Tuesday, 15 February, 2022
Lilydale
Kinley gets rezoning approval, ready to start building
Kilsyth Coles closes after 50 years
Sculpture exhibition draws big names to YAVA
Black Saturday, etched in the memory of the Yarra Valley
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A Star News Group Publication
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Rotary’s generosity
Lilydale Rotary members Bill and Madalyn Parlet and Stefanie Kruger donated 50 self care packs to Lilydale EACH team members Mandi Roberts Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS and Toni Williams to thank them for their work throughout the pandemic. 267830
The Rotary Club of Lilydale has visited a number of hospitals and Covid clinics over the last few weeks, delivering self care packs to the medical staff. Hand sewn bags of different colours and patterns contain items like shampoo, soap, toothpaste and other personal items that have been recycled and saved from landfill. Most recently, members of the club visited the Lilydale Covid-19 testing clinic run by EACH to give staff the bags. Grateful for the gesture, Covid services officer Toni Williams and Lilydale clinic site lead Mandi Roberts accepted the bags on behalf of their dedicated staff and said those who have worked throughout the pandemic don’t expect thanks or appreciation but it was lovely to be recognised. To read more, turn to page 8
Within our grasp By Mikayla van Loon The land at 150 Cambridge Road is one step closer to being formally purchased by Yarra Ranges Council, leaving the community overjoyed and relieved by its decision. The meeting held on Tuesday 8 February aimed to decide whether council funding from the Walling Ward reserve and from the sale of some land in the area could be used to purchase the State government owned property. With a unanimous decision, the councillors agreed to the offer from the government to purchase the old school site for $6.44 million, a
50 per cent reduction on the value of the land. The approved recommendation also alluded to the need to consult the community before accepting the offer formally, to ensure the funding arrangement doesn’t receive any objection. Key advocates and campaigners John Phillips and Shelley Large both said it was a relief to be one stage closer to putting up ‘sold’ signs. “I do feel a sense of relief, absolutely. I mean, it’s progress to me and it’s five metres to go, I just can’t wait for the last five to be done so to speak and to get that final ‘sold’,” Mr Phillips said.
“I was very hopeful but to get a unanimous decision was just amazing. From speaking to Councillor Cox, it looked very promising but you never know until the night what’s going to happen. So I’m very, very pleased with the result,” Ms Large said. While Mr Phillips was relieved with the outcome of the meeting, he said the final decision had not yet been made with opportunities for people to still object. “There’s a slight chance it might go the other way if they get too much outcry against the plan to purchase and the possibility is
there,” he said. For the community, however, the reassurance of a unanimous decision from the councillors has given them the confidence that the land will remain as open space. “The Facebook page and my emails and phone have been going insane this morning (9 February),” Ms Large said. “There were over 7000 signatures on a petition. We’re not going to get that many objections to the council purchasing it, so it’s just a formality in my books.” Continued page 3
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