Whittlesea winner

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September 18, 2018

by Jackson Russell

A WHITTLESEA supermarket might be the luckiest store in the state, with yet another of the store’s customers winning the Champions IGA Grand Grocery Giveaway.

Whittlesea resident Francesca Perta won the first of five $1000 grocery vouchers to be won by customers across the group’s nine stores every week.

“I’ve never won anything in my life so it’s very nice actually,” Ms Perta said.

“I’ve been off work because I’ve had a back injury so it’ll help quite a lot.

“It’s still very surreal and when I go to use my card I have to think twice. It’s really nice and the people here are lovely too. I’m always here, pretty much every day so it will definitely last me a few months.”

Store manager Luke Davies said it’s a way for the group to reward customers for their loyalty to the small chain.

“We run it every year so we can give our loyal customers a chance to get something back from the business,” he said.

“It feels good for us to be the luckiest store, but I don’t think the other stores are too thrilled.

“It’s really good for the area and it’s really good for people to see that we actually honour what we say with our prizes.”

The store was also home to the winner of last year’s $5000 winner and the winner of the second week of this year’s competition.

“I’d just like to say thanks to Champions Supa IGA Whittlesea for doing this and I’d like to thank all the guys here because they’re lovely,” Ms Perta added.

Magpie season

The North Central Review

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September 18, 2018

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by Jackson Russell

WALLAN Football Netball Club have capped off a successful season by being named the Riddell District Football Netball League’s Club of the Year at the league’s Bowen and Ryan Medal night in Taylors Lakes recently.

President Steven Shephard said the award is a huge achievement and recognises everyone involved with the club.

“Not only for myself but for the committee, the players, everyone, it’s just a massive achievement,” he said.

Mr Shephard told the North Central Review the club turned its culture around about three years ago with the appointment of senior coach Daniel Nolan.

“It was more of a boys’ club before. Guys didn’t have to train. They didn’t train and they would get a game in the seniors, all that sort of stuff,” he said.

“The players started buying into the culture, we changed it to saying you have to train, if you don’t train, you don’t play; being honest with yourself, if you’re injured, put your hand up.

“Then generally, as we started performing on the training track, all our supporters started following and it just changed the whole dynamic of the club.

“It’s been incredible. I’ve been around the club for 20 years and it’s a totally different club now.”

It’s paid off in spades for Wallan, with the reserves and Under 19s football sides competing in grand finals at the weekend and the seniors and A Grade netball narrowly missing out.

Mr Shephard was blown away when the club was given the award despite multiple people telling him the club was a shoo-in for the honour.

“The boys are all buzzing, everyone’s buzzing with it. We’ve come from the league never recognising us a great deal but over the last three years we’ve changed that,” he said.

“We’ve become a good club in the league and we’re a club to look out for because we’re moving forward.”

Mr Shephard also credited the hard-working committee for the award, including treasurer Jenni Wood, secretary Helen Mahoney and vice presidents Neal Langborne and Nadine Christall, and likened the award to a premiership for the committee.

“I work because I love the club and everyone on the committee does the same but that’s a premiership for the committee and a big pat on the back for everyone,” he added.

Call for Whittlesea commitment

The North Central Review

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September 18, 2018

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IN the lead up to the November state election, the City of Whittlesea is calling on local politicians to give residents the same access to services and infrastructure as those living in the city.

Council has launched ‘A Liveable Whittlesea’ in the lead up to the election asking political parties to commit to making the municipality more liveable by investing in roads, housing, schools and public transport and making simple gambling reforms.

Mayor Kris Pavlidis said growth is causing community needs in the area to be stretched.

“People move to the City of Whittlesea with the hope of creating a better life for themselves and their family,” she said.

“But we have more than 8000 new residents each year and the essential services and infrastructure our community needs are stretched and unable to keep up with this unprecedented level of growth.

“Our residents have the right to fair policies for population growth and development that enable our new and established communities to thrive.”

‘A Liveable Whittlesea’ is calling on political commitments in four areas.

Road improvements to bring the struggling road network up to pace with the growing community, including duplications and upgrades to Craigieburn Road East and Findon Road and extended upgrades to Bridge Inn Road and Epping Road.

Liveability improvements to give residents access to essential services, infrastructure, affordable housing and local jobs. Key local projects include building Edgars Creek Primary School by 2022, affordable housing in the Plenty Valley Activity Centre, and a Mernda health and wellbeing hub that will place essential community services and local jobs in the heart of Mernda Town Centre.

