The North Central Review | Local community newspapers for North Central Victoria & surrounds

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September 6, 2022

Melbourne-Lancefield Road named among state’s worst in online poll

By Colin MacGillivray

The State Government has defended its record on regional roads after a survey organised by the Liberal-National coalition named Melbourne-Lancefield Road among the worst in Victoria.

The opposition launched the ‘Victoria’s Worst Road’ campaign earlier this year, encouraging people to vote for what they believed to be the worst road in the state in an online poll.

The results, released late last month, named Melbourne-Lancefield Road as the third worst in Victoria, trailing only the Great Alpine Road and various locations on the Princes Highway.

The roads eligible were government-managed roads, not shire council roads.

Shadow Roads Minister Danny O’Brien announced the results of the poll alongside Member for Euroa Steph Ryan and Nationals candidate for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland.

Mr O’Brien described the state of regional roads as ‘unacceptable’.

“There are some incredibly dangerous stretches of the Melbourne-Lancefield Road that need urgent attention,” he said.

“Country roads like this are plagued by rough surface signs, a symptom of neglect and a failure to take meaningful action.

“I will be raising the state of this road directly with the Roads Minister and requesting urgent action to upgrade the crumbling shoulders that pose a real hazard to road users.”

Ms Cleeland said roads in Euroa were ‘an embarrassment’, spruiking the opposition’s commitment to allocate 25 per cent of its infrastructure budget to regional areas.

“The deterioration of roads is top of mind for locals who feel the shocking neglect of our region’s roads is symptomatic of a government with extreme disdain for regional Victorians,” she said.

“The Nationals are in touch with what our communities need and have a positive plan to invest in our roads network.

“We will bring back the Country Roads and Bridges Program to support councils to fix dangerous roads and reverse the consecutive cuts made to the roads budget.”

A government spokesperson hit back at the claims by Mr O’Brien and Ms Cleeland, saying the government had rebuilt or resurfaced more than 10,000 kilometres of regional roads and invested $34 billion across the state’s road network since 2014.

They said the government had undertaken ‘significant work’ to reduce road trauma along Melbourne-Lancefield Road.

The spokesperson said road crews were currently rebuilding a four-kilometre section of Melbourne-Lancefield Road between Bolinda Creek Bridge and Mullallys Road as part of a regional road maintenance blitz, while a section between Lancefield and Monegeetta was upgraded with safety barriers, new overtaking lanes, rumble strips and wider road shoulder in 2020.

They said the State Government had invested $1,847,719 in road rehabilitation and repair works along Melbourne-Lancefield Road, not including the current rebuilding project between Bolinda Creek Bridge and Mullalys Road, since 2018.

“We are investing $780 million toward maintaining and renewing Victoria’s arterial road network this financial year,” the spokesperson said.

“Over the past four years we have averaged $813 million per year on road maintenance compared to an average of $493 million per year when the Coalition were last in office.

“Since 2014 we’ve rebuilt or resurfaced more than 10,400 kilometres of regional roads to ensure their quality and safety. We have another 1,000 projects being delivered this maintenance season.”

Celebrating men’s sheds in McEwen

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September 6, 2022

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Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell is keen to acknowledge the great work of men’s sheds across McEwen as National Men’s Shed Week is celebrated this week.

The 2022 campaign promotes ‘A global village, doing local good’, highlighting the immeasurable benefits both members and communities gain from these places of connection.

As co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Men’s Sheds, Mr Mitchell is long-time supporter of the many men’s sheds across McEwen and a vocal advocate for the important work they do.

“Men’s sheds thrive, even when they start with just a few blokes, as they provide a place for men to get out, keep busy, use and pass on their skills and connect with their peers, supporting their physical and mental health,” he said.

“Every shed I walk into has a similar story, it’s a place where men can be social, learn new skills and have a sense of purpose.

“It can also just be a place where a member seeks company or a friendly ear.

“It can provide a different purpose for each member, but in the end it is an extremely valuable resource for all.

“Social isolation through retirement or loss of a partner can be crippling, but men’s sheds offer these guys a place to go, be accepted, feel valuable and reconnect with others.

“I encourage all McEwen’s men’s sheds, from Hurstbridge to Kilmore to Woodend to make the most of this week, hold an open day or morning tea and promote the invaluable contributions they make to the community.

“Men’s sheds save lives and provide a wonderful service to every community.”

