Local People. Wed., Feb. 5, 2020

By The People, For The People

EXTRA LOCAL NEWS SECTION

Local People Phone: 5797 2656 or 1800 231 311.

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www.LocalPaper.com.au

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

Local Briefs New Lions wanted

■ The Lions Club of Eildon is seeking new members. The Club is involved with local community activities. Meetings are on the second and foruth Mondays of the month, 6.30pm for 7pm.

- Syd Savage

NEW ERA FOR LOCAL NEWS Video, podcasts, websites and social media updates by local citizens

Gospel Day at Yea

■ A day on the Gospel of Matthew will be held at St Luke’s Centre for Sprituality, Yea, from 10am-3.30pm at the Parish Hall, 3 Pellisier St, Yea. The Rev. Dr Canon Dorothy Lee, a New Testament scholar, will speak. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. Provide your own lunch. Cost: $10 per person.

RSVP for catering purposes by Wednesday, February 12. Phone: 0437 937 433. anglicanyea@gmail.com - Rev. Eden-Elizabeth Nicholls

Repair Cafe soon

■ A Repair Cafe will be held at Alexandra from 1pm-3pm this Saturday (Feb. 8). It is a free community meeting place that promotes repairing things together. You will find tools, materials and fixers with repair skills in all kinds of fields. Bring broken items from home and watch, learn or help as the repairs get done for free.

Location is 3 Bayley St, Alexandra.

- Sasha Barrow

Nexus at Lodge

■ Sean Fanning, Access and Support Worker of Nexus Primary Health, will speak at the Albert Edward Lodge, Alexandra, at 7.30pm on Thursday, February 20, at the Alexandra Masonic Centre, Cnr Webster and Nihil Sts. - Stuart Dale

Night at Bunnings

■ A Community Recognition Night will be held at Bunnings Mernda, 1405 Plenty Rd, at 6.30pm-8.30pm on Thursday, February 20. The evening is being held to recognise members and volunteers of community groups. Dinner and refreshments will be provided. RSCP: Fri., Feb. 7. Phone: Michelle or Chloe, 9216 2700.

W’sea Cruise Night

■ First Friday of the month (Feb. 7) sees the Whittlesea Cruise Night, starting at 6pm, in Church St. Live music is a feature of the popular evenings. Phone: Terry, 0412 6098 638.

In Neighbourhood

■ Drawing sessions with Jo McFadyen will be held 9.30am-11.30am on February 5 and 19, March 4 and 16, and April 1 at the Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House. Cost is $150 per term.

■ Pastels and Acrylics workshops will be held on Saturdays, February 8 and 15. 9am arrival, 10am-3pm. Cost: $75 per session.

The sessions will be led by Janet Hayes.

■ A boat licence course will be held from 9am-1pm on Saturday, Feb. 29 at KRNH. - Laura Caine

Volunteer session

■ A Volunteer Information Session will be held at the Hurstbridge Fire Station at 10am this Sunday (Feb. 9).

Local Briefs Op Shop to open

■ The Toolangi Castella District Community House is due to officially open an op shop - Toolangi Treasures - this month.

Anticipated opening hours are 10am-1pm Mondays, 1pm-4pm Tuesdays, 10am-1pm Saturdays, and 10am-1pm on the fourth Sunday of the month.

Craft Market

● Pat McMahon: spoke at the Strath Creek celebration held on Australia Day (Jan. 26).

Pat was Broadford President in 1975

● The Local Paper has adopted a ‘digital first’ publication strategy.

■ Local non-profit community groups will never ■ Days of the former Broadford Shire have to pay for advertising again, in a local were recalled when Pat McMahon spoke media initiative starting today.

Local People is a new weekly section in at the Australia Day celebrations at The Local Paper. The section is about local Strath Creek. organisations, their people and their events.

Pat was Shire President of the The Local People section will include reBroadford municipality in 1975. He was ports and photos contributed by local readers. head of many communi9ty organisations at Organisations can list their coming events in a the time. detailed regional ‘What’s On’, without any Broadford was first incorporated as a road charge. district on January 29, 1869, and became Central focus of the Local People is the a shire on December 24, 1874.

