Ken Henry is on his way

There is over 100 taxes here in Australia however only 10 of them reap 90% of the revenue so the Government is quite sensibly trying to simplify the system.

Let's hope some taxes go! Like the FSL (fire service levy) & stamp duty.

Liberal tackles fire tax (FSL)

Liberal tackles fire tax

By Brett Worthington • Apr 28th, 2010 • Category: News
 

Birregurra farmer and Liberal candidate Simon Ramsay has joined a campaign to abolish a fire services levy which costs district businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Mr Ramsay has called on the State Government to end its fire services charges on insurers to make the system fairer for rural residents.

Mr Ramsay said country people paid 72 per cent tax on their insurance premiums compared with 18 per cent for Melbourne households.
For every $100 regional businesses pay in insurance, they must pay an extra $72 on the fire levy.
 
The State Government has considered  raising the fee to 84 per cent, increasing the payments of businesses such as Colac timber company AKD Softwoods, whose payments would rise by $100,000 to $400,000.

Mr Ramsay said the fire service levy was a “discriminatory tax against people living in regional Victoria”.
About 75 per cent of fire services’ funding comes from the fire services levy.
Insurance companies pay the levy to the Victorian Government and pass the additional costs on to insurers.
Mr Ramsay is a Liberal candidate for the state upper house. His comments come after lawyers assisting a Bushfires Royal Commission called for the abolition of the levy.

Counsel Lisa Nichols told the commission the levy was inequitable and lacked transparency.
The government announced its plan to raise the fire service levy for rural people after Black Saturday’s bushfires.

About 30 per cent of houses affected by the fires were under insured or not insured.


To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Hinch & Maria Rowland on the compost Situation (audio file)

is this art? by Cr Samantha Dunn

Street art continues to be controversial, but tagging is unsightly and should be tackled the minute it appears.  

Did you know that you can get a free graffiti removal kit at any of the Shire's community links? 

Just pop in and ask for one if you need one. 

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Hinch

Did anyone hear Hinch (3AW) talk about the Coldstream Compost situation today?

Fyffe on Compost

COLDSTREAM COMMUNITY MEMO

The Coldstream Compost Facility

I am pleased that our united community calls for action on the Coldstream Compost Facility have not gone unnoticed by the new boss of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) – Mr John Merritt.

In an article from The Age (19 April 2010), Mr Merritt, criticised the previous EPA management for failing to tackle and prosecute polluting industries resulting in the EPA being seen as little more than a toothless apologist for industry.

The article states that five sites dominated complaints to the agency in the last half of 2009. The first site listed was Australian Native Landscaping in Coldstream. (Several thousand complaints over the last five years)

In addition to submissions and complaints lodged with the EPA by residents, I have spoken on numerous occasions in Parliament to advocate on behalf of Coldstream residents concerned about the facility. Some of the statements I have made about the compost facility in Parliament are on the reverse of this letter. Copies of the speeches in full can be obtained from my office.

Now is the time to reinforce any objections to the siting and operation of the compost facility which you can do by contacting the new CEO by letter, phone, fax or email.

Mr John Merritt

CEO - EPA

GPO BOX 4395

MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Ph: 9695 2722 or Fax: 9695 2610

Email: john.merritt@epa.vic.gov.au

It is important that we let the new CEO know we are not happy with the EPA’s lack of progress and that we make sure he knows how this is affecting each and every individual.

In the meantime, if I can be of any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me at my office on 9735 3208.

