Ranges Trader
Puffing Billy’s new CEO
A deer connection
PAGE 2
PAGE 3
Tuesday, 9 February, 2021
Mail Friends flower in Covid
PAGE 7
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808 12477081-JW03-21
A Star News Group Publication
PROPERTY GUIDE
Market in doubt By Taylah Eastwell The future of the Cockatoo Country Market hangs in the balance after Cardinia Shire Council withdrew permission for the market to operate at the community complex. President of the Cockatoo Country Market committee Karen Benson said committee members were first informed that a problem had been identified with the market operating at the Cockatoo Community Complex in December last year. “We were informed just before our December market and we had a meeting with the traffic engineer from council to discuss ways that we could make the site work better in his opinion. We ran that market as per our agreement and were only informed there was a bigger issue in mid-January,” Ms Benson said. According to Ms Benson, Cardinia Shire Council cited parking and traffic concerns as the reason behind the withdrawal of permission to operate the market at the site. “They did not want us blocking off the car park, and there was concern that it is on a major arterial road and wanted to minimise the amount of people crossing that road and doing U-turns,” she said. “We want to minimise all those things too of course, because we want to have a safe market. But having held the market at the Pakenham Road complex for the past six years, the committee believe the market is perfectly safe. “In our mind it’s a very safe place,” Ms Benson said. “When moving between the indoor and outdoor space, there is no interaction between pedestrians and vehicle traffic,” she said. Cardinia Shire Council Infrastructure Services Manager Andrew Barr said “there are some concerns about traffic management and safety for market goers”. “Council understands the Cockatoo Community Market is a much-loved local attrac-
Cockatoo Country Market commitee members with MP Brad Battin and the hard-copy petition at the February market. Picture: RACHELLE MECHIELSEN tion and is very popular with locals and visitors alike,” Mr Barr said. “In the best interests of community safety, we are continuing to work closely with repre-
sentatives from the market to find an appropriate and long-term solution,“ he said. The market had no option but to move to Alma Treloar Reserve for its February market
on Saturday, with the committee holding concerns that the makeshift location is not “visible” to people passing though town. Continued page 6
12478560-CG04-20
I can help you.
12441562-FA08-20
12480605-SN07-21
Confused about the market?
No Obligation No Cost No Question about it. Call me now for a market estimate. 76a Monbulk Road Kallista 9755 1888 www.kallistarealestate.com.au
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY CNR MAIN AND SILVAN ROADS, MONBULK • PH: 9756 6306
12480804-LB06-21