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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020
In Our Schools At Lilydale Lake
■ Flowerdale Primary School Year 4-6 students participated in kayaking on Lilydale Lake in February. They learnede new skills, played games on the water and paddling out to the island on the lake. - Flowerdale Primary School
Captains in place
■ Jed Birkner and Billie Bermingham are the School Captains for 2020 at Alexandra Primary School. Archie McGahy and Ryan Te Giffel are the ViceCaptains. House Captains are: ■ Rubicon: George Siotiropoulos and Jaido Synman ■ Acheron: Dylan Woehl ■ Goulburn: Blake Coward and Matthew Waixel SRC leaders are Cameron Sloan, Jaime Shawcross, Makeena Hedger and Jorja Jenkins. - Alexandra Primary School
Flowerdale garden
■ There has been consiedrable activity at the garden project at Flowerdale Primary School. Garden beds, rock seats and dry creek beds have been established to enhance play and outdoor educational learning space. Work by David Deans-Draper and his son Jake has been praised. Indigenous paints, dyes and brushes have been used to explore the way aboriginal artists create their works from nature. A small group of students worked to discuss what they would like to see in the landscape design. Also thanked were Cathy Oliver from Landcare, Phil Hawkey from the CFA and Zanni Waldstein from Kids Teaching Kids. - Flowedale Primary School
Parents’ election
■ The Annual General Meeting of the Alexandra Primary School Parents’ Group will be held in the meetiong roo0m from 9am-10.30am today (Wed., Mar. 4). alexandra.ps@ edumail. vic.gov.au - Alexandra Primary School
$7250 presented
■ Ivanhoe Grammar School’s Masonic Lodge presented a $7250 cheque to Freemasons Foundation Victoria representatives last week for bushfire relief. Travers Gascoigne and Haydn Gregson made the presentation at a luncheon held in the city. The Lodge is active in the municipalities of Banyule, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Murrindindi. - Ivanhoe Grammarians Lodge
St Mary’s thanks
■ The St Mary’s Primary School Whittlesea swimming team students have been praisedafter winning the relay competitions and coming runners-up overall in the inter-school sports. School officials said there was a great team spirit. Thanks were extended by the School leadership to the staff and parent helpers for supporting the children. - St Mary’s, Whittlesea
FLOWERDALE WOMAN vs MURRINDINDI SHIRE
■ Flowerdale woman Olivia Wang has won a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal complaint against Murrindindi Shire Council. Ms Wang, of 35 Long Gully Rd, Flowerdale, had her appeal heard by VCAT Senior Member Rachel Naylor. Ms Wang asked for a fifth extension for a permit for dwelling, carport and shed, citing the 2009 bushfires as a factor. Murrindindi Shire had refused the permit, but Ms Naylor set aside the Council’s decision. The Tribunal has set down that the development is to be commenced prior to July 29, 2021. Ms Naylor heard that the site, on the north side of Long Gully Rd, contains a small shed and scattered vegetation. The original permit was issued as part of the fast-tracked bushfire recovery process. Four extensions of time have been previously granted, extending the commencement of the permit from July 29, 2011m, to July 29, 2019. Ms Wang bought the site in April 2014 and has been the receipient of the last two extensions of time. The Murrindindi Council officer made a report that said: “The extension should be refused as it is inappropriate development and it is unlikely that effluent disposal would be able to be contained within the curtilage of the land. “The permit has been valid for almost 10 years and no action has been taken towards commencing development.” Ms Naylor said that it is understandable that the Council formed the decision to refuse the permit, particularly as the reason given for the extension was “due to two young children and a new job in the city”. “It appears Ms Wang was unaware that a permit extension is effectively a privilege to be granted/given as opposed to an expectation or right”. Ms Naylor said that the information before the Tribunal was different to the information that was before the Council when it determined to refuse the extension request. Murrindindi Council submitted to the Tribunal that Ms Wang had not sought or obtained a planning permit.
Local News Labor Day holiday
■ The Labor Day public holiday will be held across Victoria on Monday (Mar. 9). Much holiday traffic is expected across the North-East over the three-day holiday weekend.