Sincerely,

Christine Fyffe MP

Member for Evelyn

Statements made by Christine Fyffe MP in Parliament  regarding the Coldstream Compost Facility:

“How many complaints have been received by the Environment Protection Authority regarding the smell from the ANL composting facility?” (Christine Fyffe MP, Question on Notice, Hansard 22 May 2007)

 

“…The reason I raise this matter is to highlight that it is okay to have rules and regulations, but if the EPA does not react to the community by listening and taking action, then it is a torturous process.” (Christine Fyffe MP, Environment Protection Amendment (Landfill Levies) - Hansard, 16 April 2008)

 

“…In Main Street Lilydale, the Gateway housing estate, Victoria Road and further afield the air has been frequently polluted with an appalling stink that can be best described as a cocktail of silage, warm vomit and rotting Hessian bags. Depending on the wind, cloud and other weather conditions, the odour swirls and moves around sometimes for an hour or so and at other times for more than half a day” (Christine Fyffe MP, Adjournment Debate - Hansard, 28 October 2008)

 

“Residents have rallied at Lilydale Lake and letters have been sent to Ministers pleading for help. Despite numerous complaints, the EPA has been slow to respond. The issuing of pollution abatement notices has not stopped the ordeal” (Christine Fyffe MP, Letter to Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, 10 December 2008)

 

“This should never have become a reality. It is horrendous, it is a nightmare and it has been going on for far too long.”(Christine Fyffe MP, Adjournment Debate - Hansard, 28 October 2008)

 

“…I also request that as a part of this review the minister look at why the EPA has failed to utilise its powers of enforcement against polluters, including the compost facility at Coldstream, despite the number of years of continuous pollution to the detriment of local residents.” (Christine Fyffe MP, Adjournment Debate - Hansard, 13 April 2010)

 

“The co-location of these polluting industries has resulting impacts on residents such as the following; outdoor private functions like barbeques and parties can no longer be held due to odour, washing cannot be hung out due to odour and dust contamination, in summer evaporative cooling cannot be used and houses must be totally shut up even on hot days to try to exclude odour. Other problems include breathing problems due to odour and dust, sore eyes, loss of property values, dry retching, exacerbation of illness in people with stress related illnesses, and traffic problems on link roads to the supplying suburbs.” (Christine Fyffe MP, Adjournment Debate - Hansard, 13 April 2010)

 

“It is important that my fellow parliamentarians are aware of the impact that facilities such as…composting facilities have on the lives and lifestyles of those residents who have to live around these depots.” (Christine Fyffe MP, Environment Protection Amendment (Landfill Levies) - Hansard, 13 April 2010)

 

The basis of these comments are the result of local residents contacting the office of Christine Fyffe MP to voice their concerns. If you would like to speak to us about an issue, please don’t hesitate to call us on 9735 3208.

FYFFE on "environmental waste transfer "

VICHANSARD
Whole SpeechDate13 April 2010

Mrs FYFFE (Evelyn) -- 

My request for action is to the Minister for Planning and it is in reference to the siting of polluting industries such as the composting facility at Coldstream and the waste transfer station at Lilydale. Evidence presented to VCAT (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) shows that in regard to the Coldstream composting facility, several thousand complaints have been generated over the last five years with the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the EPA (Environment Protection Authority). 

The expert evidence before, and accepted by, VCAT indicates that transfer stations handling green waste will commit the same level of nuisance as composting facilities. This is because of the significant amount of pollution arising from the initial arrival on the site of green waste and its wheelie bin juice. 

This highlights the fact that both transfer stations and compost plants should be required to meet the same standards and buffer distances in relation to residential zones. 

The action I request of the minister is that he take a full review of the utilisation of green wedge zones in Melbourne and its surrounds to ensure they are not being used as dumping grounds for locating polluting industries to the detriment of Melbourne's international image as a green city. I also request that as a part of this review the minister look at why the EPA has failed to utilise its powers of enforcement against polluters, including the compost facility at Coldstream, despite the number of years of continuous pollution to the detriment of local residents. 

Composting is sold as a green industry, yet compost starts emitting greenhouse gases and pollution back into the air from the time it starts composting. 

An ever-increasing number of building permits and works approval requests by polluting industries are hidden behind business-in-confidence and secrecy clauses that prevent legitimate objections being heard. There is an urgent need for a review of the green wedge zones to prevent any cumulative impact of polluting industries being co-located with residential zones, as is currently being proposed with the Coldstream Composting Facility and a waste transfer station at nearby Lilydale. 