Murrindindi region, but will also include news On November 18, 1994, the Shire of of events in the neighbouring Mansfield, Broadford was abolished, and, along with Mitchell, Nillumbik, Strathbogie, the Rural City of Seymour, the Shire of Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges municipaliPyalong, and parts of the Shire of McIvor, ties. was merged into the newly created Shire The initiative comes as The Local Paper of Mitchell. introduces a ‘digital first’ strategy, which means The King Parrot and Strath Creek disthat major local news reports are uploaded to tricts were transferred to the newly crethe www.LocalPaper.com.au website proated Shire of Murrindindi. gressively each week, prior to the Wednesday Pat was representative of one of the three publication of the ‘hard copy’ print edition.

Strath Creek families who spoke on their Local Paper readers can see local news ancestral histories, before commemorative and sports updates at the website, as well as plaques were unveiled at the Strath Creek social media platforms such as Facebook.

Pioneer Reserve.

Unlike some other publications, all Local Paper reports can be read free of any charge.

There are no paywalls at Local Paper websites.

Similarly, there are no cover charges for The Local Paper. Readers can pick-up free ‘hard copy’ of the newspaper from a network across the region.

■ An historical tour of the Kinglake Ranges of outlets The network expands today from 70, to more is one of the many activities starting 2020 at than 140 conveniently-located depots. Details the Neighbourhood House. organisation events will now reach more The tour will be held from 10am-1pm on of Saturday, February 29. The bus will depart from readers. And the events will also be listed in a the Kinglake Heritage Centre, behind the new local What’s On guide, both in print and online.

Kinglake West Hall.

The website will introduce free video reports Local historian Deidre Hawkins will help tell the local history as the bus makes its way and podcasts throughout 2020. The initiatives come as The Local Paper has secured a grant to Kinglake spots of interest.

Cost is $20, which includes morning tea at from the Regional Publishers’ Innovation Fund, overseen by the Australian Media and the Heritage Centre.

■ Beeswax Soap Making will be held from Communications Authority.

The online content of The Local Paper 1pm-3pm on Saturday, February 22 at the kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House, will also appear on a premium version of the 6 McMahons Rd. Bookings can be made on Issuu media platform, providing search engine optimisation, integrated social media, rich 5786 1301.

■ Local monthly meetings will be held from links to websites and email addresses of edito7.30pm-9pm on March 5, April 2, May 7 and rial content.

A team of ‘citizen journalist’ volunteers will June 4 for the Buzz of the Bees. Like minded people will gather at the kinglake Ranges be recruited from throughout the region. TrainNeighbourhood House to talk about bees. ing material will be developed in 2020 in print - Laura Caine and online.

Busy time at N’hood House

■ Diamond Village Artisan Craft Market will be held from 10am-2pm on Saturday (Feb. 8) at 78 Nepean St, Watsonia.

For more details, phone Iris, 0405 584 014.

Music Festival

■ Gami Gami Deville will open the Whittlesea Country Music Festival from 7pm this Friday (Feb. 7) at the Whittlesea Showgrounds. The free curtain raiser by the local band, will have a food truck at the event being supported by the Whittlesea Football and Netball Club.

M’field Mayor meets

■ Cr Marg Attley, Mayor of the Mansfield Shire Council, will meet for a cafe conversation with local residents at 10.30am-11.30am tomorrow (Thurs., Feb. 6) at the Witches Brew Cafe, 28 High St, Mansfield.

24/7 defib at Yea

■ Yea Bowls Club will install its defibrillator on the outside of its premises, so that the public can gain 24/7 access to the potentially life-saving apparatus. The installation will take place later this month. More details will be advised.

Steels Creek night

■ A family social night was held last Friday (Jan. 31) at Steels Creek Tennis Club.

The event included a barbecue dinner, games and tennis.

- Steels Creek Grapevine

Biodynamic farming

■ Yea Community House and Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House will join forces to present a session about Biodynamic Farming, at Yea Community House at 10am-1pm on Thursdays, February 20-April 9. This is suitable for broadacre farmers, market gardeners and people wanting to extend their knowledge. Cost: $130/$80. Phone: 5786 1301.

