View as a webpage  /  Share

Friday 21 March, 2025

Hello everyone,

I want to take this opportunity to again reinforce to the Rutherglen community in particular that we hear you, and that every question and concern raised over this past week about Agriculture Victoria disposing of contaminated waste at its Rutherglen Research Facility has not gone unnoticed. Most of this past week has been spent liaising with Agriculture Victoria, including its Chief Executive Officer about the community’s concern and the lack of information and communication provided. I want to reiterate that Indigo Shire was not informed until Saturday 15 March, nor did it have any role to play in the issuing of permits or any other approvals. As a result of our advocacy efforts, we were pleased to see Agriculture Victoria on site in Rutherglen today to address the community and answer your questions. We also put your questions directly to the department and you can read the responses here. We understand the level of concern and anxiety this has created for Rutherglen and the surrounding communities, and we have been chasing answers for you. I hope that the information that you are now receiving is going some way to allay these concerns and we will continue to closely monitor the situation. Today’s message is also an invitation to all Indigo Shire residents to hear first-hand from our local doctors, emergency department nurses, ambulance personnel, allied health professionals and community advocates on why we must continue to fight for a new Albury Wodonga Hospital built on a greenfield site. They will be among the keynote speakers to address a hospital rally in Albury’s QEII Square on Saturday 29 March from 10am. The alliance of councils advocating for a new hospital on a new site have organised the rally to provide an opportunity for all community members who could not make it to Melbourne on 5 March, to come together and stand united in calling for a new hospital on a new site that can service our region for the next 30 years and beyond. We need to demonstrate to governments that a new single-site hospital has the full backing of the 300,000 plus people who reside in the Albury-Wodonga health catchment. I look forward to seeing as many Indigo Shire faces as possible at the rally and I strongly encourage you to spare an hour and come along. Wear a white T-shirt and bring a placard if you like and let’s send the loudest message possible that our community deserves better. Take care and enjoy your weekend. Cr Sophie Price.

Mayor Sophie Price speaks at a media conference in Wodonga yesterday, encouraging all local residents to attend next Saturday's hospital rally.

Hello everyone,

On Tuesday Night, 25 March, Council will hold its monthly meeting and among the agenda items to be considered is the Expression of Interest for occupancy of the Beechworth Kindergarten and Childcare Centre at Mayday Hills. Since the agenda papers were made available to the public, we have received a number of emails from community members expressing concern at the recommendation. Until such time as the Council meets to consider the recommendation, there is little comment that can be made publicly, as this could be seen as pre-empting the council decision. However, I want to assure the community that there is no intention of closing the Mayday Hills Beechworth Childcare and Kindergarten Centre. The EOI process was undertaken to find a single provider to deliver both kindergarten and childcare from the Mayday Hills site. This process was undertaken with a high level of governance, and all applicants were assessed against a set of criteria. On completion of the assessment, the panel, which included a Department of Education representative, recommended a lease to occupy the centre be awarded to Alpine Children’s Services. The full Council report is available for viewing on the Council website, and we will be able to make more comment following the meeting. Take care. Trevor

Free firewood for first 50 eligible applicants

Applications are now open to Pension Concession Card or Department of Veterans' Affairs Card holders for our Community Firewood Collection Program.

Available through a partnership with the Beechworth Correctional Centre, eligible community members can apply to collect one cubic metre of firewood for free from the Beechworth Transfer Station.

The program is limited to the first 50 eligible community members who apply. Simply visit one of our Customer Experience Centres or call us on 1300 365 003 to add your name to the waiting list.

Cool Heads Program targeting road safety

Cool Heads, a road safety program aimed at young drivers, was held at Club Corowa on Wednesday with approximately 60 students from Rutherglen and Corowa High Schools attending to hear from police, first responders and individuals whose lives have been directly impacted by road trauma.

Attendees said that following the event, they felt more aware that road trauma can happen to anyone and that they need to think about their actions before getting behind the wheel. 

Councillors from Federation and Indigo Shire Councils were also in attendance to support the important cross-border initiative, which has been running since 2011.

Tree maintenance project to improve safety and streetscapes

The Indigo Project, which focuses on removing unhealthy or structurally unsound street trees near power lines in Rutherglen, Chiltern, and Wahgunyah, will commence on Monday 24 March.

A collaboration between AusNet and Council, the project aims to enhance safety and compliance by removing trees that pose risks or require excessive pruning to maintain regulatory clearance levels, and improve aesthetics through the planting of more appropriate species.

Get Active Indigo grants close soon

Applications for our 2025 Get Active Indigo Grants program close on Monday 31 March, so if you’re yet to get your application in, we encourage you to do so.

