, 9 are at risk of not being fully delivered and 12 are not able to be delivered this financial year. The Shire is upgrading its web site to allow further interactivity and a consultation portal. However, there have been some delays in the web site redevelopment. The Bicycle Strategy Review—along with the development of an East Gippsland Integrated Trails and Shared Pathways Strategy—has been delayed by the diversion of resources to major recreation projects funded under State Government election promises. While the Action Plan for positive Ageing has been developed, implementation is awaiting Council endorsement. Implementing the ‗Tip Shop‘ concept across all waste management sites (I think „applicable‟ excludes Bonang, Bendoc, Tubbut, Dellicknora and Goongerah). Currently, there are Tip Shops in Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Orbost and Metung. Photographs of the Dellicknora Bridge taken by Julie Ingram and Skye Auer are being framed in Bairnsdale in preparation for hanging in Bonang and Tubbut Halls. We will see if a local Councillor—perhaps the Mayor—will travel up the Bonang Road to present them to the community. BOMBALA SHIRE COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 24TH Ms Janine Robinson, Healthy Communities, Monaro Rural Health Service opened the meeting. The Monaro Rural Health Service is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing to fill health gaps. The Service operates across the three Council areas of Bombala, Cooma- Monaro Shire and Snowy River Shire. The Preventative Health Initiative is one of the programs run through the Monaro Rural Health Service. Its purpose is to foster health and well being across the three Council areas. In Bombala this has been delivered through community events, eg, agricultural shows and well being days such as International Women‘s Day. Surveys undertaken at these events …. showed that many people knew about the Heart Moves program and requests have been made for the formation of walking groups in both Bombala and Delegate. Direct funds to Bombala via the Preventative Health Initiative fund Sarah Hart, Active Communities Coordinator, for 10 hours per week and John Graham, Youth Health Project Officer, for six hours per week. Snowy River is funded through the Primary Rural Health Services Program to provide youth services in Bombala as well. The Survey also showed that pain is a large problem within the community. Initiatives are being developed, including trialling massage sessions at the community centre. Roads to Recovery Program Council supported the Australian Local Government Association‘s (ALGA) campaign to persuade the Federal Government to continue this program beyond 2014, as ‗The Roads to Recovery Program has been a very successful one for this Council with funds being used to help maintain many of Council‘s local roads. The cessation of this program, without a similar one to replace it, will place a large burden on Council‘s resources. Council particularly needs this funding to offset the issues caused by heavy haulage vehicles using Council‘s local roads network.‘ The Mayor sought Council approval to consult publicly on the reduction of Bombala Shire Councillors from 9 to 7. Councillor Ricketts presented a notice of motion about the future sustainability of Bombala. He identified Infrastructure that Requires Urgent Attention as: The Main Street Scape – The Caravan Park – A Rotunda at River Park The Stepping Stones improved. He also suggested: A Theme of Continuity for the Town – ie, heritage theme so as to assist with future planning and designs for shop facades, funding, signage, colour scheme and for recognition; to promote and sell Bombala as a lifestyle area - both suburban and rural; advertise Bombala in major papers to target and attract retirees as receiving even a 1% response could see a possible growth which will support future development, with new homes being built, existing businesses expanding, establishment of new businesses and other services such as sporting venues, cinemas and taxi service; to discount the connection of services to new development and/or offer rate incentives; and promote industry – Bombala is on a good transport route between two major cities and two hours from Canberra and can offer affordable land which lends itself to small or large industry. The Economic Development Officer asked Council to approve the development of an ―adventure‖ park facility, next to the current Skate Park, to be staged in line with available funds and include landscaping of the area, seating and recreational equipment and facilities including BMX tracks. Plans to be placed on public display for comment.
