MN_2015-04-28

Tuesday 28 April, 2015 Serving Ballan and district since 1872 Phone 5368 1966 Fax 5368 2764 Vol 9 No 16

Moorabool NewsThe

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Expect a rate riseBy Kate Taylor

Ratepayers are facing a five per cent rate hike in Moorabool Shire Councils 2015-16 draft budget which is now out for public comment.Councillors voted at a Special Meeting of Council held

on Wednesday 22 April to put the budget out for 28

days to receive public submissions.

Budget information nights usually held in towns

throughout the shire have been dumped due to lack of

attendance at previous sessions.

Council CEO Rob Croxford explained that ratepayers will most likely see an overall increase of around 4.1 per cent on their general rates bill, because there will be significant savings in the garbage service line item which is reducing by 2.5 per cent.

(continued on page 8)

Getting wet and being cold was a small sacrifice at every Anzac Day service and memorial opening in Moorabool on Saturday and Sunday.Crowds flocked to the services which saw generations of families attend together. A dawn service started off the day in Bacchus Marsh, followed by a memorial unveiling in Bungaree, a service at Balliang, a march in Ballan, with a service at Yendon and Blackwood. The local football derby at Bacchus Marsh against Darley had a pre Anzac service in the pouring rain. A memorial unveiling at Navigators and the march in Bacchus Marsh took place the previous week.

Pictured 92 year old Ron Trigg helped to unveil a memorial at Bungaree with a large crowd of close to 300 people sharing the experience.

ANZAC DAY IN MOORABOOL (Pages 13, 14 & 15)

The Moorabool News 28 April, 2015 Email - [email protected]

Limit rights reserved. Persons under the age of 18 will not be served alcohol or tobacco.FOODWORKS BACCHUS MARSH 1-9 Bennett Street, Bacchus Marsh

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By Jessica Howard

The Ballan Farmers Market continues to kick goals after the third successive month of near record numbers.

With 32 stalls and 803 attendees, the April event marked one of the best ef-forts in the markets four-year history.

Chair of Ballan Farmers Market John Fabre (pictured) said people were choos-ing to come to the area from as far as metropolitan Melbourne and beyond.

We are consistently being told that our friendly, welcoming behaviour creates a distinctive atmosphere which has become our signature, he said.

Every person involved with the Bal-

lan Farmers Market graciously volun-teer their time and effort, and the result is an outstanding achievement. It also means we can continue to generously give back to community organisations.

Held on the second Saturday of each month, the community based and volunteer-run event offers award win-ning and popular produce from local venders such as Millbrook Chocolates, Moorabool Valley Wild Flowers and Peregrine Ridge Wines, just to name a few.

Mr Fabre said preparation for next months market had already begun, with the committee getting ready for a Mothers Day event to be held on May 9.

We are gearing up to make this the best we can possibly deliver. We want to make this one special so we thought lets make something that all of Ballan businesses can benefit from, he said.

If we can attract all the businesses in the area we think the market will flow through the whole town. People can attend the market, walk up the main street, shop at and browse all the bou-tique local businesses too. That way, the whole town is involved.

The Mothers Day Farmers Market will be held on Saturday 9 May at Mill Cot-tage, 96 Inglis Street Ballan. For more information visit http://www.ballan farmersmarket.com

Market keeps on growing

By Kate Taylor

Bacchus Marshs State Emergency Services unit has sent help for the clean-up effort in New South Wales following devastating storms.

A member of the local unit was sent last week as part of a taskforce comprising 50 volunteers from Victoria.

The volunteers in this task force are from numerous VICSES Units across the State, explained Bacchus Marsh SES Deputy Controller Operations Bill Robson.The task force deployed

into areas hit by the storm worked in the area until last Sunday 26 April, he said.The volunteers will be

assisting exhausted NSWSES crews who have been on the ground responding to calls for more than 48 hours.The tasks involved

removing fallen trees from homes and vehicles, as well as tarping damaged rooves and responding to flood related incidents as required.NSWSES have received a

massive 10,000 requests for assistance at this stage, with that figure continuing to climb. They have also responded

to more than 80 rescues of people trapped in floodwaters.NSWSES volunteers have

assisted VICSES in the past and now its our turn to lend a hand to the people of NSW.

VICSES help their neighbour

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1 Parsnip2kg Kennebec Potatoes (local)

300g Gold Sweet Potato

1/2 Butternut Pumpkin100g Baby Spinach

Leaves (local)2 Tomatoes

Fruit2 Pink Lady Apples

2 Bananas2 Royal Gala Apples

2 Bananas250g Sultana Grapes5 Imperial Mandarins

5 Navel Oranges1/2 Sweet Pineapple

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By Jessica Howard

Peoples tummies werent the only things full over the Easter period, as collection tins for the Good Friday Ap-peal tallied almost $30,000 across the Bacchus Marsh area.

Volunteers from across the district spent Good Friday rattling their cans and tak-ing donations, resulting in a total of $27,094 for the Royal Childrens Hospital.

Contributing to the success was Bacchus Marsh Bowling Club, whose individual fun-draiser added $2,353 to the total figure.

