LIGHTS @ the KILLARA & MAROONDAH & STATION DOG LEG

LIGHTS @ the KILLARA RD , MAROONDAH HWY & STATION ST DOG LEG

I have been approached by a number of people to include this on this blog.
  
Do you want to see lights at this busy and dangerous intersection?

If you do please e mail me at    coldstream@eftel.net.au  

and I will start a petition.

 Regards

Mario Galteri

Trees in Coldstream Estate

This is the aerial photo that Mario was referring to (5-4-2010).

It shows the Coldstream Estate during construction in an aerial photo taken in 1976 with practically no trees.

Compare this to the current Google view (2010) and you will see that most of the trees were planted by the residents.

Fatal crash sparks Coldstream road safety fears - Crime - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

Fatal crash sparks Coldstream road safety fears - Crime - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

THERE are fears another fatal crash on Coldstream’s back roads is inevitable after last Tuesday’s smash that left a Lilydale motorcyclist dead.
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

‘Decade of neglect’ ends for Valley

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

 

Comment:  The title caught  my eye!

 

Coldstream animal shelter a refuge from violence - News - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

Coldstream animal shelter a refuge from violence - News - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

FAMILY pets are being given a safe haven at Coldstream’s Animal Aid shelter, as part of an innovative domestic violence program.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

More homes for Latrobe Valley

ANOTHER 262ha of land in Traralgon and Moe will be rezoned as residential after the Victorian Government signed off on the proposal today.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Comment:  I wonder how long before we see the headline:

More homes for Latrobe Yarra Valley

Land set to be rezoned at Jackass Flat

PLANNING Minister Matthew Guy has given the green light to rezone land at Jackass Flat for new residential development.

The Minister for Planning has approved an amendment to the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme which will allow developers to create 1200 new residential lots.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Comments:  Let's hope we are in line as well

Fire Service Levy

The Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Council, Adam Marshall, has welcomed the Coalition's plan to review funding arrangements for Emergency Services.

Mayor Marshall says a broad-based property levy would provide greater equity to local residents and has proven successful in other states.

He says the Local Government and Shires Association will be scheduling meetings with the new Minister to discuss a new funding model.

"There are concerns about the overall management of the Rural Fire Service and the fact that it seems to be more top heavy, with less resources alloctaed to volunteers on the ground to help them do their work," he said.

"We look forward to working with the new government and the new Minister to see that review undertaken."

Mayor Marshall says the Association believes the current funding model could be better.

"People that have insurance polices are paying roughly 75 per cent of the cost of emergency services, and then local councils and state government are splitting the other quarter of the cost," he said.

"It really is an unfair system and places unfair costs on some members of the community, and no burden on others, where a broad-based property levy would improve the structure."

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Comment:  WE NEED A FAIR SYSTEM

Survey due soon | Upper Yarra Mail | Star News Group Local community news

Survey due soon | Upper Yarra Mail | Star News Group Local community news

Survey due soon

By Kath Gannaway

Share |

5th April 2011 02:00:12 AM

---

RESPONSES to a fourth survey on the future direction of Coldstream are due on Friday 8 April.

The Coldstream Community Survey sent out by Yarra Ranges Council Ryrie Ward representative councillor Jeanette McRae follows previous surveys by the Coldstream 2020 group which is lobbying for the release of some of the green wedge land bordering Coldstream, Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe, and a private pro-dual occupancy advocate.

Cr McRae said the survey aimed to provide her with an unbiased view of what Coldstream residents and businesses want for their community.

Coldstream 2020 believes that more housing and an increase in population is needed to create stronger schools and attract business and services to the area.

The group proposes that the post office becomes the new centre of Coldstream as the area has room for further retail expansion.

To release further land for housing development, the green wedge boundary would need to be moved and farming land rezoned.

While Coldstream 2020 member Mario Galteri said some residents had found the survey confusing and felt it was worded to promote a negative response from residents opposed to dual occupancy development, Cr McRae said she stood by the survey's impartiality.

“What this survey attempts to do is present an unbiased survey without including leading questions,” she said.

Mr Galteri said a question on whether residents wanted the residential boundary maintained was also confusing because of a mistake in the wording.

“4a should read 'if no', not 'if yes', he said

Cr McRae acknowledged the mistake but that she didn't believe it had had an impact on the responses. “There was a mistake in 4a, it should have said the opposite, but the feed back from staff if that it hasn't seemed to put people off.

“We have had a good response rate so far,” she said.

“I would encourage all residents, including the business and farming community, to complete their survey so I have better appreciation of how people would like to see the future of Coldstream,” Cr McRae said.

Anyone who has not received a survey form is asked to contact Marion Greig at Yarra Ranges Council on 9294 6191.

Subdivision battle lines drawn

BY CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS

05 Apr, 2011 12:00 AM

 

TWO battles have been won but a Coldstream residents group is steeling itself for a protracted fight to preserve the character of their township.At a Yarra Ranges council meeting last month, Sharon Chuck, of the Coldstream Community Action Group, successfully argued against a proposed second dwelling to be built at 18 Cheviot Avenue.

To read the FULL story, please click on the TITLE

Mornings with Jon Faine

Melbourne is growing faster than any other city in Australia but is that a recipe for chaos, overcrowding and gridlock?  Jon Faine asked Planning Minister Matthew Guy.

In federal politics the Prime Minister has distanced herself from the Greens amid accusations they have grabbed Labor’s national policy agenda. And the Greens are in the middle of anti-semitism accusations with Senator- elect Lee Rhiannon calling for a policy boycott of Israeli product. Jewish MP and Cabinet Secretary Mark Dreyfuss told Jon that the perception that the federal government is in a Coalition with the Greens is wrong and that Labor does not agree with the Greens stance on Israel. And Liberal Minister Andrew Robb accuses the Greens of anti-semitism

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE

Fire services levy set to rise - ABC Melbourne - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Fire services levy set to rise - ABC Melbourne - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Vic Govt accused of fire services levy backflip

Posted April 1, 2011 09:20:00

The Victorian Opposition says the State Government is trying to renege on a promise to axe the fire services levy. 

Yesterday, the Minister for Emergency Services, Peter Ryan, signalled the Government may increase the levy to meet the cost of a deal to recruit 342 extra professional firefighters. 

Opposition emergency services spokeswoman Danielle Green says while in opposition the Coalition called for the levy to be scrapped.

She says the Government has backflipped on the promise because it cannot manage the budget. 

Mr Ryan needs to stop using political decoys for not delivering what he promised and that is to scrap the fire services levy," she said.

 To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Comment:  As many of you may know I have spoken about the FSL at length in the past.  Mr Peter Ryan even came out to see me at Coldstream and we achieved a front page spread in the local paper.

I understand that the levy may rise due to the risky nature of our climate and bush, but I hope that the levy will be a just levy.  A just levy would see every land owner contribute towards it, not just those who insure their properties.  (You may recall that the levy is based on your house insurance and people who do not insure do not pay towards the levy)

I believe that it is more important to have a fair levy rather than reducing our fire fighting ability.  

If the levy rises for everyone then so be it!