Vital clash for Whittlesea cricketers

-

February 23, 2021

WHITTLESEA faces a do-or-die clash with South Morang in Diamond Valley Cricket Association’s Mash Shield on Saturday after a big win against Thomastown at the weekend.

Entering the season’s final round, the Eagles have a three-point buffer between them and fourth-placed Lower Plenty, with Lower Plenty likely to win its final match against Hurstbridge.

Whittlesea will take hot form into the meeting with South Morang after a 36-run victory in the penultimate round of the season.
The Eagles batted after winning the toss and, after losing opener Suresh Fernando for a duck, performed admirably.

Rajitha Ratnayake’s 65 at the top of the order set the tone, and consistent contributions from the likes of Corey Baker (25), Brody Bell (21) and Braydon Avola (34) kept the scoreboard humming.

A total of 5/186 presented a challenge for Thomastown that was not made any easier when opening batsmen Nicholas Fellows, caught behind by Ratnayake off the bowling of Rodney Pratt for a duck, and Sumeet Kumar, run out for seven, fell quickly.

Nathan Somerville struck at regular intervals to take 3/18 from five overs in a standout performance for the Eagles, ably supported by Pratt (2/14) and Baker (2/22).

The results were not as good for Laurimar, which went down in a tight match against Thomastown United at the weekend.
Skipper Jake Zerella again set the standard for the Laurimar batsmen with 54 runs at the top of the order, but too few of his Power teammates followed suit.

Rian Boddy (26) and Sam Toull (20) were the only other Laurimar batsmen to surpass 20 runs as the side was bowled out for 169 in the 37th over.

The Power came out with clear intent in the field, Josh Deans-Draper removing Thomastown United opener Jason Lalios for 12, but a knock of 57 by Matthew Del Mastro put the visitors back on track.

Thomastown United brought up the winning runs with eight balls left and three wickets in hand.

Ash Williams was the best of the Laurimar bowlers with 2/18, the side’s only multiple wicket-taker.

Mernda was defeated but could hold its head high after challenging second-placed Bundoora Park in Money Shield play.

Bundoora Park set an imposing target of 215 on the back of Rubal Singh-Dhillon, but Mernda gave its all in the run-chase.

Opener Dushantha Ranatunga scored 53 and Cooper Perrin blasted 12 boundaries in an innings of 82, but the duo lacked enough meaningful support to get the Demons within striking distance.

Mernda finished its innings 8/190, 25 runs short of Bundoora Park’s total.

The Demons will play Bundoora in the final round of the season and are out of finals contention.

Romsey basketballers back on the court

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

0

By Steph McNicol

IT has been more than 10 years since the final siren last sounded for Romsey Basketball, but new club president Simon Liebelt says he is up for the challenge of building the club from the ground back up.

With little information available surrounding the history of the club, Mr Liebelt contacted Basketball Victoria and Macedon Ranges Shire Council for an insight into the journey he was about to embark on.

“I spoke to Basketball Victoria, which is the governing body for basketball in the state, just to find out an estimated date of when the club was last active,” the president said.

“They said, ‘we couldn’t tell you’, but they know it’s been at least 10 years the club’s been dormant, maybe longer.

“I don’t know much of the history of the basketball in Romsey, but at some stage they must have done something – a member registry or something.

“I don’t think there was ever more than 50 members a year. The council did run some basketball programs like a shooting hoops program, which was an under 13s competition, but come October last year, COVID had a big part to play.

“They could no longer run the program, they reached out to myself and some others to ask if we could take over. I said to the others, ‘if we’re going to do this, let’s do it properly and relaunch’.”

Liebelt is part of a committee of 12, a group he said were professional and had good experience with basketball.

Since his election as president on January 12, Mr Liebelt has worked with the committee to gather interest in an Aussie Hoops program which already has 24 members.

“We’re already nearly halfway through completing what [the club] had in the past. The competitions only start in winter, but with the amount of interest we’ve had we thought why not start now,” he said.

