Ranges Trader
Tributes flow for Darcy Duggan
Schools dance up a storm
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Tuesday, 10 November, 2020
A Star News Group Publication
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Preparing for tourist influx Suburbs across the Yarra Ranges are preparing for an influx of tourists as Covid-19 restrictions ease in the lead-up to summer. With local hospitality and retail businesses now open, further restrictions lifted on Sunday and more easing of restrictions set to come, the Yarra Ranges is set to become a hotspot for tourist activity.The changes have prompted calls for visitors to remain vigilant towards Covid-19 and plan ahead to avoid big crowds in the region and the disappointment of missing out. Turn to Page 8 for the full story.
Yoke from The Salon in Monbulk is enjoying being open under eased Covid-19 restrictions. 220440 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Critics buck plan Environmental groups throughout the outer eastern suburbs and beyond have raised concerns about the State Government’s latest deer strategy. The Government released the Victorian Deer Control Strategy on 30 October, about two years after the draft strategy was released. The strategy will be kick-started with a $1 million investment to manage the growing problem of deer in the outer northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Ultimately, it aims to reduce the environmental impact of the state’s wild deer population, while maintaining hunting opportunities. Cardinia Deer Management Coalition president Mike Hall said it was good to see the State Government recognise the severity of the problem. But he said the strategy failed to urgently address the exponential growth in feral deer populations. “We were all hoping the delay in the release of the strategy meant our serious concerns about the short-comings of the draft strategy
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were being addressed,” Mr Hall said. “These hopes have been dashed, as the final strategy differs little from the original and these two years have effectively been wasted. “Deer are still not listed as pests by the Government and have now had two extra years of population growth. This means greater numbers of deer are causing more environmental destruction, greater destruction of farmer livelihoods and an ever-increasing menace on our roads.” “Even now, the Government still has no time frame, no targets and no guaranteed funding.”
Long-term member of the Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group and PhD candidate on lyrebirds Alex Maisey said there were some positives to the strategy. He said it was appropriate that land managers would no longer need to apply for a permit to control deer and that other control measures, such as poisoning, bio-controls and trapping, were mentioned. However, Mr Maisey agreed that the strategy did not go far enough. Continued page 4 12448733-NG20-20
By Romy Stephens and Jed Lanyon
Stockdale & Leggo Yarra Ranges, we see more than property. We support the community throughout the pandemic & beyond Stockdale & Leggo (Yarra Ranges) 3A Kilvington Drive, Emerald E yarraranges@stockdaleleggo.com.au W stockdaleleggo.com.au/yarraranges P 5968 3933
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