- Laura Caine

Sunday Creek walk

■ Shane Monk - ‘Taungurung Man’ will walk and talk along Sunday Creek from 10am-2pm on Saturday, February 22.

Shane will discuss the cultural history and use of the local area and waterway in the past. Meeting place is the Broadford Living and Learning Centre, 158-162 High St, Broadford. Limited places are available.

RSVP: Sun., Feb. 16. Phone: Sonia Sharkey, 5734 6312.

www.LocalMedia.com.au

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 - Page 00

Local People

Alex. Rotary’s bushfire appeal

■ The Rotary Club of Alexandra has launched a Bush Fire Relief Fund, and started a fundraising drive with its own donation of $4000.

Tom Farrell, President,announced that at a special Board meeting that the Rotary Club of Alexandra Bush Fire Relief Fund was opened.

Tom said the impact of large fires on communities is only too real to members of the Club who were responsible for the effective distribution of over $300,000 after the 2009 Local Rotarians put in thousands of hours to ensure those in need received some help.

The Rotary Club of Alexandra Fire Relief Fund will concentrate first on supporting Rotary Club of Wodonga-Belvoir, as these funds are going directly to the CorryongCudgewa communities, and the fencing effort of the District 9790 Fencing team led

by Alan Stafford, to replace boundary fencing.

As with all Rotary Club appeals 100 per cent of all monies donated will go to the cause, with the Rotary Club of Alexandra covering any administration and other on costs.

● Tom Farrell, President, Rotary Club of Alexandra

Tom Farrell invited the wider community to contribute to the fun and donations may be made: ■ Directly to the Rotary Club of Alexandra’s treasurer Ian Gibb, ■ Cheques may be directed to: “The Rotary Club of Alexandra,C/- PO Box 76, Alexandra. Vic 3714, with the cheques made out to the Rotary Club of Alexandra (2019 Fire Relief) ■ Direct fund transfer may be made using the following details. Account Name “Rotary Club of Alexandra”. BSB 083 503 Account No.606630744. Identifier 2019 Fire Relief ( all donations must include this detail) The distribution of the funds will be decided on the needs of the individuals as determined by the recommendations from the Rotary Clubs in the fire affected areas.

This is a project of the Rotary Club of Alexandra and the project management team includes members who have had hands-on experience in fire recovery and the impact that fire has on the communities in the fire area so that donors can be confident the funds will be spent wisely.

- Robert Chaffe

Pet adoption day at Eltham

■ The PETstock Assist National Pet Adoption Day will be held from 10am-2pm on Saturday February 15 at PETstock Eltham, 1142 Main Rd, Eltham.

Pet adoption experts from local rescue groups will raise awareness of pet adoption and find loving homes for pets in need.

National Pet Adoption Day is an initiative of PETstock’s charity PETstock Assist with support from event partner PetRescue.

The past five Adoption Days have found homes for nearly 3000 animals across Australia, and this year PETstock Assist is aiming to find forever homes for another 1000 rescue pets across its 145 stores.

Olympian, television personality and animal rescue advocate Giaan Rooney is also supporting the initiative this year, encouraging Australians to adopt not shop for pets.

Giaan, who grew up raising rescues, is urging Australians to adopt different in 2020; to adopt a new way of thinking when it comes to animal adoption and consider a pet they haven’t before.

All pets available for adoption receive upto-date vaccines, are desexed and have undergone a full health assessment.

Through initiatives such as this, PETstock Assist is hoping to break the cycle of pet homelessness in Australia. - Contibuted

Local Briefs Craft at Glenburn

■ Craft devotees practise all forms of craft at the Glenburn Craft Club, held at 10am12 Noon, Tuesdays, at the Old School Hall, Melba Hwy, Glenburn. Cost is $2 per session. Phone: Maureen, 5797 8495.

Card making at Yea

■ Gaye Garlick of Yea will demonstrate birthday card making at the Yea Community House at 12 Noon on Saturday, February 23. Cost is $22 per person. A minimum of four attendees is needed. Bookings can be made with the Yea Community House, phone 5797 3070. Email: info@ yeahouse.org.au

Shire meets at Alex.