“My background in basketball is coaching females, so to see girls engaging is exciting, and we hope to get a 14 and under competition going.

“I’m getting about five or six phone calls a week from people wanting to know what’s going on, and we’re talking with other [clubs] to see how we can work with them – our hub hasn’t been built yet.

“We currently have a one court stadium in Romsey on Park Lane. It’s difficult in Macedon, but we’re aiming to put Romsey’s name on the map.”

But with no equipment – the club hasn’t even got any basketballs yet – the committee plans to build from the ground up.

“We’ve got five to eight-year-olds who have never played before, but we’ve got long term plans listed, including a Big V team,” Liebelt said.

“It would be amazing if we could build something substantial where a five-year-old who’s just starting prep wants to learn to play, we’re building a pathway for them to go to college.”

Liebelt said the club was still in early stages, but he felt positive.

“At the moment we’ve only got one session a week … court hire became a bit of an issue. We’re talking to sponsors and council trying to get grants,” he said.

“We’ve got Aussie Hoops at the moment for six to eight-year-olds, but we’ve also got five and 10-year-olds playing there, so it’s just a matter of the interest people show.

“We’ve got older kids on a list, just because we can’t offer them a game just yet. Our next step will be opening up a competition, because we’ve got a bout 25 to 30 athletes ready to go.

“They don’t have to be advanced to join, the idea is that we’ll train them, and in the end hopefully they’ll feel ready to play.”

Liebelt said the competitions they entered or trained for were fully dependent on the interest expressed by the community.

“We’ve got an all abilities program … if you have a child with a disability who wants to play, we already have coaches in place,” Liebelt said.

“We want to build an all-inclusive association, and we love diversity. Our Aussie Hoops coaches have a big range, starting with myself who coached Big V level for over 12 years, and then we have 14 and 16-year-olds coaching representative programs for the last few years.”

People interested in joining Romsey Basketball Club, no matter their age or ability, can contact Simon Liebelt by emailing president@romseybasketball.com.au.

Romsey returns with a bang

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

0

ROMSEY returned from a week off with a bang in Gisborne District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Shield competition, defeating third-placed Sunbury United to shore up a top-two position.

The Redbacks were sent in after the visitors won the toss, with Taylor Stevenson and captain Ben Way building a strong opening partnership.

Stevenson eventually fell for 27, but Way carried on with Matthew Milne to have Romsey 1/123.

Way was removed for 69 by Damien Edwards and Milne fell soon thereafter to Dilan Chandima for 32.

Edwards and Chandima claimed five wickets between them for the day as Romsey lost five wickets for the addition of only 10 runs at the end of its innings, finishing 8/188 from 40 overs.

The Redbacks responded strongly in the field, Louis Moore striking with quick back-to-back wickets to have Sunbury United on the back foot at 2/23.

Middle-order totals of 39 by both Upul Fernando and Steven Fogarty gave the visitors some hope, but Jamie Taylor disrupted the partnership before Darin Jewell (4/26) ripped through the tail order to have Sunbury United all out for 164.

With two rounds to go, Romsey is in second place and can assure itself a home semi-final if it wins both games.

The Redbacks will travel to Gardiner Reserve to take on Gisborne on Saturday before hosting Woodend in the final round of the season.

Big win to Wallan

In Johnstone Shield play, Wallan decimated Riddell 9/193 to 51.

Alan Jackson’s removal for a duck at the top of the order was the lone hiccup in Wallan’s innings, as Ryan Cumberland (52) and Todd Keenan (28) built an 82-run partnership thereafter.

Spencer Whittingham (22) and Brodie Gilchrist kept the runs flowing for the Magpies after Cumberland and Keenan’s partnership was broken by Riddell bowler Evan Mouat.

In the field, it seemed the only way for the visitors to score was through Magpie mistakes.

Harry Fisher’s 18 matched the number of sundries allowed by the Wallan bowlers, as only three Riddell batsmen surpassed a score of one.