Public transport improvements, connecting communities with projects, including a ten minute premium bus service from Lalor station to Craigieburn Town Centre via Epping North and Wollert, extending the metropolitan train line from Lalor to Wollert within 10 years and extending Tram Route 86.

Council is also calling for simple changes to poker machine regulation to reduce the horrendous poker machine losses that local residents suffer, including $1 maximum bets, fewer machines (revoking the recent increase allowed in poker machine numbers) , reducing operating hours and redesigning poker machines to reduce their harmful, deceptive and addictive nature.

“Working together, all levels of government can make the City of Whittlesea a place where people and their families are connected, businesses prosper and our natural landscape is cherished,” Cr Pavlidis said.

Council backs statement

The North Central Review

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September 18, 2018

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MACEDON Ranges Shire is a step closer to a localised planning statement following a Special Council Meeting in Gisborne on Thursday night.

The draft localised planning statement, now known as the Macedon Ranges Statement of Planning Policy (SPP), recognises the importance of the Macedon Ranges Shire as a distinctive area and landscape to the local and Victorian community.

Last night council formally received the statement from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), thanked the department for its work and noted the SPP was a Victorian Government document which will be incorporated into the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme.

Several changes were requested, including the development of ministerial guidelines prior to the government’s endorsement of the statement, and that DELWP work with council to develop a work plan and funding program to implement it.

This Victorian Government document aims to ensure the protection and conservation of the distinctive attributes of Macedon Ranges Shire.

The SPP includes protected settlement boundaries for towns expected to grow, including Gisborne, Kyneton, Romsey, Riddells Creek, Lancefield and Woodend.

In a first for regional Victoria, once established, these boundaries will be subject to the same rigorous protections of Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary and will only be able to be altered with the approval of both houses of the Victorian Parliament.

The SPP was developed by DELWP with input from council. The Victorian Government conducted community consultation on the proposal for a localised planning statement from late 2017 to early 2018.

New service opened for Whittlesea youth

The North Central Review

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September 11, 2018

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EASTERN Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) is funding new services at local youth services hub Edge to give young people in the City of Whittlesea better access to mental health, and alcohol and other drug (AOD) support services.

The 12-month program will boost the availability of mental health and AOD services for young people aged 12-25. Youth Projects and headspace Greensborough will deliver the services through the hub at ‘EDGE’ Whittlesea Youth Services, at Westfield Plenty Valley, Mill Park.

Patron Senator for McEwen, James Paterson, said there are a number of local factors which prevent young people in the area from accessing support for mental health and substance misuse issues, including stigma, limited access to support services and compounding difficulties including distance, cost and availability of transport.

“Our young people face a number of unique barriers which make accessing services difficult and this local hub will make getting help easier which could be the start of brighter futures for many,” he said.

Mayor Kris Pavlidis said the City of Whittlesea was pleased to welcome headspace and Youth Projects locally.

“Council and Whittlesea Community Futures have been advocating for better access to youth mental health services since 2009. We need better access to mental health services for all residents.

“The service will help young residents access the support they need to be healthy, happy and stay engaged in education and employment,” Cr Pavlidis said.

EMPHN CEO Robin Whyte said her organisation has invested in this initiative based on the evidence that has emerged from our needs assessment of the region.

“Our needs assessment identified that young people in Whittlesea are at a heightened risk of misusing alcohol and other drugs, which is why we are investing funds in this part of our catchment.” she said.

Youth Projects CEO Ben Vasiliou said the team are ready to help Whittlesea’s young people take on the challenges they face which contribute to issues of substance misuse.

“These young people face higher reported levels of psychological distress, high rates of family violence and early disengagement from school, but we are ready to help them tackle these challenges and get them back on track,” he said.

Mind Australia is the lead organisation for headspace Greensborough. General Manager, Mind Centres Victoria, Meaghan Holden said pairing services for mental health and misuse of alcohol and other drugs together is vital.

“Mental health issues and drug and alcohol misuse need to be considered at the same time to provide effective support for young people, which is what this hub will facilitate,” she said.

Youth Projects will provide screening, assessment, treatment and referral options for local young people with challenges related to substance use, while headspace Greensborough will provide an outpost of its mental health services at the hub.

The new services will begin operation from Whittlesea Council’s Edge youth services facility by the end of August and run as a pilot until 30 June 2019.

