Sunday 25 September 2011 @ Loddon River, Newstead

Meeting commenced 4.15pm

Present: Mary Park, Geoff Park, Saide Gray, Gary Gibson, David Stratton, Nick Hudson, Andrew Shirres, Ruby Shirres, Siena Shirres, Patrick Kavanagh, Angela Down, Michael Redden, Genevieve Barlow.

Apologies: Kylie Richardson, Don Culvenor, Malcolm Fyffe, Anne & Michael O’Brien, Frances Cincotta, Louise Jiricek, Dave Hall, Karly Smith, Liz & Doug Bell, Ros Hart, Ray Culvenor, Gabrielle Maunsell.

Minutes of the previous AGM:

The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting of Newstead 2021 held Thursday Oct 27, 2010 were correct. Moved – Saide Gray, seconded – Dave Stratton.

Reports: (see attached Annual Report 2010/11)

President: report presented by Geoff Park. Productive 12 months. Meeting recorded a vote of thanks for Cr Michael Redden’s efforts at ‘flying the flag’ for Newstead on Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Renewable Newstead: Busy year. Expect 200 Home Energy Assessments to be completed in partnership with Central Victoria Solar City (CVSC). Feasibility study into renewable energy sources for Newstead completed and launched. Investigative work continuing on renewable energy project for Newstead.

Network Newstead – Wireless Project: report prepared by Dave Hall

Newstead website: report prepared by Dave Hall

The River Project: report presented by Patrick Kavanagh. Great to have North Central Catchment Management Authority on board. Extensive clearing of willows, tree planting and riparian veg rehabilitation on Loddon River in town area.

The Community Garden & Produce Exchange: report prepared by Mary Park

Treasurer’s Report: see summary of financial statementsfor year ended 30 June 2011 and as at 23 September 2011 (as prepared by Kylie Richardson). Gary Gibson moved that financial reportsbe accepted. Gen Barlow seconded.

General Comments:

1. All grant funds almost spent. Most of remaining funds of $13,025 will be used by garden art project and website upgrade.

2. Public Liability insurance (which covers all Newstead 2021 activities e.g. Community garden) paid to July 2012.

3. Michael Redden advised that Newstead’s Rural Transaction Centre has ceased operating as a trading co-operative and is now an incorporated body known as Newstead RTC Inc. It’s in a healthy financial state, with op shop producing good income, and RTC is seeking guidance on how it could return some of that money to the community. Possibility that Newstead Echo will become a sub-committee of the RTC.

4. Michael Redden informed meeting that N2021 summit model likely to be adopted by council for community planning forums across the shire. Council to run forums in nine communities across the shire. Don Culvenor has been appointed to committee overseeing planning for these forums. It’s hoped Newstead will be among the first three communities chosen to have forums. Michael also advised that Newstead’s community garden and playground were the only two projects that received funding from stimulus packages that weren’t on the council’s books at the time the stimulus was announced. A feather in N2021’s cap. Michael emphasized council’s goal for forums was for communities to identify their own priorities so that when funds become available, council knows which projects communities want done.

Election of office bearers:

Michael Redden presided over the election of the officer bearers. All positions were declared vacant.

The positions elected were:

President – Geoff Park Nominated by Saide Gray and seconded by Patrick Kavanagh

Vice-President – Genevieve Barlow Nominated by Geoff Park and seconded by Dave Stratton

Treasurer & Public Officer – Kylie Richardson Nominated by Mary Park and seconded by Patrick Kavanagh

Secretary – Karly Smith Nominated by Patrick Kavanagh and seconded by Geoff Park

Committee members: Andrew Shirres, Saide Gray, Mary Park, Patrick Kavanagh, Angela Down, Dave Stratton, Don Culvenor, Nick Hudson.

Meeting discussed general committee’s role. Discussion resolved that N2021 and its general committee could play an important role in projects emanating from Mount Alexander Shire’s proposed community planning forum in Newstead.