Lions Club of Bacchus Marsh members, together with family, also continue to be heavily involved in the success of the appeal.

Bacchus Marsh Lions Club

member, David Atterbury said the success of the local appeal could be credited to the stalwart volunteers who never fail to turn up each Good Friday.

A big thankyou to all who worked as volunteers and those generous people who helped fill the collection cans from their pockets and purses, he said.

Growing support from lo-cal businesses, who allow Good Friday Appeal purple welby collection cans on their counters, also continue to contribute to the success of the appeal of Bacchus Marsh.

The Lions Club of Bacchus Marsh were pleased with the success of the 2015 appeal, which smashed last years efforts by over $2,500.

Lions smash appeal record

By Kate Taylor

Being a wedding celebrant is one thing; conducting di-vorce ceremonies is a com-pletely different circle of comedians.Genevieve Messenger has

seen it all having conduct-ed everything from sym-bolic, private divorce cer-emonies at her Blackwood home; to a divorce ceremony with a stand-up comedian in the middle of a circle of her comedian friends while she vented her anger at her for-mer husband. That one was hilarious, but

also sad and happy at the same time. Usually though they are very symbolic, very powerful ceremonies about letting go and moving on, Ms Messenger explained.Despite the growing popu-

larity of divorce parties, its usually less of a party affair and more a way of helping people move through the pain of a divorce leav-ing them open to a second chance at love.Its an idea called loving it

forward and I think that it doesnt matter how old you are, and it doesnt matter how long ago a divorce was, everyone deserves a second chance at love.And its not just divorce and

wedding ceremonies for the past 15 years Ms Messen-ger has also been conducting

funeral, naming, and com-mitment ceremonies. With more than 500 wed-

ding ceremonies under her belt, its the creative and unique ceremonies that Ms Messenger excels at in-cluding using Blackwood as a focus for her events.I love to encourage green

weddings and a sustainable future, and that involves let-ting couples know they can cycle on a bicycle built for two or even walk to the cer-emony. I had a very smooth groom jump off a penny farthing once in a wedding in Trentham, and the brides father was riding a bicycle built for two with the bride on the back. It was magic. The brides dress was pre-loved and bought on eBay and it was catered for by a local company that sourced local foods.Since having enough of

the city life and moving to Blackwood in 2008, Ms Messenger has fallen in love with the peace, the nature, and the community.I love doing local wed-

dings, in Blackwood and Trentham especially, and Ive recently done my Mas-ters in Screen Writing I wrote a feature film, a ro-

mantic comedy involving a woman doing weddings.

Ms Messenger is now writ-ing a book on how to put together personal wedding vows and how to create the

alchemy that gives a cer-emony the X-factor. My dad was one of the

first celebrants in Australia, and he wrote a book on the history of celebrancy and a handbook for celebrants.

Dont shoot the messenger!

Celebrant with a difference, Genevieve Messenger.

Email - [email protected] The Moorabool News 28 April, 2015 Page 5News

MN

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The Bacchus Marsh Medical Centre and The Elms Family Medical Centre would like to remind their patients that this time of

year is when you should have your annual immunisation against in uenza. Older people, pregnant women, children and adults

with chronic illness are particularly at risk from this illness.

Protect yourselffrom in uenza

Contact your GP to arrange your u vaccination so you are protected for winter

General Reminders for the in uenza vaccine are no longer mailed to patients.

THE ELMS FAMILY MEDICAL CENTRE

Suite 1, The Village160 Main St,

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BACCHUS MARSH MEDICAL CENTRE

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Gisborne Road, DarleyPhone 5367 5000

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By Kate Taylor

A pedestrian crossing promised for Ballan is ex-pected to be built within the next financial year.Member for Buninyong

Geoff Howard made a com-mitment to build the cross-ing during last years state

election campaign.He was joined by future

Roads Minister Luke Don-nellan in Ballan last August to make the announcement.This commitment by La-

bor for a pedestrian crossing and lights will mean better road safety for Ballan, on a road which 3700 vehicles

travel on every day, Mr Howard said at the event.Mr Howard said that now, a

design for the crossing is be-ing developed.When the final site has

been arranged and the pro-ject has been fully costed, then presumably it will be able to progress through as

long as there is money in the budget - and I presume there will be.My expectation is it will

go ahead in the next finan-cial year but it still has to go through that final fund-ing process and be allo-cated out of the state budget allocations.

Promise of crossing depends on budget

By Kate Taylor

Councils now have in-creased powers when it comes to puppy farms.The changes were set by

the previous Liberal Gov-ernment to come into effect on July 1 this year, but have now been brought forward.The legislation now pro-

vides additional protection for animals kept for breed-ing including placing great-er onus on domestic animal businesses to register breed-ing dogs and cats with an applicable organisation or council; providing councils with greater flexibility to issue lifelong animal identi-fication; requiring councils to refuse re-registration of a domestic animal business if the person who owns or conducts the business has been found guilty of animal cruelty in the past 10 years. It also gives councils

greater powers to seize ani-mals from domestic animal businesses if they refuse

registration or renewal, on the grounds that the person who owns or runs the busi-ness has been found guilty of cruelty to animals.