Marketing the region as AUSTRALIA’S COASTAL WILDERNESS Australia’s Coastal Wilderness Strategy is the latest effort to draw tourists to our region. The first draft, produced in 2009, seemed to assume that anything off the Princes, Cann River and Snowy Mountain Highways would be too difficult for the average tourist. The report identifies lack of international standard accommodation as an impediment but it doesn’t mention lack of public transport as another. Interestingly, while Delegate is the biggest town on the entire route of the Bundian way, the report discusses the tourist potential of this ancient Aboriginal route while ignoring the role Delegate can play in providing information and other amenities to travellers. I understand that Bombala Shire officers had to fight to have any part of the Shire recognised in the Strategy. The full report can be read at http://www.discovereastgippsland.com.au/ pdfDocs/329-Australia's%20Coastal%20Wilderness%20EDS.pdf. Below are some excerpts from the report to give you a flavour. Deb Located in South Eastern Australia is a relatively untouched stretch of wilderness coastline that offers a unique opportunity to be immersed in nature’s playground. Australia’s Coastal Wilderness is a National Landscape stretching over 300 kilometres that is home to a World Biosphere Reserve and some of the world’s richest diversity of flora and fauna. The Tourism Australia National Landscapes Program identifies places of national significance that offer distinctive Australian natural and cultural experiences... Australia’s Coastal Wilderness, with its majestic wilderness, unique and diverse wildlife, ancient and active Indigenous culture and iconic coastal communities, presents a unique range of visitor experiences including: The world’s largest population of little penguins; Over 200km of trails through unspoilt coastline; The Bundian Way – one of the world’s oldest trade routes; The site where Captain Cook first saw the Australian mainland; Unique welcoming communities adjacent to wilderness areas; and Silent forests in the foothills of the Australian Alps. (The author must have visited on a day when all the animals and birds were asleep) Bombala and the South East Forests are both a gateway and an emerging experience. A key ‘gateway’ for information and interpretation the area also offers a number of experiences including the Platypus Reserve, short walks in the tall forests and spectacular scenic drives. Emerging experiences are the cultural and heritage sites such as Delegate, Nunnock Swamp and the ‘Bundian Way’ Indigenous tourism experience. Further development of accommodation, dining, attractions and service quality is vital to attracting international visitors. Snowy River & Hinterland Forests: An alternative to the fringing coastal forests are the majestic Snowy River and South East Forests including the Coopracamba, and Errinundra National Parks. There’s an opportunity to develop a network of scenic drives that link some spectacular forests with a number of sites currently under investigation for accommodation development. There are also strong links with the Australian Alps National Landscape. Accommodation, information, signage and interpretation will be needed to encourage greater visitor dispersal. • The Bundian Way is a 260km ancient trading route established by the Indigenous people of Southern NSW and Eastern Victoria linking the ocean to the Alps. It creates a tangible connection between the coastal and alpine landscapes for international ‘Experience Seekers’. While few will experience the entire journey, the opportunity exists to deliver a series of interpretation points, trails and guided tours. The first step is to survey the route, document the journey’s history and identify the sustainable tourism opportunities. A key selling point for Australia and Australia’s Coastal Wilderness is the stress free nature and relaxed lifestyle of coastal and hinterland communities. The ‘sea and tree change’ is seen to offer numerous health and well-being benefits in an increasingly stressful world. Australia’s Coastal Wilderness offers a ‘slow tourism’ destination that is equivalent to the ‘slow food’ movement in Europe. It taps into an inherent need by people to take time to appreciate the things in life that are most valuable. I hope that you are enjoying your relaxed lifestyle and the numerous health and well-being benefits of Australia’s coastal wilderness. Just make sure you show it as the tourist buses roll through! Deb
Page 1 and 2: September 2011 Next deadline: 28th
Page 3 and 4: outreach Orbost Espresso Coffee Bas
Page 5 and 6: The Little Green Frog Van will be i
Page 7 and 8: The 45 lessons life taught me Writt
Page 9 and 10: Increased use of the motorcar and t
Page 11 and 12: Hotel Danebo, Martins Creek, around
Page 13 and 14: Delegate Joins Pink Force at Nation
Page 15 and 16: News from the Departments Victorian
Page 17: CFA—Report from Gippsland Regiona
Page 21 and 22: In 1950 the District Inspector was

September 2011 Tattler.pdf - Platypus Country

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?