Just briefly...

Hepburn Shire cats must be kept on their properties between sunset and sunrise from July 1.

The cat curfew aims to reduce the chance of cats breeding, fighting, becoming injured or killing wildlife. Mayor Cr Brian Hood said a survey found 90 per cent of respondents wanted the curfew. To report a breach of the cat curfew, call the council on 5348 2306 or report it at hepburn.vic.gov.au A community safety officer will investigate.

Students will have safer school environments with the state government's Bushfire Preparedness projects.

Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said 350 schools would be embarking on a maintenance blitz in coming weeks with a total of $13.5 million allocated. Recipients include Tylden Primary School - $23,232.05, Woodend Primary School- $43,724.85, Yandoit Primary School - $18,116.32, Hepburn Primary School - $21,838.56, Trentham District Primary School - $23,269.63, Bullarto Primary School$20,007.26, Malmsbury Primary School - $22,124.55, Daylesford Primary School - $27,498.67 and Daylesford Secondary College - $35,111.04.

The Creswick Town Hall is back to its former grandeur and ready to reopen to visitors and locals thanks to support from all levels of government.

The upgrades included roof plumbing, a new flagpole and access ladder, accessible entry, electrical work, painting, and masonry repairs. The project was jointly funded with $500,000 from the Victorian Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund, $432,000 from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, and $251,017 from the Hepburn Shire Council. The Creswick Town Hall opened in 1876.

Six local lakes have been stocked with rainbow trout in time for the school holidays.

They include Nursery Reservoir in Macedon, Quarry Street Reserve Lake in Trentham, Glenlyon Dam, Hanging Rock Lake in Woodend, Jubilee Lake in Daylesford and Walter J Smith Reserve in Riddells Creek.

Hepburn Shire Council has adopted a $59 million budget for 2023/2024. Major project investment includes: $5.90 million – completion of Creswick Trails; $3 million – renewal of the historic Wheelers Bridge in Lawrence with $2.8 million federal government funding; $2.73 million – renewal, resealing and gravel re-sheeting of roads across the shire; $2.02 million – completion of the Trentham Community Hub in early 2024; $1 million – Stage 1 of remediation works at Daylesford Town Hall, with a further $200,000 for scoping and planning of staff accommodation and Birch Ward community facilities; $150,000 for detailed design of the Glenlyon Recreation Reserve Pavilion; $100,000 to further designs for the Clunes Recreation Reserve Masterplan; and $140,000 for remedial works at Trentham and Drummond tennis courts.

Visitor expenditure in Victoria has hit a record high of $35 billion annually, with regional Victoria continuing to deliver outstanding results with all tourism regions hitting all-time highs.

Overall intrastate overnight visitation numbers to regional Victoria were up six per cent since 2019, with total nights increasing by eight per cent and expenditure up 58 per cent. China has returned as the number one international market after only reopening in January and India continues to be a growing international market with visitor expenditure now 11 per cent higher than in 2019.

A Macedon Ranges Shire Council swim teacher has again been recognised for her dedication to her students at this year’s Aquatics and Recreation Victoria Industry Gala Awards.

Marie Noonan was presented with the Swim Teacher Award For Persons with a Disability. This is her second career award recognition, having been previously presented with the Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Award in 2014. The annual awards recognise and reward outstanding achievement and commitment to the aquatics and leisure industry. Council’s aquatics and leisure facilities and staff were well represented on the night, with finalists across eight other award categories.

Got some news to share? Email news@tlnews.com.au