There's a total funding pool of $30,000 and grants of up to $5,000 available for local clubs, groups, committees and service providers with projects that aim to increase or support physical activity within Indigo Shire

We'll be in Tangambalanga on Tuesday

Don't forget that our Customer Experience Team will be at the Tangambalanga Lions Den on Tuesday from 9am to 4pm. Pop in to get help or information on rates, waste management, permits, animal registration and community programs, find out about upcoming projects in the area, or simply just to meet the team.

What's on the Council meeting agenda?

The agenda for the March Council meeting is now available on our website. Council will be discussing a number of items including:  Beechworth Childcare and Kindergarten Centre - Expression of Interest Three Planning Permits 2019-2024 Library Strategy Evaluation

Beechworth traffic survey

The Department of Transport and Planning is partnering with councils to survey traffic and pedestrian movements at various locations across Victoria to identify any road safety issues. To support the initiative, cameras have been installed on Sydney Road, near Kars Street in Beechworth. The camera technology detects objects and movement without capturing the identity of pedestrians and vehicles, and replaces the pneumatic rubber tubes and onsite observations previously used for such surveys.

Public Notices

• Proposed Lease Lake Sambell Reserve – Caravan & Camping
• Kiewa Tangambalanga Customer Experience Pop Up dates
• Does your waste bin have a green lid?
• Planned burns to impact Indigo Epic Trail and local roads
• Community Firewood Collection Program
• Contaminated Waste Disposal in Rutherglen FAQ's

Boorhaman East Road bridge construction continues

The welcome rain this week didn’t slow progress on the Boorhaman East Road Bridge upgrade project, with installation and testing of the pile supports now complete, and assembly of the steel structure progressing well.

Works to finish shaping and rock armouring the new wider waterway will be completed next, before placement of the main bridge beams.

The temporary side road and associated speed limits remain in place, and we ask that road users take care in the changed conditions.

Works progressing well at Beechworth Railway Precinct

Works at the Beechworth Railway Precinct reached an exciting milestone this week with the installation of a new shade pavilion.

The pavillion will develop a rusted look over the coming months as the corten steel surface oxidises.

These works are funded by Tourism North East's Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements project and there's plenty more planned for next week. Weather permitting, a shelter table, seating, drainage, electrical reticulation and granite boulders for the nature play area will all be installed.

Wahgunyah Railway Reserve footpath works

Works continued this week at Wahgunyah Railway Reserve with a new section of concrete footpath constructed between the public shelter and playground.

The remaining section of path connecting to the pump track will be completed next week, weather permitting.

Please be aware there is restricted access to the path and parking area while works are being completed.

Draft CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy

The draft CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy, which guides the recruitment, appointment, performance monitoring, and remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is now on exhibition and we're keen to hear your feedback.

This policy ensures transparency, good governance, and compliance with the Local Government Act 2020, which requires all councils to have a CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy in place.

Hit the button below to find out more, read the draft policy and should you wish to do so, make a submission.

Submissions close at 5pm on 28 March 2025.

Yackandandah Folk Festival

The Yackandandah Folk Festival is back for another year, kicking off this evening and running right through to Sunday night.

See a range of incredible local, interstate and international Folk, Blues n Roots artists at free and ticketed venues. There'll also be a street parade, markets and a great range of regional food.

High Country Hop 2025

Join Bridge Road Brewers in Beechworth for the Victorian hop harvest at The High Country Hop, Australia's favourite destination beer and music festival.

Returning to the village green, at Beechworth's Historic Precinct Reserve, 90 High Street, tomorrow - 22 March from 11:30am to 8pm.

Join our team

We're currently recruiting for the following exciting positions:

• Digital Communications Officer - permanent part time
• Municipal Building Surveyor
• Independent Member, CEO Employment & Remuneration Committee
• Independent Community Member of the Municipal Emergency Management Committee (voluntary)

Applications for some of these roles close on Sunday, so please ensure you have your application in before the deadline.

More than 100 people enjoyed the hospitality of the Sandy Creek community on Saturday evening for the Festival of Small Halls.

Local act Cat Magic kicked off the show before international singer Lucy Farrel delighted the audience with her pure, dulcet tones. After a delicious supper, Queensland performers Hat Fitz and Cara rounded the evening off by getting everyone up on stage for some rousing audience participation that nearly lifted the roof. Congratulations to all involved.

A big thanks to Sandra Crawley for the photo and Cr Horne for sharing this story. Next stop for these talented musicians is the Yackandandah Folk Festival.

If you have a photo you would like us to share, or a good news story you'd like to celebrate, please submit it by pressing the button below.