Mitch Van De Duim shone with the ball for Wallan, taking 4/12, while Steven Bell and Jai Weshal had superb outings with 3/6 each.

Wallan can move into third place with a win against Sunbury Kangaroos this weekend, potentially avoiding a semi-final match-up against top side Rupertswood in the first week of finals.

Lancefield continued its dominance in division two with a massive 154-run win against bottom side Sunbury United.

A consistent batting performance, led by Jake O’Meara (48) and Ryan Millar (38), helped set up a total of 7/194.

A virtuosic haul of 8/1 by Matthew Bowden devastated the Sunbury United line-up, with seven of the home team’s batsmen falling for ducks in a team total of 40.

Wallan’s reserves did not have the same success, going down by 156 runs against Blackwood.

Lion Dance performers welcome Lunar New Year

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

0

Lion Dance performers welcome Lunar New Year

Lion Dance performers visited Wellington Square on Sunday to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and to welcome in Year of the Ox. The performers danced to traditional music, entertaining all shoppers.
Lion Dance performers visited Wellington Square on Sunday to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and to welcome in Year of the Ox. The performers danced to traditional music, entertaining all shoppers.
Lion Dance performers visited Wellington Square on Sunday to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and to welcome in Year of the Ox. The performers danced to traditional music, entertaining all shoppers.
Lion Dance performers visited Wellington Square on Sunday to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and to welcome in Year of the Ox. The performers danced to traditional music, entertaining all shoppers.

Quarry appeal

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

0

By Colin MacGillivray

AN appeal against Mitchell Shire Council’s decision to deny a planning permit for a quarry south of Wallan will be heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in early May.

Councillors unanimously voted to reject quarry operator Conundrum Holdings’ permit bid at a meeting last week, citing concerns about its potential impacts on planning and future residential growth in the area, the health of Wallan residents and the natural environment.

It was the second time Mitchell Shire Council had refused a planning permit for a quarry at the site, after also rejecting an application by Conundrum Holdings in 2016.

Late last year a Victorian Planning Authority independent planning panel recommended a quarry be added to the Beveridge North West Precinct Structure Plan, PSP, despite the plan initially going through a community consultation process without the inclusion of a quarry.

Conundrum Holdings managing director Ron Kerr said he believed the planning panel’s decision to approve the quarry’s addition to the PSP would aid the company’s VCAT appeal.

“This has been a long and worthwhile application, with many opinions and recommendations. The due process is still continuing and we will accept the ultimate umpire’s decision, which will be handed down later this year,” he said.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said council would call on the State Government to halt the quarry project.
Councillors also encouraged objectors to the quarry to lobby government ministers.

“A recommendation from the recent Beveridge North West Precinct Structure Plan Planning Panel Report, which supports the quarry, flies in the face of the Victorian Government’s own policies to support well-planned connected neighbourhoods,” she said.

“We need the State Government to intervene now and stop this quarry before our community’s quality of life is impacted due to truck traffic, noise and vibrations.”

At last week’s council meeting Deputy Mayor Nathan Clark said while quarry material was needed to meet Melbourne’s growing infrastructure needs, a quarry should not be placed near the Wallan community.

“I agree with the applicant – the material is needed for future growth, but there is no requirement that the materials used for the planned growth of Mitchell Shire be sourced from within the area of planned residential growth,” he said.

But Mr Kerr said basalt deposits of comparable quality to the one south of Wallan were rare and needed to be capitalised on.

“After surveying over 500,000 hectares, this unique site on Melbourne’s basalt plains, which is within the extractive industry interest area earmarked since 1992, presents a very high-quality rock resource capable of meeting the future infrastructure build with direct access onto the highway network,” he said.

“Every Victorian already uses between eight and 10 tonnes of quarry material on average per annum. Much of this is used in building homes with this figure increasing when major infrastructure, such as the Big Build or construction of the Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal, is underway.

“This site helps by creating choice in the market and delivering quarry products with the lowest possible carbon footprint, and that benefits everyone.”

Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green said it was important to find a balance between preserving the character of towns like Wallan and obtaining the raw material required for home building and infrastructure projects.

“Our government will keep working to make sure we get the balance right between securing the resources we need to support Victoria’s growth, and preserving the excellent liveability of our communities,” she said.

“I’m advised that the matter is now before VCAT for consideration and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on a matter that is before a judicial tribunal.”

Resources Minister Jaclyn Symes said quarry materials had enabled large infrastructure projects to keep the state’s economy afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Minerals and quarry products play an essential role in our everyday lives – they make up the houses we live in, the train tracks we ride on, and the computers we work from. Our resources sector helps us all,” she said.

“The resources sector has kept going all throughout this pandemic – supporting jobs and our everyday needs.”

Cr Fiona Stevens called on Mitchell Shire residents to contact their local politicians if they were concerned about the quarry.

“Quarries are legitimate businesses. What it’s about is putting it in the right place, and this is not the right place,” she said.

“This quarry is going to affect the liveability of the area, developmental planning, the health of locals, the noise, the traffic, dust.

“It’s about putting these industries in the right location. Smack bang in the middle of an identified growth area is not the right place.

“It’s the State Government that has a decision on this, and that’s where the community needs to be directing their attention if they don’t want this to continue. Speak loudly is all I say.”

The landowner of the proposed quarry location is Wally Mott. Mr Mott is also an owner of the North Central Review.

Facebook’s news ban hits local media

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

0

MEMBER for McEwen Rob Mitchell believes public interest journalism in communities is being hung out to dry in the tussle between the Federal Government and Facebook.

Mr Mitchell said he was alarmed at the savage impact Facebook’s ban on news sharing in Australia was having on local media.

“Our local media is now the only source of local news that our communities can rely on and they are under severe pressure,” he said.

“They are small, independently-owned organisations that we rely on to tell us what’s going on in council; what’s happening in our neighbourhoods; about new developments in our towns and local issues that affect us. They also provide a forum for local people to have their say.

“To survive in the digital age where so many people get their news from social media, these media organisations have had to expand their digital platforms to include Facebook which directs people to their websites.

“This ban that Facebook has imposed, like some kind of schoolyard bully, has had a devastating impact on these organisations which are now suffering a dive in traffic to their websites.

“Our news media is concerned they are unable to post important breaking news to their communities, such as health updates, transport issues, emergency warnings and more.”

Mr Mitchell said the flow-on effect could result in a reduction in businesses’ advertising spend if the amount of website traffic decreases.

“These businesses naturally want to maximise their advertising dollar to reach their potential market and local media are keen to help them do that,” he said.

“But this ban makes it so difficult for local media to get any messages out without Facebook to direct people to their websites.

“It’s a double whammy – it’s harder to get out our news and promote local businesses with this ban.

“The issue between the Morrison government and Facebook needs to be resolved now.”

Mr Mitchell said local media outfits could not afford to wait for the government to negotiate an outcome that took into account local media.

“The Morrison Government has been very happy to look after their mates in the Murdoch press, with huge grants to its subsidiary Foxtel, leaks and backgrounding to Murdoch journalists when it suits them.

“Treasurer Frydenberg promised it would benefit our media, but the legislation just doesn’t cover it.

“Now is the time for the government to show some real concern for smaller communities, instead of playing some kind of game of chicken with Facebook to see who folds first.

“The government needs to urgently explain how their law will improve things for media in Australia – and not just the big players.”

Yesterday, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, who oversees public expenditure, said the government was pulling all its advertising campaigns from Facebook. The ABC reported the government spent $42 million on digital advertising in 2019-20. The ACCC has reported about one quarter of all online advertising expenditure in Australia goes to Facebook.

Mitchell Shire Council’s growing deficit

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

0

Mitchell Shire Council’s growing deficit

FALLOUT from the COVID-19 pandemic continued to cause disruption for Mitchell Shire Council in late 2020, with its latest quarterly report showing an adjusted underlying deficit of $1.63 million.