■ The next Murrindindi Shire Council meeting will be held at 6pm on Wednesday, February 26 at the Alexandra council chambers. The first meeting for the year was held at Yea on Wednesday, January 22.

UFOs at Yea

■ The Pioneer Reserve, Yea, is the venue for an Unfinished Objects session at 12 Noon-3.30pm on Wednesdays. Bring your colouring ,knitting, painting and more.

Questions meeting

■ A ‘Community Questions and Hearings Committee’ meeting of Mitchell Shire Council will be held at 7pm on Monday (Feb. 10) at the Broadford council chambers, 113 High St.

Thermo-Boost time

■ Thermomix users can re-ignite their interest with a session at the Yea Community House at 7pm-9pm on Thursday, February 20. Cost is $7. Phone: Alison, 0401 500 293.

Eltham Nth shelter

● Giaan Rooney, campaign ambassador and rescue advocate.

Seymour heritage train to Pako

● Seymour Railway Heritage is running a train on February 29 to Pako Festa.

■ Seymour Railway Heritage Centre is running a heritage train,hauled by Vintage locomotives and carriages, to Pako Festa (Geelong) on board their Heritage Train hauled

by Vintage locomotives and carriages, on Saturday, Febnruary 29.

Patrons can stay in Geelong and enjoy the Pako Festa or join the optional tour to Queenscliff.

Pako Festa is Geelong's free annual community street festival - the biggest of its kind in Australia.

It incorporates a street parade featuring around 90 floats and hundreds of performers representing 45 affiliated ethnic communities and around 60 other community groups and organisations.

A free shuttle bus will take patrons to and from the Pako Festa upon arrival at Geelong.

The train will have the Yarra Carriage which was built in 1906 and the recently restored State Carriage 4 will be along for the ride.

Book at www.srhc.org.au, or phone 0477 707 411.

- Stephen Baker

■ Eltham North Adventure Playground will have a new shelter and barbecue installed after Nillumbik Shire Council received $15,000 through the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program. Council will match the funding, bringing the total budget of the project to $30,000.

Other projects to receive funding under the program include $4500 for television monitors at Diamond Creek Living and Learning, $4500 for partitions at the Hurstbridge Hub and $11,000 for a secure storage space at Eltham Living and Learning. Council has matched each grant.

Meditation group

■ Guided group meditation sessions are being led by Archie and Cynthia at the Yea Butter Factory, 13 Rattray St, from, 5.30pm-7pm on Mondays. Cost is $7 per session. Contact: 5797 3070.

Users’ course

■ Upper Goulburn Landcare Network is running an Agricultural Chemical User Permit course with 1080 endorsement. This is two-day course allows participants knowledge and access to appropriate chemicals for effective pest plant and animal control.

It is being held on Sundays, March 9 and 15 at the Taggerty Community Hub. UGLN, with funding from GBCMA, is offering the course for $30 for Landcare members and $75 for non-Landcare members. Contact Cat Thomas on 0418 655 474 or email uglandcare@ugln.net

Glenburn Gardens

■ The Glenburn Garden Club meets on the first Thursday of the month, from 10am1pm. Contact can be made with Judy, 5797 8227, or through the Yea Community House on 5797 3070.

www.LocalMedia.com.au

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 - Page 00

DiamondValley News

Nillumbik’s financial future Valley Latest $150 for Olivia

■ Olivia-Beau Cutler has received $150 as a contribution for being selected to play at the 2020 Australian Indoor Hockey Championships in Wollongong. Olivia-Beau thanked Nillumbik Council and a photo was taken of Olivia-Beau and Cr Grant Brooker.

Plastics petition ■ A petition containing 186 written signatures and a further 18 online signatures has requested that Nillumbik Council pursue a policy to phase out single-use plastics by 2021.

Edendale quiz ■ Nillumbik resident Sue Dyet has asked the Council about its surveys at Edendale Farm. “For example: why ask for a water refill station when there is one or what animals you want, when it isn’t a zoo?”