The co-location of these polluting industries has resulting impacts on residents such as the following: outdoor private functions like barbecues and parties can no longer be held due to odour; washing cannot be hung out due to odour and dust contamination; in summer evaporative air conditioning cannot be used and houses must be totally shut up even on hot days to try to exclude odour. Other problems include breathing problems due to odour and dust; sore eyes; loss of property values; dry retching; exacerbation of illness in people with stress-related illnesses, and traffic problems on link roads to the supplying suburbs. The proposed waste transfer station in Lilydale is close to Mount Lilydale Mercy College, which has 1500 students, and it is in an area where there are 40-kilometre and 50-kilometre speed zones in very narrow streets that cannot handle the trucks that will be required if this goes ahead.

Watchdog must take on more polluters: new boss

Author: By ADAM MORTON ENVIRONMENT REPORTER
Date: 19/04/2010
 Source: AGE

VICTORIA'S environmental watchdog has stopped prosecuting at the level it should and must tackle a perception it is a toothless apologist for polluting industries, its new boss says.

Environment Protection Authority Victoria, the government agency responsible for defending the state against pollution, launched just 11 prosecutions last year.

In what will be interpreted as an attack on previous management, new EPA chief executive John Merritt said the number of businesses being charged for environmental breaches did not reflect what was happening in the community.

"We have lost some regulatory energy 11 is not enough," he told The Age. "If you are telling me there are only 11 people out there who should be explaining themselves to a magistrate each year, on my early look that's a bit of a surprise."

The former chief executive of WorkSafe Victoria, Mr Merritt said the EPA's core job must be to set standards and regulate accordingly.

He denied he was being critical of the organisation under former chief executive Mick Bourke, who stepped down in September to run the Country Fire Authority, saying he was articulating feedback he had received since starting in the job in February. This included that the EPA was seen as toothless and had lost balance that it was too focused on helping businesses reduce pollution rather than prosecuting on behalf of taxpayers.

Mr Merritt cited the case of dust pollution at the Brooklyn industrial estate in Melbourne's west, which EPA testing found breached health standards nearly once a week last summer. The testing followed years of campaigning by the local community. Six companies were issued with pollution abatement notices.

"I think there is a sense that the community see us partly as an apologist for these things," Mr Merritt said. "That's not right we have very strong views about what is good enough and what's not."

Business groups have responded cautiously to Mr Merritt's stance, outlined in a series of recent speeches. The Australian Industry Group's Victorian director Tim Piper said Mr Merritt had a proven record as a regulator, but warned that only 5 per cent of businesses deliberately did the wrong thing, and a harsher regulatory approach could force them underground. "Let's understand that 95 per cent of businesses want to do the right thing," he said.

Mr Merritt said there would be few surprises in the businesses that the EPA targeted. Five sites dominated complaints to the agency in the last half of 2009: Australian Native Landscaping in Coldstream, Australian Tallow Producers in Brooklyn, Caterfare in Flemington and two waste companies, Consolidated Waste in Cranbourne and CMA Recycling in Ringwood.

Recently the EPA announced it would create a "strike team" to counter an expected rise in illegal rubbish dumping, as the state increased landfill levies to encourage recycling.

Mr Merritt also flagged the introduction of an internal review to enable businesses and individuals to protest against a pollution notice.

Mr Bourke said he believed the EPA did the right thing in his time in the job, and wished Mr Merritt success.

Help for house prices?

Help for house prices?

Someone must have gotten out the broom in Canberra last week. Along with clean-ups of new childcare centres (canned) and home insulation rebates (dumped), were changes to the laws that have allowed temporary residents to buy Australian real estate.

While doing its about-turn on foreigners investing in property, the Federal Government admitted Australian first-home buyers were being priced out of the market.

