JULY 19, 2016 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Shawn Smits)
Cool cats need help They’re cute and cuddly but in need of some warmth. Woodend Veterinary Centre has called for donations of blankets to give cats that are up for adoption something to snuggle into on cold winter days and nights. A spokeswoman says the clinic is currently housing about 30 cats due to an influx of animals at the Macedon Ranges pound. “We have a larger than usual number this winter,” she says. “We will welcome blankets, towels … whatever people can spare.” For people wanting to make a more permanent difference, cats can be adopted for $195, and they come fully vaccinated, desexed and microchipped. They also come with a goodie bag, including cat food. Blankets can be left at the clinic, at the corner of Wood and Brooke streets. Details: 5427 9200 or goo.gl/Fhzfe9 VET NURSE JAYDE McNAMARA WITH KITTEN ROGUE
Matt Crossman
Tourism reeling from cuts By Matt Crossman Hume council’s decision to stop funding Daylesford and Macedon Ranges Tourism has sparked fears other local governments may follow suit. Citing a tighter budget due to the recent introduction of rate capping, the council has decided against a $30,000 contribution to DMRT, which covers six municipalities and is experiencing record visitor numbers. DMRT chairman Noel Harvey said the announcement had caught the board “on the hop”. “We are concerned that with a year to run on other funding agreements, this could be just
the start of it.” Mr Harvey said discussions with local and state government representatives were continuing. “This is a really serious issue for the tourism cash sector. While I’m not aware of any other councils in the state that have made this cut, I think Hume could be leading the charge.” Mr Harvey said the loss of funding would have a significant effect on the board’s 2016-17 plans but would not stop the reproduction of its ground-breaking visitors’ guide, said to be largely responsible for a 30 per cent increase in visitor numbers last year. “We run a break-even budget,” he said. “We worked hard to turn around a significant deficit
infocus T U R N T O
in recent years. We’d wanted Hume to give us another year so we could make a transition to a new funding model, but it wasn’t to be.” Hume planning and development director Kelvin Walsh said the council would continue to collaborate with DMRT on regional tourism and other promotions. “Council will also continue to work corroboratively with other tourism stakeholders to continue to promote tourism in Hume and to help our local business operators thrive,” he said. Tourism employs more than 4600 people in Hume and remains the fourth-largest financial sector with an estimated output of $1.566 billion.
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Macedon Ranges council chief executive Peter Johnston said its memorandum of understanding with DMRT would run until June next year. “Like all councils, following the introduction of rate capping, council will need to carefully consider all funding arrangements as part of future budget processes to ensure our priorities are met,” he said. “With tourism being a key industry in the Macedon Ranges and across the state, the regional tourism boards are the key delivery mechanism for tourism development and marketing, and continue to be important for destinations such as ours.”