Bringing forward the changes means that the timing now coincides with the registration period for dogs, cats and domestic animal businesses with local councils.

Further changes requiring pet shop owners to make and keep records in rela-tion to every cat or dog sold are scheduled for July 1 this year.

Meanwhile, the Govern-ment will provide the RSPCA with additional resources to tackle puppy farms and toughen up their inspectorate powers, limit breeding dogs to five litters, reinstate mandatory breed-ing vet checks and require pet stores to only sell pup-pies supplied by a registered breeder or animal shelter.

Power to protect brought forward

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An election promise by Geoff Howard to place a pedestrian crossing in Ballan lingers on how much money the State Government will have in the 2015/16 budget. Photo Helen Tatchell


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ANYTIME FITNESS BACCHUS MARSH BACCHUS MARSH VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTRE SHOP 72 BENNETT STREETPH: 4367 7006

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Email - [email protected] The Moorabool News 28 April, 2015 Page 7

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Newborns in the districtBabies born recently at Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital

Sunbury couple Sacha Haack and Shane Robertson have announced the arrival on Wednesday 22 April at 6.45am, of a new son. Little Nate HAACK weighed 3850 grams and is a brother for Chase.

Clarkefield couple Laura and Michael are first time parents to a little boy, Jackson Robin McCORMICK. Weighing 5lb 13oz (2640 grams), Jackson was born on Saturday 18 April at 9.54am.

Alison and Darren from Wyndham Vale are the new parents of a little girl. Ebony Mae arrived on Sunday 19 April at 8.47pm. Weighing 7lb 6oz (3370) she is a little sister for Kai.

It is a boy for Melton parents Carla and Brett. Little Patrick Adam arrived on Wednesday 22 April at 8pm weighing 3240 grams. He is a little brother to big sisters Shauna, Molly and Annabel.

Mason James GLASGOW is the first born child to Sunbury couple Dustyn Moore and Tom Glasgow. Weighing 6lb, Mason arrived at 4.54pm on Wednesday 22 April.

It is a little girl for Kings Park parents Samantha Blake and Kyle Ross. Arriving on Monday 20 April at 7.29pm, Evie Kalena BLAKE-ROSS weighed 8lb 10oz (3910 grams).

By Kate Taylor

Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard has defended going on holiday in the wake of the Fiskville crisis.A number of sources con-

tacted The Moorabool News saying Mr Howard had gone on holidays in Anglesea while discussions were tak-ing place about the 70 job losses occurring at the CFA

training college. Mr Howard said he was

angry his holiday had been raised as an issue, saying it had been pre-booked.It was school holidays, I

had organised for the Mon-day, Tuesday and Wednes-day of that first week to take my family camping to An-glesea, he said. Mr Howard did attend a

meeting on the following

Friday, including Moorabool Shire Council and the CFA.

There are challenges for us all in terms of Fiskville and the employment of the staff, he said.

Mr Howard said that the state government is continu-ing negotiations to find a suitable site within Moora-bool to build a new training college.

Howard holidays as jobs go


*Conditions apply. Offers end 10/05/2015, unless sold out prior. Availability is limited. Prices correct as at 23/03/2015 but may fluctuate if surcharges, fees, taxes or currency change. Agents may charge service fees, rates vary. Payments by credit card will incur a surcharge. Airfare not included. All savings are included in the advertised price. Advertised prices are based on check-in 10 Jul 15 but are subject to change at the discretion of the hotel operator. Tourism Dirham fee of AED20 per room, per day (approx $11) is payable direct to the hotel upon arrival and is included in package prices. Rates are subject to change. During Ramadan (19 Jun - 19 Jul 15), daytime dining may be affected at your hotel. Food & drinks will not be served in public area & some restaurants may close. Room service remains available. Please be aware that it is an offence to eat or drink in public throughout the day during Ramadan. Offers may be withdrawn without notice and are not combinable with any other offers unless stated. Please check all prices, availability and other information before booking. Qantas Holidays and helloworld conditions apply see in store for details. FGMS Pty Limited (ABN 15 005 445 009) trading as helloworld Bacchus Marsh.

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By Kate Taylor

As locals continue to deal with the aftermath of the closure of the Fiskville Training College, member for Buninyong Geoff How-ard, has defended himself in response to criticisms that he has not been active in the area on the issue.

Fiskville staff and CFA members expressed anger at a recent meeting, saying that Mr Howard had only been to visit Fiskville once during the crisis in the lead-up to the closure.

I last visited Fiskville on its last full day of operation, Mr Howard said.

I also spoke with members of the Ballan CFA at the Bal-lan Autumn Festival and I had previously encouraged Moorabool Shire to make a submission to the Fiskville parliamentary inquiry con-cerning the future of the facility and its impact on the local community.

I of course have visited Fiskville on many earlier occasions.

Mr Howard added that on Tuesday 31 March he joined the Emergency Services Minister in discussions with the Mayor of Moorabool Shire, the CEO and other council representatives along with community lead-ers from the Ballan area to discuss the way forward.

I will continue to do all I can to see Fiskville and CFA staff and volunteers supported.

The Moorabool News asked Mr Howard if he believes that a new facility will defi-nitely be built in Moorabool, and if he had any idea on timeframes or budget.

