5 Tuesday, 1 July, 2014
Trader
Mail scoops awards
7
Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
Breeder gets OK
A Mail Newspaper Group publication
22-23
Phone: 9751 9300 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
The big blow THE Hills were thrashed with wild winds over the week, leaving many residents without power for days. Emergency service crews were out in force for most of the week clearing fallen power lines and trees, with SES and CFA crews called to a number of incidents on Tuesday 24 June - the day hardest hit. Lilydale SES spokesperson Louise Andrews said over the duration of the stormy weather, SES crews were called to over 50 jobs in the Hills area alone. SP AusNet spokesperson Jonathon Geddes said there was 24,000 customers statewide that were without power. “That was at the highest point on Tuesday 24 June with most of these properties located in the north east corridors of Melbourne,” he said. Two days after the strongest of the winds had come through, 110 homes were still without power. “The largest pockets of residents without power are located around Monbulk, Kallista, Kinglake and Castella but had all power restored by 5pm Thursday afternoon,” Mr Geddes said. “We have had hundreds of our workers out each day repairing powerlines that have been ripped to the ground by falling trees and strong gale force winds.” Two trees fell across the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road near Toorak Road in Mount Dandenong at around 2pm on 24 June, knocking down powerlines and hitting a car, with around six others falling that day alone. Mount Dandenong Tourist Road was consequently closed until those trees were removed on Wednesday 25 June afternoon with residents asked to use Ridge Road in Mount Dandenong to get on and off the mountain. Olinda CFA’s first lieutenant Steve Walker said newlyweds on their honeymoon from Queensland were travelling along the road at around 2pm when they
The base of the 80-metre tree which fell in Dickens Road, Olinda, near the children’s play set. 123071
Right: Part of the 80 metre tree, which fell in Dickens Road, Olinda. 123071 Pictures: REBECCA BILLS stopped to assess a tree that had fallen across the road. “They were just about to get back in their car to back up when the second tree fell,” he said. As crews began to close the Tourist Road to attend to those fallen trees, just metere from the site, a tree measuring around 80 metres fell across three properties in Dickens Road, Olinda, damaging two houses. “At that point in time winds were up-
wards of 80 kilometres an hour winds,” Mr Walker said. CFA crews were on the scene of the latter incident, and secured the damaged properties with no one injured in both incidents and the tree cleared the following day. Mr Walker said on Wednesday 25 June crews were still working on clearing all the trees that fell and said historically it’s likely there will be more damage because there are still a lot of trees that fall once the wind stops.
YARRA RANGES OPTICAL
Your local Bloke! 1128441-DC15-14
Fashion Frames at Affordable Prices
“Residents need to stay very alert, don’t get under any trees and if you are unsure of any tree on your property please get it assessed,” he said. “Now that the weather has slowed down, this is the perfect time to assess all your trees and even get contractors in to remove the hazardous ones.” Mr Geddes warned customers if similar weather reoccurs, to not approach any fallen powerlines and if they do come across a tree that has fallen onto powerlines to call 13 17 99 immediately.
• Gas Ducted Heating • Split Systems • Evaporative Cooling • Ducted Refrigeration • Add on Air Conditioning 2-8 Main Rd Monbulk
2m3, 3m3 and 5m3 SKIP BINS BULK BILLING EYE EXAMINATIONS
0417 310 049
69 Main Street, Monbulk 9.00am - 5.00pm 1135368-LB20-14
1006603-TB35-11
Ph: 9756 6626 Conditions apply
KALORAMA BINS www.kaloramabins.com.au
0458 665 590 OR 9761 9171
764 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully Phone: 9758 0377
Win for day care APPLAUSE echoed through the Yarra Ranges Council chambers last Tuesday night, when councillors elected to keep Family Day Care (FDC) services running in the shire. A motion on the table to end the provision of FDC was defeated in a six to three vote at the 24 June meeting, following over an hour of fierce debate on the matter. As a result, the FDC scheme, which services 101 families through 21 educators, will continue in the Yarra Ranges. Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Social and Economic Development, Ali Wastie, said that Federal Budget cuts and five other services operating in the municipality made it unsustainable. However, Cr Samantha Dunn immediately took aim at the cost-neutrality argument, and said the scheme had been “set up to fail”, with council not actively recruiting educators. Cr Dunn also argued that the social impacts of ending the scheme were downplayed in the report. Councillor Maria McCarthy moved a motion afterwards to end the service, in line with the report’s recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Jason Callanan. However, Crs Fiona McAllister, Len Cox, Noel Cliff, Samantha Dunn, Andy Witlox and Jason Callanan voted against ending the service, while councillors Jim Child, Terry Avery and Maria McCarthy were in favour. A new motion was then put forward and passed, which stated that council would provide FDC services and commit to enhance and grow the business, with a marketing campaign for additional educators.
Elle Naturale Olinda Massage•Facials•BodyScrubs Room for rent Special rate applies for local residents Mon-Fri10am-8pm•Sat-Sun10am-5pm 1113938-PB07-14
By REBECCA BILLS
Sports of all sorts
Shop1/1606MtDandenongTouristRoadOlinda
Mobile 0411 622 445
Phone 9751 0199 Tool Sales Tool Hire Tool Repairs
311736-KK34-6
Ranges