General Business

1. Meeting resolved for N2021 reps to meet with Dave Hall and Newstead website editorial committee to discuss grant received from Mount Alexander Shire Community Grants program to upgrade the Newstead website. Grant is due for acquittal end of September 2011

2. Special thanks to Geoff Park for his great leadership during the past 12 months. And for organizing an AGM in the beautiful riverside setting.

Meeting closed: 6.00pm

Attachments

A. Annual report – download here.

B. Summary of financial statements for year ended 30th June 2011 and as at 23rdSeptember 2011 – download here.

Thursday 7th October 2010 @ Welshmans Reef Winery

Meeting commenced 7.35pm

Present: Wes Martin, Kirsty Mackay, Mary Park, Geoff Park, Melissa Proposch, Steve Proposch, Dean McLaren, Saide Gray, Anne O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Ros Hart, David Stratton, Georgina Duckett, Andrew Shirres, Martin Lynzaat, Sharon Fraser, Allex Hall, Maritsa Gronda, Patrick Kavanagh, Angela Down, Karly Smith, Gordon Dowell, Genevieve Barlow, Bob Clutterbuck, Suzan Redlande, Xanya Mamunya, Dave Hall, Julie Tisdale, Ron Snep, Julia Elkins, Jayson Burhop (departed at 7.45pm)

Apologies: Kylie Richardson, Don Culvenor, Malcolm Fyffe

Minutes of the previous AGM: The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting of Newstead 2021 held Sunday 24th May 2009 were correct.

Moved – Wes Martin, seconded – Dean McLaren. Reports: (see attached Annual Report 2009/10)

Presidents report presented by Geoff Park

Renewable Newstead: Jayson Burhop introduced to N2021. He is employed to lead this program.

50km speed restriction: report presented by Geoff Park

Playground Project: report presented by Dean McLaren

Network Newstead – Wireless Project: report presented by Dave Hall

Newstead website: report presented by Dave Hall

Rocket Science: report presented by Geoff Park

The River Project: report presented by Patrick Kavanagh

The Community Garden & Produce Exchange: report presented by Mary Park

Treasurer’s Report: see summary of financial statement as at 30th September 2010 (as prepared by Kylie Richardson).

Election of office bearers: Martin Lynzaat presided over the election of the officer bearers. All positions were declared vacant.

Committee members: Dean McLaren, Sharon Fraser, Dave Hall, David Stratton, Mary Park, Allex Hall, Steve Proposch, Andrew Shirres, Patrick Kavanagh, Xanya Mamunya, Angela Down.

Special thanks to Geoff Park for his great leadership during the past 12 months. And thanks to the Ron & Julia (Welshmans Reef Winery) for their great food & wine tonight, and to the community gardeners for the delicious home-grown salads.

Meeting closed: 8.30pm

I have attached a copy of our Annual Report including a summary financial statement below. Minutes from the meeting will be posted shortly.

Annual Report 2009/10 – Geoff Park (President N2021)

Newstead 2021 comprises citizens formed after a summit held in May 2008. The summit was organised by our local community and included a wide range of participants including farmers, self-employed business people, professionals and school children. Inspired by the then newly-elected Federal Government’s 2020 Summit, we wanted to sound out ideas – social, environmental and economic – to strengthen our community. As a result of that Summit, N2021 was formed and we have since developed a community garden, established a locally available free wi-fi service, installed new play equipment in our community playground, set up a town website and are establishing a community project to reduce our energy use and switch to renewable energy. Our first AGM was held on the 24^th May 2009. We became officially incorporated on 16^th June 2009. Tonight, the 7^th October sees our second AGM! This report provides a snapshot of activities and achievements’ over the past 12 months or so …

The Playground Project

The idea for a new playground arose from kids attending the 2008 Newstead 2021 Summit. The kids expressed the need for new playground in the shape of a timber pirate ship. A few grown-ups at this summit, Steve Proposch, Sam Bell, Dean McLaren, & Karly Smith enthusiastically got behind the idea of somehow getting a ship playground to our land-locked town. A year or more of hard work (and a few battles with council) later this farfetched idea has become a reality. The ship has been named HMAS Bell in honour of the passion and commitment Sam Bell had for the kids of our district. The HMAS Bell was officially launched on Feb 19^th 2010. We have the Australian Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan and the Mount Alexander Shire Council to thank for the initial project funding. Further support for ongoing development has come from the Shire, Maldon & District Community Bank and three local Lions Clubs – Maldon, Castlemaine and Maryborough.

