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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2021
Local News Dog grooming query
■ Jeff Bourman, MLC, spoke in State Parliament on Thursday (Oct. 14) about the dog grooming industry. He said there were 1498 signatures on a petition about all pet grooming services needing to be classified as an essential service as thousands of dogs are currently suffering from severe pain and health issues due to the current COVID restrictions. “Veterinarians are already under severe stress and many are at breaking point, either leaving the profession or taking their lives. “They now have to deal with distressing animal welfare issues due to dogs not being groomed and calls from distraught owners begging for their pet to be given an exemption for grooming on animal welfare grounds. “Groomers are getting calls from desperate owners and are unable to provide assistance for those in need. “With over 80,000 domestic dogs and only 1,300 groomers in metropolitan Melbourne, groomers were already struggling to keep up with the backlog and demand for their services even prior to the current lockdown. “Only retail pet groomers are able to provide services under strict animal welfare conditions, escalating the problem for thousands of dogs at risk and even more in the coming months heading into summer. “The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to immediately classify dog grooming as an essential service to protect the welfare and safety of animals and the mental health and wellbeing of veterinarians, groomers and pet owners.” - Jeff Bourman
‘Lies’ says Lovell
■ Northern Victoria MLC Wendy Lovell told the Legislative Council this week that Parliamentarians were told lies. Ms Lovell was speaking of the I Cook Foods inquiry: “I also wish to join in speaking on the reopening of this inquiry and the report that we have tabled. “Like my colleagues Ms Crozier and Dr Bach, I remain unconvinced and certainly less convinced than the Chair and the government members that we were not deliberately misled in our first inquiry. “Certainly—Dr Bach is right—we were lied to. There is no doubt about that. The record clearly shows that the chief health officer told us that I Cook Foods was the sole supplier of foods to the Knox Private Hospital. “When we have a hearing, and Professor Sutton told us that during that hearing, he is given a copy of the transcript. But not only would he have reviewed that transcript, there would have been half a dozen public servants that reviewed the transcript to see that it was true and correct. “No-one came forward and told us that Professor Sutton had lied to the committee. We also found in the second inquiry that noone had told us in the first inquiry that they had asked Mr Christie of the Knox council to undertake a review of Knox Private Hospital, but what we found out from Mr Christie was that not only had he given them a report, they only asked for that report on February 21. That was the same day that they actually signed the order to close down I Cook Foods. They knew they were closing down I Cook Foods before they asked Knox council to investigate Knox Private Hospital, and they did not even wait. They did not even give Mr Christie 24 hours to table his report, so this is certainly a farce of a report.” - Wendy Lovell
CEMETERY OK AT KINGLAKE
■ Local activist Lyn Gunter joined with others in a Tribunal case about a Murrindindi Council decision, since overturned, which means that the Kinglake Cemetery may now proceed. Alison Glynn, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, last week (Oct. 8) determined that a permit be granted for the land at 265 Whittlesea-Kinglake Rd, kinglake Central to develop the cemetery and associated car parking. Murrindindi Council voted on September 9 last year not to grant a planning permit. Some 19 objectors, saying that the scale and intensity of the cemetery would not be in keeping with the rural and landscape character of the area. The lawn cemetery will be developed with an accessway, car parking and the removal of two native trees. The land has an area of 5.074 hectares and is largely pasture with a few scattered trees. The land slopes approximately 26 metres from north to south. There is a frontage to Blackwood Lane of 133 metres. Ms Glynn inspected the site from Blackwood Lane and Frank Thompson Reserve as part of the process Tania Cincotta, for Best Hooper Lawyers, acted on behalf of Ms Gunter and others. She called town planner Angela Mok and environmental engineer Mark Connolly as witnesses. Ian Pigdon, solicitor of Russell Kennedy Lawyers, acted for Murrindindi Shire Council. Paul Beeson, solicitor of Equipe Lawyers, acted for the Kinglake Ranges Cemetery Trust. He called town planner John Glossop and traffic engineer Valentine Gnanakone as witnesses. There was no appearance by representatives of the Department of Transport and the Country Fire Authority. The review applicants, including Ms Gunter, said the traffic and safety impacts of the proposal had not been properly considered. They said that environmental and amenity aspects, including noise, light pollution and possible groundwater contamination has not been properly addressed. Ms Glynn said: “I find some alteration is needed to the description of the permit to be issued to accord wioth the permit triggers that apply. “There is also a need to vary some of the proposed conditions set out in the Notice of Decision. “I note the submission of the applicants they are particularly concerned about a broader community concern to ensure that any new cemetery for the Kinglake and broader local community is appropriately located given the longterm implications of designating and approving land to be used as a cemetery. “To this extent some submission and discussion was put by the review applicants about another site that had been previously considered for the cemetery within the Kinglake township. “The role of the Tribunal is to review the permit proposal before it. In this instance it is to establish a cemetery at 265 WhittleseaKinglake Rd, Kinglake Central, not any other site. “The consideration of issues below only relates to whether the proposal at the review site produces an acceptable outcome when tested against the relevant provisions of the planning
Local News Cricket on Oct. 31
■ The Seymour District Cricket Association website notifies that competition is set to start for the 2021-22 season on Saturday, October 31. - Seymour District Cricket Assoc.
