Yarra Ranges Local - October-November Edition

October - November 2021

Edition:41

YR LOCAL

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Local jobs for community members

BUY local YA R R A R A N G E S

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Time to prepare for the fire season Small grants

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A word from the Mayor Things are tough for many at the moment and I know that many people are struggling, from the ongoing impact of the storm, the pandemic and lockdown, remote learning, remote working, uncertainty for many businesses and not knowing when things will get better.

We know that the single most important thing that helps communities recover from disaster – storm, pandemic or otherwise – is connection.

I feel lucky to live in such a wonderful community, who I know care for each other greatly and have shown this in spades over the last year.

During times like these, it can feel like a connection is hard to make.

Reaching out to people you know, people who live nearby or someone you haven’t seen in a while, can make the world of difference to the both of you and if you can, small gestures like a regular coffee or a takeaway meal is a great way to connect with and support local businesses to stay afloat and the locals who work for them.

For those doing it tough, please know that support is out there. We have incredible local groups, such as HICCI, Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Services and countless others providing essentials.

If you’re not sure where you can go for help, please give us a call on 1300 368 333 and we’ll connect you to local agencies.

While we’re in the midst of the current COVID-19 outbreak, we’re still working behind-the-scenes on our recovery from the June storms.

The cost of clean-up from the storms is likely to be in excess of $65 million, with hundreds of tonnes of tree debris collected, thousands of tree and drainage requests being actioned by our teams and branches still being collected around Yarra Ranges.

We’ve written to the Prime Minister, asking the Federal Government to assist with the storm recovery clean-up costs and business support measures, while we continue this work.

Some of our other priorities are advocating for better telecommunications infrastructure across the region – something we’re all the more aware of after the storms, asking the State Government to reclassify our rural areas as Regional Victoria for COVID-19 restrictions and working to make it easier to get vaccinated locally.

We’re continuing to push for outcomes on these critical challenges and will keep you updated on any progress we make.

We know there’s a lot of fatigue in the community, as the pandemic continues, restrictions stay with us and energy levels get lower. So take the time to check in on and look after your mental health and reach out for help and support if you need it.

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A word from one of our Youth Ambassadors I became a youth ambassador because I wanted to change the narrative.

I’ve found it hard to escape the feeling that there is a lot of inequality in the world. The fact that this inequality extends to the opportunities and experiences available to a young person has never sat well with me. I’ve seen and felt how the onesize-fits all approach can affect the self-esteem of someone when they’re young, and then go on to impact the rest of their lives.

This is the narrative I want to change. I want every single young person, no matter what their background or ability, to be given equal opportunities and know that their experience in the world matters.

Because they matter.

As a Youth Ambassador I want to support others to share their voice and story.

Prior to becoming a Youth Ambassador, I was lucky enough to be a part of Council’s Youth Action Group (now the Youth Advisory Group) – a diverse group of young people from across the Yarra Ranges. It allowed me to feel I was making a difference in a way I never believed I could. But it just proves it’s the accumulation of people’s experiences that makes a difference.

The Youth Advisory Group has a survey and a “Choose Your Own Adventure” activity - all designed to get as much input from young people as possible – up on the Council website for most of October.

It’s the perfect chance to share your voice, opinion or just relieve some of that angst built up during lockdown and work towards changing the narrative.

Stay safe and take care.

Keep an eye on yarraranges.vic.gov.au/youth for more information.

Fiona McAllister,

Avalon Waterfall,

Mayor of Yarra Ranges

Yarra Ranges Council Youth Ambassador

...we have produced about 17,700 cubic metres of mulch from storm debris...

Storm recovery continues The June 9 flood and storm has had an enormous impact on many parts of the Yarra Ranges municipality and on our community members.

Council, with partners including Bushfire Recovery Victoria, is committed to supporting communities as the municipality begins its recovery, not just from the flood and storm, but the impacts of COVID-19.

We’ll continue to listen to the issues that are of most importance to our communities during the recovery to come, and will work collectively through community-focussed solutions.

We recently ran two community meetings to provide an update on works to date and an opportunity for community members to pose questions to Council, NBN, Telstra and Bushfire Recovery Victoria. Information from these meetings is now up online at yarraranges.vic.gov.au/2021storm As of the time of publication, Council has collected more than 31,000 tonnes of wood, stump and branch debris since the June storms hit.

This material has been processed into mulch and firewood collected by community members, as well as retaining logs and other materials for community projects, landscaping, playspaces and habitat logs.

There’s still work to be done around tree inspection and removal along roadsides.

It’s taken some time to complete our Storm Event Tree and Branch Collection – we started collecting branches from the hills in mid-September and will be working to collect branches as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we have produced about 17,700 cubic metres of mulch from storm debris – roughly the size of seven Olympicsized swimming pools.

Please visit the Council website for information on mulch availability and other supports available to community members.

We know that some clean-up work will take months and years to be fully completed. We’ll be focussing on urgent works ahead of summer, to reduce fire risks on Council-owned and managed land

– such as our roadside slashing program.