The deficit was $200,000 greater than a prior forecast deficit of $1.43 million.

Council’s forecast capital works expenditure for the year has also been downgraded by $9.76 million to $51.83 million, mainly due to projects that will now be carried forward into the 2021-22 financial year.

Cr Fiona Stevens said the pandemic had presented many financial challenges for council.

“This report [is] basically comparing our performance against our estimates and forecasts and what was adopted in the budget,” she said.

“In a COVID environment the goalposts kept changing, expenses were thrown at us left, right and centre, and we still had to keep business going.

“I congratulate all involved in achieving that, particularly the finance area, because they’ve done pretty well to keep us afloat.”

Cr Stevens said a number of factors influenced the underlying deficit.

“The main changes that impacted that were a reduction in the user fees and the income we get from our leisure and aquatic centres, because COVID closed us down; increased employee costs, because we had to put a lot in place to keep the operational needs going; depreciation; increases to grant income, because we were successful in grants and we have to tip in, which is fine; and decreases to materials and services, mainly as a result of current year-to-date expenditure and expected forecasts, and savings in part due to COVID as well,” she said.

“The total capital works expenditure forecast for the year is $51.83 million, which is $9.73 million lower than the prior forecast.

“This is mainly due to identified carry-forwards into 2021-22 of $9.66 million, offset by approved change requests and some capital projects.

“There’s a pretty hefty weight of capital works that are trying to be managed, and unfortunately some of them are carried over, which does play with the figures a bit.”

People can view the full quarterly financial report as part of last week’s council meeting agenda at bit.ly/3jXlf3X.

Call to stand up for standpipes across shire

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

0

Call to stand up for standpipes across shire

By Colin MacGillivray

A GROUP dedicated to improving Mitchell Shire’s community water infrastructure will host a meeting in Broadford on Saturday.

The group includes landholders from across the north of Mitchell Shire campaigning for upgrades to the shire’s network of water bores.

They will meet outside Broadford Shire Hall on Murchison Street at 11am on Saturday to discuss ways of funding standpipe upgrades.

Standpipes are access points not connected to a town’s water supply where bulk-treated water can be obtained by water carriers, contractors or property owners.

This will be the first Standpipes Action Group meeting after one schedulled for March last was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Tooborac farmer Bill Chisholm said Victorian Farmers Federation water policy advisor Charles Everist and Kilmore East Farmer and BlazeAid founder Kevin Butler would speak at the meeting.

Pyalong Fire Brigade captain Brendan Kelly said standpipes across the shire were outdated and in urgent need of repair.

“There’s 12 standpipes around in the shire. They haven’t had maintenance spent on them in the last however-many years, and now [council has said] they’re going to upgrade two a year,” he said.

“The time has come that they have to be upgraded; not just two a year, all of them.

“It’s community infrastructure, the same as the roads. Where are we going to be in 20 years’ time with our infrastructure?”

Mr Kelly said water access through standpipes was vital for many landowners.

“You get a lot of different people who use them. You get people filling up their fire tanks and firefighting units the day before bad days, you get people using them to water their horses,” he said.

“Quite often you’ll drive past a standpipe and there’s not just one, there’s two or three cars lined up to use them on hot days.

“A lot of the flow out of the standpipes at the moment is very poor due to them not being upgraded.”

Mr Kelly said the group would continue to advocate to council and state politicians for funding to upgrade the standpipes.

“We’re hoping to bring awareness to the powers that be that [upgrading] two a year isn’t going to cut it when it’s been neglected over the years,” he said.

“We’re not fussed where the money comes from, whether it’s State Government or local government, Liberal, Labor, Greens – whatever.

“It needs to be done, not just band-aided over by doing two a year.”

People interested in attending Saturday’s meeting can call 0427 516 863 for more information.

Council split on Butler Court sale

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

1

MITCHELL Shire councillors were divided at last week’s ordinary meeting over a proposed sale of land at Butler Court in Wallan.

