Mitchell Shire Council

Mitchell Shire Council is deeply saddened by the passing of former Councillor Sue Marstaeller. Sue served our community with distinction from 2003 to 2016, including three terms as Mayor. Her dedication to the Shire, especially her work during the Black Saturday Bushfires, left a lasting legacy. Sue was a mentor to many and continued her service through many community initiatives. Our thoughts are with Sue’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Spring is definitely in the air🌻 And as the weather picks up, so does the parks and gardens duties in Mitchell. Members of our team, like Zeb, will be out and about tackling the fast-growing grass across the Shire. We're really love to see our team jump in front of the camera to talk to their work, passion and love for Mitchell. Zeb is the REAL star.

Another project officially ticked off✨ We're thrilled to announce the opening of the expanded Broadford Family and Children’s Centre. On Friday 23 August, Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes joined us to celebrate this important milestone. The expansion includes a brand new kindergarten room with space for 33 children, supporting Mitchell Shire's growing community. The works also involved expanding the centre’s entrance, Maternal Child Health Service area, and increased car parking to ensure appropriate access and entrance points. The $2.063 million project was made possible thanks to $1.763 million from the Victorian Government and $300,000 from Mitchell Shire Council.

We had an incredible time at the hArt24 exhibition’s First Nations Art Sharing Circle couple of weeks ago 🎨✨ On Sunday, July 28, after the hArt24 exhibition opening, our team gathered with community members of all ages for an intimate cultural experience. Taungurung visual artist Talitha-Sarai Annuscheit and Wotjobaluk and Gunaikurnai weaver Bobbie Pepper shared their rich cultural and artistic practices in a warm and welcoming environment. With a cuppa in hand, participants crafted beautiful woven bracelets under Bobbie's expert guidance, while Talitha’s unique hand-painted shoes sparked lively discussions about creativity and cultural expression. The day wrapped up with an impromptu artist talk, where the stories behind the works in hArt 24 were shared. It was a day full of learning, connection, and deep appreciation for the artistic talent in our community. 🌟 A big thanks to Taungurung visual artist Talitha-Sarai Annuscheit and Wotjobaluk and Gunaikurnai weaver Bobbie Pepper. Plus, our wonderful Community Development team for organising this wonderful extension of our hArt24 exhibition.👏

The Northern Councils Alliance has launched the Connect Melbourne’s North: It’s time to transform our transport campaign! This is a powerful joint effort from seven councils – Mitchell, Banyule City Council , Darebin City Council Hume City Council , Merri-bek City Council , Nillumbik Shire Council, and City of Whittlesea   – advocating for much-needed transport improvements across Melbourne’s north, including the Upfield rail line. Our community is growing rapidly, but our transport infrastructure isn’t keeping up. We’re calling for state and federal government support to: - Improve rail connections to Melbourne✔️  - Beveridge Station📢  - Somerton Link🔗  - Electrified rail line to Wallan🔌  - Enhanced overall transport for Melbourne's North🚌 Mitchell Shire residents face severe traffic congestion, long trips to hospitals, difficulty accessing jobs and educational facilities, and increasing social isolation. Without immediate investment, these issues will only get worse. Watch the video to learn more 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wLJp3

This week, Mitchell Shire Council had the pleasure of hosting the Rural Councils Forum, welcoming CEOs and Councillors from across rural Victoria for two days of collaboration and discussion. Members from Northern Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria, and leaders including Michaela Settle, Parliamentary Secretary Regional Development, Peter Walsh, Leader of the Nationals, and Annabelle Cleeland, Member for Euroa also attended. Our $8 million Seymour Resource Recovery Centre and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial took centre stage, showcasing the innovative and community-focused initiatives happening in Mitchell Shire. The scenic Trawool Estate provided the perfect setting for engaging discussions on topics like Rural Councils' advocacy in the lead-up to the federal election, the impact of AI on rural communities, and big ideas for the future of rural Victoria. A special thanks to experts like Kos Samaras from Redbridge Group, David Jochinke from the National Farmers Federation, and Natalie Egleton from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal for leading thought-provoking panels. We also highlighted the Visitor Economy Partnership through Goulburn Region Tourism, a collaboration between local councils and the Victorian Government aimed at boosting our region's visitor economy. A huge thank you to all the rural councils who attended. Together, we're driving positive change and ensuring a bright future for rural Victoria.

Despite the less-than-ideal weather this July, it did not deter a group of dedicated individuals from participating in National Tree Day last Sunday by planting some greenery. This year, a team of 30 volunteers braved the rain and successfully planted 400 native understory plants in the Monument Hill Reserve, located in Kilmore. This initiative aligns with the recently implemented Monument Hill Reserve Management Plan 2024-2034 and will enhance the biodiversity of the area around the front carpark that was once overrun by weeds. We are always inspired by the dedication and hard work of our volunteers in Mitchell Shire, and a big thanks to our team for organising this event👏

In March 2025, Mitchell Shire will be implementing a new 4-bin system in order to improve our recycling efficiency. We are excited to begin sharing information about this change with our community, starting this week. This change will have a significant impact on our community, but it is one we are confident will lead to a more sustainable Mitchell. As our landfill site is reaching its capacity, it is crucial for us to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. This will not only extend the life of our landfill, but also help us achieve our goals of minimising waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective manner. Furthermore, this initiative is in line with the State Government's Recycling Victoria Policy, which aims to have all Victorian households equipped with a 4-stream kerbside service by 2030. So, what does this change mean for our community? • Food & Garden Organics (green lid): For food scraps and garden waste. • Glass Recycling (purple lid): For recycled glass bottles and jars. • General Waste (red lid): For non-recyclable items. • Mixed Recycling (yellow lid): For plastics, paper, and metals. Our team will be working hard to inform, discuss and resolve any queries about the new bin system. We know the change will require some adjustments and our team are committed to making this a smooth transition. To learn more, visit👉 https://lnkd.in/gfMtAxne.

We’ve got exciting recreational projects coming up in the 2024/25 Capital Works program. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the major projects we're bringing to the community👇 • Beveridge Central Active Open Space: This new development is set to offer expansive outdoor areas for sports and leisure. Look out for an opportunity to provide input before final designs are developed early next year. Planning for this precinct is funded with $675,500 through development contributions and $50,000 from the State Government towards the masterplan. • Seymour Tennis Complex Upgrade: Includes the reconstruction of 4 synthetic grass courts with competition standard lighting. This $2 million multi-year project is backed by $1 million from the State Government’s Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund, $976,000 Council contribution and $40,000 from Seymour Tennis. • Beveridge Recreation Reserve Activation: will see a playspace upgrade, connecting pathways, a footbridge over the wetland, solar lighting, outdoor fitness equipment, seating and landscaping. This project is possible thanks to support from the State Government including $750,000 from the Growing Suburbs Fund, and $20,000 from the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund with a $795,542 Council contribution. Our team can't wait to make these vital projects a reality and support our growing community. To view our full capital works program👇 https://lnkd.in/gfmBPRDQ

We've got a new Youth Council 👏 Introducing Youth Council Mayor, Bailey White and Youth Council Deputy Mayor Catherine Jacob. And our new group of youth councillors⚖️ Cena Marshall (Youth Council Secretary), Elena Skala, Ella Childs, Jeremy Shute, Phoebie McDonald, Zali Patford, Evie Birks, Heidi Banks, Nic Houghton (Senior Youth Councillor), Taylah Macdonald and Jessica Stevens. Mitchell Youth Council is a way leadership program for young people aged 12-24 to have their voices heard on issues that impact them and advocate for all young people in the Shire.