CHICKEN OUT
This week Maryborough Library has embraced spring for its popular school holiday program.
After taking delivery of an incubator with a dozen fertilised eggs, excited audiences have watched chicks hatching one by one. Once chicks are strong enough, those visiting can take them out and handle them.
Scores of children and special needs residents have dropped in each day to learn about the life cycle of poultry, take part in activities and of course, have a cuddle and take a selfie.
The fun continues each day at the Library until next Thursday 9 October from 9am to 5pm weekdays and 9am to noon tomorrow (Saturday).
CASHING IN CONTAINERS
We're punching above our weight on recycling. Other shires with bigger populations aren't reaping the rewards of the State Government's Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) like our community is.
In fact, we're beating several metro councils in our effort to reduce waste, with Boroondara, Yarra and Nillumbuk cities trailing behind our numbers, in the latest annual report from VISY.
The Central Goldfields community has collected nearly $800,000 from the scheme, keeping almost 8 million returnable containers out of our landfill, waterways and streets to the year ending June 2025.
By the end of the previous year, $3,719 had been donated to local charities. This year the total figure reached over $6,000 since the scheme began.
To cash in your containers, visit:
- Waste Recyclers of Victoria: 12 Madmans Lane, Flagstaff
- Asteria Services: 64-68 Nelson Street, Maryborough
SLASHING TRIALS
Electric Vehicles (EVs) continue to grow in popularity due to their lower running costs. Our Open Spaces team have been keeping an eye on developments and are trialling another EV lawnmower this week, to test its capabilities in rural conditions.
EV lawnmowers can also be deployed from earlier in the morning, due to their quieter operation, and are generally less disruptive for those nearby when in use.
Another advantage of these machines is their capacity to recharge overnight using standard 15 amp power outlets, rather than requiring special EV charging stations (such as our EV bays at Maryborough Railway Station).
While some Victorian councils have mandated quotas for the replacement of combustion engine vehicles, our team is focussed on performance. Not all of our scheduled work is trimming pristine ovals, manicured parks and nature strips: there are laneways, rugged roadsides and bushland paths to consider.
Our Depot isn't the only outfit in our Shire chopping through springtime growth, so we'll be sure to report back on our own findings after the trial.
CARISBROOK CHOPPED
The 2025 Chopped Rod and Custom Festival will be held in Carisbrook from today until Sunday evening.
There will be a road closure for the duration of the event along a section of Bucknall Street (previously known as Chaplins Road) around one side of the racecourse.
POSITIONS VACANT
For career opportunities, please see our advertisement in today's paper or visit:
www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/currentvacancies
