Councils call for road side assistance

-

February 20, 2018

LOCAL governments are reaffirming roads as one of their main priorities as residents continue to push for more upgrades on local stretches.

Both the Mitchell Shire Council and Macedon Ranges Shire Council have noticed a reduction in funding from the state government since the Country Roads and Bridges program was removed.

Mitchell Shire maintains a 1383km roads network with each ratepayer funding roughly 78.2 metres of road – higher than the City of Whittlesea where each ratepayer funds about 14.9 metres.

The shire currently invests $11 million for the road, bridge, footpath and drainage network.
Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said residents had made it clear roads were a top priority.

“Our community has told us that roads and road maintenance are their number one priority and that’s why we’re investing more in our roads and bridges,” she said.

“However, with a large road network of nearly 1400kms and a relatively small ratepayer base, it is impossible to fund all these works alone… that is why council advocates strongly for additional funding from the state and federal governments.

“We understand there is still a lot of work to be done and we will continue to look at ways to obtain funding for new roads and road maintenance to meet the needs of our growing community.”

The Macedon Ranges Shire allocated about $7.6 million for improving their road network and $3 million for maintaining roads in the region this financial year.

While a ‘significant amount’ comes from federal funding, Operations director Dale Thornton said they were able to fix their roads with the current level of funding.

“The current level of funding allows us to meet the obligations of our road management plan,” he said.

“However, additional funds would be welcome and would allow us to improve further.

“Without the Country Roads and Bridges program, council has $1 million less per year to spend on road improvements… the extra $1 million had allowed council to make significant improvements to bridges and single lane roads in the shire.”

As the North Central’s population is expected to increase, residents are calling for an improved road network to cope with added pressure.

Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said she will continue her discussions with locals.

“I will continue to work with residents and local council on the issues that matter most to them,” she said.

Member for Euroa Steph Ryan said the region is growing rapidly and funding was key to helping the roads avoid deterioration.

Halt roundabout call

Roads & Transport

Ian Blyth

-

February 20, 2018

0

WORKS are underway on the $20 million upgrade of Melbourne-Lancefield Road, reducing the risk of head-on and run-off-road crashes.

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas and Member for Sunbury Josh Bull recently visited the site to view the progress of the project which started last October.

Identified as one of Victoria’s top 20 high-risk rural roads, the 35 kilometre stretch from Lancefield to Sunbury will include a range of safety improvements to prevent crashes and save lives.

Ms Thomas and Mr Bull said the works are crucial to the safety of motorists.

The upgrades include flexible centreline safety barriers to reduce the risk of head-on crashes, and left-hand side flexible safety barriers to protect drivers from run-off-road crashes.

However, local residents are concerned over the impact of the proposed Monegeetta roundabout on the businesses in the area.

“As these are the only two businesses in the Monegeetta precinct the current proposal will strangle both access and egress to both of them and possibly bring about the demise of family run businesses that have been in existence for many years,” the spokesperson said.
The intersection has long been a problem with traffic coming from Riddells Creek and turning left into the Melbourne-Lancefield Road.

There have often been reports of vehicles failing to give way to north bound traffic. Residents recently carried out a spot survey of the intersection, claiming that they observed four near misses.

The residents’ group has suggested a left turn feeder lane for traffic turning left from Riddells Creek to connect with the Melbourne -Lancefield Road around 100 metres north of the intersection.

The group has alerted Macedon Ranges Shire Council and local members of parliament to their concerns.

In addition to the planned roundabout, other safety improvements include extra overtaking opportunities, including four new overtaking lanes, to enable motorists to pass safely.

The road shoulder will also be widened and sealed to improve safety, while audio tactile lines will also be installed along the full length of the road, to alert drivers if they stray from their lane.

Stage one works from north of Monegeetta to the south of Lancefield are expected to be complete by the end of July 2018, while the second stage of works, from north of Sunbury to Monegeetta, are scheduled to begin mid-2018.

Slack wire act

Ian Blyth

-

February 20, 2018

0

THE debate continues to rage on the placement of wire rope barriers on district roads with concern expressed that the latest round of wire rope barriers are being installed in the wrong places and without proper planning.

