Murrindindi Shire Council’s 2018/19 draft Budget seeks community comment with council asking for ratepayers thoughts about how Murrindindi can improve community safety.
Mayor Charlie Bisset said community safety is important to everyone and the draft budget reflects this.
“We love living in our communities throughout the Shire and it’s our priority to make sure everyone can live here safely and comfortably.
“Our ‘Community Safety Officers’ – sometimes referred to as ‘Council Rangers’ or ‘Local Laws Officers’ – do a great job. Between them, our Community Safety officers cover about 150,000 kilometres per year and manage the community safety issues of the Shire’s 13,500 residents 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
“Some of the many issues they deal with include, stock on the road, wandering pets or the event of a dog attack. They are also responsible for issuing permits for burning off and inspecting all properties in the summer months to ensure residents minimise bushfire risk. They’re the people we all call if there’s a nuisance dog barking or someone’s backyard fire is causing issues.
“We want to reflect the importance of this work by allocating funds to appoint an additional officer. The additional officer will help us increase our work in animal management, fire prevention and other areas of local law. The team will also expand their work to improve the community’s awareness and understanding of compliance and enforcement activities in Murrindindi Shire.
As part of our normal asset replacement program the Community Safety vehicles are due for replacement and so shortly you will notice the new highly visible vehicles around the Shire – we have made some changes to improve safety and animal welfare.
“The team also supervise, train and equip our school crossing supervisors across the Shire. Currently school crossing supervisors look after crossings in Eildon, Alexandra, Yea and Kinglake. We think these supervisors play a really valuable role in keeping our children safe when they travel to and from school and the draft budget demonstrates this. We are always looking for more school crossing volunteers, particularly in Alexandra, even one morning or afternoon a week would really help our team.
“Likewise, the draft budget has strategically invested in some key capital works projects that improve safety for everyone. We are proposing to upgrade road access to ensure emergency services vehicles can easily reach the Alexandra Helipad in the event an emergency airlift. We are also proposing to upgrade safety and directional signage for cyclists throughout the shire, as well as improve sight clearance and curve alignments on Kinglake-Glenburn Road.
“We’d like to hear from the community about the focus on community safety in relation to the Budget – do you think this is important? If you would like to make a submission to Council about this, or any other aspect of the budget, please do so in writing 1 June 1, 2018,” Bisset said.
The draft Budget is available for viewing at all Council offices until June 1, 2018. It can also be downloaded from Council’s website at www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/budget
Submissions can be sent via email to msc@murrindindi.vic.gov.au, hand delivered to a Council office or posted to: Manager Business Services, Murrindindi Shire Council, PO Box 138, Alexandra, VIC, 3714.
For more information, phone Council on (03) 5772 0333. If you want to contact your ward Councillor directly, see www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/councillors.