Comment:  This is a great read from domain.com.au

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

The COUGARS WIN

Coldstream rallies, Kilsyth is closer

• Chris Vernuccio 
• From:Leader 
• April 25, 2010 2:10PM

COLDSTREAM'S nightmare start to the season is now a distant memory after the Cougars claimed their second consecutive win in EFL Division 3.


The Cougars led by eight points at three-quarter-time but were outscored, four goals to two, in the last quarter before losing, 13.12 (90) to 12.13 (85), at Springfield Park.


Click on the title above to read the full story...

YARRA RANGES PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENT C77 GAMING POLICY

YARRA RANGES

PLANNING SCHEME

AMENDMENT C77

GAMING POLICY

Recommendations

Amendment C77 to the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme be adopted subject

to the following recommendations:

1. Revise the policy basis of the policy generally in line with the ‘latest

revision of local policy’ tendered at the hearing.

2. Change the objectives to:

 To minimise opportunities for convenience gaming and the

incidence of problem gambling.

 To reduce the adverse health, social and economic impacts of

gaming machines.

 To ensure that the area, site and venue characteristics of gaming

machines contribute to net community benefit.

 To protect the amenity of existing uses surrounding venues

containing gaming machines.

3. Include a requirement ‘Gaming machines should not be located on

sites that are in or at the edge of activity centres’.

4. Express requirements under headings:

 Appropriate areas, Appropriate sites, and Appropriate venues.

 Gaming machines should be located … , Gaming machines

should not be located … .

5. Make minor improvements to the expression of policy requirements.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Bushfire Commission lawyers agree Fire Services Levy is unfair

Monday, 19 April 2010

Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell welcomes the news that lawyers for the Bushfires Royal Commission have joined with the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition in acknowledging the current Fire Services Levy (FSL) model is inequitable.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Farmers Fight FSL

Royal Commission counsel calls for abolition of Fire Service Levy

Victorian farmers have welcomed another voice to the chorus of those calling for an end to the Fire Service Levy.

The Fire Service Levy is a compulsory tax on property insurance which is used to fund fire brigades. While Melbourne households pay a 18 percent Fire Service Levy on their insurance premiums, regional business property holders, including farmers, are compelled to pay a massive 72 percent. Property owners who do not insure avoid contributing to funding the fire services that protect their lives and property.

Today Jack Rush QC, council assisting the Bushfire Royal Commission, provided a submission calling for the abolishment of the Fire Services Levy. Mr Rush said, ‘There is no plausible rationale for the retention of the current model on fairness grounds’.

Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) President Andrew Broad welcomed the comments and said farmers were now looking to the government to take the appropriate steps.

“It is clear that the Fire Service Levy has to be scrapped. The State Government must fast track the review currently underway and commit to abolishing this method of funding before the next fire season,” Mr Broad said.

“There is no reason for this review to be drawn out into 2011. On behalf of Victorian farmers I am asking John Brumby to show leadership and commit to a new funding system before the 2010/11 bushfire season.

“It is time for the government to accept that the mounting case against the Fire Service Levy is irrefutable and will not go away.

“The government must move to an alternative property based model rather than wasting more time collecting evidence when the results on the current system are clearly already in,” Mr Broad concluded.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Comment: It's Time to make the FSL fairer  for all.  It's TIME!

COMMUNITY CABINET VISIT - 23 APRIL 2010

Subject: COMMUNITY CABINET VISIT - 23 APRIL 2010

I have received further advice from the Premier's office in regard to the upcoming Community Cabinet visit.

An open Community Discussion will be held at the Yarra Valley Racing Centre, Armstrong Grove, Yarra Glen, commencing at 4.00pm and concluding at around 5.00pm (registration commences at 3.30pm).

Attached is a flyer inviting community members to register to attend the Community Discussion.  The details of the Community Discussion have been published in local newspapers throughout the three Shires.  Please feel free to distribute/display the flyer as Councils deem appropriate.  Councillors and Council staff are welcome to attend the Community Discussion and should register their attendance through the Premier's website, as per the flyer.

