Alpine Shire Council

23/10/2026

Councillors will consider a range of recommendations at the upcoming Ordinary Council Meeting, including:

▪️ Noting the review of the Alpine Shire Council Plan 2025-2029 Action Plan;

▪️ Endorsing the draft Alpine Shire Council Road Management Plan 2026; and

▪️ Receiving and noting the Alpine Shire Economic Development Strategy 2021 Action Plan.

A full list of agenda items is available online via our website: https://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-council/council-meetings/council-meetings-2026

The meeting will be held at the Council Chambers in Bright from 5pm on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.

It will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel, which can be accessed by visiting https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdETJrRa0gkE4uBbNULu9NQ/live

Community members are invited to attend in person or view online.

Please submit any questions on notice in writing to [email protected] by 5pm on Monday, 26 October 2026.

In addition to questions on notice, OCMs allow time for questions from the floor, unless otherwise specified. Each person is allocated two questions only and they must relate to a matter on the agenda.

23/10/2026

📢 Noise and fireworks notice for Myrtleford Show

The Myrtleford Show will be held on Saturday, 24 October from 9.00am to 9.00pm.

🎆 The fireworks display will be held at approximately 8.50pm

Residents may notice increased noise throughout the day and evening from amplified music, announcements, carnival rides and live entertainment.

If you have pets or livestock that are sensitive to loud noises, please consider making arrangements ahead of time.

22/10/2026

Celebrate Children's Week at Alpine Shire Libraries! ✨📚

From 24 October to 1 November, we're celebrating Children's Week 2026 with special themed Story Time and Rhyme Time sessions at our libraries.

This year's theme, "Children have the right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practice their religion", recognises and celebrates the diversity, identities and experiences of children.

🎁 As a special Children's Week gift, every child who attends a Story Time or Rhyme Time session during the week will receive a free story book to take home and keep.

Join us at your local library during the usual Story Time or Rhyme Time session and help us celebrate the joy of reading, learning and belonging.

22/10/2026

Wangaratta stands together in peace and solidarity 🕯️

Tomorrow, Friday 23 October, the Wangaratta Beacon will be lit in amber from 8pm to 8.15pm, joining the Australia-wide candlelight vigil in support of Dr Helen Haines.

This simple gesture reflects our community’s compassion, solidarity, and rejection of violence.

Our thoughts remain with Helen, her family, her team and everyone affected by this distressing incident.

We invite our community to light a candle at 8pm and take 15 minutes to reflect on the importance of peace, kindness, and respect.

At times like these, what unites us matters far more than what divides us.

21/10/2026

At today’s Special Council Meeting, Council came together to stand with Dr Helen Haines, her family and staff, passing a motion condemning violence and intimidation and reaffirming the importance of respect, compassion, and community.

Mayor Irene Grant also spoke about her conversation with Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who shared her support for our community and encouraged people to be their best selves, support one another, show kindness and care, and remain confident in the strength of our community.

We were honoured to be joined by Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy, and councillors and representatives from across Indi: Claire Ewart-Kennedy, Jane Dowsley, Juliana Phelps, Laura Binks, Matt Hyde, Michael Gobel, Michelle Cowan, Noah Tanzen, Peter Tolsher, Roberta Horne, Sarah Nicholas, Sophie Price, Trevor Ireno.

📺 You can watch today’s meeting here: https://buff.ly/1oqeJSw

21/10/2026

The recent event in the Indi region may be distressing for many people in our community.

People can respond to distressing events in many different ways. We encourage you to stay connected with the people you trust and reach out for support if you need it.

The Australian Red Cross has a number of resources that you may find helpful, including:

🧡 After a distressing event has happened (available in 10 languages) - https://www.redcross.org.au/emergencies/looking-after-yourself/english/

🧡 Coping with a major personal crisis -https://www.redcross.org.au/globalassets/cms/downloads/pdfs/disaster-plan/coping-with-a-major-personal-crisis-booklet.pdf

🧡 Coping with a major personal crisis (easy English version) -https://www.redcross.org.au/globalassets/cms/downloads/pdfs/disaster-plan/easy-english-coping-booklet-web.pdf

🧡 Wellbeing Toolkit -https://www.redcross.org.au/globalassets/cms/first-aid/21070-arc-wellbeing-toolkit--v2-hr.pdf

🧡 Helping children and young people cope with crisis -https://www.redcross.org.au/globalassets/cms/downloads/pdfs/disaster-plan/19060-red-crisis-children-booklet-d11-176x250-web.pdf

🧡 Parenting – coping with crisis -https://www.redcross.org.au/globalassets/cms/downloads/pdfs/shella/19060-red-crisis-parents-booklet-d10-web.pdf

These tools are free, and designed to help you and your loved ones navigate difficult times.

