Casey Catch Up - Winter 2023

INSIDE: BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS AGEING POSITIVELY FESTIVAL MYUNA FARM UPGRADES WINTER 2023 SIGN UP TO THE MONTHLY DIGITAL EDITION VISIT COUNCIL’S WEBSITE AND SEARCH CASEY CATCH UP

SEE WHAT’S NEW AT CASEY’S CONNECTED LIBRARIES

Your local library has a new name –Connected Libraries.

After Cardinia Shire partnered with Myli - My Community Library in December 2022 for their library service, we needed to come up with a new trading name for Casey’s libraries and so we asked the local community for their ideas.

We received more than 750 responses and many of those suggestions included the words ‘connected’ or ‘connect’ - so we listened.

Connected Libraries is now the name of your local library service, which has branches in Bunjil Place, Cranbourne, Doveton, Endeavour Hills and Hampton Park, and there’s an exciting new brand to go with it. City of Casey Administrator Miguel Belmar, who is a member of the library Board, said it was a perfect name.

“We believe Connected Libraries reflects our local library service, which is modern, forward thinking and focuses on connecting people with information and each other,” he said.

“We are excited about the future of lifelong learning in Casey, where every citizen has equal opportunity to learn, grow and connect with others.”

Libraries are not just a place to discover stories but where people can come together, connect, create, and thrive. Libraries have transformed and are now adaptable spaces that inspire innovation and collaboration. The programs and activities run at Connected Libraries are bold, innovative and responsive to the diverse needs of our community.

Find out what’s on at your local library by heading into the branch or see the new Connected Libraries website connectedlibraries.org.au.

CITY OF CASEY WELCOMES IBAC OPERATION SANDON REPORT

The City of Casey has welcomed the release of the Independent BroadBased Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) Operation Sandon report and will continue to work with IBAC, the Victorian Government and other relevant agencies to strengthen integrity in Council decision making and promote transparency.

The report makes 34 recommendations regarding the State’s planning processes designed to promote transparency in decision making, enhance donation and lobbying regulation and strengthen Council governance.

Since the dismissal of Councillors in February 2020, and in line with the Casey Municipal Monitor’s report also released at that time, Council has been focused on delivering reforms that uphold integrity and transparency through clear, contemporary policies and decision-making.

A great deal of work has already occurred to reform Council’s processes and to ensure clarity around responsibilities and decision making, including in planning matters. This includes:

• reviewing governance and integrity systems at the City of Casey

• setting out a clear governance audit and action plan

• endorsing a new protocol and policy for Councillors and their role in land-use planning

• developing a new policy to guide strategic planning scheme amendment requests from proponents/developers

• reviewed delegations to ensure they are appropriate

• embedding conflict of interest obligations.

In April 2021, Council also launched an annual Community Leadership Program to provide free training for new, emerging and existing community leaders in Casey who want to build their leadership skills, learn about community engagement and local government, and to become leaders within the community. Sixty participants have already graduated from the first two rounds of the program and a further group of 30 are currently taking part.

A formal response to the IBAC report and recommendations are available on Council’s website.

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2023/24 COUNCIL BUDGET

The City of Casey has adopted its Council Plan 2021-25 – Year 3 Review and Budget 2023/24 as part of a suite of strategic documents that outline how Council will invest in the city’s future while connecting its communities.

This year’s Budget totals $542.26 million, including a $467.44 million operational budget and a $74.82 million Capital Works Program, which sees Council committing to a year of consolidation, with a view to the longer-term wellbeing of the community.