Exposure sites list
■ The Department of Health has listed latest Coronavirus public exposure sites: ■ Avenel. Imperial Hotel Avenel - Hop Back Brewery. 17 Mitchell St. Tier 1. ■ Mooroolbark. KingKids Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten Mooroolbark. 101103 Manchester Rd. Tier 1. ■ Watsonia North. Grimshaw Street Early Learning Centre. 292 Grimshaw S. Tier 1. - Department of Health
Special charge
■ Yarra Ranges Shire Council has voted to approve a special charge scheme for the Russell Road Group in Seville for road improvement works as part of the $150 million Federal Government funding for sealing roads within the Dandenong Ranges and surrounding areas. - Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Senator quits
■ The Governor-General has advised of a vacancy in the representation of the state of Victoria in the Senate through the resignation of Senator Scott Ryan. - Hansard
Monty question
● Lyn Gunter. File Photo scheme, not whether another site may achieve an acceptable outcome.” Ms Glynn said the review applicants put that this is somewhat an unusual proceeding as cemeteries generally do not come to the tribunal or need a planning permit. Ms Glynn noted that the first attempt in 2016 was abandoned by Murrindindi Council, in what was described in Council Minutes as a lack of community consultation prior to the commencement of the amendment process. The Tribunal noted that the public land manager of the adjoining land to the east was notified and had no objection. “I am satisfied the proposed use, buildings and works are sufficiently modest to not unduly impact on the significant views gained from the Frank Thompson Reserve or from general environs,” Ms Glynn said. She said that on the day of inspection “there was a clear sky and panoramic views over the site were possible from the Frank Thompson Reserve”. “The views from the reserve will be retained, although obviously slightly modified as memorial stone walls and timber beams, on which memorial plaques will be placed, will be visible within the view. “The review site, however, sits low in the overall vista available from the reserve and occupies one small section of what is currently open grazing land and public reserve.” The proposal includes constructing Blackwood Lane to a two-way sealed road to just west of the vehicle exit point of the cemetery. The construction is described as modest, which “can be achieved, respectful of this lower order ‘lane’ form south of the proposed access drive. Modelling suggets 60-80 attendees for most burials, with between 100 to 150 people for bigger events. - Special Writer
■ Bruce Atkinson MLC has raised the matter of Montmorency railway station and the at-grade pedestrian crossing at the end of the station. Mr Atkinson told the Legislative Council that there was considerable concern about in terms of safety. “The Level Crossing Removal Project has continually said that it meets all their technical and safety standards and in fact has obviously conveyed that advice to the local member, Ms Ward, who has also put in writing her support for that particular project and indicated that all the safety criteria are met. “Yet in regard to a query at another railway station that is subject to development, the LXRP has indicated that it needs to go for underpasses for these railway crossings because of safety considerations. “I would therefore ask that the minister have the LXRP again look at an underground pedestrian crossing at Montmorency station to meet community concerns. Again, there is a problem of a lack of consultation overall on this project.” - Bruce Atkinson
Flood warning
■ A Moderate Flood warning has been issued for the Yarra River downstream from Warburton to Coldstream and the Watts River in Healesville. This includes Yarra Glen. - Bureau of Meteorology1
Highway closed
■ Significant flooding has closed Melba Hwy between St Huberts Rd and McIntyre La this morning (Sat.) Melba Hwy is therefore closed due to flooding between Yering and Yarra Glen. - Department of Transport