From Sue Yorston - President, Buninyong & District Community Association (BDCA). October 2024.
I’m writing this as I look back and ponder on my time with the BDCA. Firstly, has the BDCA made a difference? We have welcomed new members to the committee who bring their own vibe to the table. They give us fresh ways of looking at things that impact the town and have an eye for what could be rather than just what has been. We need to continue to work together with the council in the spirit of integrity and trust. We need to acknowledge that our council covers an area of 739sq kilometres with a population of approximately 122,000. Each area has their own competing, sometimes urgent priorities.
Village Voice
Following community consultation and with support from the Buninyong Community Bank, we engaged Shell Corcoran to oversee the implementation of a new local newsletter, the “Village Voice”. We have had great feedback from the community following the initial publication. However, for me a vexed question is how will the newsletter survive? How do we assure its ongoing viability? Very few locals are prepared to be involved in the production of the newsletter. The small team we do have are committed and vibrant and making great efforts, but they also have other priorities in life. If anyone has any thoughts on how to attract more volunteers to the team, I would love to hear from you.
De Soza Park
Following on from the recent council elections, the BDCA will work with our local representative and interested community members to revisit the De Soza Park masterplan to ensure it reflects the way we all want to use the space now and into the future.
RV Friendly Town
We are continuing to work with interest groups to establish a Recreational Vehicle Friendly Town site. It has taken time to investigate several locations with a shortlist now in place.
Mt Buninyong Reserve
The previous Mt Buninyong Reserve Advisory Committee ceased in 2018 as it didn't fit the new reporting requirements under the new Local Government Act. Through discussions with Councillor Ben Taylor and Bridget Wetherall (Director Infrastructure and Environment), Council have acknowledged, that whilst the Snap, Send, Solve (SSS) application is the preferred method to report/manage maintenance issues, those identified on Mt Buninyong may be beyond the scope of SSS and warrant more detailed management.
The BDCA has, together with Council, established a new committee and structure to work on the management of the Mount. The intention is for this group to meet periodically and work cooperatively to ensure one of its greatest natural assets, Mount Buninyong, is kept in good condition. The new Mount Buninyong Maintenance Group will ensure the BDCA is aware of ongoing maintenance concerns on Mt. Buninyong itself. Examples include overgrowth of weeds and infestations and degradation of the South Walking Track. (Courtesy Darren Bowden).
Highway Safety
BDCA representatives continue to meet with the state government on the issue of safety on the Midland Highway as it passes through our town. It has been two years since the public meeting following the truck crash and nothing has changed. Should it, can it change and how? And importantly when? We need to continue to put pressure on the appropriate Departments, I think, to achieve a definitive outcome.
The BDCA
Someone local queried me when I joined this group. “Who and what is the Buninyong and District Community Association?” they asked. They were not newcomers to the area. I hope it is one thing that has started to change with the newsletter and the soon to be revamped BDCA website and Facebook page. To be relevant and express the views of the community the BDCA needs to hear from the community. The BDCA exists to represent the views of the community. An obvious way to do that is by survey so the BDCA will make every effort to listen to you to ensure its voice is the voice of the community.
AGM
At the recent AGM, we have had minimal changes to the volunteer committee for the coming year and it is with pleasure that I can inform you of the following roles.
a. President—Sue Yorston
b. Vice-President—Darren Holland
c. Secretary and Public Officer—Kevin Zibell
d. Treasurer—Lisa Cressey
e. Additional Committee Members:
Darren Bowden
Robert Elshaug
Gabby Allen
Andrew Aitken
Ross Pilkington
One position remains vacant. This could be YOU if you would like to nominate.
The BDCA have devised and adopted a social media policy and have elected 3 committee members to be admin of the BDCA facebook group. They are Kevin Zibell, Lisa Cressey and Gabby Allen.
The BDCA would like to thank Merle Hathaway for her contributions to both the committee and the FB group and wish her well as she moves from FB Admin to a valued community member!
We’d like to thank Neil Blanchard for his time as treasurer and for ensuring that we remain up to date with our finances and insurances. All the best in your newly acquired free time!
Our goal is to represent the community. You. Let us know how we can help.
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