Mayoral Matters - May 2025
Published on 30 May 2025
It has been a month of disappointment and frustration for our community (and Council) with the passing of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), and the failure of the State Government to further fund Wimmera Southern Mallee By Five.
In February, after the ESVF announcement, our CEO reported on its tax impact to the Council. The report, presented on 26 February, detailed the shift from the Fire Services Property Levy to the ESVF. Councillors endorsed advocating to the State Government about the ESVF and our role in its collection.
We participated in the Rural Councils Victoria request to provide information on the impact and joined their advocacy and fight against this tax.
We wrote to the Minister for Local Government, the Treasurer and the Minister for Emergency Services outlining our concerns in relation to the tax.
As the delegate for Municipal Association Victoria Yarriambiack Shire Council, I also communicated with the Mayor of Bass Coast Shire to endorse her motion to the State Council for taking direct responsibility for collecting the ESVF.
As of the time this report is being written, we have only just received legal advice, which will guide the council on our next steps and advocacy in regards to this tax.
As l have said, and will continue to say, it is incomprehensible that the people who volunteer and provide their services in rural communities will be some of the hardest hit with this tax.
On 21 May, I issued a media release expressing our deep disappointment that By Five was not allocated funding in the State Government's budget.
Wimmera Southern Mallee children are 40% more likely to be developmentally vulnerable and experience higher rates of preventable hospitalisations than the state average. Three of the five local government areas that By Five covers are ranked amongst the 10 most disadvantaged areas in Victoria (Yarriambiack is one of them). 11 out of 19 towns within the By Five footprint, with populations over 300, have no childcare services.
Without access to quality early childhood education and healthcare, families and communities face long-term social and economic challenges. By Five has implemented a tertiary paediatrics service supporting over 500 rural and remote children in our region with essential paediatric services, reducing paediatric wait times by 75%.
They have created a rural-focused Early Childhood Education and Care model, enabling the partnership with Emerge Early Years Services to reopen childcare in Hopetoun. I was proud to attend the open day on 17 May 2025, where Emerge is close to reopening the childcare. They will soon advertise for staff and are awaiting the childcare subsidy approval. By Five’s vision made our partnership with Emerge possible.
They have proposed an innovative service model that ensures high-quality antenatal care close to home. They have coordinated speech therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological services for remote children and education staf f in our region. Under Jo Martin's leadership, By Five and its dedicated team are committed to exploring options to keep serving the community and continue their initiatives. We stand with Jo and the By Five team and will continue to fight and advocate for funding.
On a positive note, the 50km speed reduction has been successfully implemented in Cromie Street, Rupanyup. Additionally, funds have been secured through the Department of Transport and Planning to address safety concerns at the Lascelles Street school crossing in Hopetoun. The crossing at the northern end of town will be upgraded with electronic speed signs, standard regulatory signs, kerb out-stands, connecting footpath, and line marking, all expected to be completed by the end of the financial year. We extend our congratulations to the Yarriambiack Team for their efforts in advocating and collaborating with the State Government to enable these projects to come to fruition.
The community of Warracknabeal have observed the creek sediment and weed removal occurring. This is a joint project with the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority. This
project saw the removal of sediment in the Yarriambiack Creek, between
Werrigar and Wood Street, approximately 3.7km upstream of the Warracknabeal
Weir on Rainbow Road and completed Friday 30 May 2025.
And finally, the Draft Victorian Transmission Plan is currently out for community
feedback. We encourage our community to view the plan, attend the drop-in
sessions and provide feedback to Vic Grid through their engagement channels.