The Kilmore and District Residents and Ratepayers Association (KADRRA) has weighed into the debate calling the program ‘a waste of taxpayers’ money’.

A spokesperson for KADDRA said that given the massive development at Merrifield, Cloverton, Mandalay and the proposed Interstate Freight terminal at Beveridge it would be more beneficial to add another lane on the Freeway.

“Given that the Hume Freeway is beginning to resemble the Monash ‘parking lot’. These wire crash barriers will have to be removed in that case. This is the height of stupidity from both VicRoads and the government,” the spokesperson said.

Some of the specific concerns about the latest installations include impeding access and manoeuvrability for emergency services, compromising motorcycle safety if a rider connects with the barrier and considerable vegetation growth under the barrier rope which pose a significant fire risk and maintenance issues.

Others have described situations where the wire rope barriers are installed too close to the side of the road and inhibit drivers pulling over safely due to a flat tire or a breakdown.
One North Central Review reader, who asked not to be named, said that she stood in fear as her son changed a driver’s side flat tire last week.

“We got a puncture at Kalkallo and there was not enough room to pull safely off the road. We found one of those orange cones a worker had left behind and placed it behind the car and I stood watch while my son changed the tyre – it was a terrifying experience,” she said.

The CFA position paper states that ‘That the minimum four metre clearance from the carriageway to the wire rope barrier on the left hand side; and a minimum three metres clearance on the right hand side on single direction divided carriageways and the desirable four metres on two way, two lane roads be upheld to allow minimum space for emergency vehicle parking.’

A review of several locations shows that their guidelines have not been followed.
Member for Euroa, Steph Ryan, has stated that a Liberal Nationals Government will suspend the rollout and undertake a review of the process.
“The review will include consultation with key stakeholders such as the CFA and RACV to determine a common sense approach to the placement and extent of future Wire Rope Barriers implementation,” Ms Ryan said.

However, Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, defended the rollout saying that it was being delivered in line with AustRoads and CFA guidelines.

Ms Symes added that VicRoads is developing detailed mapping of the barriers and the various breaks to enable emergency services to better plan their responses to emergencies, and is working with the CFA and emergency services to develop training packages on how to work with the flexible safety barriers in emergencies.

Tree change needed

The North Central Review

-

February 20, 2018

0

By Brooke Haffenden

COMMUNITY members in Doreen have been left stumped over council’s actions regarding trees on their nature strip.

For the past five years, the residents of Hanna Crescent, Doreen have been complaining about the Eucalyptus sideroxolyn (Ironbark) trees in their street.

Resident Jack Willemse said the limb dropping species are dangerous and caused damage to footpaths, vehicles and even a lamp post.

“It has been going on for a long time; the trees break and they’re dangerous,” he said.

Mr Willemse explained how one of the trees had to be pulled out after it fell down on one of the neighbour’s properties. Luckily, no-one was hurt as there had been a party at the property where children had been playing only a few hours prior to the tree falling.

Responding to the complaints, council said it intended to remove the trees and replace them with the same species.

In a letter seen by the Whittlesea Review council stated the trees showed “signs of very poor mechanical structure which may lead to section failures”.

“It was determined that these trees will be removed due to the issues the trees are currently causing and may cause in the future,” the letter said.

“It has been determined that the nature strips will be replaced with the same species being Eucalyptus sideroxolyn (Ironbark).”

Frustrated with the actions of council, the households in Hanna Crescent then joined together and delivered a petition to council officers. Residents were astounded when council said it would remove the Ironbark trees and plant gum trees.

“I love gumtrees but they have got to be in parks and gardens out in the open, not in residential streets where it’s dangerous,” Mr Willemse said.

“We would like to get a tree that drops leaves only once a year and is not so large and aggressive. We only have small nature strips.”

Another resident, Warren Bowen said he wanted trees in the street but ones that are appropriate for the area.

“We want the trees out and we want appropriate trees for the size of the nature strip,” he said.

“A lady from council rang the other day and said we would have a choice of two gum trees. Gum trees just aren’t appropriate for where we are.”