I am keen to secure sup-port for an alternative train-

ing facility in the Ballan area as soon as possible.

And on the question of whether Mr Howard be-lieves that Fiskville should have been closed when it was?

The CFA management has a responsibility to ensure the ongoing safety of fire-fighters and staff working at Fiskville. The results of the tests which were provided to them showed that this could not be guaranteed. I there-fore accept their decision.

In response to questions about his role in terms of the job losses suffered at Fiskville, Mr Howard said he has had discussions with the Minister for Regional Devel-opment and departmental staff at Regional Develop-ment Victoria about the op-portunities for economic de-velopment and employment in the Ballan region.

Its critical that the state government, Moorabool Shire and local business continue to work closely to support those workers af-fected and the broader Bal-lan community.

By Kate Taylor

It depends what percent-age of your bill the garbage charge is.Mr Croxford explained that

the proposed budget has a Capital Works Program of $15.2 million - one of the largest the shire has had in many years.Weve got the Halletts Way

Western route extension with $3.2 million, part of an overall $10 million project, the Darley hub $3.7 million project which is part of a $4 million project, and the Dar-ley sports and community pavilion which is $700,000 and they will help solve a shortage of infrastructure for traffic, early years learn-ing and sporting facilities.He said that council has

also taken $1 million out of its operating costs for this and the next financial years, through seeking efficiencies and natural attrition. Weve absolutely squeezed

everything in order to get $1 million in new initiatives that we believe the commu-nity needs.Weve looked at every line

item of expenditure and asked if it is the lowest it can be.At the special meeting of

council, East Ward Coun-cillor John Spain raised concerns that the meeting for councillors to formally adopt the budget has been scheduled for directly after the meeting where council-lors will hear budget sub-missions from the public.He explained that members

of the public will have 28 days to make submissions, and then they will have the opportunity to speak at the council meeting about their submission but councillors will vote on adopting the budget the same night. The tight timeframe is be-

cause the state government wants all of the budgets in by a certain date, and previ-ously weve had a couple of days between hearing the submissions and voting on the budget, he said. We dont want to pay lip-

service to submissions, we want to listen to what people are saying. But we can always call a

special meeting to consider things if there is a lot of in-terest in the budget. Cr Spain said he hopes to

get lots of submissions from residents and ratepayers.Meanwhile, Mayor Paul

Tatchell spoke about the five per cent bill increase for

ratepayers.The increase is because of

CPI, and because its an in-frastructure budget with a lot of roadworks.Unfortunately our infra-

structure is that far behind that we have to keep invest-ing in it or well be in even more strife into the future.Can Moorabool ratepayers

afford the burden of a five per cent increase?I dont think anyone can;

the reality is were putting the cost of enormous growth on the back of the ratepayer.When people dissect the

budget theyll call their local members to ask whats go-ing on. We need more fund-ing from state and federal government.Mayor Tatchell said that he

is happy to have a budget public meeting if people want one.I want to hear their input.Details on where to view

the budget and how to make a submission is available on Page 9 of The Moorabool News. Next week: details on what

council is spending your money on, how much is be-ing borrowed, and council-lors opinions on the budget.

Calls to WAKE UP GEOFF!

Expect a rate rise(from page 1)


Moorabool Shire Council

Moorabool Shire Council: PO Box 18, Ballan VIC 3342Telephone: 03 5366 7100 Facsimile: 03 5368 1757 Email: [email protected] Web: www.moorabool.vic.gov.au CEO: Rob Croxford

g. proposes that no municipal charge be declared h. the proposed service charges be declared under Section 162 of the Act, for the collection

and disposal of refuse, are: (i) $131 per annum for each property that is within the de ned urban service area to

which a domestic waste collection service is available; (ii) $131 per annum for each property that is within the de ned rural service area to

which a domestic waste collection service is available; (iii) $131 per annum for each property that is not within a de ned service area, to which

a domestic waste collection service is provided; (iv) $85 per annum, compulsory service charge, for all rateable properties including: (a) each rateable land that is farm land within the meaning of Section 2(1) of the

Valuation of Land Act 1960 and is a single farm enterprise within the meaning of Section 159(8) of the Local Government Act 1989; and

(b) each other rateable land, from which there is capable of being generated waste which can be deposited by a ratepayer or resident at a land ll or waste transfer station or any other litter facility.

(v) $45 per annum, compulsory service charge, for all rateable properties, in relation to the State Land ll Levy, including:

(a) each rateable land that is farm land within the meaning of Section 2(1) of the Valuation of Land Act 1960 and is a single farm enterprise within the meaning of Section 159(8) of the Local Government Act 1989; and

(b) each other rateable land, from which there is capable of being generated waste which can be deposited by a ratepayer or resident at a land ll or waste transfer station or any other litter facility.