We will also be working with fire agencies to coordinate works and increase community awareness of fire planning.

Council’s Bundled Branches collection scheduled for November will help community members to maintain their properties as the warmer months get closer.

For the answers to specific questions regarding your own circumstances, community members are encouraged to call the Recovery Hubs at Kalorama and Olinda for that more personalised support, or the state-wide Storm and Flood Recovery Support hotline 1800 560 760.

You can also visit yarraranges.vic.gov. au/VirtualAppointments for our hubs or visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/2021storm for answers to questions or useful information.

Visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ myneighbourhood to find out when your Bundled Branches collection week is.

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From award winning wineries and gourmet dining experiences to iconic family businesses...

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Local jobs for community members Council’s online employment portal, Yarra Ranges Joblink, has now launched. This is a free service connecting jobseekers and employers in the Yarra Ranges.

region is home to leading businesses across industries such as advanced manufacturing, construction agriculture and health care.

For employers, Yarra Ranges Joblink is an opportunity to advertise directly to local jobseekers.

The local hospitality and tourism industry offers employment into one of Victoria’s most exciting and vibrant visitor destinations.

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Fiona McAllister said that building a team of reliable staff, with local knowledge and insights, is invaluable.

“Working closely with our business community, we know that local businesses can struggle to find enough staff. The disruptions and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic have only exacerbated these challenges,” she said “Our Economic Development and Investment teams are taking a more proactive move in the employment space – it’s a new role, but one we hope will support our local businesses.

“We hope the jobs portal plays a role in connecting our local business with the staff they need.”

There are so many benefits to working locally - in the Yarra Ranges, there’s more to it than just ease and convenience; this

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“The Yarra Ranges is known as Melbourne’s playground for a reason,” Cr McAllister said.

“From award winning wineries and gourmet dining experiences to iconic family businesses that have served the area for generations, there are so many opportunities to start, and grow, your hospitality career here.”

The Yarra Ranges is seeing a growth in dynamic new career opportunities across sectors. And there are more training and pathways into skills-shortage industries than ever before including: • Council is working in partnership with CIRE and Box Hill Institute to provide free mini-qualifications through the Hospitality Jump Start for Jobs program in response to industry skill shortages.

• Box Hill Institute is providing education opportunities leading into robotics, as well as industry-current apprenticeship training in wood, electrical, plumbing and automotive trades, at their state-of-the-art training facility in Lilydale.

• The associated Yarra Ranges Tech school also offers opportunities for our future workforce with leading-education programs using the latest technology in a real-world local context to students from the 20 partner schools operating across Yarra Ranges.

The jobs portal enables the user to explore our trending industries, get an insight into the economic profile of the region and look into pathways into these careers.

Yarra Ranges Joblink is ready to connect local employers with the staff they need and get jobseekers into the careers they’re looking for. It’s an exciting time to live and work in the Yarra Ranges.

For more information, visit joblink.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or call us on 1300 368 333.

I think they’re beautiful, they fit the landscape and look like they belong...

Parklets available for public picnicking Community Parklets have been installed in townships around the Yarra Ranges, preparing the region for visitors and residents heading outdoors for picnics and social interaction.

Council has designed and installed parklets as part of the State Government’s Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund, to encourage people to connect with their communities, support local traders, and take congestion off footpaths as restrictions ease.

Parklets have been installed in Upwey, Kallista, Olinda, Sassafras, Mt Dandenong, Montrose, Mt Evelyn, Seville and Healesville, with seating and tables for enjoying drinks and food from local businesses in a COVID-safe way.

The parklets also showcase the talent of our local artists, who have also been heavily impacted by successive lockdowns. Each parklet features bespoke artwork that was commissioned earlier this year, along with links to see more of

each artists’ work, meaning that each parklet is unique to the township it is placed in.

The parklets were designed in-house with a focus on sustainability, being produced from recycled shipping containers, sustainably sourced timbers and native plants.

The modular design will enable them to be reused elsewhere in the municipality once they are no longer needed in their current locations.

Each parklet will be fitted with accessibility ramps and consideration was put into colour choices and spacing to maximise ease of access for everyone in the community.

As restrictions ease over spring and summer, these parklets will be important in providing a COVID-safe way for locals to enjoy their communities – and local cafes and restaurants - outdoors.

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and President of the Sassafras Township Group, hopes more people will be able to enjoy the Parklets, and support local business, once lockdown ends.

“I have seen people in them since the very first day,” he said.

“I think they’re beautiful, they fit the landscape and look like they belong.

They’re informative too, and showcasing two local artists, that’s wonderful.”

Rebecca Wolske, a textile artist whose work appears on the Mt Evelyn Parklet, said she was excited to be part of the project.

“It was amazing to be selected. We’d been in lockdown, and missed out on so many exhibitions. It was getting disheartening,” she said.