50 km Speed restriction

The concept of a 50 km/hr speed restriction zone for the town ‘got legs’ at the 2008 Summit. Terry Chapman, a participant of the summit raised the matter when he expressed concern for the safety of his children as he walked them to school across the bridge. Vic Roads responded to representations from Terry and he was a member of a deputation which met with its officials from Bendigo last year to advance the project. Signs showing the new 50 km speed zone were erected along Lyons Street in February 2010.

Network Newstead

Network Newstead is the community run free wireless network which covers a large part of central Newstead. The network has been made possible by the generous support of Mount Alexander Shire and Internode. Network Newstead covers the Newstead RTC, and access points at Dig Cafe and the Newstead Community Centre cover from the butchers to the bridge in Lyons Street. There is also some coverage either side of Lyons Street.

Newstead website

A new community website http://newstead.vic.au/ was launched in September 2009. The website funded by Maldon and District Community Bank is an exciting project which allows community groups, businesses and services to maintain their own content on the website, thus keeping the community up-to-date. Both the website and wireless network projects have been led by Dave Hall with assistance from Ron Snep, Julie Butler and a host of others. The website project established an editorial committee to oversee content and development of the site.

Rocket Science

Rocket Science – community conversations on topics that matter was first held on 3^rd August 2008. Our first invited speaker was Jayson Burhop from MASG who spoke on renewable energy options. Since then we have held a further 13 sessions covering matters as diverse as writing and publishing, information technology, groundwater, climate change, conservation of rivers, natural hazards, small town community development, Newstead website and energy from sustainable forestry. Sessions have been really well supported by local people and attracted visitors from afar. While Rocket Science remains an occasional we always seeking new topics. Thanks must go to DIG Café and the Welshmans Reef winery for their wonderful support.

The River Project

The Loddon River restoration project has progressed from the development of community-based plans in 2009 to action in 2010. Newstead Landcare Group was successful in obtaining a $9700 Federal Government Community Action Grant for works in riparian restoration in the Newstead area, much of which was allocated to works on the Loddon. Volunteers mapped weed infestations and rabbit warrens and rabbit control programs commenced this year. The first stage of planting of indigenous understorey species was completed in August and although the recent floods caused considerable damage to the plants, quick action by volunteers saved 2/3 of the planting. The floods have incidentally reduced a major weed problem, Cape Broom, comprehensively ripping out many of these plants. This presents an opportunity to replace the weed with native vegetation and an imperative to prevent its return or colonisation by some other undesirable. Newstead Landcare Group has applied for similar funding for ongoing works in 2011. There is every reason to expect that the restoration of the Loddon River will gather pace in the coming 12 months.

The Community Garden & Produce Exchange

Since the 2009 AGM the Community Garden has become a physical reality – a beautiful place shared by 15 plotholders and 16 ‘Digger’ (communal) members as well as regular and casual visitors. The Produce Exchange, now operating monthly outside The Red Store, has become a regular feature of the Newstead calendar. Once Newstead 2021 gained Incorporation and insurance the group was able to secure a lease with the Church of England Diocese of Bendigo, effective from 1/9/2009. After much planning, costing and negotiating 2021 entered a funding agreement with the Shire so that our local group could administer some of the Federal Government stimulus package funds. The Shire handled large infrastructure items such as fencing and water supply.

The following is a snapshot of progress in the 13 months since the site was accessed.