Wandering livestock causing safety concerns

Animals

The North Central Review

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September 11, 2018

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Wandering livestock causing safety concerns

MURRINDINDI Shire Council Community Safety Officers have been responding to increasing numbers of livestock wandering onto roads.

Murrindindi Shire Council General Manager Infrastructure and Development, Stuart McConnell, said this is a real problem because of the safety risk roaming animals pose to drivers as well as pedestrians.

“Part of the problem is that while paddocks have got a green flush due to recent rains, there really is not that much feed about,” Mr McConnell said.

“We know our farmers are doing it tough due to low rainfall this season. But, we’re calling on all livestock owners to make sure their animals are getting enough to eat as hunger often motivates livestock to push through fences in search of food.

“When our Community Safety Officers respond to wandering livestock, they will remind owners of the need to contain stock and, where necessary, will issue notices or fines. Our officers have issued several notices to confine livestock and subsequent fines to livestock owners who have failed to confine their animals. The penalty for owners whose livestock has been found wandering is more than $600.

“We are calling on livestock owners to do an extra ‘ride around’ their fence lines to ensure they’re in working order. We’re also encouraging people to ‘brush up’ on their feed and nutrition knowledge – there’s heaps of information at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au,” Mr McConnell said.

For more information or to report wandering stock, call Council’s Community Safety team on 5772 0333.

New shared footpath for Watson Street

The North Central Review

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September 11, 2018

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PEDESTRIANS and cyclists will soon have a new link along one of Wallan’s busiest streets which will help connect residential areas to the thriving central business district.

Council has released designs for a new shared footpath along Watson Street, running west from Wellington Street to the new housing estate area, as well as a footpath along Dudley Street.

The $1.09 million project has been funded by Mitchell Shire Council ($420,000) and the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund ($670,000).

Before the designs are finalised, the community is invited to view the plans and have their say.

Council will be holding two community drop-in sessions next week where people can speak to the engineering team to learn more about the plans and to provide feedback.

Letters have been sent to residents on Watson and Dudley streets who are directly affected by the new footpaths, while an online survey is also available for the community to fill out.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said fixing footpath missing links was a priority.

“Providing safe spaces for pedestrians to walk and cyclists to ride is vital. We identified that we had more than 100km of footpath missing links across the shire and we have made fixing them a priority in recent years,” Cr Sanderson said.

“These new footpaths will help connect nearby residential areas to the Wallan business district and will encourage people to leave the car in the driveway and get out about and be active around town.

“The works will also complement the wonderful Wallan Town Heart revitalisation, which is nearing completion, and make the High Street shopping precinct a far more connected and vibrant space.”

Further works to improve pedestrian and cyclist connections on Watson Street between High Street and Wellington Street are also planned at a later stage once VicRoads finalises plans for the area.

Community drop-in sessions will be held on Thursday 20 September 2018 at 10 to 11.30am at Wallan Library and 5 to 7pm at Wallan Multipurpose Community Centre.

Construction of the new footpaths is anticipated to begin in early 2019. For more information on the project, visit www.engagingmitchellshire.com/wallan-watsonst or contact Council’s Engineering Services team on 5734 6302.

Parma for a Farmer success for Kilmore

The North Central Review

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September 11, 2018

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KILMORE Racing Club’s two venues – Kilmore Trackside and the Bendigo Club have raised more than $7,000 through the Parma for a Farmer Campaign.

Kilmore Racing CEO Ben Murphy said he is proud of his team and patrons who played a role in helping support drought-stricken farmers through the campaign.

“During August Kilmore Trackside and The Bendigo Club raised $7,281 through the sale of the chicken parmigianas, in venue promotions and community donations,” Mr Murphy said.

In addition, Kilmore Racing Club matched dollar for dollar any donation over $20. Significant donations from Rotary Clubs of both Kilmore and Bendigo were also matched by the Kilmore Racing Club.

Mr Murphy said every dollar will help bring some much-needed relief to battling farmers and their families.

“The communities of both Kilmore and Bendigo have been fantastic in helping support this fantastic initiative and all of us have been made aware of the hardship and struggles our farmers are facing.”

Amanda Kinross who provided the inspiration for ‘Parma for a Farmer’ expressed her gratitude for the donation.