‘Specky Magee’ author inspires Broadford students

Pam Kiriakidis

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September 6, 2022

‘Specky Magee’ author inspires Broadford students

By Pam Kiriakidis

Broadford Secondary College’s year seven and eight students last week received a visit from children’s book author Felice Arena.

Mr Arena engaged students about his most recent work, displaying historical pieces and videos that served as background for his new book, ‘The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan’, a story set during World War Two when women’s football was played to raise money for troops.

“It was only by chance that I read that article on the train about women in sport and I thought ‘let’s do some research on Aussie women playing sport,” Mr Arena said.

Soon after the presentation, a few students gathered around Mr Arena to sign his crowd-favourite ‘Specky Magee’ – a book he co-wrote with AFL legend Gary Lyon. He was then interviewed by a students in the school’s library.

The visit also gave Mr Arena a chance to spark an old relationship with a former teacher now teaching at Broadford.

“Hopefully some of them are inspired but I go out to entertain and inform, and if I inspire them that’s a bonus,” Mr Arena said.

“For them to write their own or even pick up a book, which is getting harder these days, but if not my book, someone else’s [is the aim].”

Broadford Secondary College library manager Michelle Slater said the session was an extension of Book Week, allowing students to meet an author they had been exploring this year in their classrooms and library.

“We had lots of activities in the library but this is bigger and bit more special. Having an author come here of books they’ve read makes them realise that authors are just normal people. It’s getting them to hear his stories,” she said.

Ms Slater said inviting Mr Arena to speak about his research inspired students to consider their own reading and writing skills as they approached the senior levels of their schooling.

“It’s just anything that encourages to read and write because they need those skills for the rest of their lives,” Ms Slater said.

“I’m hoping that they understand that everyday life is where a lot of stories come from.”

Seymour hub ‘a top priority’ for MP

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September 6, 2022

Member for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell has called on the State Government to fund a proposed Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub, calling the project ‘a top priority’.

Ms Maxwell, an MP for Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, addressed Parliament last week, calling for Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and the government to commit funding for the hub, which is at the top of the Mitchell Shire Council’s election wish list.

Ms Maxwell said the hub, which the government would operate in partnership with council, Seymour Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Nexus Primary Health, would serve what had become one of the most disadvantaged communities in Victoria.

“[Seymour’s] economic and social challenges are entrenched and intergenerational,” she said.

“Family violence occurs at a level that is three times the state average, with an incident rate of 4018 per 100,000 people; one in three school leavers do not complete year 12; one in six young people are not participating in work or study; 20 per cent of homes in Seymour have no internet connection; almost eight per cent of dwellings are social housing; [and] seven per cent of people in Seymour require assistance with core life activities.

“Despite these troubling statistics it is not all doom and gloom in Seymour. This is a community that is doing it really tough, but it is also a community with vision, determination and committed stakeholders and community leaders—but they cannot do it alone.”

Ms Maxwell said there was a ‘strong concept’ for the hub.

“It wants to deliver integrated health and mental health support for people in Seymour and the surrounding areas, knowing that a no-wrong-door and multidisciplinary approach will help meet the needs of their community in an efficient and supportive way,” she said.

“The hub would be home to a range of services, such as community mental health, space for a veterans mental health and wellbeing service, a centre against sexual assault, health promotion, dental care, primary health services, a Youth Assist clinic and flexible consulting rooms.

“The location for the hub is really important, and the Seymour community has identified an ideal location that will connect to the library and link to other educational and creative spaces.”

Ms Maxwell said the project would benefit the broader Mitchell Shire as well as Seymour.

“Seymour is an area with profound need, yet the community has a massive struggle accessing health and social services,” she said.

“Many people in the Seymour region cannot afford private psychological or medical consultations. If the services are available, they often have to travel to other regions, sometimes hours away, to get the help they need.

“The Seymour revitalisation project conducted extensive community consultation, and this project was identified as a top priority.”

Council estimated the cost of the hub at $23 million, with a required State Government investment of $9 million.

Pyalong farewells Steph Ryan

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September 6, 2022

The Pyalong community farewelled outgoing Member for Euroa Steph Ryan last month, where residents also had the opportunity to meet The Nationals’ new candidate for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland.

Pyalong Neighbourhood House hosted the morning tea while people chatted with Ms Ryan and Ms Cleeland.

Ms Ryan thanked the community for their advocacy and passion over her eight years in Parliament and promised to continue to work hard for the town right up to election day.

“It has been an honour to represent Pyalong and other communities across the Mitchell Shire over the past eight years,” she said.