Looking to 2050 ■ Yasmin Green, Nillumbik Council Strategy and Policy Advisor, has advised Councillors of the Shire Plan 2050 Research Paper to provide a high-level overview to assist Council’s understanding of the forecasts and future trends of life in 2050.

Revised surplus ■ Nillumbik Council has issued a revised forecast of $19.925 million operating surplus for the financial year 2019-20.

■ Nillumbik Shire Council has endorsed the exhibition of the draft Economic Development Strategy that will provide a plan for the local economy over the next 10 years.

The community isnow invited to have their say on the draft strategy that aims to strengthen the economy and support local job growth through a range of initiatives.

Council endorsed the exhibition of the draft strategy at its ordinary meeting on Tuesday last week (Jan. 28).

Mayor Cr Karen Egan said Council wanted to support local businesses to grow and thrive.

“We are 100 per cent committed to improving and enhancing the business services provided,” Cr Egan said.

“We are already seeing this in the array of business events offered, including the very first women’s networking event in March.”

Cr Egan said Nillumbik was in a good position to take advantage of the population growth in neighbouring municipalities.

“Our scenic natural environment, range of leisure activities and lifestyle businesses, our thriving arts community, plus our prime location, place us in a position to capture the visitor market,” Cr Egan said.

The four objectives of the draft strategy are: ■ Improve economic development practices to assist local businesses ■ Create vibrant activity centres and employment precincts in Eltham and Diamond Creek ■ Facilitate economically and environmentally sustainable use of land within the Shire’s green wedge ■ Showcase Nillumbik’s visitor, recreation and cultural economy.

Nillumbik Council will implement actions based around each of these objectives in collaboration with independent work and strategic industry partnerships. This action plan is in the draft strategy.

Three drop-in information sessions will be

■ Open Court tennis sessions are being held in Nillumbik Shire.

The sessions will be held at the Diamond Creek Tennis Club every Wednesday, 7pm, to March 18; Eltham Tennis Club every Monday, 6.30pm to March 23; and Research Tennis Club every Thursday, 7pm, to March 19.

Details: https://play.tennis.com.au/ opencourtsessions

Your say on arts held where staff will be available to answer questions about the draft strategy.

Session one: Monday, March 2, 4pm-8pm.

Eltham Library, Panther Place, Eltham Session two: Wednesday, March 11, 4pm8pm. Hurstbridge Hub, 50 Graysharps Rd, Hurstbridge Session three: Thursda , March 12, 4pm8pm. St Andrews Community Centre, 35 Caledonia St, St Andrews To have your say on the draft strategy, go to https://participate.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/ecodev Consultation will be open until 5pm Friday, March 20.

■ For more information email business@nillumbik.vic.gov.au or phone 9433 3128.

Aust. Day winners

■ Nillumbik Shire Council announced its 2020 Australia Day Award winners: ■ Volunteer of the Year: Carol Jenkinson, Cottles Bridge ■ Citizen of the Year: Neil Marshall, Doreen ■ Senior Citizen of the Year: Tony Barbeta, StAndrews ■ Community Group of the Year: Nillumbik Youth Productions.

Eighty new citizens were welcomed.

Mitchell Shire News

Dumping disgrace at Beveridge Mitchell Matters Bushfires help

■ Mitchell Shire staff are supporting o Council neighbours as the battle continues to contain fires in the North East Efforts to assist people in the Wangaratta, Alpine and Towong shires has resulted in many regional councils providing a range of skills, expertise and manpower to meet the needs of the response and recovery process.

Mitchell Shire provided on-ground coordination of local government response operations, relief centre assistance and providing valuable support at an animal relief centre.

■ Nillumbik Shire Council is seeking community members to join its Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee. Nominations close March 1.

Details: www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/artscommittee

Fitzsimons Lane ■ Nillumbik Council is distancing itself from the process prior to planned works at the Fitzsimons Lane roundabout in Eltham.

Mayor Cr Karen Egan released a letter from State Planning Minister Richard Wynne who said: “I am writing to advise that I have decided to exercise the power under section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to exempt myself from notice, and prepare, adopt and approve Amendment GC119 to the Manningham, Banyule and Nillumbik Planning Schemes.”

The State Government proposes to remove the roundabout and install a signalised intersection and additional lanes.

