Construction of the Granite Hills Major Community Park is officially underway, marking the start of the first of three projects set to transform the Quarry Hills Regional Parkland.
In keeping with its surroundings, the park will have a focus on nature play, provide connections to walking trails and include a boardwalk winding through two bodies of water.
Construction of the waterbodies is currently underway to be followed by work on the park’s entrance and car park.
A playground on site will also feature a 40-metre flying fox, giant slides, a large undercover area with barbecues and tables, as well as public toilets and a Changing Places facility.
The playground is expected to be completed in late 2024.
City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said the park was an important project in council’s broader vision to activate the Quarry Hills Regional Parkland precinct.
“Not only will the park be a go-to destination for families wanting to spend quality time together in a safe and accessible park, but it will also be the gateway to our municipality’s defining open space feature,” she said.
“The park’s design has been informed by an extensive community consultation process and aligns with our goal of creating Liveable Neighbourhoods, as detailed in our Whittlesea 2040 strategy.”
Construction of the Quarry Hills Connecting Trails project, which will include 5.5 kilometres of walking and cycling trails built to allow people to explore the area’s natural environment, will start in early 2024.
Council has committed $2.5 million towards the project, with the State Government matching that funding with a $2.5 million grant from the Growing Suburbs Fund.
“A park of this size and scale comes at a cost and we thank the Victorian Government for supporting our vision for the site,” Ms Wilson said.
Aboriginal Gathering Place
Construction of City of Whittlesea’s Aboriginal Gathering Place is expected to begin in early-to-mid 2024, with the centre expected to open in 2025.
The vision for the Quarry Hill precinct also includes establishing an Aboriginal Gathering Place to promote reconciliation, cultural connections and improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous residents.
A contractor has now been appointed to design and construct the centre.
The space will have a variety of services and programs to help improve health and wellbeing outcomes for the City of Whittlesea’s growing Aboriginal population, including opportunities for the broader community to learn about Aboriginal culture through story-telling and events.
The City of Whittlesea resolved at its last meeting to award the contract to Victorian-based 2Construct Pty Ltd after a competitive process.
Administrator Peita Duncan said the Aboriginal Gathering Place would be located on Wurundjeri Country and connect to the site’s landscape, flora and fauna.
“We are proud to be progressing such an important project, which we know will empower our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and provide so many benefits,” she said.
“I want to thank everyone who has been involved in getting us to this point, not least of all the Whittlesea Aboriginal Gathering Place Advisory Group and Whittlesea Reconciliation Group.”
The local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has long advocated for a space to engage in cultural practises and knowledge-sharing.
Construction is expected to begin in early-to-mid 2024, with the centre expected to open in 2025.
For more information about the Aboriginal Gathering Place, go to www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/aboriginalgatheringplace.
The Melbourne-bound lanes of the Hume Freeway have been re-opened between Broadford and Wallan, following a truck rollover early this morning.
The truck rolled to its side at about 3.35am this morning on the Hume Freeway near Watson Street.
Victoria Police confirmed there were no injuries.
The rollover resulted in major traffic delays between Broadford and Wallan this morning, with the truck’s two trailers blocking multiple lanes.
Melbourne-bound lanes of the Hume Freeway between Broadford and Wallan were closed after the incident, with crews working to recover the flipped vehicle.
All southbound traffic was directed to exit the freeway at Broadford, and then to travel through Kilmore and Wallan to return to the freeway via the Northern Highway.
As of 9am this morning, the prime mover had been successfully stood back on its wheels, but the two rolled trailers were yet to be recovered.
The lanes were reopened at 10.30am, with congestion quickly easing between Kilmore and Wallan.
The cause of the roll-over is yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing.
The Department of Transport and Planning thanked drivers for their patience as emergency services conducted investigations and crews worked to re-open lanes.
ARSON and Explosives Squad detectives are investigating a fire at a tobacco business in Whittlesea’s Church Street that went up in flames last week.
Emergency services were called to the property at 30 Church Street after reports of a fire at about 2.30am on Tuesday, where the rear of the shop had caught alight.
Whittlesea Country Fire Brigade, along with neighbouring Country Fire Authority brigades and two Fire Rescue Victoria appliances, entered through the rear of Whittlesea Convenience Tobacco and controlled the fire within 20 minutes.