COMMUNITY PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:

NARRE WARREN

$2.28M

Ray Bastin Reserve redevelopment

HAMPTON PARK

$1.62M

Completion of Robert Booth pavilion construction

LYNBROOK

$480,000

Renewal works at the Lynbrook Family and Children’s Centre

PEARCEDALE

$1M

Completion of building renewal of Pearcedale Sports and Recreational Reserve pavilion

Budget highlights

$57 million towards waste management services

$45 million towards child, youth and family services

$23 million towards community connection and wellbeing

$22 million towards the road network

$19 million towards parks and open spaces

$11 million towards sports and leisure

NARRE WARREN

$1.18M

Stage 2 of the 1001 Bayview Park Steps development

NARRE WARREN

$900,000

Max Pawsey tennis pavilion

CRANBOURNE EAST

$4.19M

Casey Fields upgrades including:

• $1.23 million for renewal works at athletic track

• $1.19 million for stormwater harvesting

• $900,000 for completion of existing works for ovals 4 and 5 pavilion

• $870,000 for Stage 2 of fitness trail

CRANBOURNE EAST

$3.89M

Completion of Ballarto Road and South Gippsland Highway intersection upgrade

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BECOME A GARDENS FOR WILDLIFE VOLUNTEER

Do you love gardening? Would you like to help others to create a wildlife friendly-garden?

Join the Casey Gardens for Wildlife program as a volunteer garden guide and become part of this fantastic biodiversity initiative.

Garden guides will:

• receive training in wildlife-friendly gardening

• create connections with other passionate locals

• become part of the G4W network.

You don’t need expert knowledge of gardening or biodiversity to apply. To find out more about Gardens for Wildlife or to submit an application to become a volunteer, visit Council’s website.

COULD YOU BE A CASEY CROSSING SUPERVISOR?

We’re looking for more School Crossing Supervisors to join the Casey team.

We’ve currently got casual positions available in the Cranbourne, Clyde and Clyde North areas. We are looking for people of all ages who are available to work morning and afternoon shifts during school terms for up to 1.5 hours per day. As a School Crossing Supervisor, you will assist students and families to travel safely to and from school with crossings located at selected intersections, pedestrian light crossings and at flagged children’s crossings across the City of Casey. If this is a role that interests you, visit the careers page on the City of Casey website for more details.

OCTOBER 2023 casey.vic.gov.au/ageing-positively-festival learn, love, live.

AGEING POSITIVELY FESTIVAL

MYUNA FARM POWERS UP ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The City of Casey has recently installed a state-of-the-art wind turbine and battery storage system at Myuna Farm in Doveton.

The first of its kind in Casey, this significant addition to Myuna Farm’s environmental infrastructure will bolster the solar and community electric vehicle charger already in place on the farm, further strengthening Council’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

Between 2004 and 2023, energy saving projects at the farm have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 84 per cent and importantly, halved the energy bills despite rising energy costs. Key energy saving projects have included real time electricity monitoring, LED lighting upgrades, insulation upgrades, mechanical servicing, 30kW solar photovoltaic system and Casey’s first community electric vehicle charger.

The wind turbine will continue to decrease Myuna Farm’s reliance on traditional energy sources further supporting

energy cost reductions. This, in turn, allows Myuna Farm to allocate more resources towards the care and conservation of the farm animals and the enhancement of its popular educational programs. With more than 180,000 visitors to the farm each year, the wind turbine will be accompanied by interactive displays and informative signage to provide visitors with insights into the installation and hopefully inspires community members to also embrace renewable energy solutions where possible. The 5kW wind turbine stands on a locally made 17 metre tower and is one of the most efficient small wind turbines available. The system feeds into the current solar system and will save more than 10 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, delivering on Myuna Farm’s vision of creating a sustainable future for generations to come.

IMPROVED ACCESS AT ANIMAL NURSERY

Myuna Farm has completed an upgrade to its popular animal nursery enclosure after 30 years of spreading joy to countless visitors young and old.

The animal nursery enclosure was originally constructed in 1993 through a training program with Holmesglen TAFE building apprentices. As part of this collaboration, apprentices learned environmentally sustainable building design and techniques, resulting in a structure that has stood the test of time.

The renovated design features upgraded animal enclosures with improved accessibility for people of all

abilities, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the Myuna farm experience. Two function rooms within the animal nursery have also been upgraded, which cater for children’s parties.

The recent upgrades are also in keeping with the farm’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, retaining the farm’s rustic characteristics with the inclusion of recycled materials.