• September – Visit to Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden. Dolomite & lime applied to ground. First sod turned 12/9/2009. Green manure crop sown.
• October – Fencing completed; water tank and pump installed, connected to bore and rainwater supplies. External power point installed.
• Oct/Nov – Garden design discussions and masterplan development
• November – Tool shed construction, Peppercorn tree rehabilitation, green manure crop dug in.
• Dec/Jan – Further development of garden design, philosophy and membership guidelines.
• March – Received Mount Alexander Shire Community Grant. Design implementation workshops, laying out of garden, water supply, path construction.
• April/May – Fruit trees planted, plots prepared, logo developed, greenhouse frame erected flowform water feature installed.
• 16^th May – GRAND OPENING! and Launch and plot handover.
• May onwards – Individual plotholders busy planting and maintaining gardens. Communal area planted.
• August – Biodynamic Compost-making workshop.

Throughout this time there have been numerous days of gardening, peace meditations under the Peppercorn tree and participation in the ACMI short film project. A weblog has been operating for over twelve months with monthly garden notes and other posts. A recent Federal Government Volunteer Grant has provided seeds, moisture meters and more tools for both adults and children. Current focus is on incorporating art into the garden (Regional Arts Fund application pending), constructing a sandpit, compost bays and raised beds, managing the garden through its first Summer and looking forward to enjoying the produce.  We would like to gratefully acknowledge  support from Mount Alexander Shire Council, All Saints Anglican Church, the Federal Government and individuals too numerous to mention. Particular thanks to Doug Bell who has led construction working bees, Liz Bell for running the Produce Exchange and Janet Barker for the blog and continued expertise.                               

Renewable Newstead

A partnership has been formed between N2021 and the Central Victorian Solar City project to establish Renewable Newstead with the aim of exploring how we as a community might move to be 100% energy self-sufficient. On Sunday 18^th July nearly 60 folks from the Newstead community came together at the Community Centre to discuss the proposition. Since then a number of things have happened.

• We have developed a MoU with CVSC to collaborate on the project.
• Appointed a locally based project worker (Jayson Burhop) who will be working 3 days/week for 12 months, based at the Newstead RTC. Jayson will be conducting free home energy assessments and assisting local residents and businesses with retrofitting and renewable energy options (eg PV and Solar hotwater).
• CVSC have allocated 30K to the project to assist us in the development phase.
• With assistance from Terry White submitted a proposal to the Victorian Government Solar Hub program for a 250K to establish a ‘Solar Hub’ in Newstead.
• We are in the early stages of developing a 50K proposal with ‘Climate Communities’, a program within Sustainability Victoria. The concept is to link the idea of Renewable Newstead with the establishment of a new sustainable building at the Newstead Recreation Reserve.

This is a very exciting initiative that has the potential to bring great economic, social and environmental benefits to the Newstead community. A Strategic Planning Workshop is planned for Sunday 24^th October to take the idea to the next level. Many thanks are due to Leah Sertori (CVSC), David, Genevieve, Melissa and Don for their hard work on this project.

While many community members have been involved in the activities of Newstead 2021 I would like to especially thank the following people for their energy, input and support over the past 12 months.

• Genevieve Barlow, Don Culvenor, Dave Stratton, Patrick Kavanagh and Melissa Proposch and members of the N2021 committee.
• Kylie Richardson our Treasurer
• Ron Snep and Dave Hall
• Mary Park and Janet Barker
• Karly Smith and Dean McLaren
• Cr. Michael Redden and the Newstead RTC

Newstead 2021 Inc.  – Summary of financial statement as at 30^th September 2010

Last week we were approached by Leah Sertori from Central Victorian Solar City. “The Central Victoria Solar City (CVSC) project is part of the Australian Government’s $94 million Solar Cities program that offers incentives to local residents and businesses to participate in a trial range of energy efficiency, local energy generation and demand management products and services. The project aims to discover innovative local energy solutions for you, your community and the planet.”

Here is a summary of the notes provided by Leah following the meeting.

