12 Warrandyte Diary
November 2015
In tune with community
Changes proposed for flooding By SAMMI TAYLOR
HOME GROUND ADVANTAGE By MICHAEL DI PETTA
GOING in to get your car fixed is something most people don’t enjoy too much, because it might mean you’ve stuffed up somewhere along the line. But the team at South Warrandyte Ultra Tune might just make the experience a little bit easier. Couple Jason and Andrea have worked wonders with their first business since it opened in February this year, offering a friendly and professional service that has been warmly welcomed by the Warrandyte community. “The support we’ve had from the community from day one has been overwhelming. For our first business, it was a really big leap on a brand new site, but the community has taken hold and seem to love it,” Andrea says. The couple has extensive dealership experience between them: Jason managed company stores for Ultra Tune four years before opening in South Warrandyte and has 25 years in the motor industry. Completing the team is Luke Wright, a young local with plenty of expertise and Andrea’s father Bill. “We got Luke on board in July. He’s had seven years experience in the trade and is a really good lad. Him and Jason run the workshop outside and now that my mum
and dad have just retired from their business, we’ve taken dad across as well to give him some hours,” Andrea says. The business offers all sorts of automotive work, from puncture repairs to a full engine rebuild. Soon they are going to be providing more services leading up to Christmas and in 2016. “We realised early on in the service we provide you have to earn your keep. But it’s like we’ve basically known our customers for years, so head-
ing in to the Christmas period we want to do a raffle for our customers,” Jason says. “In 2016 we will be introducing a night for women, or girls who have just got their licenses, who want to know a little bit about their cars to come out here. We want to have technicians from places like Castrol come out and run nights out here, every quarter, just to teach people some basic things that everyone should really know. We want these to be free nights, just
to give something back to the community,” Andrea says. That is the message the couple wants to convey back to the locals of Warrandyte, a sincere thank you for the support and immediate acceptance for a small business doing great things. “We got broken into two weeks ago here and we were offered computers, coffees and food by customers and by locals. Any type of communication we’ve had with any customers has been over-
Burglaries continue
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THE series of burglaries committed in areas of large semi-rural properties is still ongoing, according to police. In October there were six offences committed in Warrandyte and eight offences committed in Park Orchards. More burglaries were also reported in Donvale and Templestowe. As previously reported, thieves have taken to damaging alarms and CCTV systems before gaining entry to the properties. Large amounts of jewellery and cash were stolen along with some small amounts of expensive alcohol. Safes are also simply being carried out of properties, so police are urging residents to ensure they are securely fastened down. +++ POLICE were called last month after loads of marijuana plants were found dumped in Gold Memorial Drive in Warrandyte after a resident noticed what appeared to be rubbish left on the side of the road. More than 10 large garbage bags and four pot plants along with a hydroponic globe were found at the site on Gold Memorial near Hussey’s Lane. Police are currently investigating. The resident called the Warrandyte Diar y shortly after notifying police and said “at first I thought it was some idiot who had dumped a heap of rubbish, but I quickly realised what it was – it was some idiot who had dumped a heap of cannabis!”
whelming. We were expecting it to be at least three or four months before the ball got rolling, but from the first week in February when we opened up it’s been amazing. So we just want to say thank you,” Andrea says. “It’s not just a business for us, Jason’s passion is cars and he’s found someone with Luke who has the same drive and the same passion. It’s not just working on the car, it’s seeing a customer walking out happy.” MANNINGHAM crime prevention unit is urging residents of Warrandyte and surrounds to be vigilant with security of their homes and to invoke the basic Neighbourhood Watch Principles after another increase in crime in recent months. Senior constable Carla Reardon told the Diary there had been a spike in burglaries in Warrandyte, Templestowe, Park Orchards and Donvale. “By no means are we wanting to alarm people, but do need home security increased in the area to help deter burglars,” Sen Const Reardon said. “On many occasions people have security systems but aren’t arming them or they are inactive for a variety of reasons including being broken or residents are only out for a short time. “We are reminding residents to lock their houses including doors and windows, be aware of any suspicious behaviour, and people or vehicles that look as though they are out of place. “Descriptions and details are very useful. It’s important to report any suspicious behaviour to 000 at the time of seeing these things so police have the opportunity to attend and make an assessment of it. “Increase natural surveillance, for example, keeping gardens trimmed and having working sensor lights. Get to know your neighbours and notify them if you will be away for a period of time, even just the weekend.” +++ Warrandyte Police and the Manningham CIU urge all community members to immediately call 000 and report any suspicious people, vehicles and behaviour, no matter how trivial it may seem.
PROPOSED changes to flooding overlay maps in Manningham will have only minor “preventative” effects on properties, a Diary inquiry has found. The plans are part of a review, conducted in partnership with Manningham City Council and Melbourne Water, which aim to prevent the effects of flooding in the municipality. The changes are being proposed as Amendment C109, but Theresa Dominik, Director of Planning and Environment, says the proposed changes are minor and “not as scary as they seem”. “It’s simply just future-proofing the area. We’re not taking people’s development rights away,” Ms Dominik says. Amendment C109 proposes to apply new overlays to a number of flood prone properties, which will determine how much of their land is subject to inundation and in what areas they can and cannot build. The proposed changes will affect about 10,300 properties in Manningham. For over 59% of affected properties, the changes will be minor, as existing flood overlays will be removed completely or altered slightly. Many properties will be exempt from planning permit requirements if certain conditions are met. The plans aim to ensure that Manningham is prepared in the event of a severe storm and will prevent avoidable damage to properties and land from occurring. “The flood mapping will assist council in prioritising initiatives to reduce flood risk to our community and pursuing opportunities for drainage upgrades,” Manningham chief executive officer Joe Carbone says. “Amendment C109 does not change the risk of flooding to properties in Manningham, however, it will allow council to better manage the risk through the implantation of the and revised flooding overlays.” A public exhibition for those affected by or interested in the proposed changes will take place from Thursday November 12 until Thursday December 24. These inspections will take place at Manningham Civic Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, during office hours. Doncaster, The Pines, Bulleen, Warrandyte and Box Hill branch libraries. Online at www. yoursaymanningham.com. au and The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website www. dtpli.vic.gov.au/publicinspection For more information, or to make a written submission for consideration, visit www.yoursaymanningham. com.au or call the Economic and Environmental Planning Unit on 9840 9129.