Update from the Borough – 30 June 2022
Published on 30 June 2022
Hello to all residents, ratepayers, and visitors to the Borough of Queenscliffe. It’s been a busy week for the Mayor with interstate trips and a full book of meetings, so while the Mayor’s Column takes a break for this week, we’re providing you with a quick update on what else is happening at Council. Our new food waste service is only a little over a month away from getting started, so we’re providing you with all the info to get you up to speed. Read on for more, or get along to one of our information sessions in July where you can ask questions of the waste team and learn exactly how to sort your waste in the new system.
Get ready for caddies
The countdown is on to the beginning of our new kerbside food waste collection service, so it’s time to keep your eyes peeled for a delivery from Council. To assist in the transition to this new system, each household in the Borough will soon be receiving a benchtop kitchen caddy on their doorstep.
The caddy will contain a brochure with information on the upcoming transition to food waste collection, as well as some sample caddy liners and a fridge magnet. When the caddy arrives, be sure to bring it inside, read the information packet it contains, and learn about the changes coming to your kerbside bin service.
Currently, about 40% of the rubbish in our landfill bins at the moment is food waste. Starting in August, we’ll be able to put that food waste in our green bins instead, turning it into compost, which is a more financially sustainable and environmentally friendly way of sorting waste.
We’re also hosting a couple of information services – both in-person and online – to provide further details on the transition and allow our waste team to answer any questions you may have. The in-person information session is being held at the Queenscliff Town Hall on Tuesday 12 July from 7:00pm, while the online session is being held via Zoom on Tuesday 26 July from 6:00pm. No prior registration is required, just turn up on the night! More information, including a link to the Zoom session, is available at boq.news/foodwaste.
Celebrate NAIDOC Week in the Borough
We’re proud to be celebrating NAIDOC Week this year with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony outside Council offices, and we’d like you to join us to help recognise the occasion. On Wednesday 6 July at 1:00pm, Wadawurrung woman Corrina Eccles will give a Welcome to Country and articulate some of the rich Indigenous history we have in our region.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! As explained by the National NAIDOC Committee on their website, “getting up, standing up and showing up can take many forms. Whether it’s seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism—we must do it together.”
Council is proud to fly the Aboriginal flag in front of the Town Hall year-round as we continue to engage the Wadawurrung and utilise their valuable knowledge to guide our day-to-day operations. To get a reminder for the event, check out our Facebook page.
Advocating for our region on a national scale
Last week, the Mayor Ross Ebbels and Borough CEO Martin Gill travelled to Canberra for the Australian Local Government Association’s 2022 National General Assembly. More than 800 Mayors and Councillors from across the country attend this conference, which is the peak annual event for local government.
Attending events such as these allows small Councils like ours to engage directly with the Federal Government, develop national policy, and influence the future direction of our community. At Queenscliffe, we look forward to continually engaging with all levels of government, particularly through our G21 collaborations, and are excited for what the future may bring.
Stay tuned to the Borough’s website and Facebook page for updates on what’s happening in Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale.