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V/Line suspends train travel V/LINE’S train network was suspended across the state yesterday after the revelation four of its staff have tested positive to COVID-19. Buses replaced trains throughout Victoria yesterday with more than 180 drivers and operation staff in isolation. “Replacing trains with coaches will allow for services to continue to operate, give passengers certainty, and help contain the outbreak,” a V/Line spokesperson said. “We apologise to passengers making permitted journeys for the disruption to their journey and thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this challenging time.” One of the positive cases identified in West Gippsland was linked to the V/Line workforce. Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU) said from a local perspective it is a low-risk case and as of last night there were no exposure sites
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State government’s social housing plan By TOM GANNON
LATROBE City is among the areas to feature as part of the state government’s Big Housing Build program. The program will see $1.25 billion invested in new social and affordable housing across regional Victoria across the next four years in response to increasing population growth. It aims to create more rental housing to support employment growth in regional towns and cities. Latrobe City has been one of 18 local government areas selected for the Minimum Investment Guarantee. Morwell will receive four new homes delivered by Aboriginal Housing Victoria at a total cost of $1,327,124 and three new homes delivered by Community Housing Ltd at a total cost of $1,345,760. Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the program will have several benefits for the chosen areas in regional Victoria. “It’s about the provision of much needed social housing in regional Victoria, it also is really important in terms of its economic stimulus and the benefit to the supply chain in regional Victoria,” he said. Mr Wynne said it was important for these future
developments and existing properties that would be purchased by the state government for the purposes of social housing to be located in amenity accessible areas. “We see that as absolutely fundamental, particularly where for instance you’ve got women and children escaping domestic violence, we want to make sure there are appropriate support services located around them,” he told The Express. “You don’t want people to be pushed into areas that are not well located and do not have good services and amenities around them, that will always be at the forefront of our construction activity, but also our spot purchase program as well.” Mr Wynne said the state government wanted to “partner up” with local council and would use Latrobe City’s existing housing strategy as a guide for the development of this housing in Morwell. “I think Morwell have done a fantastic job in this space and they are doing excellent work to put that strategy in place which becomes guiding principles for not only the council but also for us as a state government,” he said. “You can be assured that we will continue to have a really strong association and relationship with councils like Latrobe who are at the front saying they are up for this conversation and want to be engaged actively with government.”
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Homely: Planning Minister Richard Wynne announced Morwell would be one of 18 LGAs to receive new social and affordable housing as part of the Big Housing Build program.
in the Latrobe Valley region that had been publicly announced. A GRPHU spokesperson said all close contacts of the case had been identified and were in quarantine while undergoing testing. V/Line and the Department of Transport have been working closely with the Department of Health throughout this outbreak. V/Line assured passengers that it is committed to deep cleaning every night, and installing hand sanitisers across the network. QR Codes have been installed on trains and across the network, but the Department of Transport said registering your myki card can further assist contact tracers. For travel information, visit vline.com.au or call 1800 800 007. The GRPHU spokesperson said while lockdown restrictions eased in regional Victoria, this was a reminder that people must remain vigilant.
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$" # " The Latrobe Valley Express, Monday, 13 September, 2021 — Page 15