The council-owned land at 7 Butler Court was proposed to be sold to enable the development of land at 6A Butler Court.

An officers’ report found the land had never been used for council or community purposes and did not have a designated council or community purpose in the Wallan Structure Plan, making it surplus to council requirements.

The proposal for the sale of the land included the building of an access road at the southern end of the court.

The proposal passed by five votes to three, with Mayor Rhonda Sanderson and councillors Annie Goble, Fiona Stevens, Bob Cornish and Nathan Clark supporting the motion, and councillors Christine Banks, Bill Chisholm and Louise Bannister opposing it. Cr Rob Eldridge did not attend the meeting.

Cr Goble said the land, valued at an estimated $245,000 in May 2019, would be used to improve access to the area.

“The sale of the land is not for any benefit to the developer, the sale of the land is to improve the access and egress from a development estate area where if this was not utilised as an exit/entrance or a road, then there would only be one exit/entrance,” she said.

“It makes the area safer and is certainly for community benefit.

“It is a decision that has been made to sell off what is a redundant piece of council land to vastly improve the access and egress from a housing estate. If people are in any way concerned they can look at the plans and realise that it is for the positive benefit of the community down there.”

Cr Chisholm spoke against the proposed sale, noting the objections of Wallan resident Mel Egan, who made the lone submission to the council report.

Ms Egan said the land should be sold on the open market to promote transparency and accountability from council.

“Community consultation is all important,” Cr Chisholm said.

“[With] this agreement between the developer and council, I think we’d get a far better outcome if the process was open and transparent and it went to a public auction or was handled through a real estate firm.

“I’d like to suggest this be brought back to council in another form.”

Cr Banks also cited concerns about council transparency in opposing the sale.

Council development and infrastructure director Mike McIntosh said the sale of the land followed standard procedure for local government.

“Whilst [the land] is zoned residential, there’s an approved development plan immediately to the south that requires this access that was considered by council and supported, so for any future use [of the land], we as a planning authority would be looking at a use that would enable that to be realised,” he said.

JJ Clancy Reserve ‘overdue’ for funding

The North Central Review

-

February 23, 2021

0

KILMORE’S JJ Clancy Reserve is the largest of Mitchell Shire Council’s latest applications to the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund, with council planning a $3.8 million integrated community facility.

The fund provides grants for shovel-ready infrastructure projects in interface and peri-urban councils.

Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane announced a further $50 million for the fund as part of a new round of grants in late November.

In addition to the JJ Clancy Reserve facility, council has also lodged funding applications for activating open space at Beveridge Recreation Reserve and upgrades to the play space at Seymour’s Chittick Park.

The cost of the JJ Clancy Reserve facility is estimated at $3.8 million, with council providing $400,000 and applying for $3.4 million through the fund.

Council will pay $550,000 of a $1.3 million total for the Beveridge Recreation Reserve project and $200,000 of an $800,000 total for the Chittick Park project if the bids are successful.

Cr Fiona Stevens said the JJ Clancy Reserve project had been submitted for government funding three times.

“We’re hoping we might have some success with this one,” she said.

The reserve, which functions as a community sport and recreation hub, is currently home to more than 900 registered users, more than 80 per cent are juniors.

The reserve supports tennis, netball, athletics and football competitions, and hosts several community events annually.

The proposed integrated community facility would offer a space for a broad range of community activities and events at the reserve.

Cr Annie Goble said the Growing Suburbs Fund was an important way for council to secure funding for infrastructure projects.

“We’ve done so well from these Growing Suburbs Fund grants in the past few years, certainly in the four previous years I’ve been on council,” she said.

“It has really been to the benefit of the community.

“I’d like to thank the State Government and local representatives because they’ve taken on board a lot of the projects we’ve recommended to them, and taken them on with gusto.

“We really appreciate it and we look forward to working with the State Government to get more facilities for this huge growing shire, especially down in the south where there is a lot of infrastructure that is needed.

“JJ Clancy is really overdue, so we’re looking forward to that.”