Better DV library

■ The Diamond Valley Library is set to undergo a major $850,000 upgrade.

Nillumbik Shire Council has received a $500,000 grant from the State Government’s Living Libraries Infrastructure Program for the project. Council will contribute a further $270,000, with the library providing $80,000.

Improvements to the library in Civic Drive, Greensborough, will include: ■ extending the children’s area ■ introducing flexible co-working spaces for micro business owners and entrepreneurs ■ adding a tech area for young people to connect with new technology and to deliver STEAM (science, technology, environment, arts and maths) programs ■ building a community meeting room with kitchen facilities ■ refurbishing the quiet study area ■ improvements to accessibility including an accessible toilet.

Research scheme ■ Some 8 of 13 (61.53 per cent) property owners in Brinkkotter Rd, Research, support the development of a special charge scheme for road sealing, a pre-Christmas meeting of Nillumbik Shire Council was told.

Bin suppliers

Tallarook change ■ Mitchell Shire Council resolved to approve an amended planning permit for music festivals in Tallarook that will see a change to times, monitoring and fixing an anomaly with a date.

The Council says it believes the resolution acknowledges residents’ amenity and enhances the economic benefits tourism brings, through these events.

The planning permit amendment has corrected an administrative oversight regarding the event for Labour Day Weekend. This is not an additional event, only a date correction. The approved amendments will also address noise requirements and music operation hours.

Under the conditions approved by Council, music may be played between 10am and 1am on opening nights and during festivals.

The final night of every event will finish at midnight.

Regional Briefs Open Court tennis

● Rubbish dumped on Beveridge Rd, near Minton St, Beveridge ■ Mitchell Shire Council is calling on commu- road that is regularly used by motorists. nity to provide any information on a large road“In many cases illegally dumped rubbish side rubbish dump on Beveridge Rd, near Minton could have been sent to our Resource and ReSt, Beveridge. covery Centres for free. Fridge and white good, Materials were a mix of industrial and house- e-waste, cardboard and car batteries are just hold waste, with initial investigations suggest- some of the items that can be dropped off for ing the rubbish pile had come from outside the free,” Cr Lowe said. shire.

A Council spokesman said that dumped maCouncil staff needed a dump truck and skid terials can al se health and environmental risks steer to clear the area. across the community and natural environment. ““It is a disappointing start to a new year :While Council makes all efforts to investiwhen our staff need to be investigating illegal gate illegal dumping, unfortunately, it is very dumpers who have no regard for others or the difficult to prosecute but we do pursue this avimpacts they can cause on our community and enue wherever possible. In this case, some evienvironment,” said Cr David lowe, Mayor. dence has been left and a line of inquiry is pro“We ask the community to be vigilant and ceeding.” report any illegal dumping activity. In this case ■ If you have any information, please call it was a brazen act, with materials dumped on a Mitchell Council on 5734 6200.

■ Nillumbik Council has accepted contracts with Sulo MGB Australia Pty Ltd, Trident Plastics (SA) Pty Ltd, Mastec Australia Pty Ltd and Viscount Plastics (Australia) Pty Ltd as contracted suppliers of mobile garbage bins and associated products under the Procurement Australia Master Agreement for an initial two year period ending October 2021.

Tree contractors

■ Nillumbik Council has agreed to work with nine tree contractors for an initial twoyear period: ■ ArborSpray Pty Ltd ■ Citywide Service Solutions Pty Ltd ■ Environmental Tree Technologies Pty Ltd ■ Prestige Pruning Tree Management Pty Ltd ■ Recovery Tree Services Pty Ltd ■ Reynolds Tree Care Pty Ltd ■ TreeServe Pty Ltd ■ Steven’s Specialist Tree Service Pty Ltd ■ Sevron Pty Ltd

Page 4 - Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Regional Briefs Mixed messages

■ The City of Whittlesea is distancing itself from communication made by Councillors.

The municipality issued a statement: “The City of Whittlesea has one website and one Facebook page for official messages to be communicated from the organisation to the community.

“Many of our Councillors, including the Mayor, have their own communication channels, including digital and social media, where their civic titles are published.