Police will investigate any potential links to the series of fire with suspected links to organised crime.
No one was inside the business at the time of the fire, but the building was destroyed.
Whittlesea Country Fire Brigade Lieutenant Darren Smith said the store was ‘gutted’, with minor impacts to its surrounding shops.
“The building was probably 50 per cent mould by the time we got there – that’s probably about 80 per cent gone,” Mr Smith said.
Nearby businesses such as a pizza shop and kebab shop were also smoke-affected.
Victoria Police reported the fire had been deemed suspicious and an arson chemist would attend the scene.
Police will investigate any potential links to the series of fire with alleged links to organised crime.
There has been a series of fire bombings and shootings at tobacco shops across Melbourne, which are currently under Victoria Police investigatiion.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Development Victoria has taken the first steps toward safeguarding wildlife at the recently-opened extension of Edgars Road in Epping.
Wildlife Victoria had flagged an urgent need to address the safety of kangaroos at the extension after recording a spike in wildlife injuries and deaths due to cars colliding with animals.
A dangerous situation arose for kangaroos when the road opened, and their habitat was split in two by traffic.
Kangaroos near the new extension of Edgars Road in Epping were in the firing line of two-directional traffic when their habitat was split in two by the road.
The kangaroos were forced to cross the extension to access their water source east of Edgars Road, posing a risk to both kangaroos and drivers.
Wildlife Victoria and the City of Whittlesea called for the State Government to take action to protect the kangaroos, and government body Development Victoria committed to addressing the problem with immediate and long-term solutions.
“The safety of the community and the well-being of local wildlife are key priorities for Development Victoria at this time and we are taking some immediate steps, as well as longer term action to help manage the situation,” Development Victoria said in a statement.
“All options are being considered to ensure the safety of the kangaroos and drivers in the area, as well as ensuring that local community are protected.”
Signage with contact information in the case of collision with wildlife is now installed at the site.
Development Victoria installed signage with a phone number for drivers to call if they become aware of injured wildlife, as well as temporary fencing to ‘prevent the kangaroos venturing onto the road’.
The temporary fencing links with permanent fencing to form a border around the land between Edgars Road and Cotters Road, blocking kangaroos from the extension.
Temporary fencing has been installed to deter kangaroos from venturing onto the new road.
Kangaroos can access a small gap in the fencing at Cotters Road to exit the area and venture toward undeveloped land near Edgars Creek.
Electronic signage also warns drivers of increased kangaroo activity near the gap in the fence.
The developers plan to install additional fencing under the guidance of an ecologist once all the relevant approvals are secured ‘to ensure the kangaroos are safely and progressively encouraged off the site’.
However, concerns have been raised over the effectiveness of the strategy, with kangaroos still being directed to land closer to the Hume Freeway, also in the vicinity of future development.
Electronic signage now stands on Cotters Road near a prominent kangaroo crossing area.
Development Victoria plans to develop a Kangaroo Management Plan, KMP, for the area.
City of Whittlesea chief executive Craig Lloyd said council had recommended Development Victoria prepare a KMP prior to the road opening.
Wildlife Victoria chief executive Lisa Palma said the organisation were appreciative of the work done to protect the kangaroos at the site so far, and to have been involved in consultation with Development Victoria.
But she said more still needed to be done to safeguard the wildlife, with Wildlife Victoria remaining hopeful additional solutions would be implemented.
“Wildlife Victoria is appreciative of the actions taken by Development Victoria thus far to reduce the risk of kangaroos being struck by vehicles on the newly-opened section of Edgars Road,” she said.
“We do note that some additional short-term safety measures are still needed, and we are anxious to see the long-term plan for this iconic species at the site.
“At a strategic level, Wildlife Victoria renews calls for more proactive statewide protections in urban planning processes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of native wildlife.”
Statewide protections include greater legislation in the planning process to ensure a KMP is undertaken prior to developments proceeding.
Featured image: A kangaroo on the land between Edgars Road and Cotters Road, now more protected from traffic behind her, with new fencing installed.
SOUTH Mitchell Neighbourhood Watch kicked off its fire preparation challenge on Sunday, aiming to encourage the community to prepare their properties ahead of fire season.
