Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Coldstream 2020 Update


Background:
COLDSTREAM  2020 is a group looking to expand the UGB around the township of Coldstream with the post office as the focal point.

We have received positive feedback from our survey and also from the survey conducted by Christine Fyffe.

The diagrams above show the present and (we hope) the future Coldstream.
 


COLDSTREAM  2020 Next Step

We have been in contact with the Council  are now ready to take this matter to them. 

The following representatives from Council will be invited to attend :-

Glenn Patterson, CEO
Andrew Paxton, Director – Planning Building & Health
Damian Closs, Manager –Strategic Planning
Cr Jeanette McRae – Ryrie Ward Councillor


All we can hope for is a good hearing.

Talks on Bulla waste

Hume Council infrastructure director Steve Crawly said the council, the proposed tenderer Veolia Environment Services, the EPA and The Metropolitan Waste Management Group would answer questions and hear concerns.

“The technology is nothing like the ones at Coldstream or Brooklyn,” Mr Crawly said.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Comment : Déjà vu


Home mix needed in east

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.



05 Nov, 2010 01:21 PM
 
 
A LACK of housing diversity in Melbourne's east has increased the struggle for vulnerable people, including low income earners and elderly residents, to keep a roof over their heads, says advocacy group the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance.
Chair Mick Van de Vreede said an undersupply of social housing stock, and a huge waiting list, had been compounded by rising rental rates and an increase in the cost of living.
"The eastern region has the lowest level of public housing stock in Melbourne - about 1.9 per cent compared to a metropolitan average of 4 per cent - so we need to increase the stock.
"The problem is the huge waiting list, close to 5000, of our most vulnerable people including the young, families and a high percentage of elderly people.
"
The Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance - comprising seven councils: Yarra Ranges, Maroondah, Knox, Manningham, Monash, Whitehorse and Boroondara - has advocated for available housing stock to reflect a changing population.
"We believe there should be a minimum of 5 per cent social housing stock and changes made to the Victorian planning provision to implement inclusionary zoning.
"New developments need to have a mandatory percentage of affordable properties and social housing stock that is close to public transport and services."
Public housing figures for the September 2010 quarter showed 4912 eastern suburbs residents on a waiting list - only 14 people fewer than the June quarter figures.
Evelyn Labor candidate Peter Harris said the government would spend $1.16billion to build 4500 homes in Victoria over the next two years - 50 properties each year for families and vulnerable residents in the Yarra Ranges.
But Evelyn Liberal MP Christine Fyffe said housing needs had been ignored for 11 years, and properties left vacant while families were forced into homelessness.
She said a Coalition government would work with the Commonwealth to halve homelessness by 2020 and the party's forthcoming housing policy would invest in affordable and secure housing for low-income Victorians.


Comment:  Why has the eastern Region the lowest public housing stock is the  key question.  Is it because there is not enough land available?  Is it due to lack of funds?  Is it due to the high cost of land or houses?

Your comments welcome.













Monday, November 29, 2010

Would LIGHTS at KILLARA Rd Prevent This?

Photographs taken at noon 29/11/2010









Comment:  Is it time we pushed for lights where the Liberals wanted to put them in the first place, for the benefit of residents and workers in Coldstream.

Emphatic return for Fyffe - Election 2010 - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

Emphatic return for Fyffe - Election 2010 - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

Congrats to all members who stood, but there can be only one winner.

More houses for Chirnside Park: $16.2m land sale breaks price record - Business - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

More houses for Chirnside Park: $16.2m land sale breaks price record - Business - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

Comment: Will Coldstream be next?

Yarra Ranges seats topple to Liberals

THE Coalition swept to power across the Yarra Ranges as the seats of Gembrook, Seymour, Evelyn and Kilsyth were claimed by the Liberals in the State Election.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

What’s all this klop about?

Reserve Ramblings
Third edition, November 2010
News and views from those who use, our natural parkland, which
has long been Coldstream’s best kept secret


End of year morning tea.
Saturday 4th December - from 10 am
This year, we hope to have a bit more
entertainment with a few novelty games,
including Bocce and KLOP – Don’t know what
klop is? Come along and find out! You can also
read a bit about it herein. Prizes donated by –
Australian Harvest Fine Foods,
Kennedy & Wilson Chocolates, Coldstream Timber & Hardware and
Wagner’s Hatchery – A family run
enterprise supplying poultry to the
community.since 1965.
It has also been decided to make this a “no dog”
event, but please bring along your favourite
poochy pictures for our first –Dog Photo competition




What’s all this klop about?