“These channels are not managed by the City of Whittlesea and the views expressed there are those of the individual only.

“It is not the role of the City of Whittlesea to monitor, comment or action any communication between individual councillors and the community from their individual channels,” the Council said.

www.LocalMedia.com.au

City of Whittlesea News

Medium-rise plan for W’sea Plenty Paragraphs Monitor welcomed

■ The adjourned meeting of the City of Whittlesea, just prior to Christmas, saw an official welcome given by Mayor Cr Emilia Lisa Sterjova to the State Government appointed Monitor, Yehudi Blacher.

Need to check in ■ A condition of attending aWhittlesea Council meeting is to “check-in upon” arrival. City Council staff are on hand to assist.

Parking proposal ■ Whittlesea Council’s Cr Mary Lalios has flagged her intention to move that the Council resolve to refer funding for the following project to the 2020-21 budget year process for indented parking in Josef St, Bundoora.

The original scope in the 2017-18 budget was to make allowance for $440,000 for these works to be completed.

Music for Oz Day ■ Live music by Big City Beat and a musical performance by Rua were features of the City of Whittlesea celebrations for Australia Daty (Jan. 26) held at the Civic Centre at South Morang.

Special charge ■ Yarra Ranges Council is intending to declare a special charge at its meeting scheduled for Tuesday (Feb. 11), for the purpose of defraying expenses associated with proposed improvement works in Anderson Rd and Grey Gum Ct, Tecoma.

$1 mil. contract ■ Crs Tim Heenan and Tony Stevenson combined to proposed a motion to Yarra Ranges Council to accept a $1 million tender from JTX Civil Contracting Pty Ltd for the construction and upgrade of the Morrison Reserve Car Park and Drainage Retention Basins, Mount Evelyn, required to improve parking availability for the Morrison Reserve Regional Athletics Facility and to address reoccurring flooding effecting properties on Mikado Rd.

● Medium-rise buildings proposed for 240 High St, Thomastown ■ Six-storey mixed use premises may come to - in connection with its former service station the City of Whittlesea, following lodgement of use - was made available to Councillors.

The proposed development will comprise the a planning permit application to a Council meeting that was adjourned just prior to Christmas. following key finishes: Forte Group Pty Ltd applied to develop a ■ Charcoal coloured aluminium glazing suite; 76-residence building, on a former service sta- ■ Textured off-white GRC façade cladding; tion site, currently vacant, just north of the ■ Charcoal coloured perforated metal shroud; Thomastown Railway Station.

■ Reflective aluminium cladding; Six retail premises are also planned for the ■ Frameless glass balustrade; and, development, according to plans lodged to the ■ Breeze pattern grey brick.

Council’s December 17 meeting.

It is being suggested that if a palnning permit “The proposal would provide a good design is issued that there be no reduction in the stanoutcome for a prominent site located adjacent dard car parking requirements under the to the recently upgraded Thomastown Train Whittlesea Planning Scheme.

Station,” said a report to Councillors.

“This can be achieved through an increase “The parking reduction sought relates to the in parking provision and/or reduction in the recommercial component with the shortage able tail floor area or number of dwellings or alternato be absorbed through the use of public trans- tive change to the satisfaction of the Responport, sharing of existing spaces and within the sible Authority,” says the Council report. existing public car parking found within the The plans lodged by the developers look to area.” include 10 one-bedroom apartments, 58 twoA 5600-page report about environmental is- bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom dwellsues connected to the remediation of the site ings.

Decade service ■ Yarra Ranges Mayor Cr Richard Higgins has congratulated Cr Tim Heenan on his 10 years of service as a Councillor. He acknowledged the efforts of Cr Heenan over this time and extended his gratitude for all the work Cr Heenan has achieved in the community.

Cr Heenan spoke of the time he had served as a Councillor and expressed how much he has cherished the past 10 years, with the capacity to achieve positive outcomes for the community.

Letter for Shani ■ Yarra Ranges Council has prepared a letter under seal in recognition of Shani McDonald, retiring after 30 years with the Shire, working as Co-Ordinator Information Technology in the Information Services Department.

