Footpath crackdown angers town traders

SHOPKEEPERS are up in arms with Loddon Shire’s rollout of new fees for footpath signs and displays.

Some businesses are facing an annual permit bill of several hundred dollars while others have been told for the first time that they need a permit.

A flat fee of $28.90 for furniture outside cafes has been changed to $20 a table and $10 a chair.

Traders started receiving letters from council on Monday

Council operations director Steven Phillips said the shire’s new community law adopted last year included changes to permit requirements.

But traders have been left angry with the crackdown.

Wedderburn’s Tammy Martin said it was the first time in 17 years husband Cam had seen a letter from council requiring their butcher shop to obtain a permit an A-frame.

“We’d be happy to pay if the council cleaned the footpaths and gutters,” she said.

And Inglewood antique store owner Catherine Norman said it was the first time in eight years that her business had been told it needed to pay for a permit to display signs and goods on the footpath.

Mr Phillips said: “This financial year council has written to all businesses that place items on the footpath or nature strip advising and reminding of the permit requirements.

“Going forward, council’s approach is to improve consistency across the Shire for premises having permits.”

Mr Phillips said the new fee structure “enabled a system to cater for both smaller and larger businesses, depending upon the amount or scale of items they intend to place out on the footpath”.

Council has also cited the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 for its crackdown.

It said the Act required a “continuous accessible path of travel

In Brief

Cash taken to allow people with a range of abilities to use the footpath without encountering barriers”.

Mr Phillips said: “Tables and chairs, displayed goods and advertising signs placed against the property line and shop front is therefore not permitted.

“Permit holders must ensure a clear and consistent passageway for pedestrians ordinarily passing by the premises and at road intersections. This is especially important for those with limited vision and persons on mobility scooters.”

Mr Phillips said the new fees in council’s budget did not receive any comments during community consultations.

POLICE are investigating two Serpentine break-ins last week. Sgt Sean Dixon, of Inglewood police, said several leads were being investigated following the breakins at Loddon Shire Council offices in Peppercorn Way and at the Serpentine Memorial Hall. He said $4000 has been reported stolen from the hall but it appeared thieves left empty-handed from the council offices. Sgt Dixon said anyone who had seen or heard anything unusual, or who may have CCTV footage, should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or call 000.

Emergency recruits

STATE Emergency Service‘s Wedderburn unit is expected to announce a new unit controller soon. SES regional headquarters started searching for a controller three months ago. Previous controller Paul Gordon Cooke resigned.

Rates in mail

LODDON Shire could expect 17,000 extra visitors a year if the Goldfields bid for World Heritage listing bid by 13 council was backed by UNESCO.

City of Ballarat’s World Heritage and regional development lead Susan Fayad briefed local tourism operators at Monday night’s Loddon Valley Tourism business network dinner in Inglewood.

More than 40 people from all parts of the shire were told that a World Heritage bid survey had found most Loddon residents wanted an increase in tourism.

Ms Fayad said the survey found Loddon people “loved their rural space” and wanted to retain freedom to use the land.

“Locals value what they have,” she said. “Each area will have its own priorities.”

Ms Fayad said the World Heritage listing would build the story of the region and boost its visitor economy.

“The bid is based on broad engagement and support,” she said.

A masterplan being developed will have themes around Aborigines, miners, rebels, migrators and makers and highlight signature experiences in the region that includes Bendigo and Ballarat.

Ms Fayad said it was important for the region “to get World Heritage ready ... being world class”.

The formal UNESCO nomination is planned to be made in 2027.

By 2030, the World Heritage bid consortium wants to see township presentation upgrades, infrastructure at experience hubs and improved rest areas.

MARK Lacey will close the doors of his Bendigo Bank agency in Pyramid Hill for the last time next Thursday.

The Pyramid Hill agency is one of more than a dozen being pulled from rural towns and regional suburbs.

Bendigo Bank claimed the closures came after a drop in over-the-counter transactions and more people using online services.

The bank said the decline had put pressure on its agency model.

Mr Lacey was among a group of Pyramid Hill residents to attend a protest in Cohuna in April that called for the agencies to be retained. They were supported by Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh.

Ahead of next week’s midday closure, Mr Lacey said remaining customers were trying to adapt their banking activities to the change.

Ms Fayad said more than 2500 sites had been mapped across the Goldfields in the process to select 14 key locations in the bid.

Loddon Shire’s economic development and tourism man-

“A lot have left (Bendigo Bank) ... they are voting with their feet.”

The Pyramid Hill closure leaves the town without a bank or an ATM.

The agency had been in the town’s supermarket for 13 years before being taken on as a local business by Mr Lacey seven years ago.

When the closures were announced Mr Lacey said the value of local bank accounts had tripled, bringing new customers into the network that saw him paid a commission by Bendigo Bank, ager David Stretch and tourism co-ordinator Bradd Worrell told Monday’s network briefing that tourism would have a concerted focus and make a significant impact on the shire’s economy.

Mr Lacey said this week he was reviewing opening hours of the Filipino store that he ran as part of his Kelly Street business. Hours could be reduced following the bank agency closure.

The store is the only dedicated Filipino grocery store in country Victoria serving the large expat local community.

Mr Worrell said a tourism signage audit was also in progress.