Page 14 The Moorabool News – 25 January, 2022
News
Free fence posts If you’re a primary producer in Moorabool, and you’ve been affected by the severe storms that have hit over the last 12 months, you might be eligible for a kilometre worth of free fence posts. Rural Aid and Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) have partnered up to repurpose the wood from storm-damaged trees, obtained during the BRV’s ‘Residential Storm and Flood Clean-up Program’. The wood is being given back to those who need it most – those who were affected by the storms in the first place. To be eligible for free fence posts, you must be a primary producer, have a current ABN, be registered with Rural Aid, be the owner of an affected property, and have your property located in the Moorabool and neighbouring Local Government Areas. If you think you’re eligible and would like some free fence posts, visit faa. ruralaid.org.au/fence-post-program/, and fill out the Expression of Interest (EOI) form. Approved EOIs will receive a fencing order form to complete. If you have trouble completing the application or need more information, ring 1300 327 624.
Letters to the Editor W R I T ING LET T ER S TO T H E EDI TOR Each letter must be accompanied with the writer’s full name, address and phone number (name and suburb for publication only) and be limited to 300 words. Letters to be received via post or email (preferred option). The Editor has the right to limit the amount of words in each letter received and published letters are at the discretion of the Editor. Send your letters to news@themooraboolnews.com.au Dear Editor, The Woolpack Road option for the Regional Roads proposed Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link requires more consideration. Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) are hoping to have a final route (both north and south) presented to the public for review by early to mid-this year. I would like to see the Avenue of Honour/Woolpack road option considered at the same time (early to mid-this year). According to RRV, an Avenue option works only in conjunction with the proposed Northern route which utilizes the current Darley interchange and Gisborne Rd and would require adjustment to the Eastern bound Bacchus Marsh Rd off-ramp being realigned to an Eastern bound on-ramp. An Avenue of Honour option requires clarification of the Heritage Victoria ruling. The 2011 Avenue of Honour Heritage Council Permits Committee determination makes a supportive case for this difficult issue to be reconsidered. It appears that the Heritage Council rulings may not be the issue. The majority of the committee found that the VicRoads proposed roundabout would not damage the heritage and cultural value of the avenue. It was a political decision by the then Minister of Planning Matthew Guy to overturn a very considered recommendation by the Heritage Council committee majority. Over the decade there have been substantial changes to the Avenue. Two of the trees at the Avenue of Honour and Woolpack Rd intersection were recently blown down and over 50 have been earmarked to be replaced with new cloned elms as they come to the end of their life. The Moon Reserve and harvest tourist precinct have been created. There is change in farming practices on the neighbouring irrigation flats. Bacchus Marsh traffic congestion has drastically increased. There is no planned funding for the expensive Merrimu and Parwan routes. They will not be built in the foreseeable future. It leaves no short or medium term solution to Bacchus Marsh traffic congestion. The Woolpack Road option does offer a solution. And increased traffic continues to compress the roots of the elms. Issues and Key Points ● A comparative analysis between an Avenue option and the other options must include: cost, time, natural heritage, social heritage and indigenous heritage. ● The junction of the Parwan Creek, Werribee River and Lerderderg River is of significant cultural heritage for the Wathaurong people.
● The Parwan options along the river and either over or beneath the escarpment will be very expensive (prohibitively?) and the Woolpack Road option will be substantially cheaper. ● Traffic congestion in Bacchus Marsh is very poor and the Eastern Link Road since 2008 has been identified as important infrastructure to alleviate this problem. ● An Avenue route utilising the Northern section would be the most expedient method for having a staged solution and dealing with Bacchus Marsh traffic and truck issues in a more timely manner. ● The Parwan Southern route option that cuts through the escarpment would negatively impact a proposed (as part of the Parwan Station Precinct Structure Plan) linear park running along the escarpment. ● Impact on rivers and vegetation (shouldn’t be between heritage value of pre white settlement river red gums and elms). The Woolpack Road option has a significantly lower environmental impact on rivers, ecology and landscape than the proposed Southern options. ● The Parwan options are environmentally destructive. ● The Woolpack Road option has the least impact on the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District. ● The Woolpack Road option would see the extension of the Avenue Of Honour along the Woolpack Road commemorating Australian military service up to Afghanistan. ● A survey of the community sentiment around this issue could be undertaken and the questions based on two options presented by RRV. The two options being: 1) proposed southern and northern route through Merrimu and Parwan 2) an avenue route with Darley interchange northern route. Conclusion The Woolpack Road option should be costed and considered along with the other options for the East Link Road. The 2011 Heritage Council Permit Committee findings should be upheld and the Ministerial Decision overturned. Planning should commence on the Werribee River Parwan Gorge Linear Park (connecting Moon Reserve to Hopetoun Park). David Marnie Bacchus Marsh
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
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