In a win for residents, City of Whittlesea Director City Transport and Presentation, Nick Mann told the Whittlesea Review late Friday that council listened to residents and will not replace the trees with gum trees. He also said the current Red Ironbark trees were planted by a developer and are now considered not the most suitable trees for the location.

“After feedback from residents, council agreed to replace the trees with a different species – not gum trees,” Mr Mann said.

“We are writing to residents giving them a choice of two species and will base the decision on the preference of the majority of residents in Hanna Crescent.

“The choice of street tree species for a particular location is determined by a range of factors including the size of the nature strip and neighbourhood character and is included in council’s Street Tree Management Plan.”

The tree removal works are expected to commence April 2018.

Top of the range

News

The North Central Review

-

February 19, 2018

0

Montego 450

The Montego is the top of our house range. An architectural home that is hard to compare. A home that, when mixed with premium acreage land, provides the catalyst for a fantastic lifestyle.

Homes with the Montego bloodline are never built the same way twice – they transcend the hum-drum repetitiveness of suburban homes and demand freedom to grow around your parcel of acreage land and along with your family’s unique lifestyle.

Given correct orientation, the comfortable Montego has an excellent environmental pedigree, designed to bring you the warming sun and fresh breezes of a morning and protectively shade and cool its family during hot summer afternoons.

Depending on what form your Montego takes, what personality you create with the finishes inside and how you finish the gardens and pool areas – you could reasonably expect to invest anywhere from 500k to 850k in your Montego home.

Take the first step today towards a lifestyle that dreams are made of. Talk to us about “Your Montego”.

Council a ‘circus’

The North Central Review

-

February 13, 2018

1

by Brooke Haffenden

QUESTIONS have once again been asked over the efficiency of the Whittlesea Council with one councillor referring to it as a ‘circus’.

The questions come following the recent council meeting on Tuesday, February 6 where the mayor removed former deputy mayor Cr Norm Kelly and then closed proceedings to the public gallery.

The meeting, which is normally held at council’s civic office in South Morang, was held at the Community Activity Centre, Barry Road, Thomastown, with many members of the community turning out in protest over the Mill Park Leisure Centre as well as the proposed roundabout at Betula Avenue/Belmont Way Mill Park.

Tensions hit a boiling point when Cr Kelly, attempting to move an alternate resolution to the Mill Park roundabout, was ‘blocked’ by Cr Sam Alessi who stood to move the recommendation.

Whittlesea Mayor Cr Pavlidis accepted the item from Cr Alessi, which angered Cr Kelly who had been standing prior to Cr Alessi ‘jumping’ out of his seat. Calling the mayor biased, Cr Kelly told the mayor he didn’t care if he was removed as the way council is running “is a joke.”

“This is a dictatorship,” Cr Kelly said to the mayor.

“You’re a disgrace.”

Cr Kelly’s comments were met with cheering and clapping from the public. Calling the gallery “unruly”, Cr Pavlidis closed the meeting pursuant to section 89 of the Local Government Act.

Council then dealt with items of confidential business and re-opened the meeting to the public one and a half hours later – by which time most of the attendees had left.

In a statement to the media, Cr Pavlidis said council was pleased to see a large number of people at the meeting but the frequent interruptions made it difficult for councillors to hear each other and for council to effectively conduct its meeting.

“Council strongly believes in the importance of open and transparent governance but we do need to ensure that we can still effectively run the meeting.

“Residents are very welcome to attend our meetings but the time to discuss their concerns is not during a formal meeting. All councillors are very happy to discuss residents’ concerns at any other time.” Cr Kelly told the Whittlesea Review he was disappointed in the mayor.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful the way it (council) has been running,” he said.

“Council has turned into a circus.”

“If the mayor can’t be fair and equitable among the other 10 councillors, and if she’s going to be biased towards the Labor endorsed councillors and the independent Tom Joseph, she should step down.”

Following the meeting, the Whittlesea Review was contacted by Cr Alahna Desiato who was also quite upset about the night’s events.

“Mayor Pavlidis treated the residents as children and insulted them on numerous occasions before kicking them out,” she said.

“Resident’s left the meeting in tears because they felt voiceless. Last night showed that Cr Alessi couldn’t care less about residents – he tried to ram through a roundabout and blocked Cr Kelly from providing an alternative solution.”

