MITCHELL-STRATHBOGIE EDITION 56 PAGES
AVENEL • BEVERIDGE • BROADFORD • CLONBINANE • DONNYBROOK • EUROA • HEATHCOTE JUNCTION • KILMORE • LONGWOOD NAGAMBIE • PUCKAPUNYAL • SEYMOUR • TALLAROOK • TRAWOOL • VIOLET TOWN • WALLAN • WANDONG
Oak St repairs
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026
MINISTER OPENS SEYMOUR HUB ■ State Minister Natalie Suleyman visited Seymour to officially open Victoria’s newest Thrive Hub employment service. Thrive Hubs are community-based, peoplecentred services that provide personal support to people who need help finding a job or starting training. The Hubs are run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence. Services include personalised coaching, jobreadiness workshops, interview preparation and pre-employment accredited training. “By collaborating with local employers and training providers, the Hubs also help each person to build their own pathway into training and employment and connect with real job opportunities,” said a Government rep. “We're providing more opportunities for Victorians to enter the workforce - because we know secure, meaningful employment supports local families, and local economies,” Ms Suleyman said. “These programs are the gateway to more local jobs.” “What makes our Thrive Hubs unique is that they’re tailored to the specific needs of the communities they serve and focus on meaningful employment for the individual,” said Travis McLeodm, Brotherhood of St Laurence Executive Director. “Collaboration is integral. We work with industry experts, training providers and people with lived experience to create employment and education pathways that are effective and sustainable. This powers connected communities."
Tree trimming ■ Strathbogie Shire Council intends to carry out tree trimming around electric lines in the townships of Avenel and Euroa. The works schedule, weather pending, is expected to be completed by May 25.
Vegetation works ● Natalie Suleyman
WHITTLESEA CITY CEO RESIGNS ■ Craig Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of the City of Whittlesea, is leaving the $500,000-a-year position in late May ahead of some pre-arranged leave. Mr Lloyd, who has been Whittlesea CEO since October 2020, has accepted the CEO position at Joondalup City in Western Australia. The Joondalup job has an advertised ‘reward package’ ranging from $288,727 to $439,682 per annum, set under Western Australia legislation.
Controversy
Whittlesea Council says it will advise arrangements for an Acting CEO shortly. Mr Lloyd has been at Whittlesea Council during a controversy-filled tenure of 4½years. The departure follows a tumultuous period, including a Commission of Inquiry and the appointment of a municipal monitor in late 2025. Part of Mr Lloyd’s term included a period where there were no elected Councillors, and the Council was headed by a team of three administrators.
Inquiry
The period included: ■ An election voided due to fraud and ballot interference by members of the public ■ A Mayor banned from council offices, hit with a no-confidence vote and suspended by the Minister - now in the Supreme Court. ■ A full State Government Commission
■ Works to repair the Oak St bridge over Whiteheads Creek in Seymour will soon move into stage two, following the completion of initial bridge barrier repair works. The project is being delivered as part of a two-stage program after structural damage was identified during routine inspections. Construction is anticipated to start in coming weeks. This stage will focus on structural rehabilitation of the bridge deck, as well as resurfacing with new asphalt to reinstate the bridge’s functionality, reopen the bridge to two-way traffic and improve its long-term durability. These works will require a full closure of the Oak St bridge. During the project: ■ The Oak St bridge will be temporarily closed to all vehicles and pedestrians, including local traffic ■ Oak St will also be temporarily closed between the Wimble St roundabout and the Tarcombe Rd/High St railway level crossing, but will be accessible to local traffic ■ The Oak St and Mentor St intersection will be temporarily closed, but will be accessible to local traffic ■ The Oak St and Abdallah Rd intersection will be temporarily closed to all traffic ■ Drivers are asked to allow extra travel time and follow the directions of traffic controllers and signage ■ Signed detours for heavy and high clearance vehicles will be in place via Wimble St, Delatite R\d, Tarcombe Rd and High St.
of Inquiry ■ Findings of “serious and systemic governance failures”.
Critical
The Commission was critical of Mr Lloyd as well as others. “It found the CEO was quick to escalate conflicts rather than resolve them, potentially making tensions worse,” said Council Watch Victoria Inc. In addition to Mr Lloyd, the past decade has seen a revolving door of CEOs at Whittlesea including David Turnbull (forced to leave after 21 years), Michael Wootten (briefly, in 2016), Simon Overland (2019) whose contract was terminated, Kevin Spiller (2019-20), and Joe Carbone (Acting CEO in 2020).
Spin
Cr Lareie Cox, Mayor, issued a statement that was full of praise for Mr Lloyd. “Since joining the City of Whittlesea in 2020, Craig has provided strong and considered leadership through many challenges and changes, including a period of Administration, the COVID-19 pandemic and the return of an elected Council. “He has driven important organisational reforms that have strengthened the Council’s delivery of infrastructure, enhanced financial management, elevated customer service standards, deepened community engagement and advanced the use of technology,” Cr Cox said in a written statement.
■ Strathbogie Shire will be doing general tree works in Euroa and Violet Town this week. This will include tree removals in: Atkins St, Brock St, Butter Factory Lane and Sevens Ave, Euroa and Baird St, Lily St and Tulip St, Violet Town. These trees are being removed for safety reasons, according to a Shire representative.
Saturday open day ■ Free kindergarten is now available for three- and four-year-old children across Mitchell Shire. In line with the Best Start Best Life reform, three-year-old children now have access to 15 hours of play-based kindergarten each week, and four-yearold children have access to a 20-hour Pre Prep program. “These programs build confidence, independence and provide opportunities for lifelong learning in preparation for school,” said a Shire representative. Families are being encouraged to enrol now, with round 1 offers made in June. Mitchell’s kindergarten open day is on Saturday (May 2), giving families the chance to tour centres, meet educators and learn more about the programs on offer. Mitchell Shire Mayor Cr John Dougall said kindergarten played a key role in helping children build confidence early. “Kindergarten is where children start to find their confidence – learning how to be part of a group, follow routines and build friendships,” Cr Dougall said. Kindergarten starts sooner than many families think – and those early years play a vital role in shaping how children learn, connect and grow. Mitchell Shire Council’s sessional kindergarten programs offer a structured, play-based learning environment delivered by bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers and experienced educators, with a strong focus on child development and school readiness.