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Zoe makes voice heard
Zoe Valiukas is growing more comfortable with herself every day. The Kurunjang 18-year-old was diagnosed with severe Tourette syndrome last year, suddenly turning her life upside down. But the aspiring film director’s diagnosis was also the start of a journey of understanding how to build a life without letting the tics define her. Part of that journey has been sharing her story as a winner of the ABC’s ‘Takeover Melbourne’ competition, a platform created for young Melburnians to be heard. “I have been suffering for the past year and I really wanted some acknowledgement that Tourettes isn’t all funny – I’ve got tics where I punch myself,” she said. “I also wanted to show people that in spite of that I’ve managed to come through year 12 and I will be going to university.” Zoe worked with an ABC producer to create a three-minute audio piece speaking about her experiences. “It’s a part of me but it doesn’t define me, it’s a part of me but I’m in control, it’s not the ruler of my life.” Further details: abc.net.au
Legal challenge looms By Benjamin Millar Moorabool and Melton councils have set the stage for a legal showdown with the state government over its approval for contaminated West Gate Tunnel spoil to be dumped in Bacchus Marsh and Ravenhall. Star Weekly last week reported that state Planning Minister Richard Wynne has used his powers to bypass Moorabool and Melton councils in giving the green light for Maddingley Brown Coal (MBC) to receive and store contaminated soil in Bacchus Marsh
from the $6.8 billion freeway project and for Cleanaway to take the soil at its Ravenhall tip. The Environment Protection Authority has already ticked off both sites to receive the soil, which is riddled with toxic PFAS and asbestos; leaving the final decision on the chosen site or sites with Transurban. Moorabool councillor David Edwards moved an urgent motion at last week’s meeting, authorising the chief executive to engage a legal team to prepare to challenge the decision. “If the decision is approved in the upper house, council has a limited window of
opportunity to challenge the decision” he said. “It is therefore considered appropriate to mandate the CEO to take all necessary actions.” Cr Tonia Dudzik seconded the motion, telling the meeting she was in full support of council taking legal action to stop the proposal. “There has been inadequate consultation and information provided to council and residents and this is the right thing for council to do, to take legal action,” she said. Melton council has also stepped up its campaign to pressure the state government to revoke the amendments. Mayor Kathy Majdlik
moved a motion at least week’s meeting calling for the council to write to the planning minister and local state parliamentarians demanding “in the strongest possible terms” the revocation of the planning scheme amendment that will enable toxic soil to be dumped at Ravenhall. The motion also calls for the council to “explore all legal avenues”. Meanwhile, opponents of the dumping in Bacchus Marsh are planning to protest outside Parliament this Wednesday, coinciding with an Opposition motion to disallow the planning approval.
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