Organised by the Neighbourhood Watch group with the support of the Country Fire Authority, CFA, State Emergency Service, SES, and Forest Fire Management Victoria, FFMV, the challenge requires participants to submit photos of their properties before and after cleanup efforts, with the photos to be judged by representatives from each of the emergency services to determine the best-prepared property.
While all participants will have a chance to win a $300 Visa gift card, the main priority of the competition is encouraging people to prepare effectively for fire season – especially with anticipated dry conditions ahead.
Wandong Fire Brigade members Susan Peake, left, and Kylie Shingles with Community Safety Presenter Kylie Comte.
South Mitchell Neighbourhood Watch secretary Carol van der Ree said the challenge came about through a collaboration with the Mitchell Shire’s Safer Together Project.
“They’ve determined certain communities are more vulnerable and we’ve created this challenge in order to motivate people to get in there and clean up their yards to make themselves safer,” she said.
“We encourage people to join in, basically because you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. The greater community will gain as well by everyone doing their part.”
Sunday’s launch at Wandong Hall marked the official beginning of the competition for the Wandong, Heathcote Junction and Upper Plenty communities – all of which have been deemed vulnerable during fire season.
Kilmore SES member Jo and Unit Controller John Koutras.
A similar competition has also been launched for the Reedy Creek and Clonbinane areas to help mitigate fire risk in the shire’s less populated areas.
“There is a slow uptake at the moment. Probably straight after the fires, people were more aware of what they had to do, but this many years down the track they’re a little bit complacent and there’s new people in the area that just don’t know what to do,” Ms van der Ree said.
“It’s everything from preparing emergency kits to actually preparing their properties, which this challenge is all about.”
Ms van der Ree said Neighbourhood Watch were aware that some residents were not able to clean up their own properties but there were measures in place to assist, while Mitchell Shire Council was also offering free green waste disposal to participants.
“If you fall into that category or you can’t do your own clean-up, you can contact us and arrange for volunteers to come in and do it,” she said.
“Likewise, if you want to volunteer to clean up somebody else’s property, you can go to the Mitchell Shire website and register as a volunteer. There’s plenty of opportunity to help out in whichever way you want.”
Registrations for the competition are free and close on October 6, with winning properties to be announced on October 16.
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For more information, contact Safer Together project officer Justine Gard on 5734 6250 or email justine.gard@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au.
A miscount of votes and the Seymour Lions’ first dual Morrison medallist were highlights from the Goulburn Valley League’s, GVL, 2023 presentation night last week.
Star Seymour footballer Jack O’Sullivan won the 2023 GVL Morrison Medal following another strong season while A Grade netball captain Sarah Szczykulski won the 2023 A Grade Wellman Family Medal.
However, due to the GVL’s error in tallying votes, Tatura’s Elsie Boyer was declared the winner and presented with the netball medal last Monday night.
The league was forced to correct their error and make a statement on Wednesday to say that Szczykulski was, in fact, the winner.
Seymour defender Sarah Szczykulski won the 2023 A Grade Wellman Family Medal. Szczykulski was originally declared the runner-up but an audit of votes following the Gouburn Valley League’s presentation night deemed her to be the winner.
However, it didn’t take away from O’Sullivan’s achievement, with the midfielder clinching the best and fairest title with 28 votes – one ahead of Kyabram’s Kaine Herbt.
O’Sullivan, an ex-Assumption College student from Romsey, said it was unexpected.
“It’s pretty surreal. It’s something you certainly don’t expect but it’s nice,” he said.
“The support from the club this season has been massive. There’s always huge support from everyone at the club and it’s a great place to play footy.
“There’s always someone to support you whether it’s your mates, club staff or coaching staff. They’re all amazing and they’ve helped me out a lot.”
He has made Seymour Lions’ history becoming the first dual Morrison medallist after winning the award in his debut season with the club in 2021.
Only two others in GVL have won the award twice.
Seymour Lions assistant coach Jack Murphy said O’Sullivan had been ‘outstanding’ since joining the club in 2021.
“Jack is by far one of the hardest working midfielders in the competition and over the past few seasons he has really dialled himself into becoming a very damaging player,” Murphy said.
“We are rapt for him to take home the league’s highest individual honour and it’s a true testament to the work he has put in.
