CFA Warning

CFA has warned Victorians to avoid driving vehicles, farm machinery, mowers and motorbikes through dry grass in coming weeks as conditions heat up and vegetation dries out.

Following a string of hot weather over recent weeks, grassland areas have completely dried out in the northern areas of the state and fuels in the south-west are curing just as quickly.

CFA has responded to a number of significant grass and stubble fires started by mowers, vehicles or machinery over the past fortnight.

Last Friday, 13 January, crews in the state’s west stopped a 300-acre grassfire in its tracks in Illabarook, believed to have started by a seized bearing on a header.

The fire quickly spread to dry grass, with flames reaching approximately nine metres tall. Aircraft supported a significant ground response to bring the fire under control.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the recent fires across the state serve as a timely reminder for people to be aware of the fire risks associated with using vehicles and other machinery in and around dry grass.

“Victoria is expected to experience a grassfire dominated fire season once again but we’re asking the community to do all it can to prevent these fires from starting,” he said.

“In many areas across the state, the risk of starting a fire from hot exhaust systems or other hot parts of farm machinery is high,” he said. “Even pulling over onto tall, dry grass on the side of the road during your travels could start a significant grassfire.

“Awareness is key to preventing grass and crop fires. We also want farmers to ensure their machinery and equipment are regularly inspected, maintained and cleaned.”

High risk and agricultural activities such as harvesting, grinding, welding, slashing or mowing can quickly ignite fires in hot, dry and windy conditions.

In the right conditions grassfires can move at speeds of up to 25km per hour and spread across roads and highways.

Series has turned Australia’s self-publishing industry on its head. Alice loves talking about all things Outback, communicating with people and creating brilliance.

From midday to 4pm, Go Adventure Nagambie will be set up on the boardwalk at Jacobson’s Outlook offering free on water activities to the public including stand up paddle boards, pedal boat rides and hobie boards.

Then at 7pm, Movies on the Move will set up an outdoor cinema screening of Oddball in the grounds of the Nagambie Primary School. Olivers Lane will be there selling their highly regarded coffee and a free sausage sizzle and popcorn will be provided at the Nagambie Primary School stall. Music and games prior to the commencement of the film which starts at dusk.

All you need to do is bring your own deck chairs, bean bag or picnic rug and enjoy the evening.

Victorians should stay prepared and informed this fire season; this means downloading the VicEmergency app and getting familiar with the new Fire Danger Rating System by checking the rating in your area.

For your safety, you need to understand your risk and plan ahead. Know what to do on hot, dry, windy days and plan for all situations.

To learn more about the risk of grassfires on the CFA website at cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/ami-at-risk/grassfires-rural.

Safety tips

- If you’re using farm machinery or vehicles, ensure it is free from any faults and mechanical defects, fitted with an approved spark arrestor and carrying a water fire extinguisher.

- Be aware hot exhaust pipes, mufflers can start grassfires.

- The accumulation of grass around the underbody of vehicles can create a fire risk.

- If you live next to grassland and a grassfire starts, walk at least two streets back from the fire.

- If you live two or three streets away from grassland and a grassfire starts, stay where you are; Grassfires are unlikely to spread into builtup areas.

- Never drive if you can see smoke or fire. Thick smoke will make it hard to see and traffic jams and accidents are likely.

- Keep roads clear for emergency services.

- The most common cause of harvester and mower fires is material collecting on hot engine components such as the manifold, exhaust and turbocharger.

- The key to avoiding harvester fires is diligence in clean-down and inspection.

Check the Fire Danger Rating by visiting www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/ total-fire-bans-and-ratings.

Download the VicEmergency app for realtime updates about emergencies across Victoria.

Scholarship program to benefit Heathcote and Nagambie’s youth

Scholarship program to benefit Heathcote and Nagambie’s youth.

Students in the districts of Heathcote and Nagambie will again benefit from a scholarship program, which will supplement their study costs in their first year of higher education. Community Bank Heathcote & District and Bendigo Bank Nagambies’ scholarship programs are now open for applications to give local students a deserved and fair chance at achieving their dreams in higher education.

Successful applicants will initially receive up to $3,000 funding for one year and, depending on academic performance, the scholarship may be renewed to assist in the second year of their study.

Nagambie Museum

The committee of the Nagambie Historical Society is painfully aware that the museum has been closed for a long time. Since packing up and moving began some months ago, the building has experienced a metamorphosis.

