LAURIMAR Community Centre went up in flames last Wednesday night, January 10.
CFA crews arrived on the scene shortly after 11.30pm to find to the meeting room area engulfed in fire with considerable smoke showing.
A media liaison officer for the CFA informed the Whittlesea Review seven CFA crews, and nearly 40 firefighters, attended the scene. Also at the scene were Victoria Police, the power company, gas company, building surveyor and City of Whittlesea.
Firefighting crews wearing breathing apparatus made a forced entry and aggressively attacked the fire inside the building. Water supply was not an issue with training from a Pumps and Hydraulics course put into practice.
MITCHELL Shire Council has slammed criminals for their repeated attacks on council facilities in Broadford.
Fed up with the vandalism and theft on council property, Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson released a statement explaining how the criminal acts are hurting the whole community.
A ROMSEY artist has called on the Macedon Ranges Shire Council to support local creators so they have a platform to shine.
Sand Art Gallery Romsey director Leo Vamvalis wants more space so artists can create their works but also proudly hold exhibitions.
The calls come after the Macedon Ranges Shire Council revealed a desire to create an Arts and Culture Strategy 2018-2028.
Mr Vamvalis – who owns the Sand Art Gallery business with his partner Rosie Gallicchio – said space is a crucial piece to the creative puzzle.
“We need it to provide space so we can create and hang our works,” he told The Free Press.
“That is what artists are looking for no matter their art form. They need a space to create their work and if the region wants an artistic culture there needs to be this room.”
“We are a town art gallery and we express our art through sand sculptures. We are self-funded and we don’t get much support.”
“We are doing it ourselves and no one supports us… if artists had the resources here we can help people achieve their goals.”
THIS Sunday the Old Kilmore Gaol will be treated to Breaking Trad’s Celtic music in a region-first event.
The concert has been organised by Kilmore’s Caroline Killeen who met a musician by the name of Gino Lupari. This chance meeting has led to the unique concert and a lifelong friendship.
Before his arrival to the North Central region, Mr Lupari said it was an easy decision to want to bring his band to Kilmore because of the friendships he has made.
“I have known the lovely Caroline for a number of years and of course her brilliant family,” he said.”
“The family have become good friends to my brothers and sisters and my mum. We have all spent many happy hours together so I did make the decision to play Kilmore on this tour; a very easy one.”
“About playing music in a gaol, let me put it like this, we’re not the only Irishmen to play and sing in jail.”
“Our mugs are primarily Irish dance music and we play it with big smiles on our faces.”
The band will hopefully bring smiles to the people of Kilmore on Sunday at the Old Gaol from 12.30pm.
THE Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has ruled against the application for poker machines at the Commercial Hotel in South Morang.
The verdict, which was handed down before Christmas, upheld a decision by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VGLR) to refuse the application for 40 electronic gaming machines to be installed at the Commercial.
In December 2016, Woolworths owned Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) was refused an application to install the machines by the VCGLR, the independent statutory authority that regulates and approves poker machine licenses.
Following this refusal, ALH Group sought a review of the decision at VCAT together with the planning permit that was refused by council in March 2017.
City of Whittlesea Mayor, Cr Kris Pavlidis applauded VCAT for upholding the VCGLR decision and said the decision was a win for the community, with 40 less poker machines to be installed in the municipality.
“Should ALH Group have won this hearing, there would have been a total of 711 poker machines in the City of Whittlesea,” she said.
“We just can’t afford any more machines in our vulnerable community.”
“We know from our communities and the losses sustained, that pokie machines are harming the fabric of our society. The ripples are felt through not just the person who loses, but family and friends, neighbours, workplaces and businesses.”
“We commend VCAT for this decision and for recognising the VCGLR’s original outcome.”
Currently, the City of Whittlesea is home to four of Victoria’s top 10 venues for poker machine losses. In the last year $107 million was lost by residents on poker machines, which equates to $293,136 lost every day.
Alliance for Gambling Reform spokesperson and ‘Say No to Pokies’ advocate Susan Rennie said she was delighted with the judgment.
