Water warriors pool resources
Flight MH17 condolences THOSE wishing to pay their respects for the lives lost in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 disaster can send messages of condolence to families and friends of the victims. Condolence books are available at all City of Kingston Customer Service Centres including Cheltenham, Mentone and Chelsea. Kingston residents can also send messages of condolence to council. All messages will be forwarded to the Premier’s office to share with grieving families. Kingston Mayor Paul Peulich said he, like many Australians, was “shocked” by the tragedy. “This random act of violence against 298 innocent people including young children has left many people searching for answers. My message to those families affected is that we are thinking of you – you are in our hearts. These books of condolence will mean residents of Kingston will let those families know we are thinking them.”
A TEAM of water wise pupils at Aspendale’s St Louis de Montfort’s School is finalising its ‘Drains to the Bay’ workshop for this week’s Melbourne Water Kids Teaching Kids Conference. The students’ presentation, educating others about the importance of protecting groundwater, will be made to 450 ‘Water Warriors’ – fellow students from across Melbourne and Victoria – at the two–day conference at Etihad Stadium, starting on Thursday 31 July. Teacher Julie Wynne said St Louis De Montfort’s team of eight water warriors will show conference attendees how the school’s location between the Edithvale Wetlands and the bay, and its close connection to the water has influenced its newly-built sustainable school gardens and kitchen. “Kids Teaching Kids is a great way for our school’s leadership group to present ideas to people outside the school,” Ms Wynne said. Founder of Kid Teaching Kids Arron Wood said the conference’s value was in all the work the participants put in and the learning outcomes they achieved. “The Melbourne Water Kids Teaching Kids conference helps young people learn about and care for their local creeks, waterways and bays, by using our world-class water wisely, keeping our sewers clean and protecting our waterways, among others,” Mr Wood said. Melbourne Water acting managing director Paul Pretto said the effort and enthusiasm of the young Water Warriors is impressive. “As our next generation of environmental champions, these students have worked through real-world problems to come up with creative and innovative presentations,” Dr Pretto said.
Sizzling fundraiser
Marshalling groundwater forces: (from left) St Louis de Montfort students Charlotte, Kyla, Hannah, Ella, Shelby, Hayden and Jackson plan to make a splash at water conference. Picture: Gary Sissons
Carbon tax demise delivers rates bonus Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au FUTURE generations of Kingston ratepayers may not be so impressed, but for now, the Abbott government’s decision to axe the carbon tax has saved existing ratepayers money. Kingston Council formally adopted its 2014-15 budget at Monday evening’s council meeting, passing on a “bonus” to ratepayers in the form of a reduction in the proposed 4.25 per cent rate rise flagged in the draft budget. Ratepayers will now pay 4.06 per cent more in rates for 2014-15 after council decided to “pass on savings delivered by the federal government’s
repeal of carbon pricing legislation”, according to a statement released the day after the council meeting. Cr Geoff Gledhill hinted council officers had been seeking a higher rate rise than even the 4.25 per cent included in the draft budget, but praised officers for listening to councillors’ views about any increase. “They took onboard comments from councillors… without sacrificing capital improvements and the service delivery we provide across the community,” he said. He praised this year’s budget as “balanced”. The mayor of Kingston, Cr Paul Peulich, said there would also be a reduc-
tion in waste services fees, expected to be about $4. The municipal charge remains fixed at $100 and pensioners will continue to receive a $80 rates rebate on top of the state government’s $208 rebate. “When council released the draft budget for comment, I said that council was responding to the community’s expectation that we continue to deliver solid value for money to ratepayers. Passing on these reductions demonstrates that commitment.” Cr Peulich noted Kingston’s rate increases have been trending downwards in recent years. Rates rose 6.04 per cent in 2011-12, 6.35 per cent in 2012-13 and 4.45 per
cent in 2013-14. “Following the repeal of the carbon pricing legislation, I’m pleased to say the rate increase for 2014-15 will be even lower than originally anticipated,” Cr Peulich said. Cr Tamsin Bearsley said she had read “every word” of this year’s budget. The draft budget document is more than 140 pages long. Cr Bearsley joked others should do the same. “It’s a good read,” she said. Kingston Council has $44.5 million worth of capital works earmarked for 2014-15, including $4 million for roads works and $1.5 million to fix footpaths.
DIAMOND CONCEPTS FOR AN APPOINTMENT CALL
THE Red Cross will host a national Centenary Fundraiser BBQ Day at Bunnings stores on Saturday 9 August to help raise the vital funds needed for Red Cross to continue its everyday work helping Australians in need. Members of the Chelsea Red Cross Branch will be firing up the burners and sizzling sausages at the Keysborough Bunnings store. The national BBQ is part of the centenary celebrations of Australian Red Cross, bringing together thousands of Red Cross supporters to host fundraising BBQs at over 200 Bunnings stores around the country. “We are delighted to team up with Bunnings to celebrate 100 years of people helping people and we hope the community will come along on the day, have a sausage and learn more about the incredible work of Red Cross in our community and further afield,” Chelsea Red Cross president Lynsey Gillies said. “Our Branch has been actively involved in the Chelsea community for nearly 75 years and we are thrilled to add this milestone event to our list of achievements.” The Red Cross Centenary Fundraiser BBQ Day at Bunnings is on Saturday 9 August at the Keysborough Bunnings Store, Cheltenham Rd, Keysborough.
Expect to pay around half the price!
03 9585 8879
SUITE 1B, GROUND FLOOR MILLENIUM HOUSE 1251 NEPEAN HIGHWAY, CHELTENHAM VIC 3192 Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 30 July 2014
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