Concerns for health centre’s survival – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

THE future of Ballarat Community Health at Smythesdale’s The Well has been questioned at the Golden Plains Shire’s regular May council meeting.

Local resident Rosemary Angus attended question time to ask councillors whether they were aware that the BCH clinic in the Shire’s north was at risk of closing.

“Ballarat Community Health, to date, has been unable to appoint a doctor to replace Dr Chandra who resigned before Christmas,” she said.

“This clinic is the only medical facility in the northern end of the Shire and its loss would be catastrophic to the area.

“If you are aware of this issue, what steps are you taking to ensure or encourage Ballarat Community Health to keep this clinic open?”

Director community services Steven Sagona said the Shire recognises the importance of having general practitioners in the central and northern parts of the municipality, where services are otherwise limited.

“We are in regular contact with Ballarat Community Health and their most recent advice to us is that they are continuing to work towards continuation of GP services in Smythesdale. That is their objective and what they are hoping to be able to achieve,” Mr Sagona said.

“Council has offered them practical assistance in the past and will continue to do that. The last few months we have facilitated some improvements to their internet connectivity because that was an issue that was holding them back in a sense, and aim to provide any assistance we can, but we don’t have any live requests from them.

“More broadly we’ll continue to advocate to Federal and State governments and relevant service providers and primary health services in all parts of the Shire.”

New path for old track

Councillors have endorsed that Steiglitz’ Hay Track be renamed Tarnook Track.

Acting director infrastructure and development Vicki Shelton said the road was formerly part of the Steiglitz Historic Park, and the owner of current surrounding land has requested the change.

“Tarnook Track recognises the Indigenous name of the area, and Wadawurrung and Parks Victoria have both supported the renaming of the track, which is in compliance with the Geographic Names Victoria process,” she said.

Cr Owen Sharkey said Hay Track was named by parks Victoria in the 1970s, and Tarnook means “shaped like a wooden bowl.”

“It’s nice to see that Aboriginal connection there. Small things like this go a long way to acknowledging our Indigenous heritage,” he said.

Action to protect heritage home

Councillors have moved to apply to the State Minister for Planning for a heritage overlay on 4 Wallace Street, Meredith, following the owner’s request to demolish the dwelling on site.

Ms Shelton said officers have assessed and researched the historic weatherboard home, stable, buggy shed and surrounding property on the Mercer Street corner, and have identified it as having significant heritage value.

“It should be considered for a heritage overly to be applied… to protect the buildings in that location,” she said.

Cr Helena Kirby said she was pleased to see heritage assessments coming to council.

“It’s good to be aware of what’s happening, whether someone wants something demolished or not, and just to know the significance of that property is on our agenda,” she said.

“The principal owner of the property… knows the house is of historical significance, and now it’s just a matter of this going onto have [heritage overlay] put in place.

“The owner and the council have worked hand-in-hand to come to a really good agreement on this proposal. It’s something that we need to preserve for the heritage of our Shire.”

Cr Les Rowe said the property is unmissable when driving around the highway’s bend, in or out of Meredith.

“It is one that has been drawn to my attention for over 50 years. The owner is accepting of the heritage assessment being undertaken,” he said.

“It’s good to see this property may stay as is.”

Amendment speeds up planning

A change to planning processes regarding outbuildings in the rural living and low-density residential zones has been adopted.

Ms Shelton said officers were asked in December of 2021 to prepare an amendment for “removal of triggers” in the planning permits for sheds greater than 120 square metres in RLZ and LDRZ areas.

“We worked with the Department of Land, Water and Planning’s special planning hub to develop the amendment, which is an amendment that will be looked at for supporting other regional and rural councils to do a similar type of change to their planning scheme,” Ms Shelton said.

“The amendment will free up some resources from within our team, so that they can be directed to more significant applications, and improve our timeframes for responding and turn-around.”

Cr Helena Kirby raised community concerns around sheds potentially impacting on views of the natural environment.

Ms Shelton said if land has other environmental or heritage overlays on it, that will still “trigger the need for a permit.”

“This amendment is only for those in areas where there are no other overlays,” she said.