Established in 1875 as the
proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
10 JANUARY, 2024
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SIG N U P N O W!
YEAR IN REVIEW... STORIES OF THE YEAR This mural in Footscray was one of several painted in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong. (Damjan Janevski) 357413_01
Painting and petitioning
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As another year ticks over for Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay residents, Star Weekly looks back on a year of community beautification and painting as well frustration and petitioning. Highlights in the region include the celebration of several schools reaching big milestones, including Williamstown Primary School which celebrated its 150th birthday and Footscray Primary School which celebrated its 100th. Murals among murals were painted across both municipalities including a Greek mural in Footscray and around the corner at Footscray High School kids painted one with local artist Heesco. Locals were pleased to hear Moondog Brewery was granted a permit to turn Franco
Cozzo’s old site into a new hangout spot. But with COVID-19 well and truly in the rear view mirror, residents grappled with the cost of living crisis, mass resident evictions, council tension and level crossing removal shock decisions. Maribyrnong council hit the front page with its decision to impose heritage overlays on the unwilling community and declaring a health emergency in May, regarding the municipality’s extreme air pollution. Hobsons Bay council dealt with its own push back from residents following the sudden eviction of Williamstown’s Techno Park residents, leaving the wider community reeling with anguish over the call and the following months of decision making. The state government made its own
impact on the region, with the $10 billion West Gate Tunnel Project getting well and truly underway, as well as the $1.5 billion redevelopment of the Footscray Hospital. Despite these events, residents rallied to support each other after the devastating 2022 Maribyrnong floods, with one bunch creating the Flood Warriors group to support the still struggling community. Maribyrnong residents asked council to Save Jacks Magazine from private use and improve the safety of the Joseph Road Precinct. Williamstown residents pleaded with council to stop the removal of the Williamstown Lifesaving Club pool as part of its $14 million redevelopment. Altona residents grappled with new parking permits along the esplanade, while enjoying
some old history in a resident compiled book titled, Pier Street Pearls. Footscray remained as artistic as ever, hosting a multitude of art exhibitions from local artist Sally Walshe, while plays wowed audiences put on by locals at the Bluestone theatre. For residents in Spotswood, Maidstone and Newport, Level crossing removals were confirmed with designs including closing off main roads and building road bridges. Local resident Gill Gannon fought hard to, “Keep Champion Road open,” with the debate seeming to continue into the new year. Looking ahead this year, residents can expect further growth in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong as the area continues to develop as part of a changing Victoria.
Kenyon-Smith Denture Clinic A family tradition for 60 years 100 Pier Street, Altona 9315 9231 • 27 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 9748 8204
Dental Prosthetists Full dentures, Partial dentures, Repairs - relines • Victorian Denture Scheme • Veterans’ Affairs John, Andrew, Simon and Paul Kenyon-Smith