“The fact that Council paid us - and our art gets to be out in public - made me feel wonderful.”

Dion Bright of Geppetto’s Workshop,

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Small grants Considering the impact Covid and the recent storms have had over the last 18 months, the grants have enabled Council to quickly provide support to Emergency Relief Networks and community organisations facing extra demands.

87 applications were approved through Small Grants, with 37 supporting community relief efforts during the pandemic.

Council also responded to needs in the fifth lockdown by providing special grants for community and sporting clubs to purchase PPE and improve future ability to run in a COVID-safe manner when restrictions ease.

Other grant recipients included: • The YAVA Street Library for Art – a free library for community members to share art books located near The Memo in Healesville.

Street Library

Grants of up to $1000 are available for not-for-profit organisations and creatives, as part of Council’s monthly Small Grants program.

Small Grants have a big impact on communities as a flexible, responsive source of funds for community projects.

The program offers grants of up to $1000 to help communities respond to local needs and opportunities.

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• Holy Fools, were funded for their 2020 Christmas barbecue in Melba Park, Lilydale, for people experiencing disadvantage or homelessness.

• Friends of the Water Race and Quinn Reserve in Mount Evelyn, received funding to educate the community about environmental weeds and remove them from private and Council land.

This project had an added benefit of engaging community members in environmental projects during COVID-19.

Weeding work

• Selby Community House Dark Arts – an exhibition with a launch event and artist talks in December 2021.

• Mums of the Hills received funding for a digital book, documenting world events and experiences of local mothers in 2020.

Community members in not-for-profit organisations or creative groups can apply each month for up to $1000 for community projects, under the categories of: • Connected and Vibrant Communities • Community Planning • Economic Development • Youth Initiative • Sports Participation • In-kind Hall and Facility Hire • In-kind Waste Management • Community Relief and Recovery At their meeting on 14 September, Councillors added a new category to the monthly program, specifically for grants to support communities in the face of emergencies.

To find out more about Council’s grants or to apply for funding for your idea, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/grants

Time to prepare for the fire season Residents and property owners are being encouraged to reduce excess vegetation ahead of and during summer, to prepare for the fire season.

Community members maintaining their property into the warmer months can make the most of November-December’s Bundled Branches collection, green waste bins, local waste transfer stations (restrictions permitting) and burning off safely before the Fire Danger Period to reduce fuel loads.

One of the most effective things property owners can do is cutting long grass, removing fallen branches, leaves, twigs and bark – a regular clean-up can dramatically reduce the fire risk. It is this material that can help a fire to spread and grow quickly.

As a result of the recent severe storms, there is likely to be a significant amount of fallen trees, on a number of properties. It is important that the branches and foliage be removed, prior to the hotter weather.

Heavier tree trunks are much less of a fire risk.

Council has been running its special storm branch collection throughout the region in response to the 9 June storms.

By September, more than 13,000 cubic metres of branches and debris had been collected.

For residents continuing their clean-up and maintenance, Council’s Bundled Branches collection runs through November and December.

Community members can place out bundles of branches (each tree limb should be no longer than 1.5m, no wider than 200mm, and each bundle tied with non-plastic string) out for collection in their usual waste collection spot, and they will be picked up on their designated week.

We have also been advocating to the State and Federal Governments for assistance with storm clean-up efforts and funding to help the region recover.

Council will continue to work with the State Government and partner agencies to clean up public land, parks and reserves, alongside annual fire season preparation works.

In the meantime, it’s important to remember that fire season preparedness isn’t just about doing one clean-up - being fire ready means being proactive and regularly clearing or tidying up vegetation before it starts to get out of control.

It’s important to have your property fireready by the time the CFA announces the Fire Danger Period – which will mean burning off can no longer occur anywhere in Yarra Ranges.

This year’s Fire Danger Period hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s best to prepare early and be ready for when the warm weather arrives.

Find out your date for the Bundled Branches collection at yarraranges.vic. gov.au/myneighbourhood

...cutting long grass, removing fallen branches, leaves, twigs and bark...

Planning assistance just a call - or click - away When you need to repair or rebuild, it can be hard to know where to start.

Council’s Planning Team is here to help get you the information you need, so you know the best way forward.

We’re asking community members whose properties have been damaged or destroyed to register their details so we can get a planner to give them a call.

We’ll grab your name, a contact number and email, your property address and a rough description of the damage – a planning officer will then give you a call back with advice specific to your property and any overlays that may apply.

Visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/planningcallback to leave your details.

This information can also be found by visiting eplanning.yarraranges. vic.gov.au to use our online ePlanning tools.

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BUY local

eMPLOy local

eNJoy local

YA R R A R A N G E S As part of council’s recovery efforts, Yarra Ranges Council is launching Buy Employ Enjoy Local – a campaign created to encourage our community to choose local. We’ve been kind to each other, to business and to ourselves. Now it’s time to #BuyEmployEnjoy and support our local business and community.

For more information, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/BEELocal

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1300 368 333