Ferntree Gully
Belgrave
Mail Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
5 Tuesday, 23 February, 2016
Sad loss
Rape charges dropped
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A Mail News Group publication
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New kid on the block EMERALD resident and youth worker Ben Andrews has turned his passion for building Lego into an award-winning achievement. Ben won the main award at the recent Brickvention Lego conference, which was held at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. Brickvention is an annual event, which draws thousands of Lego fans of all ages. Ben said he was really surprised over the win. “It’s only my second year in the competition and I’m not similar to the standard entrant - I’m a skater,” he said. Ben’s Lego construction, or ‘build’, is titled the Observer Tree. 150334 Picture: ROB CAREW
■ Upcoming meeting is critical for electric transport scheme…
Solar bus plan THE future of an ambitious scheme for a solar electric bus network in the Dandenong Ranges could hinge on its next planning meeting. For the past 18 months Yarra Ranges councillor Mike Clarke has been working with the recently formed Leaders of Lyster group to develop a proposal for a new transport network. They have already held preliminary talks with bus and coach operator Ventura and Public Transport Victoria (PTV) regarding their initiative, with a second round of talks planned for
the coming weeks. Cr Clarke said the viability of such a proposal may hinge on the coming meeting. “We’ll see how they (PTV and Ventura) respond and then make our plans around that,” Cr Clarke said. “We understand it’s not simply going to happen but we’re hoping to receive a positive response.” Cr Clarke said feedback over the plan had been extremely positive. “We’ve been working on this plan for some time and there’s been not one objection, everyone I’ve spoken to has
been very supportive,” Cr Clarke said. “Routes have been planned and colour-coded - they will run between most town centres within the Dandenong Ranges. “The first stage will involve electric busses ... it has the potential to create many jobs.” The proposed network includes a bus system that would run every 10 to 15 minutes between the main centres and would cost commuters only a few dollars per ride. Cr Clarke believes this system would lessen parking and traffic problems, especially on weekends.
He said the plan would help tourists, local commuters and improve safety during a fire emergency situation. The group established a Facebook page in December, which now includes a YouTube video, to help get the project off the ground. The video features a message from Cr Clarke who speaks about his perceived issues of the present system. “The problem with the buses in the Dandenong Ranges is they are going on ... routes which don’t help people to get where they want to go,” he said. “As a consequence, the buses are
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largely empty, or have one or two people on them, and they are costing the taxpayer. “My idea is to run smaller buses, minibuses of 15-20 people, that run point-to-point between two centres, of which are 10 minutes apart.” He said the network would help most people get to work, go shopping or to hospital or school. The video is at www.facebook.com/ directlinxintheDandenongs/. *What do you think? Email editor@mailnewsgroup.com.au and tell us if you think Cr Clarke’s idea has merit.
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