If you don’t have access to a computer, device, or internet at home, our Alpine Libraries in Bright, Mount Beauty, and Myrtleford offer free access to computers and Wi-Fi.

☎️ Please continue to look after one another, and remember there are free and confidential mental health services available on the numbers below:

Lifeline – 13 11 14

Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636

Kids Helpline (ages 5–25) – 1800 55 1800

headspace (ages 12–25) – 1800 650 890

21/10/2026

The following text is reposted from the Rural City of Wangaratta:

*

A Special Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday 21 October, at 12pm in the Council Chambers, Government Centre Wangaratta.

Following the recent incident involving Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines, the Rural City of Wangaratta will hold a Special Council Meeting to formally acknowledge the impact this event has had on our community and the broader Indi electorate.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for Council, as the elected representatives of our community, to come together and consider a formal response on behalf of the Wangaratta community.

Our thoughts remain with Helen, Phil, their family, staff and everyone affected by this incident.

Wangaratta is a strong, caring and connected community, and this meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect the support, respect and values that bring us together during difficult times.

The agenda for this meeting is available at: https://buff.ly/X3E7vpb

The meeting will be open to the public and livestreamed via Council's website. https://buff.ly/BNffH2B

If you need accessibility support, please contact Customer Service on 03 5722 0888.

Watch the recording of the Rural City of Wangaratta Council Meeting...

20/10/2026

Joint Statement from the Elected Members of Indi.

Members of Parliament and Mayors stand united in condemnation of the violent attack upon our Federal Member for Indi, Dr. Helen Haines, in Wangaratta yesterday. Our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her staff, and all those affected by this deeply distressing incident.

We are each affected.

Personal threats, all forms of intimidation, and acts of violence have absolutely no place in our democracy or in our communities.

Helen represents the best of public service. Her commitment to integrity, her respectful engagement in debate, and her sense of democracy and peace are the example we should aspire to.

We should challenge our elected representatives; we should question their decisions; we should demand better of them. But there is a line. That line is crossed the moment we decide that disagreement gives us permission to abandon our humanity. We are better than this. And we must demand better.

We will not allow intimidation to silence public voices. Decency still outweighs division, and our communities reject hatred, violence, and fear. We will not allow violence to discourage participation in civic life. And we will not allow the values of democracy to be diminished by those who seek to undermine them.

Today, we stand with Helen. Tomorrow, we continue the work of building communities where differences are debated with respect, where people feel safe to serve, and where hope is stronger than fear.

We are better than this. We know we are. And together, we must demand better, expect better, and be better.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Tim McCurdy MP, Member for Ovens Valley
Bill Tilley MP, Member for Benambra
Cindy McLeish MP, Member for Eildon
Annabelle Cleeland MP, Member for Euroa
Mayor Nicholas, Alpine Shire Council
Mayor Hearn, Benalla Rural City Council
Mayor Price, Indigo Shire Council
Mayor Rabie, Mansfield Shire Council
Mayor Gallagher, Murrindindi Shire Council
Mayor Jeffery, Strathbogie Shire Council
Mayor Tolsher, Towong Shire Council
Mayor Grant, Rural City of Wangaratta
Mayor Gobel, Wodonga Council

19/10/2026

A statement from Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas:

We are devastated by today’s news.

Helen Haines is not only a magnificent representative for our community, but also a truly wonderful human being.

She is compassionate, supportive and respectful, and she is an absolute pleasure to work with.

Our thoughts, love and prayers are with Helen, her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

19/10/2026

🚨 Just in! We're excited to announce that we've received a grant to develop Myrtleford's first Local Area Traffic Management (LATM) Plan!

Thanks to funding from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), we're going to develop a plan that assesses known issues in Myrtleford's existing traffic network.

From there, we'll identify opportunities to improve traffic management, pedestrian crossings, and cycling infrastructure, amongst other important issues. 🚗🚶🚴

We'll start working on the plan in 2027, so keep an eye out on our website and socials for your chance to have your say!

For more information, visit https://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/news/council-secures-30000-fund-traffic-management-plan-myrtleford