“I’m delighted with the outcome; it is a real win for the community of Whittlesea, particularly residents of South Morang,” Ms Rennie said.
“I think it’s an important decision to ensure millions of dollars will remain in the pockets of families in Whittlesea and also the community has a pub to go to that doesn’t have poker machines.”
Pointing that half of the municipalities loses already come from pubs owned by Woolworths including the Bundoora Hotel, The Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown and the Plough Hotel in Mill Park, Ms Rennie said it was ‘pure greed’ of the ALH Group to want more poker machines in the City of Whittlesea.
“Woolworths must have spent half a million dollars fighting this application when they should have taken note of what the community wants. They should stick to supermarkets and get out of the pokies business.”
“The VCAT decision is a win for the City of Whittlesea as the municipality already experiences so much harm from poker machines.”
Local resident Chandana Rao gave evidence at the tribunal hearing and told the Whittlesea Review she was happy with the decision by VCAT.
“I’m really happy because I’ve been there since the beginning of the campaign,” Ms Rao said.”
“It’s a better outcome for the community, and for people who are worried about the effect of pokies in the community.”
MITCHELL Shire, along with all other councils on Melbourne’s fringe, is seeing rapid population growth which is increasing the need for local support services, while placing significant pressure on existing services and providers according to a report released at the end of last year.
The Interface Councils Human Service Gap Analysis Report revealed that significant gaps in health and human service provision continue to affect 1.6 million residents in interface municipalities.
The report shows that mental health support, housing and homelessness support, family violence support, allied health services, alcohol and other drugs services, child protection and disability support all fall short in Melbourne’s interface region.
Mitchell Shire Mayor, Cr Rhonda Sanderson told the North Central Review that there are many people in the shire who are in critical need of access to these services, but are unable to due to long waiting lists or because there are very limited travel options to get to places like Epping, Shepparton, Bendigo or Melbourne to access them.
“According to our 2017 Health Profile, the need for people in Mitchell to access mental health and drug and alcohol support services was higher than the state average.”
“We also have soaring rates of family violence reports, which in 2015-16 were 57 per cent higher than the Victorian average, the number of drug offences detected in Mitchell is significantly higher than the state average, and the number of home and community care services available to those aged 0 to 64 years is 23 per cent lower than the state average,” Cr Sanderson added.
The report confirms that families in interface areas face a total estimated funding gap of $175 million per annum across various service areas that directly impact daily life.
“The report tells a tale of numbers. But in reality, it’s the quality of people’s lives that are being compromised by an inability to access health and wellbeing support where they need it,” an interface councils spokesperson said.
“Notably, the numbers in this report represent the many people – women in particular – experiencing the hardships of family violence and who don’t know where to go for safety and support in times of crisis,” he added.
Cr Sanderson said that access to early intervention and crisis support is important for the health and wellbeing of people in the community in the shorter and longer term.
“Our growing community deserves easy access to these vital support services, regardless of where they live,” Cr Sanderson said.
The report recommends that interface councils request an immediate injection of funding to bridge critical health and human service gaps in the impacted municipalities.
“Going forward, reform of the service delivery system is required to make sure it can respond to constant population growth and changing demographics as well as enable long-term and localised solutions to the service disparity that currently exists,” the report adds.
Interface Councils will be working with the Victorian Government to trial a new approach to service delivery to start moving towards a more positive reality where residents can access the health and human support they need, regardless of where they live.
The Human Service Gap Analysis Report was commissioned by Melbourne’s interface councils to understand the significant service provision gap in and to indicate reasons for geographical service distribution.
THE Macedon Ranges Wine Region is richer with a $68,775 package to increase its penetration into Australian and overseas markets, boost wine tourism and grow local businesses in the region.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas was joined by the Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford at a local winery to announce the funding from the $1.5 million Wine Growth Fund.
Passing Clouds winery, in conjunction with Daylesford Spa Country Railway, will receive $30,000 to expand its tasting room and build a railway platform as a stop for the tourist train.
