Road works Remain Unfinished –Completion Date Unknown

As a follow up to our article about the general unhappiness expressed by residents about the road works in the centre of town, the Core can report the following:

With the assistance of Councillor Tim Barber, the Harcourt Reference Group has had discussions with Council about the state of the road works.  Neil Charter on behalf of the group, expressed disappointment to Council representatives about the management of the project, which was to be completed by June 30, 2013.

In response, the Council has undertaken to solve a number of outstanding issues. These include:

·         The ability to temporarily open up the end of Bagshaw Street for the Applefest parade. The council plans to alter the arrangement of the bollards and make the chevron sign removable so that vehicles can pass through. However, curb and channel has also been laid here which may prove a challenge for some vehicles or floats.

·         Drainage at the end of Bagshaw Street is to be reinstated, as the works have caused water to pool on the north side.

·         Signs indicating “changed traffic conditions” will be erected at various points to alert drivers

·         At the moment “no right turn” for vehicles travelling north, is indicated from Harmony Way into the continuation of Victoria Street. The amendment to the intersection to allow this will be considered in the 2014/2015 budget.

·         The slipway will be planted out and an informal walking track put in to connect Victoria Road with the town centre

·         Planting of the median strip will be done to enhance the recent tree plantings

·         A bus shelter will be installed on the western side of Harmony Way, near the post that has the VLine Timetable (south of the shop)

·         Two bus shelters will be installed for the eastern side of Harmony Way where the new footpath and bus parking has been established. (One has been erected in recent days).

·         Due to the 70 kmh speed limit, Vic Roads has blacked out the pedestrian crossing first installed. This is now an “informal crossing point” with signs warning pedestrians to give way to traffic.

·         The footpath leading to the new pedestrian crossing has to be modified and partially replaced because the angle of the path makes it difficult to use. This path will have a safety barrier.

·         Parking signs are to be installed

·         The RV Dump Point has been installed and road sealing works are underway. Some signage will also be required to direct visitors.

·         Council has indicated it is going to apply for a 60 km speed limit to slow traffic as Harmony Way does not meet Vic Roads criteria for a 50 km speed limit.

The problem now for the community is that we are currently left with many features of these works left unfinished with no known time-line for completion.

We now also have three types of pedestrian crossings on the road – one with some protection opposite the shop, one south of this called an “informal crossing” and one further south again called a “refuge crossing”. This last crossing has no paths leading to or from it, is difficult to access from the eastern side and was apparently not included in the original plans.

The Harcourt Reference Group meets again on Monday 25 November in the ANA Hall at 7.30 pm.  Community members are welcome to attend. The Core will attend and will attempt to get some answers about completion dates.

Robyn Miller

The latest From The CWA

CENTRAL VIC GROUP of the COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

September Newsletter 2013

Another action packed three days at Lansell Road, Toorak. 

The meeting started with a Candle of Honour for Frank Metzke. He had achieved wonders with simplifying the accounting, and with sorting out the land tax CWA had been paying. The huge amount not only applied to the Lansell Road property, but included about 50% for all the properties held by CWA in the State. The current land tax has been paid, with a refund of $118000 to cover overcharging for the last few years.

I have great admiration for Dorothy Coombe – she reported on her first 100 days as State President – over 2000 emails and 15 disasters – mostly with the Lansell Road property (bits of the roof blew off, hot water pipes leaked, sewerage problems). Dorothy was very good at making sure all the representatives from the Groups were heard. You can all rest assured that any items you want discussed will be.

Now that we are nearing the end of our New Zealand adventure the next destination has been voted on – MONGOLIA. The theme for 2014 is “Challenging Perceptions, Changing Lives”. How about that for food for thought? We can apply it to ourselves to look at things from another point of view; to our branches to try to see what the community thinks of us. You will all come up with ideas before the round of annual meetings, won’t you?

The bid to hold the 2019 ACWW World Conference has been accepted at ACWW in London, a committee formed and a brochure produced. The announcement of the successful application will be made at the World Conference in India. The committee has to prepare a 15 minute segment to promote CWA in Melbourne, Australia.  WhileState President Dorothy Coombe and Vice-president Machelle Crichton are in Chennai, India for the conference the Immediate Past State President Carol Clay will act in the position of State President.

CWA is represented on a lot of State committees. The latest is Carers Victoria. Did you know that if you are caring for someone – helping them to visit the doctor, or just being with them when travelling you are entitled to free travel?

 This service is open to all carers – not just those carers with government assistance. Foodbank Victoria’s representative is our State President, Dorothy Coombe.

