Page 6 - The Local Paper - Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Local News Reported to Police
Kinglake News
Concerns about servo Letter to the Editor
● Margaret Abbey ■ Murrindindi Shire Council CEO Margaret Abbey has expressed her concern about a number of incidents of vandalism at the Recreational Vehicle Discharge Point in Alexandra. "The discharge unit at Leckie Park has been deliberately vandalised on several separate occasions in recent months. “In December the unit was found to have been blocked up twice, when someone reported its malfunction. “Someone had deliberated filled it with pine bark to prevent its use. Since then, the unit has again been blocked up twice with rubbish. "Contractors who inspected the unit after these incidents are confident that these are deliberate acts. “The unit is fully enclosed so it is not possible for things to accidentally fall in. "Council is taking this matter very seriously. Each time, contractors have to be called out to investigate and fix these blockages, which is not always a quick or easy process. Nor is it a cheap thing to fix.” Ms Abbey said the repeated acts of vandalism have been reported to Police.
Witness calls
■ Last week’s call for witnesses (The Local Paper, Feb. 17) to a high-speed pursuit from Yea to Yarra Glen has brought forward a number of witnesses. Yea Police Sgt Trevor Connell last week appealed for witnesses to the chase, which had started after an Albury petrol drive-off. The Police helicopter hovered over Yea as the Air Wing monitored the car;s progress, including a stint down the Melba Hwy where a speed of 193-kmh was reached by the rogue vehicle. Sgt Connell and Leading Sen. Const. Simon Eaton concluded their monitoring of the car at the Lilydale Airfield at Coldstream. Police made arrests at Koo-Wee-Rup, and it will be alleged that drugs and firearms were found in the car.
Emergency relief
■ Yea Community House is the location for people seeking material or financial assistance. All appointments are held on Wednesdays, 10am-12 Noon. The situations of people in crisis will be assessed by SalvationArmy ‘Salvocare’ staff at the appointments. Once appointments have been successfully completed, applicants can collect their approved material assistance. “We want to assist you with any underlying long-term issues to prevent you from falling deeper into the poverty cycle,” said a Salvocare spokesman.
Elections in Oct.
■ Nearby, Mansfield Council voted last week to declare its Election Period Policy will apply from 12 Noon on September 20 (candidate nominations close at this time) and ends at 6pm on October 22 (Election Day).
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I wish to raise my concerns regarding the change in zoning of 1274 Whittlesea-Yea Road, Kinglake West. At the Murrindindi Shire Council meeting on January 27, councillors unanimously passed a resolution to rezone land from Low Density Residential to Township Zone. Planning Amendment and Permit C57. ■ The shire is yet to notify any adjoining landholders. ■ The zoning of land only changed two years ago for subdivision and now the absentee owner wants to rezone this 2 Ha (5 acres) once again. I believe it should remain Low Density Residential. ■ Bushfire overlays have been removed from the property. ■ A planning permit for a shopping complex, including service station is also included in the minutes for shire to rubber stamp once zoning is changed. ■ The impact on neighbouring properties, with traffic, noise etc. has not been considered by the shire. ■ The complex is not in keeping with neighbourhood character. ■ The last petrol station at Kinglake West closed 20 years ago as it was not viable. ■ There are other unused sites which are commercial and industrial which are more suitable for this complex and do not adjoin people's homes. ■ The Kinglake Flowerdale Toolangi Planning which was completed after the 2009 fires to correct planning anomalies in the area. This has never been adopted by the shire therefore allows the shire to pass inappropriate development. The proposed development can be viewed on the council website in the meeting minutes. I believe it is time the shire considered residents and notified them before voting on these types of proposals. I encourage other concerned residents to express their view by contacting Richard Wynne, Planning Minister, Level 20, 1 Spring St, Melbourne. - M. Bateman, Kinglake West
Black Saturday anniversary
