OCTOBER 13, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
A week of fun for kids
Children’s performer Damian Peck with his sons Toby, 5, and Jeremy, 2. (Damjan Janevski) 217633_02
A week of fun-filled activities later this month is sure to bring a smile to the faces of children during an otherwise difficult year. Melton council is running a series of online events as part of Children’s Week from October 26 to 30, with plenty of things to brighten up the day. The week kicks off with ‘music and movement’ with Damo Music for Kids on October 26, before an interactive animal session with Wild Action Zoo the next morning. There will also be a story time session with the Melton libraries team, do-it-yourself acrylic sticker peelies, and a special show of ‘Imagination Magic presents Kinder Dreamtime’ with Gene Blow during the rest of the week. Council’s families and children manager Brendan Ball, said it was important for the week to have plenty for children to enjoy depsite the social distancing restrictions. “We invite kids and their families to join us for a series of fun activities that will make you sing and dance, imagine, create, and learn,” he said. “We’ll also be sharing play and activity ideas for the whole family to do at home.” A full list of activities is on council’s Facebook page under the events tab. Ewen McRae
Council shunned, again By Ewen McRae Moorabool council is becoming increasingly frustrated about decisions surrounding contaminated soil coming to Bacchus Marsh, after being left out of another major ruling. The Victorian Heritage Advisory Council recently granted Maddingley Brown Coal a permit exemption to go ahead with roadworks on the historic Avenue of Honour. Despite council being responsible for managing and maintaining trees along the
Avenue, and having a heritage overlay on the Avenue under its planning scheme, it was not consulted about the exemption being granted to MBC. The works listed in the permit exemption are for widening and shoulder rehabilitation on the Woolpack Road–Bacchus Marsh Road intersection. Generally, any work undertaken on The Avenue of Honour requires a permit from the Heritage Advisory Council as the Avenue is protected.
Council chief executive Derek Madden said it was frustrating to hear about major decisions after they had been made. “Again, we have to hear about issues relating to MBC’s proposal to store contaminated soil from the West Gate Tunnel project from a third party,” Mr Madden said. “Council has been shunned throughout this whole process and we’ve had the power to make a decision on our own planning scheme taken away by the state government. “Now we hear about the Heritage Advisory
Council granting an exemption for works on a road we have some responsibility for without letting us know about the application for exemption.” A final decision on whether the contaminated soil from the West Gate Tunnel project is sent to MBC or one of the other two bidding sites is still yet to be made. A decision on planning approvals still sits with Planning Minister Richard Wynne. Project operator Transurban will make a final decision on which site to award the tender to.
• Individual & • Loan Funding Appts via Phone or Zoom Property Tax & Refinancing Call us now on • Small Business Returns Referrals 9747-0255 • BAS Preparations • JobKeeper Advice or email admin@taxconcepts.com.au Opening Hours Mon, Tues, Thurs, Friday 9am - 9pm | Wed 9am till 5.30 pm
12461349-DL38-20
SUBSCRIBE to our DIGITAL EDITION - It's FREE