Thanks to Jeanette McRae for passing this on.

Media Release on FSL

Bill Sykes MLA


Member for Benalla Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Water

Fire Service Levy - changes called for by Bushfire Royal Commission lawyers

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said he was pleased to hear the lawyers for the Bushfire Royal Commission have joined with the Victorian Liberal National Coalition in acknowledging the current Fire Services Levy (FSL) model is inequitable and should be changed.

“For a long time I have been calling for changes to the Fire Service Levy (FSL) and I welcome the Counsel Assisting’s submission to the Royal Commission today which states that the current FSL model should be abandoned and replaced with a property based model,” Dr Sykes said.

Dr Sykes said the current FSL, which funds fire services including the Country Fire Authority, is grossly unfair in its current form because it encourages people to under-insure or to not insure at all.

“Only those who take out insurance actually contribute to fire services by way of an additional tax on insurance premiums,” Dr Sykes said.

“The Brumby Government has refused to act despite growing anger and frustration over the FSL expressed by businesses and home owners,” Dr Sykes said.

“The Brumby Government has known for years how unfair and inequitable the FSL is but it has done nothing – everyone except John Brumby acknowledges that his government’s Fire Services Levy is a tax.

“The Victorian Liberal National Coalition in government is committed to implementing a fairer system than the one that currently stands,” Dr Sykes said.

Media enquiries Bill Sykes 0427 624 989

Bill Sykes MP, State Member for Benalla

Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Water

2/55 Carrier Street, Benalla 3672

Ph: 03 5762 2100 Fx: 03 5762 4478 Mobile: 0427 624 989

Commission urged to abolish fire services levy

By Jane Cowan

Lawyers for the Black Saturday inquiry are urging the commissioners to recommend the fire services levy be abolished as a means of funding Victoria's fire services. 

 

At the moment, Victoria's fire services are funded largely through insurers, who pass on the cost to customers, who take out building and contents insurance, through a levy on their premiums. 

But counsel assisting the inquiry, Lisa Nichols, says that system is inequitable and lacks transparency. 

She is urging the commissioners to recommend the fire services levy be abandoned and replaced with a property-based funding system. 

Comment:  I have been saying this for years! 

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Fyffe on CFA

Country Fire Authority: funding

Mrs FYFFE (Evelyn) -- This government's shameless use of spin and smoke and mirrors knows no bounds. Government members are more interested in protecting themselves and their jobs than protecting Victorians. 

I am reliably informed that the CFA (Country Fire Authority) has been forced to cancel its trial of VicRoads electronic fire danger warning billboards because of a lack of funds. I have also been informed that following some media performances by Mr Russell Rees that were believed to be reflecting badly on the Premier's decision to reappoint Rees as CFA chairman after the Black Saturday bushfires the Premier made another decision. That decision was to order that a certain person be employed by the CFA through the company Inside Public Relations.

Who is the public relations person that the Premier insisted on being employed by the CFA as a media consultant to Russell Rees at the rate of $20 000 per month, an annual salary 

of $240 000? It is none other than the former Labor spin doctor Sharon McCrohan.

Once again the government is not listening to Victorians, who want their money spent on improved community safety and not on Labor spin doctors to protect the Premier's reputation. Victoria's current Premier is more interested in protecting his reputation than protecting Victorians. The thousands of wonderful CFA volunteers who give so freely of their time and put themselves at risk to protect Victorians deserve better than this. 

Comment: OUR FIRE SERVICE LEVY (FSL) AT WORK  ONCE AGAIN!

