2022
Incorporating
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
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HIGH FLYING HOLIDAY FUN
from management and staff at Mansfield Courier
LAKE Eildon is full to the brim and ready for water sports, whether it is skiing, jet-skiing, fishing or just swimming and cooling off on the shore - enjoying the fun in the sun lakeside is now on. For a list of what’s happening over the summer break in and aaround the region turns to our WHAT’S ON section on pages 22 and 23.
OUR NEXT PUBLICATION WILL BE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024
Looking back at what made new EACH New Year the Mansfield Courier looks back on what has happened over the previous 12 months. This quick glimpse of news and events reminds all readers of what made the news, the importance of keeping local news in the forefront and reflects on the lives of this vibrant community.
W WELL DESERVED: C was awarded Citizen on January 26 for her services to many orga and charities across t
T CLOSING DOWN: M Winters has been the of Phudley’s Gifts for years and said goodb customers – she was
January JANUARY 11: A cloud of crime and tragedy darkened the 2023 New Year season with criminal damage being reported and tragedy struck on the roads and in the lakes with and just outside of the shire. Local father of one, Shannan Wooley died tragically in a motorcycle accident. JANUARY 18: Visitation to Mansfield’s local tourist hotspots over the holiday period resulted in local businesses reporting up to six times their average turnover for the same time the previous year. JANUARY 25: Campers at Big River Pines camp ground(Eildon-Jamieson Road) had a close call when a massive pine tree came down between two tents. Luckily there were no injuries.
February FEBRUARY 1: Cathie Smith was awarded Mansfield’s Citizen of the Year for her continuing contributions to a variety of organisations, including the Mansfield Musical and Dramatic Society (MMuDS), the Rosehaven Hospice and the L2P Program. Graeme Stoney was honored with a Member of the Order of Australia and Mt Buller’s Alan Terrens was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. FEBRUARY 8: Following survey results carried out by the Herald Sun and completed by RedBridge Group claimed the majority of Victorians wanted to abolish local councils, the Courier looked into what locals thought. Shaun McMahon asked former councilor Don Cummins what his thoughts were along with then Deputy Mayor Steve Rabie and both agreed it would not suit rural shires. FEBRUARY 13: A couple travelling to Mansfield had a lucky escape following a high speed crash into a hay bale which had slipped off a transport and on the Maroondah Highway at Merton – it was a timely reminder for farmers and transport drivers to secure their loads. FEBRUARY 22: A logging ban for the state forest around Mt Sirling stalled wood chop competition preparations to be held at the upcoming Tolmie Sports Festival. VicForests were previously forced to stop logging after a Victorian Supreme Court found that the company failed to protect threatened species of gliders and checking for gliders before logging were inadequate.
March MARCH 1: Goughs Bay sewerage came one step closer to being established with the announcement that Mansfield Shire Council would conduct a feasibility study to investigate solutions to the town’s sewerage problems. The lakeside town currently has no town wastewater system, relying on individual septic systems of varying age and condition. MARCH 8: Mansfield’s mountain biking superstar, Elise Empey, took out the Sportsperson of the Year Award – the George Walker Memorial saying she was surprised, but very happy.
S Emergency Services expo - caption: In early May and emergency services expo was held with live demonstrations of accident rescues by the Mansfield SES Unit.
X TOP RIDER: Mountain biker Elise Empey took out the George Walker Memorial Trophy at the annual Sportsperson of the Year awards.
MARCH 29: Mansfield Shire Council approved a 76 lot subdivision for the Stock Route – the new subdivision had sparked much controversy and questions put to council.
APRIL 26: After some controversy and discussions back and forth with Mansfield Shire Council, MACE held on to its contract to operate Cubby House Child Minding Centre signing a MOU for the next five years.
April APRIL 5: Local farmers Paul and James Diamond developed a farm safety app that provides virtual peace of mind for farmers and farming families. They officially launched AirAgri, a satellite mapping and farm safety app. APRIL 12: Mansfield Historical Society’s proposed Museum gained a milestone with the announcement of a tender and federal funding to the tune of $1.23 million. APRIL 19: Easter crowds flocked to Mansfield and district for a long, long weekend despite cooler weather and even a dusting of snow on Mt Buller. And movie-makers were gearing up to make a Foxtel Series titled ‘High Country’ to be made later in the year and starring Indigenous Australian actors Leah Purcell (Wentworth) and Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road).
