Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region.
Access unlimited content and the digital versions of our print editions - Today's Paper.

Bendigo Advertiser

The Courier

The Standard

The Ararat Advertiser

The Stawell Times-News

The Wimmera Mail-Times

The Advocate - Hepburn

Hepburn News | The Advocate - Hepburn

News

Amber Wilson

2016 Council election
Hepburn Shire Council
Birch ward candidates

Five candidates will compete for two positions in Birch ward at this October's council elections. With none of the candidates endorsed by a registered political party, the election promises to be a clash of policy and personality rather than party mentality.
Incumbent councillor Kate Redwood has put her hand back up for the job, but fellow Birch ward councillor Pierre Niclas has declined to stand again in the 2016 elections.

Fiona Robson

The new manager of the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre, Fiona Robson, said if elected, she wanted to work together with local service providers in order to maximise the ward's amenity. Feeling positive about liveability within the ward, Ms Robson said she wanted to work with businesses but also work on programs for families, young people and children. She said moving the Hepburn Hub partly to The Rex was a solution that seemed to "resonate with people".

Kate Redwood

Incumbent Birch ward councillor Kate Redwood said if re-elected, her focus would be on creating and strengthening partnerships between Hepburn Shire Council and local service providers like CAFs, Hepburn Health and local housing organisations. Ms Redwood said it was vital to fix problems leading to local people in need having to travel all the way to Ballarat for help. Ms Redwood said she was a strong supporter of the Hepburn Hub at the Rex, as the biggest project council had embarked upon in 21 years.

Donna Kelly

Donna Kelly is the editor of fortnightly news magazine, The Local. If elected, Ms Kelly said she would not stand down as editor as she felt covering council as a journalist while also working as a councillor was not a conflict of interest. Ms Kelly said she wanted to see improved communciation between ratepayers and the council, and help community members have their voices heard. She also said many projects within the shire needed enacting, and to do so, staff would need to "work smarter".

Greg Thompson

Self-employed HR consultant Greg Thompson said he was passionate about achieving rates parity for the shire, claiming seniors were being rated too high, despite a recent rates review. He also said he wanted more accountability and transparency among the executive team at Hepburn Shire Council. He supported the Hub project at The Rex, but said the decision should have been made much earlier. Mr Thompson also said he also had ambitions to build an aquatic centre for Daylesford with a hydrotherapy pool.

Paul Houghton

Paul Houghton is the owner of Hepburn Springs's Saltus accommodation, so comes to the elections with a strong business background. Mr Houghton said he wanted to make processes and approvals more efficient for business owners. He also said he felt Hepburn Shire Council had "an awful lots of secrets" and called on greater transparency. Mr Houghton said he would stand for getting a better job done of the "basics" like fire fuel reduction, roadworks and garbage collection.

How to vote

If you were enrolled to vote as of August 26, you will be sent a ballot pack next week in the mail.
You must post your vote by 6pm on October 21. Alternatively, you can hand it in by 5pm on that date to the election office at Shops 21 and 23 at The Rex Arcade in , 47 Vincent Street.
Voting is compulsory. Any enrolled homeowners or tenants who do not vote may be fined.

Birch ward's big issues

The Hepburn Hub at The Rex in Daylesford
An increasing homelessness issue in Daylesford's town centre and forest edges
Cutbacks in local emergency relief, forcing locals to get help from Ballarat
Animal control and dog attacks on cattle
Concerns council has been "sitting" on funds and not enacting projects
Housing affordability

Lachie Young charged over death of Clunes woman Hannah McGuire

The annual Heartbeat of Australia survey is a special collaboration between media company ACM - the publisher of this masthead - and the University of Canberra's News and Media Research Centre.

ACM Heartbeat of Australia logo_FINAL.png

Do our Heartbeat survey and you could win a $500 Eftpos card.

Australia, it's time we had a heart-to-heart. How are you feeling?

Anna Houlahan

Erin Patterson talks to reporters outside her home on August 7, 2023. Heather Wilkinson, Don and Gail Patterson (pictured) died days earlier while Ian WIlkinson (bottom right) recovered from a liver tranplant in hospital. Pictures Supplied/Nine News

A murder mystery that has captured the world's attention.

'Wicked witch narrative' engulfing mushroom cook murder investigation

From $2.15 million, this home by Project Now could be yours.

See inside Raglan Street's stunning 1920s architecturally-designed home

Emily Anderson

Bianca Welsh (left) meeting her adoptive parents John and Susie Chellis for the first time. Picture supplied

'I went looking for my mother...I got a whole family.'

'You have to get rid of her': adopted child discovers stark family truth

Tim Piccione

Text messages from former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach about the Bruce Lehrmann criminal trial. Pictures APP, supplied

New documents shine light on defamation case's surprise star witness.

'She's lying': texts reveal Seven producer's commentary on Lehrmann rape trial

Birch ward – your candidates

Five candidates will compete for two positions in Birch ward at this October's council elections.

Birch ward – your candidates

Amber Wilson

Get the latest Hepburn news in your inbox