What are your views on the current City of Whittlesea Council and the way it’s being run? Contact the Whittlesea Review via email at ncreditorial@newspaperhouse.com.au and share your views.

It’s survey time again

The North Central Review

-

February 13, 2018

0

LANCEFIELD and Romsey residents are encouraged to participate in the 2016 community satisfaction survey, if they are contacted by phone during February.

The independent phone survey is conducted on behalf of councils across Victoria by National Field Surveys, and results are benchmarked against the state-wide average of other municipalities, as well as other large rural shires.

Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Margot Stork said the survey gives council a snapshot of how local residents view council’s performance.

“The survey provides us with valuable feedback across a range of service areas to let us know what we are doing well, and also identifies areas for improvement,” she said.

The survey is conducted via telephone interviews to 400 residents in the Macedon Ranges Shire.

The researchers will comply with the guidelines of the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which state that they can call between 8.30am and 8.30pm on weekdays and between 9.00am and 5.30pm on weekends. They may contact residents on the ‘do not call’ register as they are carrying out market research.

Last year 69 councils participated in the survey, with interviewing completed at the end of March.
Participating councils are expected to receive their reports at the end of May and will include comparisons to previous years, the state-wide result and the group results of like councils.
Participants will be asked to rate council’s overall performance and also provide feedback on community consultation, advocacy, customer service; and key service areas such as road maintenance, town planning, community development, tourism, recreation, arts and libraries.
Last year residents gave their council a tick of approval in six of the seven key performance measures in the 2017 Community Satisfaction Survey.

Council’s survey results for 2017 showed residents’ satisfaction with council’s overall direction was higher than in 2016, up 52 points against 48. The results put council on par with other councils in the Victorian large rural councils group.

Council’s top three performing service areas are emergency management, waste and the appearance of public areas.

The survey results will be made available on council’s website later this year.

Kilmore’s new gateway

Ian Blyth

-

February 13, 2018

3

kilmore gatway woolworths — Proposed Kilmore Gateway Woolworths

kilmore gatway market mode — Proposed Kilmore Gateway on Market Day

KILMORE looks set to receive a retail boost if a town planning application to develop land at the corner of Clark Street and the Northern Highway is approved.

If approved the project – known as Kilmore Gateway – will see the construction of a Woolworth’s supermarket, 12 specialty shops and a medical centre on the 1.8 hectare site.
Council is presently acting on an application from specialist retail developer, Lascorp and is seeking ministerial authorisation to prepare a planning scheme amendment that will change the designation of the land from industrial to commercial to enable the project to go ahead.

The decision to seek ministerial approval was made at a special meeting of council held on January 29.

If ministerial approval is received the project will kick start the consultation phase that will see council and the community consider the proposed project at the same time. It is believed that a call for submissions from the community will be open for a month.

The consultation phase will see the project placed on public exhibition to seek the views of the community and relevant referral authorities.

Public exhibition will include sending notices to the land owners and occupiers for surrounding properties, advertising in the North Central Review and on council’s website. Hard copies of the project will be available for public inspection during opening hours at the Kilmore Library, Broadford customer service centre and the Wallan planning office.

Many see the Kilmore Gateway as a logical addition to the development at the northern end of town that is developing into a supermarket and retail precinct, enabling the southern end of Sydney Street to develop the character of the old town centred on the Mill Street Mall.

The long-awaited pedestrian bridge over the Kilmore creek may also receive a boost with Lascorp discussing with council a potential contribution towards the construction of the bridge.

The bridge has been identified as vital to servicing the Kilmore caravan park, businesses to the north of the creek and a future residential neighbourhood.

In late 2016 council received a petition asking that it support a footpath and footbridge from the Kilmore caravan park to Clark Street Kilmore. The petition contained 77 signatories.

There have long been safety concerns associated with pedestrians crossing the existing road bridge to access the Kilmore township.

The Kilmore Gateway project will see pedestrian footpaths fronting Kilmore Creek, Clarke Street and the Northern Highway, parking for 256 cars, ‘left in and left out’ access to the Northern Highway and full access from Clark Street.

