Common complaints include waste, potholes, noisy neighbours, smoke, fire, burst water mains or lack of water pressure, fallen branches, power outages, animal attacks. It’s often difficult working out who and how to register a formal complaint. And without a formal complaint, it will be treated as just a whinge. The Snap Send Solve App is a really efficient way to report an issue or offence or register a complain. It’s a bit like a One stop shop for problems such as fallen branches, potholes on the road, blocked gutters or a straying animal. For many issues, you won’t have to scramble around to find the best phone number. Chances are you’ll get a really quick response and it’s all documented in the app.

Some contact details for registering a formal complaint directly with the responsible agency are as follows:

• South Gippsland Council (animal, smoke, neighbour issues, most vegetation issues, backyard fire, waste disposal, onsite waste water management systems or OWMS, potholes on Council/non-arterial roads). Contact for the Customer Service Team is 5662 9200. Just make sure you register your complaint and get a reference Number. Be better informed via the New Residents Guide on the Council website, and/or register with Council’s fortnightly Newsletter on www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/intheknow

• South Gippsland Water (burst water mains, Pressure Power Systems breakdowns, bills/accounts). Contact their 24 hour number 1300 851 636.

• Ausnet Energy (power outages, vegetation issues concerning power lines). Support Priority Line is 1800 818 832 and a useful website showing current outages and identifying faults is www.ausnetservices.com.au

• Vicroads are responsible for major roads. They invite reporting urgent hazards on 13 11 70, and a written form via their website www.vicroads.voc.gov.au

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) imposes two levels of fire restriction – Fire Danger Period (FDP); and a Total Fire Ban (TFB). The timing of each varies, depending on the amount of rain, grassland curing rate and other local conditions. The CFA explains what you can do and cannot do in regular Facebook posts, plus through its website www.cfa.vic.gov.au

Registration of any (rural) burn off fire is compulsory. In rural areas, vegetation clearance is a different issue to village areas. The intention to burn off must be registered with the CFA. By contacting their enquiry number on 1800 668 511, they’ll explain restrictions, policies and procedures, including leading you through the registration process. It is www.firepermits.vic.gov.au/permits

Forget backyard fires in our three villages. A $500 fine applies. In addition to fire restrictions declared by the Country Fire Authority (CFA), SG Council has introduced open air burning restrictions (backyard burning essentially) in township areas. This includes Loch, Nyora and Poowong. So, definitely no pitfires, no bonfires and no rubbish/leaf cleanup fires at any time of the year, within residential areas, unless you have a very good reason, and apply for a paid permit. Check rules and conditions, including permit form on www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/homepage/123/open_air_burning.

If your sensor sounds, then call SGW on their 24-hour number 1300 851 636. They should already have been notified, but it’s in your interest to double check. To avoid issues with your system, the Homeowners Guide is a fascinating bedtime read and is at www.sgwater.com.au

It’s a bit of a minefield, trying to work out what goes in which bin, what is recyclable and so on. Rather than depend on your common sense, it’s instructive (as well as safer environmentally, more convenient and cheaper), to refer to the Council website at: www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/wasteandrecycling. Once there, you’ll have to pick your way through each of the sub-heading, covering topics such as recycling, toxic waste, Wear gloves!

Toxic treated timber is not green! Copper/arsenic type treated timber is an important exception. It is not green, and must be disposed of in red bins or in General waste at one of the Council outlets.

No metals in bins please. Old metal pots, garden tools, chairs, coathangers should not go into either waste of recycling bins, but must be taken to a South Gippsland Council waste station, such as Korumburra. It’s free. Note that some metal cans are recyclable. See Container Deposit Scheme below for details.

Some rubbish is too big for bins. If you can’t transport it yourself, the SG Council provides a user pays residential hard waste collection service annually. Residents can book a collection during July and August of each year. The collection occurs during September or October. Fees apply, with Pensioner discount!! For details visit: https://www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/hardwaste

Contact Council on 5662 9200, for damaged, lost, stolen or missing bins. It’ll be repaired or replaced quickly, and for free.

Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is a State Government scheme to save landfill, hold manufacturers to some accountability; recycle materials; or, provide you or an organisation of your choice with funds via your donation, starting at 10c per eligible item. Most aluminium, glass, plastic and liquid paperboard (carton) drink containers between 150 ml and 3 litres are eligible. Keep the lids on – they’re recycled too, these days! CDS collection points are constantly being added and you can check online. Please note that some community groups also collect locally and submit to CDS as a money-raise

We all know that trees and vegetation are critical for all sorts of environmental and personal reasons. Council has responded to their importance by generating Guidelines on tree management in South Gippsland. Details are at:

https://www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au

Nature strips (or road reserves) are the strips of public land between a property boundary and the adjacent roadway. Many services (sewerage, power, phone) also run beneath them, Some have formal paths, many, unfortunately don’t. Under general council rules (across Australia), homeowners or their tenants are responsible for their nature strip's maintenance and upkeep.

Generally, only street trees are cared for and maintained by the Shire. The usual practice is for residents to maintain nature strips by regular mowing, edging turf, weeding and picking up litter. Some residents maintain small plantings, which, if aesthetic rather than intrusive, are usually appreciated by residents, wildlife, and the Council! But, there are no useful guidelines in the Shire on your using or enhancing nature strips. Just think of courtesy, pedestrian access, open views, safety… and aesthetics!

Trees near power lines outside your property are trimmed not by Council, but by Ausnet Energy – just to add a little to the mix. Ausnet has the right to ask you to trim vegetation where power lines go into your property, and will bill you if they have to remove it. It’s expensive! Try to contact the local Ausnet Energy “Tree and management” team on 1800 007 669.

If you have a suspected tree or vegetation problem other than power line related, then contact Council (via Switch on 5662 9200) to ask for someone from Vegetation Branch to come and have a look. Or send a request through the Snapsendsolve App.

It stands to reason that being more energy efficient in your own home not only saves money, but also helps lessen the burden on the increasingly overloaded energy supply systems. Some great tips are through the official Victorian Government website https://www.energy.vic.gov.au