THE ROYAL MELBOURNE SHOW is the next big event. Contact CWA on 03 9827 8971 and leave a message for Kaye Kyle if you can help out – volunteers were still needed for the last few days of the show.   

THE CHRISTMAS FAIR on 7^th December at Lansell Road would like donations of Christmas cooking etc.  

 THE STATE FAIR on 1^st March 2014 is focussing on “Gardening for All Ages”.  All the usual donations of produce, plants, jams, cooking will be welcomed. There will be a stall for good quality second hand gardening books and kids toys.

Plans and programmes are under way for the 2014 State Conference in Geelong , and the next State Creative Arts Exhibition will be in South Morang on 8^th and 9^th August 2014.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS – the next big item on our agenda. I have been most impressed by the organisation of CWA. The two year limit for president – of State, Group or Branch means that there is a continual change in the way things are done – but not big changes. These new beginnings every two years really keep the Association alive. The wisdom of having the really hard-working secretaries and treasurers around for longer makes sure CWA doesn’t fall in a heap.

Now is the time to start thinking about next year. All office-bearers are elected for one year. The president may be elected for a second year, but must have a year off before taking office again. The secretary and treasurer may also be elected for a further year – up to a maximum of five years. 

Nominations should be made by branch members and are open until the AGM. This means no nominations or appointments are finalised until the AGM. It would be quite good fun to have a vote or two.   

Any branch executive formed must include ALL the branch office bearers (President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer) and any other members appointed at the AGM. They can prepare the agenda and plan events – but all their decisions must be ratified by the branch.

Now that I have seen just what can be accomplished following the CWA rules and objects at State level, my aim is to see what we can achieve together in the Central Vic Group.  

REMINDERS

Please try to send invitations 6 weeks before any event (to me as well as the branches), so that I can add them to a newsletter and try to make sure events don’t overlap.

Tuesday 10^th September   9.15 am      Morning tea at Woop Woop with parents of children at the Harcourt Valley

                                                                   Primary School

 Monday 16^th September   10am       Heathcote   Perennial Fashions

Sunday 20th October      11am – 3pm   Bridgewater Wool, Wheat and Wine Festival  and CWA promotion

Tuesday 22^nd October      12 noon      Inglewood lunch at the Royal Hotel Cafe  Hopefully – a new branch formed!

Wednesday 23^rd October 10.30am Lansell Road   ACWW meeting and luncheon .   Book with Lansell Road 9827 8971

                                                              and come with  us on the 8 o’clockish train from Castlemaine

Thursday 24^th October    1.30pm      Maryborough           Kaye’s Fashions

Tuesday 19^th November  12 noon   White Ribbon Day Luncheon at 3 Lansell Rod, Toorak.       Bookings 9827 8971

Tuesday or Wednesday 28^th or 29^th January will be our CENTRAL VIC FRIENDSHIP DAY to begin 2014 ay Maryborough.

Saturday December 7^th   State Christmas Cooking Fair  at 3 Lansell Rd Toorak.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

Castlemaine                    Monday 21^st October     6pm

Harcourt                          Thursday  7^th November     10.30am

Heathcote                       Wednesday  13^th November   12 noon

Newbridge                      Tuesday 19^th November     10.30am

Heathcote                           “                          “               1,30pm

Sutton Grange               Wednesday 20^th November    2pm

Dunolly                            Thursday  21^st November     10.30am

Maryborough                       “                          “               1.30pm

Havilah                                  “                          “                7pm

Please contact me if these need to be altered.

                      

GROUP CONFERENCE  Thanks to all who helped make my first conference a great day out – not the trial I thought it would be. It was a greater trial for Allison and the Castlemaine Branch to cope with the catering – thanks to those from other branches who helped with trading table and raffle etc.  The speakers were excellent. I thought the venue and the set-up for lunch was terrific and I was really pleased that you all thought we should start the 2014 year with a Group Friendship Day. Thanks to Maryborough Branch for offering to host the day -  

Results -    Door money  to Castlemaine Branch

                   Trading Table    $19.00    to Central Vic Group

                    Raffle                    64.00            “

                    CWA Goods         80.50            “  

THE FEBRUARY AGM AND HALF-YEARLY CONFERENCE will be at Dunolly.

The competitions:

        Nut loaf – no fruit, and cooked in a cylinder tin

        Jar of Lemon Butter

        Posy of flowers – no more than 18cm in diameter

The Group Effort for the hospital:        

       Tactile knee rugs – mad of materials that are washable in very hot water.

