Just briefly...

There is now a regional fare cap on public transport.

The cost of a daily ticket on the regional Victorian network is now capped at the same prices as metropolitan daily fares – currently $9.20 for a full fare or $4.60 for a concession. On a weekend or public holiday, daily fares are capped at $6.70 and currently just $3.35 for a concession. The fare cap applies to all PTV regional buses, town buses and V/Line trains and coaches.

Aboriginal elders in Ballarat will soon have access to a culturally specific independent living village.

Located near Ballarat’s city centre, the project includes eight self-contained units, a central hall for community meals, treatment rooms for medical personnel and a vegetable garden. There are more than 700 Aboriginal people aged 45 and over across five local government areas in western Victoria – including Ballarat and Moorabool, Hepburn, Golden Plains and Pyrenees shires.

Applications for the 2023 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarships are now open.

The program offers scholarships of up to $10,000 with each recipient initially receiving up to $5000 to support their training and study, and up to $5000 to invest in putting their new skills into practice. Successful applicants can receive training in areas such as business and risk management, genetics and pasture management, digital agriculture or adapting to climate change. When they complete their studies, they can invest in professional development and business planning, on-farm practices or equipment and technology.

Central Highlands Water says it has made good progress on the $15 million Daylesford Water Supply Pipeline, with 1.6 kilometres of the first stage of the pipeline installation now complete.

CHW managing director Jeff Haydon said the pipeline would provide, when required, more than 300 million additional litres per annum of supplementary water for the community and future-proof the water needs of the service area against the impacts of climate change. “Stage 1 of the pipeline installation has been focused on areas near Ridge Road, Daylesford, and is expanding to a new location, along the roadside of the Midland Highway from Blampied towards Daylesford.” The underground 400mm diameter water pipeline will extend from Blampied, connecting to the Goldfields Superpipe, with the end connection for the pipeline at the Daylesford Water Treatment Plant.

Residents are encouraged to have their say on the future electoral structure of Hepburn Shire Council, in response to the Victorian Electoral Commission releasing three preliminary options.

The options are: an unsubdivided electoral structure (no wards) with seven councillors elected from across the shire; a subdivided electoral structure with a total of four wards and eight councillors; or a subdivided electoral structure with a total of seven wards and seven councillors, one councillor from each ward. Submissions close at 5pm on April 19 and a public hearing will take place at 10am on Wednesday 26 April. Link: www.vec.vic.gov.au/hepburn.

The Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre has been given a $10,000 grant for its Community Co-Working Spaces to support community members working remotely.

The funding comes from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, which has awarded $2.3 million in grants to 176 community projects across remote, rural and regional Australia as part of its Strengthening Rural Communities program.

The e-scooter trial is being extended across Victoria.

More than 3.7 million short trips have been taken on e-scooters in Melbourne, alongside more than 200,000 in Ballarat, throughout the trial. Riders must wear a helmet, be at least 16 and adhere to the same blood alcohol content and drug use restrictions as car drivers. E-scooters can only be used on roads with a speed limit of 60 kilometres or less and can be ridden on roads, in bicycle lanes, on bicycle paths or separated and shared paths – but not on footpaths. E-scooters cannot travel above 20kmh and 'devices' capable of exceeding 25 kilometres per hour are not classified as e-scooters and are still illegal. No passengers or pets are allowed. The trial starts on April 5. Link: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/escooters

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