Melbourne
Observer FREE COPY INSIDE
LILYDALE & YARRA VALLEY EXPRESS EDITION
Local and Independent. Not associated with any other publication in this area.
Phone: 1800 231 311.
www.LocalPaper.com.au
www.AdvertiseFree.com.au
‘The Local Paper’ is published by Local Media Pty Ltd
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
FLOODING CONCERNS IN YARRA RANGES
Star Tree Services QUALIFIED ARBORISTS • Tree Removal • Tree Surgery & Pruning • Consultations & Reports • Elm Leaf Beetle Control • Mulch & Firewood Sales
5783 3170 Free Quotes. Full Insurance Cover www.treeser vices.com.au mail@treeservices.com.au
FIREWOOD Murray River Redgum Yes! ... We Deliver. P: 1300 87 87 25 E: yarravalley@ brazzen.com.au
■ Flooding of homes, roads and facilities in Lilydale remains a significant concern for residents, Evelyn MLA Bridget Valence told State Parliament last week. This is “as a result of drainage infrastructure that is no longer fit for purpose and not adequately managed by Melbourne Water or Yarra Ranges Council”, Ms Vallence said. Ms Vallence asked Water Minister Harriet Shing:”On behalf of hundreds of residents that live near the Lilydale open drain, including in Nimblefoot Way, Delta Close, Nelson Road, Cave Hill Road, The Gateway, Morokai Grove and many other surrounding streets: when will Melbourne Water introduce a quarterly maintenance schedule to ensure regular clearing and de-silting of the entire Lilydale open drain from Nimblefoot Way near Saintly Place to Nelson Road? “Our community needs Melbourne Water order to comply with its obligations to ensure the hydraulic functioning of the drain, which cannot happen if it is full of reeds, rubbish and debris. “It is currently blocked, flooding people’s homes. The Minister for Water advised me the open drain is maintained once annually, but our
■ Eildon MLA Cindy McLeish last week proposed a bill for an act to provide for disclosure in certain circumstances of information held by Victoria Police about a person’s history of violent behaviour and for other purposes. “We would all be aware in this place that this week kicked off 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, and we are all aware that this is still an absolutely top-of-mind issue for so many people,” Mc McLeish told State Parliament. “I think it is fair to say that everybody thinks that we need to do more in this space, and this bill that I am introducing is a mechanism to help us do more in this space. “It is based on Clare’s Law in the United Kingdom, which has been in place for a decade, and more recently a bipartisan scheme that is operating very successfully in South Australia. In Australia there was one fatality a week allegedly by males of someone they knew. Now it is one every four days across Victoria.”
● Cr Jim Child, Yarra Ranges Mayor ■ Early planning for the Yarra Ranges Council 2025-26 Budget is now underway. The Council wants to hear about how it should allocate funds. “We have already heard that our community wants us to focus on the basics – roads, drainage, waste and so funding for those areas have already been ear-marked,” a Council representative said. “However, Council provides over 100 services and to assist with planning for our budget ahead we would like to hear from you.” Yarra Ranges Mayor Cr Jim Child said, “We recently held several sessions with a dedicated group of community representatives who provided us with detailed feedback about what our priorities should be over the next four years. “This feedback covered some key themes including: cost of living pressures, infrastructure and maintenance, access to services, climate change, improving engagement and transparency, community health and wellbeing, tourism, planning and development to name a few. “Yarra Ranges is the largest geographic municipality in Victoria – it is three times larger than Singapore. The size of our council, along with rising costs to deliver services and maintain ageing assets makes the task of allocating Council’s funds challenging. “State and Federal Governments are also facing similar financial constraints, which is resulting in reduced funding to councils to maintain services and infrastructure – and this is expected to continue. “We are operating in a post-pandemic world with our community still recovering from its deep impacts,” Cr Child said.
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE FRONT-PAGE FROM $39 PER FORTNIGHT
PAUL’S FENCING
● Bridget Vallence, Evelyn MLA community knows firsthand that is not sufficient to mitigate the flooding risk, so we need the minister to facilitate clearing of the blockages and a de-silt of the open drain without delay,” Ms Vallence said.
MOVE ON VIOLENCE ● Cindy McLeish, Eildon MLA
Water Tank Cleaning, Vacuuming and Repair Service with minimal water loss. Bulk Water Deliveries available.
The Local Paper
25 Years’ Experience Specialsiing in: paling and picket fences and gates
Phone 1800 231 311, 0450 399 932 editor@LocalPaper.com.au
0410 061 180
Your business can have front-page prominence in a local edition of The Local Paper for just $39 per fortnight if you order a 23-issue pre-paid package totalling $897. Limited offer. First-in basis.
Specialists in Family Law, Wills, Estates and Conveyancing
Where should Shire spend its money?