The hard plaster damage was expertly repaired by Stephen Ritchie, with the assistance of a Shire of Strathbogie grant. Then the whole interior was painted with meticulous care by John Paxton, with the assistance of a Bendigo Bank grant.

Our five new museum-standard display cases have arrived, courtesy of the Public Record Office of Victoria local history grants and the Victorian Government.

We are poised between chaos and reopening, but have to wait for our new blinds to be

In 2021, the Bendigo Bank Nagambie Community Scholarship was awarded to local student Carmelo Gattusco who was able to use the scholarship to assist with purchasing text books and contribute to his cost of living away from home. It is through the support of customers at both Community Bank Heathcote & District and Bendigo Bank Nagambie branches that these scholarships are available to the communities of Heathcote and Nagambie to help get local kids into higher education. Applications are invited from students starting their tertiary education in 2023, with applications closing on Friday 27 January 2023. For further information please visithttps://www. bendigobank.com.au/scholarships/ installed to cut the bright sunlight before we remount displays. Hopefully this will be in the next few weeks.

We have continued to run market stalls, when the market is on, and have missed the income from that and visitor donations. Produce sales have continued with one satisfied customer returning from Eden Park for more of ‘the best marmalade I have ever tasted.’

Our wonderful cook, Patty, continued to create delicious produce until the painting of the kitchen forced a halt.

We thank our financial members for their continued and much needed support as 24/7 climate control is expensive.

We still have an interesting journey ahead, as no display will be the same when we reopen. We look forward to welcoming visitors back in February.

Join us for Summer Splash at the Pools

The Summer Splash series features live music, art activities, circus and games at the Shire’s Swimming Pools from 2pm – 6.30pm. Events include:

February 4 – Nagambie Swimming Pool

February 18 – Avenel Swimming Pool

March 4 – Euroa Swimming Pool

Join our Community Panel

We’re super excited to have opened applications to our community panel, which will provide input into Council’s important plans, projects and strategies.

The Share Strathbogie Community Panel is being established to continue Council’s goal to deliver best practice community engagement. Membership will not be capped – meaning everyone who points up their hand will join – with at least half the panel being renewed every two years.

Most importantly – participation is up to you. You can do as much or as little as you like and you can participate any way you like (online, face-to-face etc).

To learn more, read the guidelines and apply, go to www.share.strathbogie.vic.gov.au

Pitch my Project – calls for ideas now open

Strathbogie Shire residents – it’s time to pitch your idea!

We’ve launched our annual Pitch my Project –which gives our community the chance to pitch ideas to include in the 2023/34 Budget.

This year we’re extending the ‘pitch’ timeframe and there will be more than three months to pitch ideas. We’ve also released guidelines which include a clear assessment process, and the successful applications will be put to the community to decide which make it into the 2023/24 Budget.

To pitch your idea head to www.share. strathbogie.vic.gov.au

Share your ideas on activities to support flood recovery

Our Mobile Flood Recovery Hub has now visited Euroa, Avenel, Kirwans Bridge and Nagambie. We’ll be heading out for more faceto-face sessions in the new year, however you can share you ideas online.

We’re asking our community for ideas on the potential projects and activities that will support our region’s recovery.

Head to www.share.strathbogie.vic.gov.au to share your thoughts.

Stay up to date by signing up to our eNews

Our monthly eNews is a great way to stay up to date on the latest news, information and work of our Council.

Sign up by heading to our website.

Free RAT tests

Free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are now available for all community members through our Customer Service Centres in Euroa (109a Binney St) and Nagambie (293 High St).

Tenders now advertised

We’re inviting expressions of interest for the following projects:

• Provision of Tree Maintenance Arboriculture services (contract number 22/23-67). Tender closes at 4pm on February 9, 2023.

• Supply and Install Nagambie Recreation Reserve Lighting (contract number 22/2365). Tender closes at 4pm on Friday February 10, 2023.

• Balmattum Hill Mountain Bike Trail Planning Consultancy (contract number 22/23-70). Tender closes 4pm on Thursday February 16, 2023.

EOI documents can be viewed online at www. strathbogie.vic.gov.au or scan the QR code. Tenders and Expression of Interests can be only lodged online through the Tendersearch portal.

Work with us

We’re looking for talented people to join our team:

Asset Services Engineer. Full Time, ongoing. Bank 7 - $87,495 annually + 10.5% super. Applications close 9am, 6 February, 2023.

• Senior Project Officer. Full Time, ongoing. Band 8 - $100,505 annually + 10.5% super. Applications close 9am, 30 January 2023.

For more information and position descriptions visit our website at www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au