Public InspectionCopies of the proposed 2015/16 Annual Budget are available for inspection on weekdays from 8.30am 5.00pm from Tuesday 28 April 2015 until and including Monday 25 May 2015 at Council Of ces at:

15 Stead Street, Ballan; 182 Halletts Way, Darley; and 215 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh

Copies of the proposed 2015/16 Annual Budget can also be viewed on Councils website, www.moorabool.vic.gov.au from Tuesday 28 April 2015.Making SubmissionsSubmissions in respect of the declaration of the proposed 2015/16 Annual Budget will be considered in accordance with Section 223 of the Act. Council will consider any written submission received by Council by 5.00pm on Monday 25 May 2015 at a special meeting to be held on Wednesday 3 June 2015 at 5.00pm at the Bungaree Community Facility, Bungaree-Creswick Road, Bungaree.

Any person making a submission is entitled to state in the submission that he or she wishes to appear in person, or to be represented by a person speci ed in the submission, at the special meeting of Council on Wednesday 3 June 2015 to be heard in support of the submission.

Please note that a summary of submissions, including the submitters name, will be made available to Council for the meeting where submissions will be considered. Council is also required to make submissions available for public inspection for a period of twelve months.

Written submissions must be received by no later than 5.00pm on Monday 25 May 2015.

Annual Budget submissions should be forwarded to:The Chief Executive Of cerBudget SubmissionMoorabool Shire Council PO Box 18Ballan VIC 3342or [email protected] Alternatively, a submission may be made online at: www.haveyoursaymoorabool.com.au Enquiries Further information concerning the proposed 2015/16 Annual Budget or the making of a written submission can be obtained by contacting Customer Service on (03) 5366 7100.

ROUND 2 NEW TOURISM EVENTS GRANTS OPENApplications for round 2 of Moorabool Shire Councils new tourism event grants are now open.

The new tourism event grant program supports new tourism events in Moorabool Shire with high potential to attract signi cant visitation from outside the shire.

If you are Moorabool based and have a new event concept to stimulate tourism and provide economic and community bene ts for Moorabool Shire, download the program guidelines and application forms from Councils website www.moorabool.vic.gov.au and apply.

The assessment process is competitive, criteria based and applications must satisfy the eligibility criteria outlined in the program guidelines to be considered.

Further information is available by contacting Customer Service on 5366 7100. Prior to lodging an application, contact Council and speak to Manager Economic Development and Marketing Peter Forbes to discuss your event concept.

Applications close at 5.00pm, Friday 12 June, 2015.

NOTICE OF ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCILThe next Ordinary Meeting of the Moorabool Shire Council will be held Wednesday 6 May at the Council Chambers, 15 Stead Street, Ballan, at 5.00pm.

Members of the public are most welcome to attend.

MEETING CANCELLATIONPlease note: The s86 Finance & Governance meeting scheduled for Wednesday 29 April, 2015 and advertised in the Moorabool News on 20 April, 2015 has been cancelled.

MOORABOOL RECREATION AND LEISURE STRATEGY FEEDBACK SOUGHT FROM THE COMMUNITY

Want to have a say on the future of recreation and leisure in Moorabool? Councils draft Recreation and Leisure Strategy is out for public consultation for an eight week period. You can provide feedback before 3 June on our Have Your Say platform: www.haveyoursaymoorabool.com.au or Councils website www.moorabool.vic.gov.au. The strategy can be viewed at Councils Customer Service Of ces: 15 Stead Street, Ballan, 182 Halletts Way, Darley, Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh and Ballan Library. Contact the Recreation Development Unit on 5366 7100 for more information.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONCouncil and the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), are developing a Local Flood Guide for Bacchus Marsh. The Guide is prepared to support Bacchus Marsh residents and businesses to plan and prepare for future ood events.The guide outlines local ood risk information, including maps that show the areas of Bacchus Marsh vulnerable to ooding, historical information on past oods in Bacchus Marsh, and information on ood warnings. There is also information about what to do to prepare for ooding and how to obtain further timely and accurate information.There is an opportunity for the Bacchus Marsh community to provide feedback on the draft Local Flood Guide that is anticipated to be launched in June. The consultation session is at Lerderderg Library, Main St, Bacchus Marsh, on 4 May between 3pm and 7pm. Contact council on 5366 7100 for more information.

MOORABOOL SHIRE MUNICIPAL EARLY YEARS PLAN FEEDBACK SOUGHT FROM THE COMMUNITY

Council has endorsed the Draft Municipal Early Years Plan 2015 -2021 for the purpose of public exhibition for a four week period. We are therefore inviting feedback on the draft Plan during this time. The Draft Municipal Early Years Plan is a local area plan that provides a future vision and strategic direction for the municipality in the development, enhancement, coordination and planning of early years services for children aged from birth - 12 years, and their families. It is a Council initiated plan, developed in collaboration with local child and family service providers. As such, the plan serves as both an inspirational document and a practical tool to guide the actions of Council and non-Council child and family service providers in the municipality, to ensure Moorabool Shire is a great place for families to live, work and bring up their children. The Draft Municipal Early Years Plan has been developed in two versions, one version for adults and another for children. The draft plan will be on exhibition until Tuesday 19 May for the community to provide feedback.The Draft Municipal Early Years Plan can be viewed at Councils Customer Service Of ces: 15 Stead Street, Ballan, 182 Halletts Way, Darley, Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh and Ballan Library, download it at www.haveyoursaymoorabool.com.au or Councils website www.moorabool.vic.gov.au. Submissions can be made in writing or via www.haveyoursaymoorabool.com.au Contact the Early Years Team on 5366 7100 for more information.

