Merry Christmas from Golden Plains Shire Council On behalf of Councillors, the CEO and Council staff, Golden Plains Shire Council wishes all residents and visitors a Merry Christmas and a safe, Happy New Year.
As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on the achievements and challenges over past 12 months. We look forward to what the festive season brings and the exciting developments on the horizon.
This festive season brings lots of opportunities for connection, celebration and fun across the community. It’s a special time to come together with family, friends, loved ones and those in our local community.
We are proud to have shared in many successes throughout 2025 and look forward to continuing to deliver services and programs across the community in 2026.
Social Media Ban for Young People Council’s Youth Development Team has prepared resources to support young people and their families during the implementation of the Federal Government’s social media ban for under-16s.
The ban officially started on Wednesday 10 December prohibiting users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on major social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook and others. Council’s website provides clear, reliable contacts and information sources to help navigate questions, concerns, and challenges related to the ban. It also includes a range of general mental health and wellbeing services, both national and local, to ensure young people have access to the help they need. To access Council’s resources, visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au.
Gazette Issue 4 Out now! Council Festive Season Hours, Children's Services and Waste Collection 2025/26 Golden Plains Shire Council will have altered hours during the Christmas and New Year holiday period 2025/26.
Resource Recovery Centre will be closed on Sunday 28 December 2025 and will re-open on Sunday 4 January 2026 from 10am to 3pm.
There will be altered office hours for the Bannockburn and Smythesdale Customer Experience Hubs between Friday 19 December 2025 and Monday 5 January 2026. Full details of these hours are available at goldenplains.vic.gov.au.
There are also updates on Early Years Services and Maternal and Child Health Services during the holiday period. These updates are available at goldenplains.vic.gov.au or scan the QR code below.
The latest edition of the Golden Plains Shire Council Gazette is now available! This issue is full of important news and stories from all corners of the Shire, including the Annual Report 2024/25, the Community Awards 2026, the latest road works and fire safety messages, the Smythesdale Public Gardens Opening, the FOGO Survey results, the Golden Spaces Summer Exhibition and much more! To read the Gazette, visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/news or scan the QR Code.
Council’s rubbish, recycling and glass collection will also move one day later for collections on Thursday 25 December and Friday 26 December. The Rokewood
2 Pope Street, Bannockburn, VIC 3331 19 Heales Street, Smythesdale, VIC 3351
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