“Pyalong residents have always been incredibly welcoming and passionate advocates for their local community.”

Ms Cleeland said she was determined to continue Ms Ryan’s work and ensure small regional communities like Pyalong maintained a strong voice and representative.

“The community has welcomed me with open arms today and if I have the honour of being elected I will work with locals to give them a strong voice in Parliament,” Ms Cleeland said.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council under fire as aged care services scrapped

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September 6, 2022

Macedon Ranges Shire Council under fire as aged care services scrapped

The Australian Services Union has blasted Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s decision to forego its in-home aged care program, electing to privatise the service instead.

Council chief executive Bernie O’Sullivan said changes to the way the Federal Government funded and provided aged care services prompted the council change.

He said council would seek other ways to support its ageing population on a larger scale, and the Federal Government would allocate providers to supply services currently delivered by council, including domestic assistance, personal care, respite, social support and centre-based meals.

In January the Federal Government published a paper outlining the proposed design of a new Support at Home Program, which will take effect from July 1 next year.

The program will replace the existing Commonwealth Home Support Program, CHSP, Home Care Packages, HCP, and Short Term Restorative Care, STRC, programs.

Mr O’Sullivan said the reforms meant council could no longer provide in-home aged care.

“Council has been reviewing its own service delivery in aged care since reforms began to be introduced 10 years ago, which includes the way home-support programs are funded, planned and delivered,” he said.

“The aim of these reforms is to increase the number of service providers, and create more choice and flexibility for clients. These reforms encourage providers to have size, scale and efficiencies, making it difficult for councils to continue delivering direct care services.

“Making this decision now, before the Commonwealth’s proposed shift to the new Support at Home model, ensures our valuable clients and dedicated staff will be as prepared and supported as they can be for the change.

“Our goal now turns to continuity of care until our current contract ends in mid-2023, and ensuring our clients experience a seamless transition to new service providers when the time comes.”

But Australian Services Union secretary Lisa Darmanin said the move would put vulnerable elderly Macedon Ranges residents at risk.

She said there was a ‘serious risk’ that in-home aged care services could collapse in the Macedon Ranges, mirroring the situation in Mornington Peninsula Shire where councillors made a similar decision earlier this year.

“Macedon Ranges councillors knew similar decisions by other councils had left elderly residents without any care for months, but they went ahead anyway,” she said.

“This decision will result in highly trained and dedicated in-home aged care workers being pushed into insecure work on lower wages and reduced conditions.

“The experience at other councils who have privatised in-home aged care is long term workers have refused to accept the insecure work and lower employment conditions offered by private providers and the services to elderly residents have collapsed.

“Councillors even chose to hide this decision from public scrutiny in a confidential meeting of the council.”

Ms Darmanin said the fact councillors made the call to scrap aged care services during a private session was ‘a subversion of democracy’

“With councillors choosing to hide the decision from the public, they must be scared of being held accountable for abandoning vulnerable elderly residents,” she said.

“With decisions like this one, that will push workers into insecure work and risk the collapse of in-home aged care in the shire, it’s no wonder satisfaction with Macedon Ranges Shire is falling.”

Mr O’Sullivan said council remained committed to supporting its aged care staff and volunteers, as well as more than 400 clients, until July next year.

Mayor Jennifer Anderson said council would continue to invest in other services for elderly people, including social connection programs, improving infrastructure, advocacy and attracting support services to the shire.

“We believe this is an opportunity to work with older people across the shire to co-design a new model of information, advocacy and services, ensuring that we reinvest in the activities that will provide benefit to a broader range of older people, addressing local needs beyond the Commonwealth Government’s aged care program,” she said.

“Currently, less than five percent of the almost 10,000 people aged 65-plus living in the shire are accessing commonwealth supported aged care services through council, including cleaning and respite.

“Council is keen to expand the reach of the work we will do in the future to support an increased number of older people in different ways, outside of the commonwealth’s Support at Home model.”

Cr Anderson said council had committed to working with the Federal Government on the timing of the service transition to protect the best interests of clients, their families, staff and the community.

She said council would consult senior citizens across the Macedon Ranges to develop a new model of information, advocacy, activities and support.

Treasured trough in Wallan East

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August 30, 2022

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By Colin MacGillivray

MEMBERS of a history group are concerned a piece of Wallan East’s heritage is being overlooked in a proposed development on Station Street.