Myuna Farm is open every day. To find out more visit Council’s website.

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BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR CASEY STUDENTS

The City of Casey has continued its long-standing commitment to supporting educational equity by donating a further 106 laptops to not-for-profit organisation ‘This is IT’. City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson recently visited Hallam Secondary College, along with local MPs Belinda Wilson and Pauline Richards and school principals from Gleneagles, Hallam, Lyndhurst, Clyde, Cranbourne East, and Hampton Park secondary schools to celebrate the latest handover of laptops to the program.

The City of Casey has been a founding contributor to the ‘This is IT’ program for the past four years and have now shared over 300 laptops in total. The program collects end-of-life and end-of-lease laptops to repurpose them for students in need.

According to This is IT co-founder Andrew Simmons "10 to 15 per cent of students lack access to technology, putting them at a disadvantage compared to their peers when it comes to learning".

“The laptops provided by the City of Casey play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide among students.

“With financial stress being a significant barrier to secondary education, the partnership between the City of Casey and This is IT has proven to be instrumental in assisting students in need.

Mr Patterson applauded the initiative and the momentum this program has brought to the local community.

“The positive impact this initiative has on families and individuals is immeasurable and we are thrilled to see our community benefitting from it,” Mr Patterson said.

“I encourage other organisations in both the public and private sectors to donate to this essential cause.”

CASEY CATCH UP

BOOSTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CASEY

The City of Casey has been proud to work with Federation University Australia on an exciting project aimed at supporting local women to become more physically active. Council approached Federation last year about possible research opportunities, to find out more about the barriers faced by women in accessing sport and recreation activities and how Council could empower the community to become more active.

Federation University conducted a survey and workshops attended by more than 75 women aged from 18 to 71, many with children under five-years-old and more than half from households that speak a language other than English.

The research found:

• Cost, not having enough time, being unsure of what was available to them, and domestic and care responsibilities were the top four barriers to physical activity.

• On average, women reported 107 minutes of leisure-time physical activity per week, below the recommended 150 minutes.

• Women thought being active was a good thing but didn’t think they had the social support and/or experienced difficulties to be active on most days.

• Among the women-designed physical activities were learn to swim classes, group-based exercises like yoga and Zumba, walking groups and social sports with a focus on affordability and child-friendly or childcare options. Based on the findings, Council will work towards developing recreation opportunities to enable more women and girls in Casey to be active more often.

To find out more about the activities already on offer as part of Council’s #CaseyGirlsCan program, see Council’s website.

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Subscribe now and:

– Get all the latest on local events, sport and entertainment

– Find out about Council-run programs and services

To subscribe, visit casey.vic.gov.au/catchup

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IN BRIEF

NEW WASTE GUIDE OUT NOW

If you need to check which items can go into each bin, when your recycling or green collection is or how to book a hard waste collection, you’ll find it all in the new Casey Waste Guide.

The updated guide is now available on Council’s website, as well as a handy A-Z reference that covers everything from aluminium foil to zip lock bags. If you prefer to receive a paper copy, visit Council’s website or contact the Customer Service team and we’ll have one sent out to you.

REGISTER NOW FOR FREE KINDERGARTEN IN 2024

Registrations are now being accepted for both three and four-year-old kindergarten in 2024 and the great news is, all City of Casey kindergarten sessions are free. Next year, City of Casey kindergartens will be offering five hours of three-year-old kindergarten and 15 hours of four-year-old kindergarten. To make it easier to plan ahead, this year families also have the option to choose their preferred kindergarten session at the time of registering.

To find out more or to register your child, visit the kindergarten page on Council’s website.

NAVIGATING EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS

Navigating the education system and employment pathways in Australia can often be a complex and misunderstood process, especially for families with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The City of Casey has brought together a panel of local experts to share their knowledge and insights to assist parents, their secondary school children and jobseekers to confidently navigate the Australian education system and make informed decisions regarding education and career options.

The video is available on the City of Casey’s Youtube channel.

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