PREPARATION OF ANNUAL BUDGET FOR 2015/16In accordance with Section 129 of the Local Government Act 1989 (the Act), Moorabool Shire Council hereby gives public notice that at a special meeting of Council on Wednesday 22 April 2015:1. It has prepared an Annual Budget (the Budget) for the nancial year commencing 1 July

2015 and ending 30 June 2016 (the nancial year).2. It intends at a special meeting of Council to be held at the Bungaree Community Facility,

Bungaree-Creswick Road, Bungaree on Wednesday 3 June 2015 at 5.00pm to adopt the 2015/16 Annual Budget as prepared by Council and the following information is given:

a. the total amount borrowed as at 30 June 2015 is $12,031,599 b. the total amount proposed to be borrowed during the nancial year, other than

borrowings to re nance existing loans, is $4,475,587 c. the total amount projected to be redeemed during the nancial year is $1,464,471 d. the projected total amount of borrowings as at 30 June 2016 is $15,042,715 e. the projected cost of servicing the borrowings during the nancial year is $863,814 f. the proposed rate for each type of rate to be levied is:

Preparation of Annual Budget for 2015/16 In accordance with Section 129 of the Local Government Act 1989 (the Act), Moorabool Shire Council hereby gives public notice that at a special meeting of Council on Wednesday 22 April 2015: 1. It has prepared an Annual Budget (the Budget) for the financial year

commencing 1 July 2015 and ending 30 June 2016 (the financial year). 2. It intends at a special meeting of Council to be held at the Bungaree Community

Facility, Bungaree-Creswick Road, Bungaree on Wednesday 3 June 2015 at 5.00pm to adopt the 2015/16 Annual Budget as prepared by Council and the following information is given: a. the total amount borrowed as at 30 June 2015 is $12,031,599 b. the total amount proposed to be borrowed during the financial year, other

than borrowings to refinance existing loans, is $4,475,587 c. the total amount projected to be redeemed during the financial year is

$1,464,471 d. the projected total amount of borrowings as at 30 June 2016 is $15,042,715 e. the projected cost of servicing the borrowings during the financial year is

$863,814 f. the proposed rate for each type of rate to be levied is:

g. proposes that no municipal charge be declared h. the proposed service charges be declared under Section 162 of the Act, for

the collection and disposal of refuse, are: (i) $131 per annum for each property that is within the defined

urban service area to which a domestic waste collection service is available;

(ii) $131 per annum for each property that is within the defined rural service area to which a domestic waste collection service is available;

(ii) $131 per annum for each property that is not within a defined service area, to which a domestic waste collection service is provided;

(iii) $85 per annum, compulsory service charge, for all rateable properties including: (a) each rateable land that is "farm land" within the meaning of

Section 2(1) of the Valuation of Land Act 1960 and is a 'single farm enterprise' within the meaning of Section 159(8) of the Local Government Act 1989; and

(b) each other rateable land, from which there is capable of being generated waste which can be deposited by a ratepayer or resident at a landfill or waste transfer station or any other litter facility.

Category Cents/$CIV General Rate 0.004216 Commercial & Industrial Rate 0.006745 Commercial & Industrial Vacant Land 0.010961 Extractive Industry Rate 0.013153 Farm Rate 0.003288 Vacant Land General 0.008853 Vacant Land FZ and RCZ 0.004216 Vacant Land GRZ 0.010539 Residential Retirement Villages 0.003794


Caf ChatYour guide to Cafs in the Moorabool region April 2015

List your business in the The Moorabool News Cafe Chat guide Call 5368 1966

An advertising feature of e Moorabool News

208 MAIN STREET BACCHUS MARSH(Across from the library)

CAFE CHINOON THE AVENUEOPEN FROM 6.00AM

CAFE CHINO

BEST COFFEE IN TOWNGourmet Sandwiches, Wraps and RollsHome Made BurgersFresh SaladsMilkshakesParmy Tuesday (12 to choose from)

Seniors special: $3 coffees 10am - 12pm

Phone 5367 0122

Brekkie for those early starters 6am Mon-Sat

From Cafthe

FOODWORKS BACCHUS MARSH1-9 Bennett Street, Bacchus Marsh

Phone: 5367 3388

Coffee & Cake $5Sushi Rolls $2.50

Hot Chinese Take Away Available

Welcome to

Debs House2 Albert Street, Darley

Ph: 5367 2888Open 6 Days

Schnitzel & Salad Roll with 375ml Can of drink

$8.50 OPENING HOURS MON-FRI 5.00am3.30pm

SAT 5.00am1.30pm

Mon-Fri 5am3pm, Sat 6am12pm33 Griffith Street, Maddingley

Ph: 0422 638 027

Hangi Stylez every Friday Home made Beef Burgers Fresh Crumbed Schnitzel

Daily Roasted Meats

Home of the Cannoli in Cannoli

2290 Ballan Road, Anakie (next to Fairy Park)P: 5284 1227 M: 0418 543 844 www.delrios.com.au

DEL RIOS LUNCH MENU

Tapas Garlic Prawns $8 Albondigas (Spanish meatballs) $8 Patatas Bravas (baked potatoes spicy tomato sauce) $6 Warm marinaded Olives served with crusty bread $8 Spanish Jamon Serrano (served with bread) $10 Spanish Tortilla served with bread $8