“Incredible donations such as this are overwhelming. The generosity of the Kilmore Racing Club and of course the wonderful customers of both The Bendigo Club and Kilmore Trackside cannot be underestimated,” She said.

Ms. Kinross also touched on the great Australian tradition of helping a struggling mate out.

“The farmers across this great land have been putting food on our table for years now, so we’re more than happy to be helping put food on their tables during these tough times”.

“We’ll be keeping the donation tins open for the month of September so feel free to help us support our farmers. Again, we all need to remember, that without our farmers, where would we be?” M. Murphy said.

If you would like more information regarding ‘Parma for a Farmer’ and the ‘Buy a Bale’ Campaign, simply visit www.buyabale.com.au/parma-for-a-farmer/

Sports plan launched

Sport

The North Central Review

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September 11, 2018

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by Jackson Russell

RESIDENTS of the Macedon Ranges are one step closer to an elite sporting facility with the launch of the Macedon Ranges Sports Hub Business Plan.

Senator for Victoria James Paterson and Liberal candidate for Macedon Amanda Millar joined Macedon Ranges Shire Councillors and local sports clubs representatives at the future site of the precinct on Wednesday to officially launch the project.

The feasibility study for the hub, which is part of the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct, was funded with $100,000 from the federal government’s Community Development Grants Program

The visit marked the completion of the feasibility study for the project. Council and community stakeholders will using the outcomes of this work to advocate for funding opportunities, including grant opportunities, to fund the sports precinct proposal.

Senator Paterson said it’s clear the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct is exactly the type of project the Community Development Grants Program was designed for.

“There’s still a long way to go before we make this facility a reality but the feasibility study is a really important first step,” he said.

“What it provides is a comprehensive business plan covering market research, a review of indoor stadium trends as well as analysis of the economic and community benefits.

It will also enable to the community to provide their views about the indoor sports facilities they want in their region.”

Ms Millar said the coalition is very committed to grassroots sport.

“We are working very closely with the sporting groups and community behind this project, looking forward to the future and getting this project off the ground,” she said.

The feasibility study was a 2016 federal election promise from then Liberal candidate for Bendigo Megan Purcell which the government followed through with upon election.

Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Hub group member Tamara Collins said that commitment allowed them to show that indoor sport is a real issue in the region.

“We can’t wait another seven, eight or 10 years for this. This is something we need right now and we don’t expect council to be able to fund something like this,” she said.

“We’re talking about a big project that’s going to help health-wise for years to come.”

Small town big heart

The North Central Review

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September 11, 2018

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PYALONG is a small town with a big heart. The town with a population of under 2000 is driving the drought relief drive through the Pyalong neighbourhood House.

The Neighbourhood House has teamed with Need for Feed volunteers and the Cobram Barooga Lions club to ferry much needed supplies to drought stricken farmers to the north.

Neighbourhood House president, Moira Waye told the North Central Review that the efforts were being carried out by a 100 per cent volunteer task force.

“There are no overheads, time, vehicles and fuel are al being donated so 100 per cent of the effort goes to the farmers,” she said.

So successful has the Pyalong drive been that donations are coming in from Melbourne’s northern suburbs and from neighbouring shires.

Donations of food and household items have come from Kinglake East Uniting Church, Kilmore’s Marie Williams kinder, Seymour East and Wandong kindergartens, Goodstart Pre-school in Heidelberg as well as many other individual donations from community members.

At the weekend Need for Feed volunteers from Cobram called in to the Pyalong Neighbourhood House and left with two crew cab utes and a tradies trailer filled to capacity.

On last weekend in August, Need for Feed despatched a convoy of 90 trucks, plus many other vehicles, filled with hay, pellets, molasses, calf and lamb milk powder, glucose, chicken feed, salt blocks, boots, hampers, and care packs, which were delivered to families from Dubbo to Tamworth.

“They actually had 1500 families on the books when they started out and managed to help 400 families on this trip. On the return trip home there was 2500 registered – that’s how bad things are up there,” Ms Waye said.

Next trip will be to East Gippsland on September 15 and 16, along with another into New South Wales at the end of September.

The generosity of local people continues to impress with the continuing flow of items being dropped off at the Neighbourhood House and at the North Central Review office in Kilmore.

“I am not ashamed to say that at times I have been brought to tears with the generosity of the community – everyone has been so supportive,” Ms Waye added.

Donated goods can be left at the North Central Review in Kilmore and at the Pyalong Neighbourhood House