Donna Taylor is retiring after 25 years of service as a Home Carer in the Community Services Department.

$139mil surplus ■ Whittlesea Council has recorded an operating surplus of $139.73 million, which is $1.76 million ahead of the year-to-date budget for the quarter ending September 30.

Plans for Epping ■ Cr Caz Councillor Monteleone of South West Ward gave notice that it is his intention to move a Motion that Council fund a pavilion/change room and toilet and 20 space car park and booking system for the courts at Shield St, Epping (Prism Park).

Yarra Ranges Shire News

‘Healesville land is valuable’ Up Hill, Down Dale Interest declared

■ Cr Mike Clarke (Lyster Ward) declared a conmflict of interest at the Yarra Ranges Council meeting prior to Christmas. The matter related to reimbursement of his own expenses claim.

Road is 50 years

■ A $1.3 million contract has been signed for Cardigan Rd, Mooroolbark , where the road pavement is in excess of 50 years old and is in need of full pavement rehabilitation.

It is near Pembroke College. Yarra Ranges Council has approved the expenditure, with works due to be concluded by the end of March.

Services stay ■ Whittlesea City Council will continue to provide its current range of Commonwealth Home Support Program services through June 30, 2022, dependent upon the offer of extension from the Commonwealth Government being consistent with current terms.

Refused permit ● Land in Green Street, Healesville, as identified by Google Maps.

■ Yarra Ranges Shire Councillors Fiona way in Healesville and in Green Street. The site McAllister and Jim Child proposed a unanimous is also affected by the Land Subject to Inundavote that will remind the State Government that tion Overlay due to its proximity to the Watts land at Green St, Healesville, is valuable to the River and the Bushfire Management Overlay local community and should be kept as open Schedule 1. These Overlays are not proposed land. to be modified by the Amendment.

The matter came before the Council in De“Following completion of the Healesville cember after the Shire received notification from Structure Plan, Council’s long standing interest the State Government Land Standing Advisory has been to retain the site for open space.

Committee.

“Council previously negotiated to buy the site The Committe advised of an amendment to from VicTrack, but formally resolved to withthe Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, proposed draw from the First Right of Refusal process to be exhibited in early 2020 (anticipated to be (purchase) in December 2017 due to the prothis week). hibitive valuation of the site at $1.185 million.

The amendment proposes to rezone 13 Green “Council resolved at the same meeting to St, Healesville, currently owned by VicTrack, to authorise the Chief Executive Officer to confacilitate future sale of the land. tinue to show interest in purchasing the property “The Amendment proposes to rezone the land but at a lower price than the valuation price.” from a Public Use Schedule 4 (Transport) to a Councillors voted unanimously “that CounCommercial 1 Zone,” said a report to Council. cil endorse the content of this report as the basis “The amendment will also apply the Envi- for its submission to the Government Land ronmental Audit Overlay to address any poten- Standing Advisory Committee regarding the land tial contamination from historic use. at 13 Green Street, Healesville, and as stated in “The Amendment retains the Design and the report, reiterating the value of the site to the Development Overlay Schedule 12, as applied people of Healesville and the strong community to surrounding commercial land along the High- desire to have this retained as open space.”

■ Yarra Ranges Council has voted to refuse a permit application for re-subdivision of existing lots at 6 Beagley St and 72 The Crescent, Kallista. Cr Mike Clarke was unsuccessful in trying to have a permit approved.

Cr Clarke was supported by Crs Len Cox and Fiona McAllister.

10 objections ■ Some 10 objections were lodged to Yarra Ranges Council about use and development of a telecommunications facility and associated earthworks at a road reserve, Keswick Ave, Belgrave Heights.

The motion was carried. In Favour: Cr Avery, Cr Clarke, Cr Higgins, Cr McAllister, Cr Stevenson, Cr Cox and Cr Child.Against: Cr Heenan. Absent: Cr Cliff.

Correct figures ■ Yarra Ranges Council has endorsed the Yarra Ranges Municipal Emergency Management Plan, subject to an important statistic about the 2009 Black Saturday being amended to read: “Ten lives were lost at Steels Creek, two at Toolangi and one at Yarra Glen.”