 

---

Planning: environmental waste transfer

A recent speach by our local member on COMPOST etc.
Date 13 April  2010

" Mrs FYFFE (Evelyn) --

My request for action is to the Minister for Planning and it is in reference to the siting of polluting industries such as the composting facility at Coldstream and the waste transfer station at Lilydale. Evidence presented to VCAT (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) shows that in regard to the Coldstream composting facility, several thousand complaints have been generated over the last five years with the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the EPA (Environment Protection Authority). "

"The expert evidence before, and accepted by, VCAT indicates that transfer stations handling green waste will commit the same level of nuisance as composting facilities. This is because of the significant amount of pollution arising from the initial arrival on the site of green waste and its wheelie bin juice. "

This highlights the fact that both transfer stations and compost plants should be required to meet the same standards and buffer distances in relation to residential zones.

The action I request of the minister is that he take a full review of the utilisation of green wedge zones in Melbourne and its surrounds to ensure they are not being used as dumping grounds for locating polluting industries to the detriment of Melbourne's international image as a green city. I also request that as a part of this review the minister look at why the EPA has failed to utilise its powers of enforcement against polluters, including the compost facility at Coldstream, despite the number of years of continuous pollution to the detriment of local residents.

Composting is sold as a green industry, yet compost starts emitting greenhouse gases and pollution back into the air from the time it starts composting. 

An ever-increasing number of building permits and works approval requests by polluting industries are hidden behind business-in-confidence and secrecy clauses that prevent legitimate objections being heard. There is an urgent need for a review of the green wedge zones to prevent any cumulative impact of polluting industries being co-located with residential zones, as is currently being proposed with the Coldstream Composting Facility and a waste transfer station at nearby Lilydale.

The co-location of these polluting industries has resulting impacts on residents such as the following: outdoor private functions like barbecues and parties can no longer be held due to odour; washing cannot be hung out due to odour and dust contamination; in 

summer evaporative air conditioning cannot be used and houses must be totally shut up even on hot days to try to exclude odour. Other problems include breathing problems due to odour and dust; sore eyes; loss of property values; dry retching; exacerbation of illness in people with stress-related illnesses, and traffic problems on link roads to the supplying suburbs. The proposed waste transfer station in Lilydale is close to Mount Lilydale Mercy College, which has 1500 students, and it is in an area where there are 40-kilometre and 50-kilometre speed zones in very narrow streets that cannot handle the trucks that will be required if this goes ahead.

ANL @ VCAT

Hi Mario,

The formal directions haven't been circulated yet so I guess all you can

say is ... ANL are petitioning VCAT to allow them to leave some

thousands of cubic meters of compost on the site indefinitely, and are

likely to succeed because the residents have stopped sending in stink

reports to the EPA and Council.

 Today in VCAT  the council tried to bring to the attention of VCAT that ANL were defying the ruling requiring them to clear the site.

Andrew Sherman was presenting the council case.

Tip Fees to RISE

Mayors dismayed over state's landfill levy hike  (Click to read)

BY ERIN BULL

13 Apr, 2010 04:00 AM

MAROONDAH ratepayers are expected to be hit with a waste charge hike in 2010-11.

Maroondah Council will pay $21 more per tonne of dumped waste from July 1 this year after the state government announced a rise in the landfill levy from $9 to $30.

AND

Huge tip fees hike  (Click to read)

By Kath Gannaway
13th April 2010 02:00:37 AM

---

RESIDENTS will ultimately bear the brunt of a massive 233 per cent increase in the State Government’s landfill levy on Yarra Ranges Council.
If the full increase were to be passed on to residents at the tip-face, the cost of dumping a cubic metre of rubbish at Healesville or Wesburn tips would increase from $60 to $140.

The Eastern Region Mayors Group, which represents 10 municipalities including Yarra Ranges, wrote to Premier John Brumby questioning the magnitude and the timing of the increase in the levy from $9 per tonne to $30 per tonne.

The levy is a government charge on councils for the rubbish transferred from local council tips to the Lyndhurst tip. 


Comment:  I hope this does not increase the dumping of rubbish on our roads. 

 

Weather Stats March 2010

Weather figures for "Coldstream Estate" weather station. Above average rainfall but the ground is so dry it is soaking straight in.