May MAY 3: Provocative Groups such as ‘My Place’ moved into Mansfield holding an anti-vaxxing rally with speakers “known to promote ‘pseudolaw’ and other ideas similar to the sovereign citizens’ ideology present. MAY 10: Mansfield had high hopes for funding from the State Budget, yet to be announced, for a number of projects across the shire including the emergency precinct which would see the ambulance station and SES rehomed on the old saleyards site. The Hospital was also hopeful of funding.
Dr Helen Haines was disappointed in the lack of funding for the electorate. MAY 24: Winter housing was under scrutiny by Member for Indi Dr Helen Haines focusing on the shortage of affordable rentals for the influx of winter seasonal workers. Dr Haines brought up in Federal Parliament the suggestion of $2 billion Regional Housing Infrastructure Fund enabling critical infrastructure to help much-needed housing projects get off the ground. MAY 31: In the State Budget announcements, Mansfield was ‘kicked to the curb’ despite the government promising to improve the state’s financial position while assisting vulnerable people, failing to allocate any funding which should have included the Emergencies Services Precinct and the Mansfield District Hospital.
made snow ready for the of the season on the Kin weekend. And new laws introduc lowering of the tax-free th land tax will meant that r forced to fork out more t landlord’s bills. JUNE 14: Torrential ra the region caused havoc on highways and local ro experiencing exceptiona Trees also came down a residents were without p than 36 hours. JUNE 21: Mansfield w as being a ‘safer place to yet another drop in the c Mansfield dropped 16.3 compared to the state’s per cent rise.
Pages 18-19, 42-43 MARCH 15: The Labor Day long weekend saw thousands of visitors hit the district yet again with a variety of activities, festivals and even Australia’s best working dogs on show.
MAY 17: The Federal Budget was released and a specific request for funding for the Mansfield Emergency Precinct failed to get recognition and/or funding. Independent Member for Indi,
June
JUNE 7: Mt Buller geared up for what was expected to be a great winter season. Snowmaking teams were extremely busy stockpiling man-
JUNE 28: NAIDOC W to be celebrated in Mans Gadhaba Local Aborigin Taungurung Elders offer events including the offic the Gadhaba Gathering Botanic Park.
Mansfield planning reaches new heights
Pages 4, 5
Mark Bennetts reflects on his time at Buller
Page 20-21
MMuDS celebrates 40 years
MANSFIELD Shire Council has had an exceptionally busy 2023, with a record number of determined and submitted planning applications. During their December 12 meeting, councillors discussed the annual Statutory Planning Services Review which detailed key updates for council’s 2023 Road Map and planning projects. In 2023 council received 211 applications worth $69 million, a significant increase
Councilil received C i d $69 million illi worth h off applications ppli i iin 2023 BY HANNAH KENNELLY hkennelly@ nemedia.com.au
from the $52 million for the whole of 2022. Council has been dramatically improving application response timeframes since July 2023 and has endeavored to complete more applications each month than received. During the 2023-24 finan-
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cial year to date, council received 92 applications and determined 112. In October 2023, more than 80 per cent of applications were completed within the statutory time frame of 60 days. During the meeting Cr Paul Sladdin congratulated shire infrastructure and planning general manager Melissa Crane, statuary planning coordinator Nicole
Embling, and strategic planning officer Oscar Yencken for their “outstanding work” this year. “I really take my hat off to you and thank you for the work you have done to improve the planning process, the relationship with developers, proponents and the public in general,” he said. Council’s Statutory Planning Services Review comes after shire worker Oscar
Yencken was recognised as Victoria’s Young Planner of the year for his outstanding contributions to his field. Mr Yencken played a pivotal role in the completion of seven diverse planning scheme amendments and has contributed to the Mansfield Planning Strategy, Open Space Strategy, and the Mansfield Commercial and Industrial Land Use Strategy. ■ Continued page 7
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SEASONS GREETINGS FROM THE KEMP FURNITURE FAMILY