2014 CWA DIARIES     $7.50   Please post any orders, with a cheque made out to CWA Vic to me at P.O. Box 48, Harcourt as soon as possible. I can then collect them at the ACWW Luncheon in October.

Anything left out I’ll put in next month’s newsletter.

As we say in PNG:   Em tasol.  Or Over and Out.                                     

Ayron

click on the Harcourt CWA page here

Completing The Feedback Form

The Next Step

The Action Plan

The Action Plan 26-06-2013

Feedback Form

LCPP-Harcourt Draft Community Plan Feedback Form2

Harcourt Workshop

Chutney and Marmalade Workshop

Updated Community Action Plan

Harcourt Community Action Plan
1.       Communication
Strategy	Actions	Who will lead	Timing	Priority	Comments
a)      Promote what is happening in Harcourt to residents	Create, maintain and manage a Harcourt Progress Association newsletter and blog Regularly submit photos and articles to the Castlemaine Mail and Express	Kelly	Regularly	High	Community to feed information to Kelly for the blog. Contact people from various organisations to put information on the blog.
b)      Promote and support local businesses	Develop a “support your local businesses/ services” campaign	Donna/ Kelly	Ongoing	Medium
c)       Attract visitors to town	Develop a tourism map of Harcourt showing local attractions Develop a promotional strategy to attract visitors to Harcourt Promote the town as being family friendly	Max	3-6 months	High	Work with Neil Robins and Neil Charter from Heritage centre To update brochure Follow up with Steven Hilley regarding services map.
d)      Local Councillor to be available to talk with Harcourt residents	Have a listening post at the local shop regularly Local councillor to attend Harcourt Progress Group meetings	Craig	Once every three months	Medium
2.       Arts, Crafts, Culture, Events
Strategy	Actions	Who will lead	Timing	Priority	Comments
a)      Support and sustain existing community events and activities	Assist with the promotion, development and running of the Applefest	Donna/David	6-12 months	Medium	Look at other festivals, possibility to broaden it to include food and wine Suggest some new ideas to Applefest committee Open Air cinema in conjunction with Applefest meetings Possible combined brainstorming session
b)      Promote new community events and activities	Develop and promote a Food and Wine Trail for the Harcourt district	Kelly			Follow up with Katie Finlay regarding information on current food and wine trail
3.       Sustainability and Skills
Strategy	Actions	Who will lead	Timing	Priority	Comments
a)      Improving and protecting local landscapes	Explore the feasibility of community management of the Oak Forest Improvement of the area along the creek to create a walk way Promote protection of the environment on Mount Alexander and in the surrounding area, also the development of walking trails	David/ Max	12-18 months	Medium	Oak forest could be useful for community events Can Heritage Victoria help? Walking track – liaise with council
b)      Attract, recognise and retain volunteers to support community initiatives	Create a pool of volunteers from the community
4.       Facilities and Services
Strategy	Actions	Who will lead	Timing	Priority	Comments
a)      Increase access to sustainable transport options	Lobby to open the station Lobby to increase the bus service to  and from Harcourt			High
b)      Identify and support activities for young people	Set up a group to facilitate support for young people, particularly those at risk and explore opportunities to create activities and venues within Harcourt for their use.
c)       Identify and create an appropriate commercial zone
d)      Primary school as a community venue	Use the primary school facilities and resources as a venue for community  and educational activities in Harcourt
e)      Recreational facilities	Improve the facilities in central Harcourt – eg – barbecue, lighting, toilets Provide a fenced playground Make Harcourt a destination for cyclists and cycling events Ensure the long term viability of the Harcourt Pool
f)       Create a permanent performance space in James Park	Work with local organisations to lobby council to get this done.  Also consider the use of volunteer labour to assist with the work Investigate the possibility of applying for a regional arts grant to construct this.  Apply if appropriate.
g)      Improve the drainage in James park	Work with local organisations to lobby council to get this done.  Also consider the use of volunteer labour to assist with the work
h)      Create a multi purpose community hub in central Harcourt	Approach council to assist with the purchase of an existing building in Harcourt			High
5.       Beautification
Strategy	Actions	Who will lead	Timing	Priority	Comments
a)      Promote walking tracks and trails	Create a resource which provides information on the tracks and trails in the Harcourt area
b)      Town Centre	Explore and develop ways to create a town centre				Streetscape – need to lobby and survey the community for a more suitable landscape
c)       Visual Statement	Create a visual statement along the Freeway and in the town centre to draw people into Harcourt