Express MIDLAND
www.midlandexpress.com.au
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
$1.10 INC GST
Birthing suspension to continue?
‘Support Birthing at Castlemaine Health’ led a call to action outside the hospital on Friday to show its support for the vital local service. Expectant local mums Danielle, Laura and Katie are just some of the women who will be impacted by Monday’s decision.
Castlemaine Health's Board of Management was scheduled to meet last night to consider whether it should continue the suspension of its birthing services while implementing the recommendations of its independent review. A draft report of the review was presented to hospital CEO Ian Fisher on June 19. The report was considered by the Board of Management in a special meeting on June 22. The board has made an in-principle decision to accept and endorse the draft report and its recommendations to ensure a return to a safe maternity service. The Express understand this could reportedly see the service suspended for a further six months. The review recommends a new model of maternity care be implemented, along with new clinical and governance processes. Continued page 3.
GROWING PAINS Amy Hume
Gisborne's coveted village feel could be at risk if Macedon Ranges Council's draft 30-year plan for the town is adopted without change. The plan for Gisborne’s growth recommends controversial expansion of Gisborne Business Park and allows for high-density development close to the town centre including three-storey homes and four-storey commercial fronts. But it was the unanticipated and rushed inclusion of a 212-hectare property in the Gisborne town settlement boundary that dominated debate on the plan at council's meeting last week. The 30-year Gisborne Futures plan incorporates the town's structure plan, urban design framework and neighbourhood character study. Councillors wrestled with the idea of the property's last-
forward in terms of servicing reports, feasibility studies, native flora and fauna assessments." Chief Executive Margot Stork urged councillors to be "well aware and across the risk factors associated with altering such significant documents". But despite the concept's infancy, Cr Mandi Mees pushed for the property's inclusion in the town settlement boundary. Cr Mees and Cr Andrew Twaits suggested the vision was too "fundamental and profound" to be ignored and its inclusion in the documents was a chance for the concept to be tested and refined with the community. Cr Mees felt there was a possible shortfall in assumptions of the population growth underpinning the structure plan and that the town could exhaust the possible house supply well before 2050. Continued page 4.
minute inclusion, which went against warnings of repeating council's past errors, and council officer advice. The Kilmore Road property, known as Glen Junor, is the proposed launch-ground for a unique biodiversity sensitive urban design concept to set aside one hectare of land for nature or community for every hectare of urban development. Council's strategic planning manager Robert Ball said the submission was "very high level and conceptual" but lacked vital supporting material to justify inclusion in the Gisborne Futures. He said the land was constrained in terms of services, service provision and transport. "That site just hasn't stacked up based on the information we've got before us," Mr Ball said. "The landowners haven't, to date, presented the detailed assessments that other landowners have brought
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