Race Club officials
“This is incorrect,” said the Tribunal member. “Ms Wang explained and provided documentation that she applied for a building permit for the shed in 2018. It was refused because she did not also apply for the dwelling at the same time,” Ms Naylor said. “Ms Wang explained she sought Council advice after this permit extension was refused as to whether there were other options available to her to developing the land. “She was advised about the permit application process, so she has lodged a new planning application. “Prior to Christmas 2019, the parties advised (at the Tribunal’s request) that updated plans have been provided to the Council in response to the latest further information request in regard to this new permit application. “The Council advises these plans “are in the process of being reviewed to allow the application to progress to advertising and referrals”,” Ms Naylor said. Ms Naylor said this was not a typical permit. “The Council tacvled extracts from the internet of ‘for sale’ documentation relating to the site, including a sign on the site. “I appreciate there is an understandable concern from the Council that Ms Wang is merely trying to maximise the return on the site. “Ms Wang explained there have been family pressures about income expenditure and the likelihood of making a return on undertaking the development ... I am not persuaded warehousing is occurring,” Ms Naylor said.
Geelan legal bid fails ■ Former Kinglake Ranges News publisher Ashley Geelan has failed in his latest legal bid. Mr Geelan had applied to Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court in early January for a Personal Safety Intervention Order against Local Paper owner Ash Long. Mr Geelan had unsuccessfully applied to the same Court in November for a similar order. That was struck out when Mr Geelan failed to appear at Court on December 10. The effect of the interim orders, issued without the knowledge of The Local Paper owner at the time, was that no reports about Mr Geelan, or the criminal court cases in which he is the defendant, could be published in print or online from November to December, or from early January until now. Mr Geelan also failed to attend at Court on February 25. No explanation was given to
the Court. Mr Long submitted to the Court that Mr Geelan’s claims were unsubstantiated. The Court was satisfied to strike out Mr Geelan’s application. The legal impediments relating to publishing details of the Court cases against Mr Geelan have been lifted. Mr Geelan is due to face a number of criminal charges on Tuesday (March 10) at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court. Contested mentions are set down for cases brought by Eltham Police, which are believed to relate to allegations of stalking, breach of bail, and breach of an intervention orders. Mr Geelan is also due to face an allegation of a breach, brought by Community Corrections Centre. Mr Geelan was publisher of the Kinglake Ranges News, which has not been published since November last year.
■ Officials for the Yea and St Pat’s Racing Club meeting on February 23 included: Denis Smith (President), John Quinlan (Vice-President), Kathy Quinlan (Secretary), Leonard Sheahan (Treasurer), Geoff Bayliss (Promotions/Sponsorship), Victoria Shaw (Course broadcaster), Mick Quinlan (Bar Manager), Keith Aldous (Gate Office); J. McSwain, J. Anselmi, C. Pellegrino (Stewards), R. Cumming, S. Glass (Clerks of the Course), Dr L. McKeenan (Hon. Surgeon), P. Martin (Veterinary Surgeon), A. Bowe (Farrier), A. Boyle (Clerk of Scales), R. McAdam (Starter), A. McDuff Snr, M. Davies, K. Best, T. Barresi, F. Blount-Green (Barrier Staff), D. Murphy (Judge), P. Julier (Bookmakers Supervisor). - Yea St Pat’s Racing Club
Bulbs fundraiser
■ Alexandra Primary School Parents’ Group is holding a Bulbs fundraiser. Online orders can be placed prior to Friday, March 13. Orders will be sent home in the last week of term, ready for some school holiday planning. - Alexandra Primary School
At Healesville Pool
■ Smaller schools gathered at the Healesville Pool last Thursday (Feb. 27) with Foundation-Grade 6 puipils involved. The emphasis was on fun, not winning. Activities included inflatable doughnuts, kayaking, collecting corks, races, diving, and egg and spoon races.
For candidates
■ Nillumbik Shire is hosting free Councillor candidate information workshops. The free workshops will cover: ■ Roles and responsibilities ■ Current issues facing local government ■ Candidate information for the 2020 elections ■ Campaign tips and tools For more information and to register see www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/council/council-elections - Nillumbik Shire Council
Eildon Pool closes
■ Murrindindi Shire temportarily closed the Eildon Pool on Wednesday last week (Feb. 26). The Council apologised for the closure caused by a mechanical issue affecting the chemical levels.