“His incredible work rate and hunger to succeed has really stood out.
“His buy-in to our program on a whole has been excellent and we as a coaching group have aimed to provide an environment where Jack can excel and play to his strengths every week.
“Our midfield group is very close and at times each player sacrifices for the betterment of the team. Last year we had Ben Rigoni take out this award, it’s a true testament to how strong our midfield brigade is.”
Goal-keeper Szczykulski, a three-time A Grade premiership player with the Lions, was originally announced as runner-up Wellman medallist on 25 votes while Boyer was said to have won on 27.
Boyer was incorrectly credited three additional votes in the final six rounds of the vote count.
An audit of the votes correcting this mistake ensued in the days after the presentation night and Szczykulski was instead announced the winner by one vote.
In a joint statement, AFL Goulburn Murray and the GVL board apologised for the mistake.
“All awards are audited twice throughout the season, mid-season and post-home and away season, and then again just before presentation night,” the statement said.
“The error was not in the votes but in the final tally, and unfortunately, due to human error this was not picked up.
“We have spoken to Elsie, her family and the Tatura Football Netball Club and thank them for their understanding.
“Collectively, they congratulate Sarah on her achievement in winning the Wellman Family Medal in recognition of an outstanding season and the Seymour Football Netball Club.
“We sincerely and unconditionally apologise to Elsie, her family, the Tatura Football Netball Club, Sarah, her family and the Seymour Football Netball Club for this error.”
The GVL will formally present Szczykulski with the Wellman Medal at Seymour Fotbbal Netball Club’s presentation night on Thursday.
Parliamentarians are urging the Federal Government to finance a refurbishment and expansion of the Seymour Returned Services League, RSL, Sub-Branch to improve its facilities and cater for younger membership.
Seymour RSL operates from its original 1940s building, constructed by local World War One veterans.
With more than 200 members, the Station Street building is overdue for expansion, requiring more space to support veterans of all ages and abilities. Its toilet facilities are also ‘no longer fit for purpose’.
Seymour RSL were selected to apply for the Federal Government’s Veteran Wellbeing Grants Program – a program that provides funding for eligible ex-service organisations to address community-based projects and activities for the veteran community.
If successful, the project aims to revitalise the original building, including extending its existing meeting hall and function area, and installing modern and accessible toilet facilities, a family-friendly playground and a commemorative mural serving as a tribute to the service and sacrifices made by veterans.
Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, left, Seymour RSL Sub-Branch president Matt McLaughlin and Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell are urging the government for funding to improve its facilities.
Seymour RSL president Matt McLaughlin highlighted the need for funding.
“Our toilets do not have disabled access and do not meet requirements – we cannot support our veterans if we don’t have the space or services,” he said.
“We need to extend and renovate to entice younger members in the RSL, but also provide for the ageing generation as well.”
Mr McLaughlin said a bigger hall would create better opportunities for remembering conflicts, including supporting the wider community that used its facilities.
“We do have a lot of memorabilia from World War One, World War Two, Vietnam but then we don’t have a lot of room to put [memorabilia] from … Iraq, Afghanistan,” he said.
“Being that we’re so close to Puckapunyal and also a lot of veterans move into the area, we need to provide a space for veterans but not just veterans, as well as a safe space for emergency services, they also have memberships.
“It’ll help the community as well. The RSL hall is for our members, it’s for the veterans and that’s what a RSL is about, but because we’re a small community … it’ll help the community by having other activities as well – like why people couldn’t have a wedding reception there.”
Mr McLaughlin thanked Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and Mitchell Shire Council for their ongoing support.
Ms Cleeland said she was honoured to endorse Seymour RSL for government funding.
“It is an extremely important part of the local community, offering a central location in town for veterans and their families to gather,” she said.
“By helping connect veterans to services, providing them with a way to develop social networks, and providing practical support, the Seymour RSL is offering a service that cannot be replaced.
“However, the current facilities are no longer fit for purpose.”
Mr Birrell echoed Ms Cleeland’s statement and hoped for the application’s success.
“I have been working with the Seymour RSL on this expansion for a long time,” he said.
“An application for funding has been made and we are hopeful for its success, as it is well deserved and needed for those hard-working people at the RSL.”