Background
On Friday evening Leah Sertori from Central Victoria Solar City met with a number of local community members. The group included Genevieve Barlow, Geoff Park, Don Culvenor, Ron Snep, Melissa Proposch and Liz Bell. Newstead is well known for its capability in leading and implementing initiatives that benefit the broader community. Over the past year Newstead 2021 has successfully developed and implemented a number of initiatives: Community Playground, a free wireless network and the recently launched Community Garden. Newstead is a very tight knit, resourceful community. 
The Offer
Leah met with the group to run them through the opportunities to engage in the solar city project as well as an overview of what the project hopes to achieve. Leah offered to provide the group with some support from the CVSC office if they were interested in engaging their whole town in reducing their energy use and engaging in renewable energy creation. We discussed a community based challenge, for residents of Newstead to reduce their energy consumption by up to 20% and to shift to 100% solar renewable energy in the next twelve months to two years.  At this stage, the idea is very fluid and open. It will be further shaped by the residents of Newstead.

We identified the following benefits of a potential project:
•  Converting an entire town (around 150 residences) to renewable energy is a great story 
•  Highly visible project 
•  Will attract interest from visitors to Newstead 
•  Will engage the entire community in a project that benefits everyone
•  Opportunity for Newstead to generate income from excess energy created by PV 
•  Opportunity for residents to complete some training to become qualified energy auditors, generating employment outcomes
•  CVSC can take that model to other small towns in Central Victoria, its scalable 
•  We can share the lessons learned and the towns experience through a media campaign

There was a huge amount of interest from the group in the potential for Newstead to build a small solar park, if they secured pledge amounts to cover the financing of the project. There was generally a great atmosphere at the meeting and enormous excitement around what could be achieved. 

Next steps include:
•  Leah to find out how much electricity Newstead currently uses daily, monthly, annually from Powercor.
•  Genevieve, Geoff and the Newstead Gang to hold another meeting to scope the potential for the project.
•  CVSC to facilitate a community planning session with up to 25 residents and business owners/operators to develop a project.
•  Newstead and CVSC to develop a project proposal which provides the scope of the project, its intended outcomes, deliverables and timeframes. 
•  Leah to engage John Harvey from Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance in the discussion and Sally Morris, Manager of Economic Development from the Mount Alexander Shire.

This is a very exciting opportunity for our town and community. Not just because it offers an opportunity to be part of direct practical action to address climate change but importantly it provides us with the scope to plot our own path … with support and expertise from CVSC. Stay tuned for an invitation to participate in what happens next.

Paul is well known for his marvelous book “The Murray: A river and its people”, published in 2001. He grew up at Kerang, on the Loddon River, a tributary of the Murray. His first memory of the river is a flood in the early 1970s when he was 12. The book explores the reasons why the river has become degraded, and what these changes have meant to Australians. According to Martin Flanagan, Paul Sinclair “is a new sort of Australian public intellectual. His view of the environment goes way beyond the polarity of greenies versus rednecks”.

For more information visit the Rocket Science blog at http://rocketscience2.wordpress.com/

Get along to Dig on Sunday March 21 at 10am to:

a) hear more about it,

b) find out how to be involved in either suggesting film ideas, staging a local premiere, attending workshops on film-making , co-ordinating filming etc.

For more information contact Geneveive genwords@bigpond.net.au

• To discuss and learn about Local Area Planning models  and frameworks from within our own community and beyond
• To explore practical examples of what others in surrounding communities have achieved  in their areas through Local Area Planning
• To be able to ask questions and listen to how Local Area planning can support the Map2020 process and how Map2020 can support local communities in achieving their goals. 
  • To Learning what MAP 2020 is doing – (For instance, did you know that more  than two thirds of the actions in the MAP2020 Action Plan for 07-09   across the 8 theme areas have been actioned by individuals and   organisations in the Shire?)
  • Learn  about the priorities MAP 2020 will be focusing on between now and May 2010, when a new two year Implementation Strategy for MAP 2020 will be prepared

RSVP  by Wednesday 24^th   February to Fran Woodruff f.woodruff@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or call on 54711744