Other projects in Macedon Ranges Wine Region set to receive funding include: Granite Hills Wines, to develop exports to Asia, Guildford Vineyard and Cellar, to improve tourist and function facilities, Sandy Farm Winery, to establish walking tracks with fitness points that lead to the winery and Wilimee, to implement sustainable wine practices.
The Wine Growth Fund supports wine businesses to innovate and grow in a range of areas aligned to the industry’s strategic direction, and the Wine Strategy.
Grants from round one and round two of the Wine Growth Fund represent a total investment of $1.6 million towards the Victorian wine industry.
Victoria’s wine industry continues to sparkle on the world stage, with 800 wineries and 3000 vineyards across the state, employing 12,000 people and generating $1.5 billion each year.
Ms Thomas said that nothing tastes sweeter than success and Macedon growers can be proud of their efforts in developing sustainable, attractive and innovative projects that will see wine sippers flock to the region.
“The Wine Growth Fund aims to grow the industry by providing innovative growers, organisations and projects with funding to expand. It supports activities from the vineyard to the cellar door and beyond,” Ms Thomas said.
Ms Pulford praised the diversity and character to Macedon Ranges wines. She congratulated the funding recipients for their ideas and passion.
“With the Macedon Ranges on Melbourne’s doorstep, visiting regional Victoria just keep getting better. The region is bringing wine, food and culture together and nothing could be better than that,” Ms Pulford said.
The Vermilion 312 makes a grand impression that just looks ‘right’ on an acreage block; at over 30 meters wide the Vermilion makes the best of a wide-frontage land.
Bright and Breezy – don’t waste a view! With two sets of huge stacking glass sliding doors – the Vermilion design truly brings the outdoors in. With windows everywhere – you’ll be sure to capture every vista and enjoy the sort of freshness that only a gentle breeze flowing through your home can bring.
When well oriented (north up), this home will passively heat and cool itself quite well – saving you money and keeping you comfortable!
Vermilion Floorplan
Our popular galley kitchen with huge butler’s pantry and second sink: keep your kitchen beautiful – put the washing up in the butler’s pantry and enjoy your company! Practical 2-part outdoor area: outdoor kitchen area and Alfresco Dining area (outdoor kitchen not included).
Everywhere you look is space, space, space – massive walk-in-robe, expansive ensuite with centrepiece shower design and three huge living areas!
Great features include:
• Huge Linen cupboard
• Dedicated broom cupboard
• Undercover Alfresco with BBQ spaceon seamless concrete
• Breakfast bar on island bench – great for feeding the little ones or pre-dinner drinks with friends
• Flexible design – changes or upgrades available to suit your needs.
A 28-YEAR-OLD Doreen man has been arrested following a spate of ram raids and burglaries in recent months.
The Doreen man has been charged with multiple counts of burglary, theft of motor vehicles, property offences and assault police. The Doreen resident has been remanded to appear at Ringwood Magistrates Court on January 10, 2018.
The Eastern Region Crime Squad and Echo Task Force members arrested the Doreen man alongside two other offenders during a burglary in Euroa on January 5.
During the arrest, at about 2.45am, two police vehicles were rammed by the offenders driving an allegedly stolen Kia Cerato.
Two of the three men are believed to have been involved in a series of burglaries and ram raids in Kinglake, Nagambie, Yea, Bundoora, Doreen, Epping, Mitcham, Healesville and other metropolitan areas.
The burglaries targeted commercial premises and targeted cigarettes, ATMs, safes and jewellery.
The 25-year-old from Preston has been charged with multiple burglaries, theft of motor vehicles, property offences and assault police and will appear at Heidelberg Magistrates Court on January 19, 2018.
The 25-year-old Heidelberg West man has been charged with multiple burglaries, theft of motor vehicles, other property offences, assault police and reckless conduct endangering serious injury. He appeared at Shepparton Magistrates Court yesterday, January 8, 2018.
Mernda CFA members (from left) Bryan Santilli, Hayden Marshall and Alex Latham will join Santa this weekend as they partake in the annual CFA Santa Run. See page 2 for the full story.