Op Shop set to close its doors

The North Central Review

-

February 6, 2018

0

THE workers in Romsey’s Op Shop on Main Street are ‘shocked’ after their lease was not renewed.

It is believed that the owner has deemed the building unsafe and will seek to have it demolished.

Eileen Lever, one of the shop’s workers, said she was sad to see the Op Shop close, a shop which has helped support drug and rehabilitation programs.

“I couldn’t believe it when the lease wasn’t renewed. What can we do?” she told The Free Press.”

“It is sad for the people who can’t afford to cloth and look after themselves. Our proceeds go to drug rehabilitation and those programs were always been our main focus.”

“It is just sad really. You are sad you can’t get involved in the community and help people. A lot of the people are shocked.”

The Op Shop workers said they were not sure if they were able to start up again at another venue due to the price of rent.

Ms Lever said of the properties available, she could not see a way they could afford to start again soon. Hopefully an affordable building inthe area will become available.

“Right now there are no shops available for us and we wouldn’t be able to afford ones that are on the market,” she said.

“Where is everything going to go? We have helped recycle this stuff for the past seven years.

“We get overloaded on a Monday, so now people might take their stuff to the tip.”

The last post

The North Central Review

-

February 6, 2018

0

By Brooke Haffenden

FOR Gwenda and Ross White the relocation of the Whittlesea Post Office signals a new era. After 48 years of dedication and hard work, the husband and wife team will be doing the last mail call next week when new Whittlesea Post Office owners Andrew and Sneh Schie pick up the post bag.

For nearly five decades, Gwenda and Ross have ensured that residents were provided with much more than an efficient mail service. Customer service and going the extra mile is important to both Gwenda and Ross but after nearly half a century they have decided to take a well-earned break and have sold the business.

It has been a big year for the Whites who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December and their 50th anniversary with Australia Post in January.

Reaching their 48th year in Whittlesea, Gwenda and Ross decided it was time to hang up the mailbag and enjoy a well-deserved retirement, travelling and spending time with their three grandchildren.

“First of all we would like to go on a cruise, we’ll just start on the small cruise first and see how we travel and then we’ll take it from there,” Gwenda said.

Gwenda and Ross took over the Whittlesea Post Office in 1970. They had previously owned the post office in Apsley South Australia where they were for 20 months and then they worked at the mail centre for four months.

Ross’ grandmother had heard through an old school friend that the couple in Whittlesea were retiring and through their connection they were able to meet the previous Whittlesea Post Office owners who approved of Gwenda and Ross taking over the business.

OVER the years there have been small changes but Gwenda and Ross White have tried to keep the post office as close to the original as they could. Just recently the post office, which is 95 years old, was granted a heritage listing status and is up for sale.

Gwenda explained that her and Ross also differentiated their post office by doing everything the traditional way.

Gwenda and Ross thanked everyone for their support and said they will miss the people of Whittlesea.

“(Our fondest memories) are the people,” they said.

“We’ve seen three generations. Just sharing peoples joy and their sorrows… Your customers become family to you, you’ve known them since they were kids, and growing up and having babies themselves.

“We’ll miss the people because it’s like part of your family. We watched their children, from babies going off to school.

“There have been a lot of memories, a lot of funny memories.

“Thank you to everyone for all their support over the years and we’ll miss you, and we’ll be around so we’ll catch up for coffees.”

Many local residents have said they will dearly miss Gwenda and Ross. Trish Wileman of Hairy Cherubs told the Whittlesea Review that the Whites have been an integral part of the community.

“They’re like Whittlesea icons. They’ve watched families grow from young to old – that’s pretty special,” she said.

“They’ve been beautiful people… They are Whittlesea.”

Over the past couple of week’s Gwenda and Ross have been helping the new owners and said they will continue to provide support where needed.

Andrew and Sneh Schie thanked Gwenda and Ross for all their support and said they were excited about opening the new post at Shop 1, 66 Church Street, Whittlesea.

“We look forward to being able to serve the community and we want to assimilate and become part of the community as a whole. Our ambition is to move up here and become a greater part of the community,” Andrew said.