 This game could probably be described as something like
“skittles”, with billets that start off in a cluster, and one
throws another wooden billet, called the “chuck” to knock
them over.
According to the klop website, all this log-tossing fun
started deep in the forests of Finland.
Details are a little sketchy, but it is thought that noise was
an important feature of Klop’s early days. Woodsmen from
Carelia, near the Finnish-Russian border, would carve the
blocks from the birch forests and fling them around
erratically, breaking the enduring silence.
Apart from being tremendous fun, legend has it that the
sharp sound the wooden blocks made as they hit each
other, klop, caused enough ruckus to keep the hungry bears
at bay. So out of much fun and wood flinging the game we
now know as Klop was invented.
The secret of Klop is that anyone can play it. That’s one
reason why it spread so quickly throughout Finland and
still lives on. Klop is easy to play, be good at, and enjoy
for all kinds of men, women and children. During the
game you can easily sink your teeth into some prime
Finnish reindeer rib and swig your favourite drink. Klop is
also much easier to play with friends without the blushes
of many other Finnish past-times – like wife-carrying
sprints, nude saunas or air guitar battles – just to name a
few. All you need is a knack for some block rocking feats
– an ability to fling the chuck and send the pegs flying. -
Let’s Klop


For more information contact –
Morris Maxwell, President, FOMLRI.
Phone AH 9739 1809 - Mobile 04 1838 9900
Email mlreserve@virginbroadband.com.au


COMMENT:  this is just part of the newsletter.  
Please e mail Morris if you want the complete newsletter.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Evelyn tipped to Liberals

LIBERAL incumbent Christine Fyffe is on course to safely retain the seat of Evelyn in today’s State Election, according to a snap Leader poll at two Evelyn election booths.


Well done Christine

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Yarra Ranges Council dumps free green waste service

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.


YARRA Ranges Council has scrapped its popular free green-waste tipping service this year, weeks from the start of the bushfire season.
Last year the council let residents dump their green waste for free at the shire’s four tips to encourage them to prepare their homes for bushfires.
Residents flocked to take advantage of the free service, with 13,800 vehicles dumping 12,700 cubic metres of green waste at the four transfer stations in Coldstream, Healesville, Wesburn and Lysterfield between October 10 and November 8.
The initiative cost the council $275,000 - and cost-cutting measures are the main reason it is being dumped. Mark Varmalis, council director of environment and engineering, said offering free green-waste disposal last year was a one-off, and came at significant cost to ratepayers.
Mr Varmalis said the council had determined that residents had become more aware of the need to prepare their properties for this summer when deciding not to re-run the free service. But Dandenong Ranges Community Bushfire Group president Jo Hirst urged the council to reconsider their decision.
Ms Hirst said dumping waste at tips was expensive, and offering residents the chance to dump it for free was a great way to reduce the fuel load in the area. But Mr Varmalis said the council had a range of initiatives in place to help residents prepare for summer, including a bundled-branch collection before Christmas, a combined kerbside hard, bundled-branch and metals collection early next year, and the optional garden organics fortnightly bin service.
He said the council had also developed a brochure to help residents identify how they could prepare throughout the year instead of waiting until summer.

A community remembers brave Coldstream mum - Local News - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

A community remembers brave Coldstream mum - Local News - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Housing industry calls for more land to meet growth

Marika Dobbin   November 23, 2010 THE AGE

VICTORIA'S housing industry has called for more land for development in response to claims it is undermining the urban growth boundary by building suburban-style estates in the country.
''The lack of land is one of the biggest causes of declining housing affordability in greater Melbourne.''

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Melbourne jumps its boundary

MELBOURNE has sprawled 50 per cent further than its official urban growth boundary and is overrunning small country towns, residents' groups and planning experts say.
Developers are building large suburban-style estates as close as three kilometres to the boundary, marketing to metropolitan commuters while avoiding the infrastructure levy.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Planning for Melbourne's future

What will Melbourne look like in 50 or 100 years, when its population explodes by another million people?
JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA, PRESENTER: Stateline had intended to bring you a planning debate as well but the Planning Minister, Justin Madden, declined our invitation to debate his counterpart Matthew Guy.

To read and HEAR the full story click on the TITLE above.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Meeting Report 17/11/2010

Yesterday the COLDSTREAM  2020 group met to discuss the results of the two surveys (see article below) and we believe that we now have community support to take this matter to the next step.

The next step is to present these results and reasons for our vision to our ward councilor, Jeanette McRae.