Bruschetta (Tomatoes, Spanish onions, basil $10 topped with Meredith marinaded goats fetta) Mussels Espaola served with crusty bread $12 (Mussels steamed with garlic, tomatoes, basil & white wine) Spanish twice baked chicken wings Served with crusty bread $10 Bocadillos de Chorizo (Spanish chorizo sliders) $12 2 small bread buns with grilled chorizo, topped with caramelised onions, roasted peppers, rocket & homemade mayonnaise Suggested wine: Anarchist Red Blend $8/gl $30/bot Spring grape pickers Tapas Platter $20 Selection of Spanish cold meats, olives, Manchego cheese (gluten free option available) Suggested wine: 2011 Rose $8/gl $30/bot Winemakers Cheese Platter $22 Selection of Meredith cheese, Gippsland Brie, Spanish Manchego, Rolada & Quince paste

Mains Smoked Salmon Salad (quinoa, tomatoes, Spanish $18 onions, capers, cos lettuce & rocket salad with homemade dill mayonnaise) del Rios Sparkling Brut $10/gl $40/bot Fish of the Day $30 Suggested wine: 2011 Sauvignon Blanc $8/gl $30/bot Spanish Paella (chicken and seafood rice dish) served with salad $25 Suggested wine: 2011 Pinot Noir $9/gl $35/bot Spanish chicken salad $18 Grilled tender pieces of chicken marinated with Traditional Spanish herbs & spices served on a salad of lettuce, rocket, tomatoes, spanish onions, avocado & mango Suggested wine: 2008 Marsanne $9/gl $35/bot Anakie Wagyu Burger topped with a tomato $19 & roast pepper relish, cheese & crispy lettuce served with chips Suggested wine: 2009 Cabernet $10/gl $40/bot 2006 Cabernet (Connawarra) $9/gl $35/bot Grilled Western Plains Pork Cutlet $28 With apple, coriander & Anakie honey salsa served with a rocket & roast pumpkin salad and spanish paprika potatoes Suggested wine: 2011 Shiraz $9/gl $35/bot

* Gluten free bread available

OF MT. ANAKIECAFE | CELLAR DOOR

Premium Wine | Tapas | PaellaMarvellous views | Live Music

Weekend lunch

12-4pm

Rated 5 stars winery with award winning del Rios and Mayhem@Anakie wines

Expressions Of LoveTrish 5368 2740

Lunches, Cakes, CoffeeWed-Mon (Closed Tuesdays)

Shop 1/130 Inglis Street, Ballan

Advertise in Cafe Chat

Call 5368 1966

You dont have to look far if you

want the best, fresh, homemade

morning tea or lunch.

The FoodWorks supermarket Caf

in Bacchus Marsh will have your

taste buds going wild!

Sushi, sandwiches, rolls, hot chinese

dishes with rice and noodles are

just a few items to tempt shoppers

to sit and relax and enjoy. Even

passers by just call in for the food!

Everything is made on site and the

sushi cant be made quick enough

for the demand.

Why not meet up with friends and

enjoy a coffee and cake for only

$5. The healthy and tasty sushi rolls

are only $2.50 each, with dine in

or takeaway options available on

all food.

Generous servings, quality food

and affordable prices are what

you will experience at the

FoodWorks Caf, with friendly

local staff catering for your needs.

Try it, you wont be disappointed!


vicroads.vic.gov.au

April 2015

Fire prevention works on Ballan-Daylesford Road

VicRoads, working with Moorabool Shire Council, has identied the road as a priority access route during emergencies.

Trees along the route are considered a high risk of falling and causing a road closure during strong winds and bushre events. In the interests of public safety, some trees will be removed to reduce this risk.

VicRoads advises residents and community members that it will be undertaking re prevention works on Ballan-Daylesford Road between Flacks Lane and Sailors Creek Road. This will include targeted tree trimming and removal.

A qualied arborist has assessed trees along the route that are situated close to the roadside.

VicRoads recognises that some of the trees are wildlife habitats and will work to relocate wildlife during the works.

Work has commenced and will be completed in mid-2015.

ZO580245

By Kate Taylor

The new Ballan footy oval surface has been given the nod of approval.Ballan and Bungaree were

the first teams to test the new surface when they played their Round two clash in the CHFL.Ballan Football Netball

Club President Billy Smith said the ground was in ter-rific condition for the game.Well done to the Sports

and Recreation unit at coun-cil for getting the ground up and ready for the first home game of the season for Bal-lan, and for finding us an al-

ternative training facility to use while the work was be-ing done. The ground was in excellent condition for that game, Mr Smith said.Works included re-shaping

the oval to promote and en-courage greater efficiency of water run-off; installing an extensive sub surface drain-age system to moderate the water table; and the estab-lishment of turf to improve the year round condition of the sportsground for all users. Sport and Recreation Victo-

ria Country Football Netball Program provided $55,000 to help fund the project and council injected $45,000.

