Peter Gutwein is the Premier of which Australian state?

Storm brewing over sand mine project

By MICHELLE SLATER

A GROUP of residents are up-in-arms in opposition to a proposed sand quarry on Traralgon West Road in Maryvale, fearing the development could spread silica over nearby homes. An action group is distributing a petition imploring Latrobe City Council to knock-back an application from Latrobe Valley Sands to establish the quarry with an extraction area of nearly 144 hectares. Scrubby Lane resident Mick Seychell called a community meeting last week with about 50 local residents who had raised concerns about the plan. Mr Seychell said the project was suddenly sprung on residents through a letterbox drop only a fortnight ago and he was calling for more community consultation into the development. “There are massive concerns about airborne silica. We are concerned about the health and safety of ratepayers in the direct line of fire of this proposal,” Mr Seychell said. “It’s on a massive parcel of land, it won’t just affect this area, but all of Traralgon West. This is too much for anyone to properly comprehend.” The proposal which sits within a pine plantation, has already gained an Earth Resources Regulation work plan after being in the pipeline for the past 10-years. The new quarry will support an existing operation to the north of Traralgon West Road, which is expected to be finished and rehabilitated within the next five years. But nearby resident Glen Burns said he had no idea a new quarry was being planned across the road from his house when he purchased the property 11-months ago. “We knew nothing about this before we bought the house or we would’ve gone further out. This will disrupt our lives and our health as silica is up there with asbestos,” Mr Burns said. Latrobe Valley Sands manager Chris Blackwood Thumbs down: Traralgon West residents are rigorously opposing a new sand quarry being proposed in the vicinity of their homes.

photograph michelle slater

said he “appreciated there will be a number of queries and questions with respect to this proposal including location”. Mr Blackwood said dust, noise and water usage would be kept a minimum, and mining would be undertaken in stages, with the first 30-year stage to be carried out closer to the Maryvale paper mill. He said the company provided 14 jobs at its current site plus another 25 to 30 subcontractors, and expected employment to increase by 70 per cent with the new project. Member for Morwell Russell Northe had been contacted by both residents and the proponent, but he stated the importance of proper community engagement. “Residents are unsure how they will be impacted by the location, noise and dust as a consequence of this proposal, so it’s important they are provided with correct and comprehensive information,” Mr Northe said. The project requires approval from Latrobe City which received the planning application in December. “Based on the level of community interest and the number of objections received to date, the application will be presented to councillors at a future council meeting for decision,” a Latrobe City spokesperson said.

Triplets reach milestone as they embark on first day of school

By ALYSSA FRITZLAFF

THE Minnelli triplets started their school adventure at St Vincent De Paul Primary School last week. Danica, Xavier and Ryder were born to Sarina and Daniel Minnelli on November 13, 2015. The triplets big sister Talia, who also attends St Vincent’s Primary, was there to introduce her younger siblings to school life. Back in 2015, the triplets appeared in The Express, when parents Sarina and Daniel partnered with The Multiple Birth Volunteer Support Foundation to search for volunteers to help them care for the three infants. At the time, their older sister was under the age of two, and the couple knew they had their work cut out for them caring for four very young children. “We found out at the eight-week ultrasound ... we were in total shock,” Ms Minnelli said. Luckily, the couple were not alone and had a total of 11 volunteers step forward to assist them at the beginning of their journey. Pauline Prowse and Alison May were among the volunteers chosen to help the family, and are still a big part of their life today. They stood with Sarina, Daniel and the triplets grandparents out the front of St Vincent’s to see the kids off on their first day. The pair said they were always present at birthday parties, shopping trips and doctor’s appointments. Ms Prowse said it was “privilege” to be involved with the triplets. Family: Sarina, Danica, Xavier, Ryder, Talia and Daniel Minnelli at St Vincent’s Primary School last week. photograph alyssa fritzlaff “We’d done it all before with our own kids... it was like being surrogate nanas, we enjoyed every minute of it,” Ms Prowse said. “We have always been included with family activities,” Ms May added. Ms Minnelli said they faced many challenges, including feeding around the clock, many, many nappies and a massive triplet pram which was a whopping 17 kilos. The huge pram, the ABC Adventure Buggy, was one of the only prams out there large enough to carry all three triplets, who, in the first three weeks would go through 32 nappies every day. To help with their overload of nappies, the couple were even given an extra large rubbish bin by the council so they could keep up. “We’ve been really lucky,” Ms Minnelli said. “They never missed out on anything.” While the couple were thrilled to have their three youngest start their school journey, they said the experience was a ‘‘bit emotional, but very exciting’’. The triplets did appear very excited on their first day and were all decked out in their new school uniforms with names stitched on their backpacks. Their faces lit up as they greeted their many friends from kindergarten who are joining them in prep this year. Mr Minnelli said the triplets were “excited” to be starting at the school, especially because their new principal Dave Cooper barracks for Richmond - just like them. It was also Mr Cooper’s first day as St Vincent’s principal, having moved over from Lumen Christi Primary in Churchill. In addition to the new triplets, St Vincent’s also had a pair of twin’s starting at the school, Amelia and Leon Pierisge-Fernando. Mr Cooper said he has never had triplets at a school before, and certainly never a set of twins and triplets starting prep on the same day. “We are excited to be starting the new year, and are looking forward to re-engaging with the school’s families and the community,” Mr Cooper said. The school is currently in the midst of building eight new classrooms, making the school safer and more efficient for students, he said. “This is a significant time in the school’s history.”