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16 MAY, 2023
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Help kids shoot hoops A basketball program that works to get kids and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities involved in the sport in Melton and Bacchus Marsh is seeking volunteer coaches. Specialist Hoops Basketball founder Emily Attard launched the program when she was just 16 years old. In five years it has grown into an organisation with almost 90 players who compete in able bodied and wheelchair basketball weekly at Cobblebank Stadium and Bacchus Marsh Leisure Centre. “Coaching within our group is such a rewarding experience … If you’ve had a bad week and come to the program every single person is so excited to be there,” Ms Attard said. Ms Attard said that coaches need a working with children’s check, other than that anyone who can offer consistency, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and meet new people “will always be welcome”. “We’re all about inclusion and providing a place where no one gets left behind, and if anyone is looking to give back to a community, Specialist Hoops is such a great place to do so,” she said. Specialist Hoops coaches Kyla Wardley, John McVie and Emily Attard. (Damjan Janevski) 334094_03
VFF predicts ‘rate shock’ By Liam McNally The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has sounded the alarm over Moorabool council’s draft budget which proposes an average farm rate increase of over 16 per cent. VFF president Emma Germano said the proposed increase was another blow to farmers inflicted by the council “which has been unable to set a flexible rating strategy”. “Disappointingly Moorabool Shire Council has yet again decided to force a greater rate burden onto the shire’s agricultural sector,” she said. “The increase represents significant rates shock for farmers and will hurt business
growth and productivity which are ultimately needed to help create local jobs, and to help protect farm businesses into the future. It also represents one of the highest farm rate increases across all Victorian rural and regional councils for the year ahead.” The proposed average farm rate increase is about five per cent higher than it was at the last budget, and more than four times the average increases in the budgets released in 2019 and 2020. However, Moorabool council chief executive Derek Madden said the average increase is inflated by 31 farm properties that will be rezoned in the next 18 months. “These properties have experienced
significant valuation increases based on sales evidence and demand from developers and other buyers in preparation for future development,” he said. “Excluding the impact of these properties, the proposed average increase for farm properties is 4.7 per cent. “Farm properties subject to rezoning will be subject to the new state government Windfall Gains tax from July 1, 2023.” Ms Germano said the VFF had proposed a solution in its submission to the council’s budget consultation process, which closed on Wednesday, May 4, to ensure a more “fair and equitable sharing of the rate burden”.
“The VFF has undertaken an analysis of council’s proposed budget and based on our findings we recommend changes that would see farmers, residents and business owners sharing an average 1.5 per cent rate increase. That falls well under the rate cap set at 3.5 per cent for this year,” she explained. “The farming community cannot be expected to continue to endure the most from continued rate increases that results in less funds available to farmers to invest in their businesses, to create economic activity and to provide local jobs. The VFF implores Moorabool Shire Council to take action to mitigate the proposed rating increase.”
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