● Kinglake residents had a butterfly release this month as part of the Black Saturday anniversary observances. Photo: Ashley Geelan ■ You wake up knowing what morning training. today is and say to yourself "it's Throughout the day, even withjust another day" with the aim of out media in town, you can not treating it as such. escape reminders of that fateful It doesn't last long. day. One walks to the shops and By lunchtime many locals sees all the flags in town are at have begun to gather at the half-mast, everyone is wearing Kinglake Hotel for drinks, to yellow ribbons and everyone is share memories and support each asking each other "Are you OK?" other through what is a very tough Although everyday in day. Kinglake is "Are you OK" day, Locals come and go throughwith most locals no longer asking out the afternoon, each with a "How's it going?" but rather, "Are story to tell. you OK?" Everyone recognising that Logging on to Facebook, whatever each of us did or did many locals have changed their not do, everyone tried their best profile pictures to fire pictures, on Black Saturday, no matter yellow ribbons and Black Satur- what decisions one made. day memes. There were no right or wrong People are thanking each decisions, just everyone doing other, remembering those we lost. what they thought was best at the It is noticed that no-one is judg- time. ing other people. Without exception, everyone Some people are going to the Memorial Service, some aren't in Kinglake stood up and did and most are saying that we all something that day. A positive to come of Black have our own way of dealing with Saturday is that all of us that today and to respect each other's went through it are much closer decisions about how they are dealthan we were before the fires. ing with the day. Every year, Kinglake resiThe CFA Chief, Joe Buffone is visiting the Kinglake CFAin the dents try to live the day like any morning and a photo of Joe at other, but it is really difficult, if Kinglake CFA is posted by the not impossible to do. It always has been and always Captain, Steve Bell, to Facebook. The local CFA is handing out will be for all survivors. - Ashley Geelan yellow ribbons during Sunday
Local Briefs Better than average: Council
■ Murrindindi Shire Council reckons it is better than most Victorian municipalities in its management of planning applications. In a report due to be tabled at tonight’s Council meeting at Alexandra, a report says that 111 planning applications have been received for this financial year. “Although this is less than half of the 201415 total of 255, historical trends indicate that February-May tends to be the most active time of year for applications and therefore this total is in line with previous years,” says the report. Some 129 have been determined, including 18 applications received in the previous year. The Council says that 84 per centof all planning permits have been determined within the statutory timeframe of 60 days. “With the average permit taking only 40 days to process, Murrindindi Shire Council compares favourably to the State wide average of 76 days.” The Council says that 218 building permits have been issued this financial year with 98 per cent of these being issued within 30 days. “Ttotal value of building works for the quarter is $7.4 million (year to date value of building works is $11.7 million which is on track to exceed last financial year total of building works of $19.1 million”
Supervisor jobs available
■ The Australian Bureau of Statistics is looking to recruit project managers to fill up to 608 Area Supervisor positions across the state. These are temporary, casual positions with flexible hours. Data collected provides a statistical snapshot that supports planning, policy and funding decisions for a range of local services and infrastructure – from health and education to housing and transport. Area Supervisors will recruit, train, lead and supervise a small team of temporary field staff. Roles and responsibilities of field staff will reflect the 2016 Census digital-first approach, so if you are tech-savvy and a great communicator, the ABS wants to hear from you. www.abs.gov.au/careers
4 replies from 56
■ Only four responses were received from 56 surveys distributed late last year by Murrindindi Shire Council. A self-congratulatory report is due to be presented to the Council meeting tonight (Wed.) at Alexandra, mentioning that all four responses regarded the professionalism of the Shire team was “excellent”.
Saleyards works
● Victorian’s Emergency Management Commissioner Criag Lapsley spoke with Kinglake locals on the Black Saturday anniversary day on February 7. Photo: Ashley Geelan
Wait for amendment
■ An amendment of the Kinglake Ranges, Flowerdale and Toolangi Streetscape Design Framework, prepared by Richard Wynne, State Minister is still awaiting ‘Gazettal’. A report to tonight’s Murrindindi Shire Council meet-
ing says that the framework plan has been adopted by Council but that an amendment has not yet taken place. Councillors are due to hear about the stalled progress, in the Development Services report.
■ Murrindindi Shire Council is due to receive a report at its meeting tonight (Wed.) that tells of ongoing works at the Yea Saleyards. The report says that projects underway in ‘Stage 2’ of improvements at Flat Lead Lane are: ■ Construction of 36 holding pens ■ Construction of roofing over new holding pens ■ Construction of scale house and livestock scales and; ■ Installation of height adjustable loading ramp.
Paperwork signed
■ Murrindindi Shire Council has this month signed a release and indemnity agreement with John Charles Stewart and Kathleen Mary Stewart. of 3226 Healesville Kinglake Rd, Kinglake . ■ On Tuesday last week (Feb. 16), Murrindindi Shire Council signed a recyclables acceptance and sorting contract with Visy Paper Pty Ltd. Contracts were signed by CEO Abbey and Mayor Rae.