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COVID-19 Latest Virus testing list expands
● Dr Lachlan Fraser ■ Those people who should be tested for coronavirus has expanded. Testing for suspected coronavirus is now for any age who have respiratory illness or fever (>38 degrees), ■ OR who have had contact with a person with coronavirus and have general aches or gastrointestinal symptoms, ■ OR have no symptoms and are within a localised outbreak. Most of our cases have come from overseas travellers, including cruise ships, with only a small number found in the community with no risk factors. Expanded swabbing is to identify and control spread from within the community. It is particularly important to have a diagnosis if there are people in the household who are still attending work, or if there are multiple people in the house. Self-isolation by staying at home, away from fellow householders, is required for 1014 days, depending on symptom duration. Health workers need two negative swabs to return to work. We are aiming for zero or negligible community spread before the restrictions can start to be relaxed. Victorians are doing very well, with the State of Emergency to be reassessed on May 11. That's only a few weeks away and if you keep busy each week passes quick enough. Everyone needs to do their bit, for we are like The Whos trying to save our world. Consult that great doctor, Dr. Seuss, who penned Horton Hears a Who. Dr. Lachlan Fraser, Marysville
Vale June Clements
■ The Yea community is sending its condolences to Graeme Clements and family on the passing of June after a long illness. The district has also recently lost Don McLeish, and Beryl Pincombe. Coronavirus restrictions mean that funeral services are limited to a maximm attendance of 10 people.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 - Page 9
0% rate move in Dindi ■ Murrindindi Council is proposing to not introduce a rate rise for the 2020-21 year. Shire Chief Executive Officer Craig Lloyd made the announcement at a special Council meeting held by videoconferencing last Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 15). Mr Lloyd said that he hoped that the zero rate rise would hopefully provide some quick relief for the community. The Council says it is also looking at what it can do to support the community in the coming financial year. Officers will propose that Council adopts a range of new measures to help the community while still maintaining, and in some cases enhancing, critical services, he said. “Most significantly, officers will propose that Council adopt a draft budget with a 0 per centproperty rate rise for the coming financial year - even though the Victorian Government has set the cap on rate increases at 2 per cent,” Mr Lloyd said.
Some increases
“If adopted by Council, the only variations residents will see on their rate bills will be due to: ■ changes in property valuations (as set by the Victorian State Government) as at January 1, ■ waste and recycling charges (based on cost recovery) including the landfill levy, and the Fire Services Property Levy. Both of these levies are set by the State Government. “In an effort to support business recovery, officers will also propose that Council agrees to remove the 25 per cent premium differential rate paid by commercial and industrial property owners for 2020-2`1,” said a Council statement. “Officers are also proposing that the draft budget include a substantial relief and recovery package, by drawing down on $500,000 remaining from the 2009 bushfire government assistance funds, provided by the State Government to Council to support its ongoing operations and which is currently held in reserve. “These funds will be made available for initiatives to support community and business recovery in our Shire during the 2020-21 financial year,” the statement said.
ANZAC Day services banned ■ Local ANZAC Day (Sat., Apr. 25) services have been prohibited. In Murrindindi, annual services would have normally been held in locations including Alexandra, Eildon, Flowerdale, Kinglake, Marysville, Strath Creek, Yarck and Yea. A large number of services would have also been held in neighbouring municipalities including Mansfield, Mitchell, Nillumbik, Strathbogie, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges. Some people are planning to stand at their driveways at 6am, with musicians encouraged to play The Last Post. Radio station ABC Classic FM will broadcast The Last Post at this time. At 9pm on ANZAC Day, a toast will be offered in many homes to all the fallen.
● Craig Lloyd, Murrindindi Shire CEO
Shire CEO assumes emergency powers
■ Murrindindi Shire Chief Executive Officer Craig Lloyd became a one-person Council last Wednesday (Apr. 15). Mr Lloyd exercised the delegation powers given to him by Councillors during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. Council resolved at its March 25 meeting to amend the powers of the CEO. In the event that a quorum cannot be achieved, the CEO will exercise the delegation in accordance with the delegated powers. Last Wednesday’s special meeting of Council - conducted by videoconferencing saw Mr Lloyd single-handedly endorse the Council’s draft budget, its Strategic Resource Plan, and award a $179,687 contract to Wrights Earthmoving Pty Ltd for improvements works on King Parrot Creek Rd.