COLDSTREAM  2020

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Madden, Guy go head-to-head in planning debate

Justin Madden has defended his record in the planning portfolio in an election debate on ABC radio.
Mr Madden and the Coalition planning spokesman, Matthew Guy, traded insults in the one-hour debate.
Mr Madden defended his handling of the controversial Windsor Hotel redevelopment.
A leaked memo obtained by the ABC earlier this year suggested the Government would engage in a sham consultation process about the hotel's redevelopment.
"The whole process has been compliant in every way, and I've answered these matters before parliamentary inquiries, a whole lot of other problems," said Mr Madden.
"It's quite a significant project, but I'm confident that on the process that's been undertaken and the audit of that process, my decision is the right one on balance."


To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Justin Madden

Justin Madden is committed to delivering well-designed neighbourhoods that provide more lifestyle and housing choices. He is continually working on improving our planning rules and processes to deliver an efficient planning system that is transparent, fair and provides certainty.

 Comment: Let's hope so.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

LISTEN to Planning debate: Opposition spokesperson Matthew Guy vs Planning Minister Justin Madden

No matter where you are in Victoria planning issues are central to this State Election.

Jon Faine is joined by urban planning consultant Bill Chandler for a debate between Opposition spokesperson Matthew Guy and Planning Minister Justin Madden where listeners ask the questions and set the agenda.

Jon Faine is the presenter of Mornings on 774 ABC Melbourne and the Conversation Hour on ABC Victoria.

More election coverage can be found on your local Victoria Votes website.

To HEAR the full story click on the TITLE above.

CFA has had enough (Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader, 09 Nov 2010, Page 3)




CFA has had enough
Alex Munro
Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader
09 Nov 2010

EMERGENCY workers sick of seeing lives wasted in fatal car crashes have organised a graphic driver education program to change the attitudes of young drivers. Coldstream CFA has organised next week’s free road awareness program, aimed at 16 to...read more...

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

COLDSTREAM 2020 Survey Results


We have just collated the surveys and the results are as follows:

108 returned.

91 (84.25%) for the expansion, of which 11 had qualifications as to how it should be done.

14 (12.96%) against.

3 (2.77%) incorrectly filled out.

We are pleased with the return rate and now plan to take the matter further.  As was said from the start, if the community said "NO EXPANSION" then the matter would go no further.

Both surveys (Christine Fyffe and Coldstream 2020) support the EXPANSION OF COLDSTREAM. 

We would also wish to welcome Kevin Smith as a new group member.

Comment:  Full steam ahead now.

Nod to Sunbury winery development

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.


PLANNING Minister Justin Madden has approved a Sunbury winery’s bid for a function centre and restaurant in the Green Wedge.
Hume councillor Jack Ogilvie said the decision to allow the expansion at the Pitruzzello Estate could pave the way for other properties to apply to extend the uses of the Green Wedge.
“Because it’s under the required 200 acres (81ha), it has set a bit of a precedent but it’s a good precedent,” Cr Ogilvie said.
“It’s a quirk in the planning scheme that didn’t allow him to build a restaurant, we wanted to support it but the planning scheme wouldn’t allow us to.”
Cr Ogilvie said while he was not against the concept of the Green Wedge, those on the land had to be able to make a living.
“The challenge for us is what can be done in the Green Wedge that’s sustainable,” he said.
Last week, Mr Madden amended the Hume Planning Scheme, with conditions, to allow Pitruzzello Estate to expand into a regional tourist facility.
The amendment will allow for a 340-seat restaurant, a function centre with art gallery and 24 units for accommodation.
“Amendment C144 will facilitate a significant investment in Sunbury and surrounding areas by creating jobs, complementing the Green Wedge and adding to the viability of the existing agricultural uses,” Mr Madden said.
“Hume City Council estimates the new development will boost local tourism, generate 40 direct jobs and 65 indirect jobs during construction and 40 direct jobs and 52 indirect jobs when operating.”
Pitruzzello Estate general manager Silvio Pitruzzello said his family was pleased with the decision and planning works were already under way to have the restaurant opened by early next year with the other aspects to follow.
“In the Sunbury area there’s nothing like that out here,” Mr Pitruzzello said.
“It’s going to create jobs and bring tourism to the area.” 

Comment: Green wedges can be modified!

