Supported care
THE coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on the way Victorian's live and work, the impact also affects our older residents or people who live alone and who require supported care.
There may be members of our community who would normally rely on family or friends from hotspot areas for regular visits to assist with home care.
Travel to our region may not be possible due to the stay-at-home restrictions imposed on metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell shire.
Any person in this circumstance is encouraged to contact our local home and community care program provided by councils.
HACC offers a range of home care services, including domestic assistance, meals/shopping, pharmaceutical deliveries, social support, home maintenance and transport.
General wellbeing and mental health is also supported through socialisation.
The threat to our regional communities from people travelling from hotspot areas is something we need to continue to be acutely aware of and unnecessary travel is discouraged.
We need to ensure our elderly and vulnerable citizens can access alternate supports during this time, so please reach out if you need further information for yourself or someone you know.
Tania Maxwell,
Member for Northern Victoria
Stance on Our Place
THERE are two things that I would like to report on behalf of the Residents and Ratepayers Association (RRA).
The first was hearing of the passing of long-time former member Frank Powell.
Frank had been a great source of encouragement during his time in the association and we would like to extend our condolences to his wife Fay, and the rest of the family.
Also, with all the angst in the community over Our Place, we felt as a community-based organisation, that it would be prudent to actually have a stand on this potentially divisive issue.
At our last meeting, a motion was put to vote on whether the RRA would support or not support the construction of Our Place in the Pioneer Settlement.
The vote was unanimous that we don't support the building of Our Place within the Pioneer Settlement grounds.
Of the options presented, option two would have been our choice.
I'm sure you could understand our consternation when we learned of the 4-3 vote in favour of the building within the grounds of the Pioneer Settlement.
Why would four councillors vote for something that was clearly at odds with the mainstream sentiment of the community?
Roger Day,
Secretary
Residents and Ratepayers Association
Relevance and facts
THE Our Place issue has generated community comment through consultative and other processes.
Some comment has included incorrect and misplaced information. It has been suggested that option one is not the preferred viewpoint of the community. This is incorrect. The support for option one is evidenced by extensive consultation and stakeholder feedback.
Relevant points: The Our Place issue is about saving and ensuring the future of the settlement, not destroying it.
Times have changed since it was established. The expenditure on the Pioneer Settlement, tourist information centre and the art gallery far exceeds the rate collection from the entire Swan Hill business sector.
Present and past councillors, mayors and the business community over many years have been questioning the fairness of this situation and asking for it to be rectified/improved.
The identified solution is to bring these areas together to enable financial savings.
This is what is happening. Reports over many years have said the settlement will need to make changes to remain viable and ensure survival.
Facts: At this point, the train and the windmill will remain at the settlement. The church will not be pulled down. Spoons will remain where it is with the community preferred layout and views. Extra parking can be developed in adjacent and surrounding area...