Averages\Extremes for the month of March 2010

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Average temperature     = 18.6°C

 Average humidity        = 68%

 Average dewpoint        = 11.8°C

 Average barometer       = 1019.1 hPa

 Average windspeed       = 2.5 km/h

 Average gustspeed       = 4.5 km/h

 Average direction       = 118° (ESE)

 Rainfall for month      = 82.2 mm

 Coldstream Ave          = 46 mm

 Rainfall for year       = 183.4 mm

 Maximum rain per minute = 1.2 mm on day 07 at time 19:18

 Maximum temperature     = 33.3°C on day 17 at time 15:18

 Minimum temperature     = 6.6°C on day 11 at time 05:13

 Maximum humidity        = 97% on day 12 at time 08:15

 Minimum humidity        = 17% on day 26 at time 13:45

 Maximum dewpoint        = 20.1°C on day 19 at time 17:57

 Minimum dewpoint        = 3.0°C on day 26 at time 13:21

 Maximum pressure        = 1037.2 hPa on day 12 at time 10:38

 Minimum pressure        = 1002.5 hPa on day 07 at time 05:58

 Maximum windspeed       = 24.1 kmh from 180°( S ) on day 01 at time 17:40

 Maximum gust speed      = 37.0 km/h from 00°( N ) on day 08 at time 14:28

 Maximum heat index      = 31.8°C on day 17 at time 15:16

 Avg daily max temp :25.9°C

 Avg daily min temp :12.6°C

 Total windrun = 1857.5km

-----------------------------------

 Daily rain totals

 -----------------------------------

  01.6 mm  on day 5

  25.2 mm  on day 6

  37.0 mm  on day 7

  02.2 mm  on day 8

  00.8 mm  on day 9

  00.4 mm  on day 19

  00.4 mm  on day 21

  00.2 mm  on day 23

  13.8 mm  on day 28

  00.4 mm  on day 29

  00.2 mm  on day 31

Robert Bethell

 

Plans submitted for 105 new houses in Coldstream

Click on the title above to read the full story...

Comment: Food for thought.
Should we follow suit around the UGB of Coldstream?

Dual Occ #2 for Coldstream

I have just been informed that another dual occ has been approved at VCAT to be built in Coldstream.

VCAT Ref No P2841/2009

MAP Building Consutlant Services V Shire of Yarra Ranges
Refusal to Grant A Permit
In the matter of
Construction of Second Dwelling
4 Cheviot Avenue, Coldstream
Applciation No YR-2009/645

VCAT Decision is as such
A. Plans dated the 11th November 2009 are submitted for the plans that accompanied the applcaition.

B,   "The decision of the Responsible Authority is set aside. In permit Applciation No YR-2009/645 a permit is granted and directed to be issued for the construction of a second dwelling on the land at 4 Cheviot Avenue, Coldstream in accordance with the endorsed plans and subject to the following conditions:"

--

MAP Building Consultant Services
P.O. Box 534, Healesville Vic 3777
Email: consultancy@mapbuild.com.au
Web: www.mapbuild.com.au

Chirnside Park golf club subdivision

Madden approves controversial Chirnside Park golf club subdivision.

THE fight over the subdivision of the Chirnside Park Country Club is over, after the State Government approved rezoning of the land for housing.

Planning Minister Justin Madden said he was standing up for local jobs by facilitating important building projects during the ongoing global financial crisis.
Chirnside Park Country Club president Bruce Bower said the club’s future was now assured, with Mr Madden’s decision to accept an advisory committee’s ruling to allow it to develop a new golf course in Victoria Rd, Lilydale.
“Now we know that our club has a future and so too does public access golf in the region – something we will continue to offer, and are very proud to offer,” Mr Bower said.
Mr Madden said the project would preserve 20 per cent of the golf course for public open space.

>> See next week’s Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader for more on this story.
Click on the title above to read the full story...