Council to vote on subdivision

THE fate of Bendigo’s biggest subdivision will be decided by the council tomorrow night.
City of Greater Bendigo councillors will vote on whether to adopt an independent panel’s recommendations on how to proceed with the $210 million, 700-lot residential subdivision at Jackass Flat.
The 60-hectare subdivision, Evergreen Waters, is expected to create 2500 jobs during a seven-year period and pump an estimated $393 million into the Bendigo community.
The independent panel was appointed by Minister for Planning Justin Madden to assess submissions following community consultation of the amended plans in March this year.
The panel heard seven submissions from the council, the state government and the public.
Issues included environmental concerns as well as a post Royal Commission request from the CFA that a wildfire management overlay be put on part of a proposed 700-lot housing development.
If the council votes to adopt the panel’s recommendations, the amendment will be forwarded to Mr Madden for approval.
The City of Greater Bendigo identified Jackass Flat as a major growth area in 2004.
In August the City of Greater Bendigo gave the go ahead for the 344-lot first stage of the housing development, owned by Simonds Homes.
The housing development is near Neangar Park Golf Club and will incorporate green initiatives including LED low-energy street lighting, environmentally friendly cement and recycled water.
About 12 per cent of the site is expected to be set aside for open space. 

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Comment: Lets hope we can follow this example.

Monday, November 08, 2010

Coldstream CFA gets serious about road safety lessons

EMERGENCY workers sick of seeing lives wasted in fatal car crashes have organised a graphic driver education program to change the attitudes of young drivers.

Coldstream CFA has organised next week’s free road awareness program, aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds in the Coldstream-Gruyere area.


Coldstream CFA captain John Fenton - the catalyst behind the program - said emergency services workers, as well as the community, had just had enough.

“Basically it’s about saying that enough is enough in terms of the carnage that is occurring on roads across the state,” said Mr Fenton, who has been with the CFA for almost 29 years.


To read the full story click on the TITLE above.


Comment:  Well done John Fenton.  I hope you get a good turnout.

STRAWBERRY lovers

STRAWBERRY lovers are in for a treat with a festival dedicated to the succulent berry.

The Yarra Valley Strawberry Festival 2010 will showcase the industry in the Yarra Valley on Sunday, November 14.
As well as strawberries there will be rides, children’s entertainment, a hot rod display, animal rides and market stalls.
Details: Sunday November 14, St Patrick’s Primary School, Jones St, Lilydale 10am to 4pm.
Entry: Free. Registrations: vicstrawberry.com.au
 
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Survey Results From Christine Fyffe MP

COMMENT:
Results:
151  Yes for the expansion of Coldstream
88    No .  (no expansion of Coldstream)
571  Did not care enough to make a response.

Ratio of Yes to No
151:88
1.7:1

This survey shows that almost twice as many people want Coldstream to expand. 
As Christine said, "this is not a scientific survey" but in my opinion there is a clear result.  Coldstream must expand.

COLDSTREAM  2020 RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON.  STAY TUNED.


Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Averages\Extremes for the month of October 2010 for Coldstream


Average temperature     = 13.6°C
 Average humidity        = 74%
 Average dewpoint        = 8.4°C
 Average barometer       = 1018.0 hPa
 Average windspeed       = 2.7 km/h
 Average gustspeed       = 5.1 km/h
 Average direction       = 336° (NNW)
 Rainfall for month      = 150.8 mm
 Coldstream Average      = 77 mm
 Rainfall for year       = 795.0 mm
 Maximum rain per minute = 21.2 mm on day 16 at time 18:00
 Maximum temperature     = 28.6°C on day 22 at time 14:56
 Minimum temperature     = 0.0°C on day 30 at time 20:13
 Maximum humidity        = 97% on day 27 at time 07:19
 Minimum humidity        = 26% on day 20 at time 16:24
 Maximum dewpoint        = 16.8°C on day 30 at time 16:04
 Minimum dewpoint        = -9.2°C on day 30 at time 20:13
 Maximum pressure        = 1029.5 hPa on day 10 at time 10:19
 Minimum pressure        = 654.3 hPa on day 30 at time 20:14
 Maximum windspeed       = 22.2 kmh from 203°(SSW) on day 16 at time 12:04
 Maximum gust speed      = 33.3 km/h from 180°( S ) on day 16 at time 12:03
 Maximum heat index      = 27.8°C on day 22 at time 14:56
 Avg daily max temp :20.2°C
 Avg daily min temp :7.3°C
 Total windrun = 1992.0km
 -----------------------------------
 Daily rain totals
 -----------------------------------
  02.8 mm  on day 4
  00.2 mm  on day 5
  07.8 mm  on day 6
  00.2 mm  on day 7
  04.4 mm  on day 12
  11.6 mm  on day 13
  05.2 mm  on day 14
  31.6 mm  on day 15
  03.6 mm  on day 16
  00.2 mm  on day 17
  17.2 mm  on day 22
  00.2 mm  on day 23
  00.4 mm  on day 26
  59.2 mm  on day 30
  06.2 mm  on day 31