Page 10 The Moorabool News – 12 April, 2022
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
(L-R) Steven, Alice, Scott, the Easter bunny, Karellyn, Jayden (back) and Kelly. Photo – Lachlan Ellis
EES delayed to “late 2022” A day of egg-citement at Apple By Lachlan Ellis Easter fun was back at Apple 98.5 FM on 1 April, with visitors from the Mambourin and Merrimu special schools joined by the Easter bunny. Apple 98.5 FM President Karellyn Dangar said the event was one that volunteers and the local special needs community looked forward to every year. “They so look forward to enjoying the day… they get so much fun out of it, their smiles are worth a million dollars,” Ms Dangar told the Moorabool News. “We do try and put something on for Easter and Christmas, and some things through the middle of the year for them. They love it, they have a ball.” Partygoers were treated to a platter of fresh fruit prepared by Glenda Jones, hot cross buns, cake, and of course, chocolate handed out by the Easter bunny.
Apple 98.5 FM runs the ‘Hour of Power’ on Friday mornings, letting locals with special needs into the booth to pick their own music. “I’ve been with Apple now for over 15 years, it’s a great privilege to me to work with them, and see the joy that they get. That’s what community radio is all about, you don’t get this on commercial radio,” Ms Dangar said. “It’s very important for them to be connected. They also go to Anytime Fitness, they’ll be going twice a month soon…that is due to the generosity of Graham Gillespie at Rustel. He supports them for that event. “It’s getting them involved, letting them do normal activities like anyone else would do is so important, they enjoy it so very much. Treating them like everybody else is the way to go.” You can find out more about Apple FM on their Facebook page, or at www.apple985fm. com.au.
Community Information Sessions Grampians disAbility Advocacy invites you to a community information session about the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. The Disability Royal Commission is taking submissions up until December 31, 2022. Speakers from advocacy, legal services, counselling and the Royal Commission will be there.
Sessions will be held at Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre 13 Camp Street, Daylesford
on May 24th 2 - 4pm and
Bacchus Marsh Public Hall
207 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh
on May 26th 2 - 4pm
Both sessions are free with afternoon tea provided and door prizes. Please register by phoning 1800 552 272 or via email admin@grampiansadvocacy.org.au - Please advise of any dietary or access requirements -
By Lachlan Ellis AusNet Services has officially moved the submission date for its Environment Effects Statement (EES), two days after Moorabool Shire Council called for an update on the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP). Council called on AusNet last Tuesday to “address the uncertainty and concern” in the community around the project’s timeframes, with AusNet’s 2021 Consultation Plan stating the EES would be publicly exhibited by mid-2022. Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan said the EES exhibition was an “important opportunity for community input”, and urged AusNet to provide an update “to give those with an interest in the project sufficient time to prepare”. On the evening of Thursday 7 April, AusNet put out a media release which stated the company had “revised the EES submission date to enable more time to consult with landholders prior to submitting the EES on the proposed route, and complete the field surveys and investigations required”. “The submission date for the EES to the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) has now been revised from mid-2022 to late-2022,” the media release read. “Other factors including COVID restrictions, workforce isolations, additional Technical Reference Group review requirements, together with regional flooding around the Ballarat area have also influenced timelines for the EES submission.” Speaking to the Moorabool News after AusNet’s announcement, Cr Sullivan said
the delayed release was “a double-edged sword”. “It’s dragging on a very long time I think, which makes it hard on people and puts a lot of stress on them. The fact that it’s taking so long, and now it’ll take even longer, makes it even worse I think,” he said. “It cuts both ways…you’d like to think their consultation will improve [with the extra time]. We don’t know if that will be the case, but we hope it will be. Hopefully when the EES is released it’s a very thorough process, and not just paying lip service”. Cr Sullivan said it would be disappointing if it’s not really “a proper EES, taking all things onboard.” The Mayor of neighbouring Hepburn Shire Council, Cr Tim Drylie, shared Cr Sullivan’s cautious optimism. “The good news for our community overall is that gives people more time to work out how they will respond to the EES once it is released for community feedback, however, the uncertainty of the project and route will now be extended,” he said. “We are extremely disappointed at the historical lack of transparency and poor community consultation with this project. We hope an extension of time for the release of an EES means AusNet will use this time to listen to the community, consult properly with affected landholders and make significant changes to this project, including changing the route or placing the transmission lines underground.” Once submitted by AusNet, the EES will be exhibited for public comment for 30 business days, allowing those with an interest in the project to make submissions about the proposed project.