Ferntree Gully
Belgrave
Mail Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
12 Tuesday, 21 October, 2014
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Safety catch for cricket
Front row: Damon, Gregory, Patrick, Liam and Alyssa. Back row: Vice-president Alister Lord, president Tony Rech, Liberal candidate Mark Verschuur, Eastern Region MP Edward O Donohue, Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling, Adam Slack, Paul Henry and Stacey Goodger. Picture: MELISSA MEEHAN
UNSAFE cricket nets at Kings Park in Upper Ferntree Gully will get a new lease of life, thanks to $35,387 funding from the State Government. Eastern Region MP Edward O’Donohue made the announcement on Friday, alongside Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling and Liberal candidate for Monbulk Mark Verschuur. Mr O’Donohue said that despite the reserve not being in Mr Wakeling’s electorate, he had worked hard to ensure the funding came through. “This is the final piece of the puzzle,” Mr O’Donohue said. “These nets are dangerous, there is a serious OHS issue and we need to be able to provide our local sportsmen and women with safe nets to practice in.” Mr Wakeling said that while it was a long process, he was proud to lend his support to those at the Upper Ferntree Gully Cricket Club. Cricket Club vice-president Alister Lord said the upgrades would provide a real lift to the community who used the facilities. “It’s been a long process for us, we’ve been working on these upgrades for five years and we’re so pleased we can now do this,” he said. “We noticed the clubs around us getting new nets and wondered why we were missing out. So I contacted Nick Wakeling, and even though we’re not in his electorate he worked for us. “We’re tremendously pleased with the annoucement.” The upgrades will include a levelling of the bowling area, installation of a synthetic turf surface, new diamond fence mesh and minor repairs. This is not an election promise. It has been fully funded. - MELISSA MEEHAN
■ Labor pledge to amend laws to heed a community stand...
Voices counted A LABOR Party election promise will effectively future proof the Dandenong Ranges, according to anti McDonald’s campaigner Garry Muratore. On Monday, Labor Shadow Minister for Planning Brian Tee joined Monbulk MP James Merlino in Tecoma to announce a promise to amend the Planning and Environment Act, so that
where appropriate, VCAT must take into consideration the extent of community opposition to planning proposals. The changes would see significant community opposition, such as the response to Tecoma McDonald’s, taken into account. “The current planning process isn’t working,” Mr Tee said.
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“Locals aren’t getting a say in the future of their own community.” Mr Tee said locals knew what was best for their street and suburb, and while the changes wouldn’t appease a noisy minority, it would recognise a community standing together. Mr Merlino said the changes weren’t anti-development, and would encourage stronger proposals that would win the community’s support.
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paign,” Mr Muratore said. “I’m so pleased that Brian Tee and James Merlino listened to us, and this really future proofs the Dandenongs.” While the changes won’t affect their fight at Tecoma, Mr Muratore said a focus would continue around the town. “We have become the little town that fought,” he said.
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“Had these changes been in place, the story here at Tecoma would have been very different,” Mr Merlino said. “Under the Liberals, the Dandenong Ranges weren’t listened to. Labor will make sure our voices are heard in the future.” No Maccas in the Hills spokesman Garry Muratore applauded the plan. “This is a major win for our cam-
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By MELISSA MEEHAN
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