Developers applied to amend a Mitchell Shire Council planning permit to pave the way for a $14 million development comprising apartments, a childcare centre, and retail shops including a supermarket, bottle shop, cafe and tavern opposite Wallan Railway Station earlier this year.

Wallan Wallan and Surrounds Historical Group member Christine Ogilvie said while the group did not oppose the development, it was concerned about the relocation of a Bills horse trough included in the plans.

The trough, which currently sits opposite the station, was one of many manufactured in Australia during the 1920s and 30s as part of a trust fund established through the will of George Bills, who along with his wife Annis, supported animal welfare projects.

Ms Ogilvie said the group had urged council to protect the trough after it became neglected, and was worried the development would see it fall into ruin.

“We spoke to council and got it cleaned up because it was infested with weeds and basically on the roadside being used as a rubbish bin,” she said.

“When I looked at the plans it was in between two car parks. I thought that was pretty awful to have it shoved down the back. It’s really not showcasing it.”

Ms Ogilvie said she and other members of the history group had already submitted complaints to council about the plans.

She said if the developers made an effort to feature the trough it could become a tourist drawcard.

“There is a trough trail like the silo art trail where people drive around to see them,” she said.

“There is a square where they want to put a public art piece. Why not put it into that area where there is seating and people can sit and view the trough?

“I would love to see some signage on the history of the troughs and perhaps some pictorial history boards with photographs of the local history of the station precinct.

“We’ve hardly got any history left in this area. The community want to have what little history we’ve got preserved.”

Council chief executive Brett Luxford said council was intent on moving the trough to a more prominent location and would discuss a suitable place with the developer – hopefully to a prominent location on public land on Station Street in front of the subject development.

“This alternate location for the horse trough is to be addressed during the council determination,” he said.

People can make a supporting or objecting submission regarding the permit for the development before Saturday.

Plans are available to view at www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/planning-and-building/planning-services/advertised-planning-applications/plp034-19-02.

Wallan quarry call unlikely before election

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August 30, 2022

Wallan quarry call unlikely before election

By Colin MacGillivray

Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green says she will be ‘shocked’ if the State Government delivers a verdict on a quarry proposed south of Wallan before November’s election.

Ms Green said with the caretaker period – a time prior to the election during which the government is unable to make significant appointments or policy decisions – looming on November 1, Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn was unlikely to have enough time to make a ruling on the matter.

A decision on whether the quarry will go ahead was called in by former Planning Minister Richard Wynne in 2021, with Ms Blandthorn now responsible for the decision after inheriting the planning portfolio.

Last week the Review reported comments Ms Green made at a public meeting, stating she believed a conflict of interest would prevent Ms Blandthorn from making a call on the quarry.

Ms Green later clarified she had been mistaken and there was no conflict of interest.

Lobbyist Phil Reed, who lists Conundrum Holdings among his clients, is a former director at Hawker Britton – a lobbying firm that employs Ms Blandthorn’s brother John-Paul Blandthorn.

However Mr Reed left Hawker Britton in August 2018 and now runs his own lobbying business.

Ms Green said she mistakenly believed Mr Reed was still affiliated with Hawker Britton when she spoke at the meeting.

“It was my error, because a consultant who was advising the applicant used to work for Hawker Britton but doesn’t any longer. I had made an assumption and I was wrong,” she said.

“Hawker Britton is not acting for Conundrum Holdings. I apologise for the misunderstanding.

“I was trying to be transparent about the decision-making process and show people that [procedures around] conflicts of interest are adhered to.”

Ms Green said she did not expect a decision on the quarry before the State Election given Ms Blandthorn’s status as the Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly.

“We are so busy at the moment. I’d be shocked if it’s soon,” she said.

“We’ve got a sitting week [this] week and a sitting week two weeks after that.

“I don’t have any inside knowledge, but I’m guessing that she’d be very busy trying to get our legislative program through, and we don’t have long until caretaker.”

Ms Green said it was good to have clarity about who would make the final call on the quarry.

Correction

In the Review’s August 23 edition, an article incorrectly stated that Conundrum Holdings challenged a Mitchell Shire Council decision to deny a planning permit for a quarry at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, VCAT.

Conundrum Holdings instead submitted an application to VCAT under section 79 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 for the ‘failure of the responsible authority to grant the permit within the prescribed time’.

Council did not deny the planning permit – they failed to make a decision in time, prompting Conundrum Holdings’ action.

Administrators for Kilmore’s Colmont School granted extension

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August 30, 2022