Mayor Paul Tatchell said the ground surface preparation was a credit to all involved.With a growing popula-

tion in Ballan, there is in-creased demand for usage of the reserve, so these works will cater for that extra use, Cr. Tatchell said.The ground has been

handed over to the Ballan Recreation Reserve Com-mittee of Management for ongoing maintenance and management.To complete the project, in-

stallation of a cricket wicket is planned for after the last home game of the football season.

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By Kate Taylor

As use of the drug ice spikes in Moorabool, the issue of keeping local kids safe and educated has become a hot topic for discussion.

Moorabool Shire Council Mayor Paul Tatchell called on schools to introduce graphic drug education to students at a younger age primary school.

I think we start too late when were educating kids on the problems of the drug, I think it should be talked about even as young as primary school. I think that education on drugs is usually at a time when theyre most vulnerable so lets get them before they become vulnerable. We hide the cause and effect of drugs from teenagers, he said.

We live our lives as products of our environment so at the most theres no doubt that young people learn their code at primary school and thats usually carried forward. They may have young parents that take drugs, so they become products of their environment.

That 10-year-old in primary school is only a couple of years away from being liable to end up in hospital or picked up in the street. If were fair dinkum, and I doubt we are, we have to make that tough call and get to these kids earlier and show them the graphic effect of what drugs do.

He argued that it is parents who do not want their children exposed to drug education at such a young age.

These parents say my kids a good kid, why would I want to expose them to drugs? But drugs dont choose victims. It has nothing to do with rich kids, poor kids, well educated kids theyve all got drug problems.

Education needed for drug prevention

Bacchus Marsh Grammar Principal Andrew Neal however said there is no research evidence to suggest that making things graphic at a young age can improve students resilience to the use of illicit drugs.

This isnt my area of expertise, but my last reading of the literature on the matter suggested that introducing graphic information at a young age may be counter-productive - it desensitises people.

I think we have a very well-balanced approach that commences at an early age, it looks to give students a number of things; to ensure that students have information, to ensure that students are aware of the whole issues of side effects, but more importantly it asks the question of what factors would lead to any individual partaking in illegal drugs and what factors would lead to students taking an illegal drug like ice which has such horrific consequences?

He explained that the school has a broad-based health program that commences in the primary school and continues through until the end of Year 10 and in that program, issues revolving around consumption of both legal and illicit drugs are considered.

We explain the notion of what a drug is, and the beneficial uses of drugs, and the need for caution in using any substance.

We want to work on resiliency to protect people against being involved in illicit drug use of any kind. The reality is, what is it that promotes a healthy mind and body that doesnt need to go and find it, therefore its not an issue thats what we aim for in our education program.

Giving them a graphic blow-by-blow account of what happens when you partake in ice if you havent put in resilience factors to strengthen kids psychological resistance to those things, in some cases you might make the situation worse.

THE PRINCIPAL

THE POLICE

Mayor Tatchell agreed the causes of drug taking need to

be looked at as well.

We have one of the lowest rates of kids leaving school

before Year 10, in Bacchus Marsh, but we have one of the

highest rates of teen pregnancy and lowest rates of people

completing Year 12.

If we dont get a child to work that leaves school in

Year 10, the isolation of living in the country leaves them

vulnerable, and by the third or fourth year when they get

their license, then the fact they havent got a job means

they havent got a car so we lose them out of the system

as contributors.

He said that one of the solutions could be reducing the

age of being eligible for a license if the person is using it

to drive to work.

Solution-wise, we need to find an interest that gets them

back to work, we need to make public transport more

available for these young people, and we may have to

lower the license age. If you do those things, then kids

wont be sitting around disillusioned by their prospects

into the future and it takes away that one component for

the need for stimulation.

THE MAYOR

Bacchus Marshs Leading Senior Constable Jim Ross

works with local kids in a number of programs, and said

that its not just about educating kids but families, parents

and grandparents about the overall dangers of all drugs,

not just ice.

Its about choice, making the right choice, its about peer

pressure and not being pressured into doing things that

they may have a gut feeling is wrong, and if young people

were more well-informed in relation to the dangers of

any drug then their decision making may be further

assisted in the very dangerous risk they do take in taking

methamphetamines and other drugs.

If parents are informed and educated, then they can

speak at a primary school age to their children about

how dangerous drugs are, and it just gives them more

information the more information they have, the better

decisions they make for themselves.

But youve got to be very mindful and careful speaking

to primary school aged children as they can become

desensitised and I certainly dont think that just parading

pictures of the addiction of what it can do would be

helpful because young kids at that age, theyre probably

more likely to remember the graphic pictures and not

actually what youre trying to educate them on.

And when is the best time to start educating kids on

drugs?

As soon as they can understand; the sooner the better.

Snr Constable Ross will be holding a drug education

forum at the Bacchus Marsh Public Hall on Thursday 28

May, which will be advertised in the Moorabool News

closer to the date.

He is also forming an action group of community leaders,

business leaders, and health services to move forward on

the drugs issue as a community.

By Kate Taylor

As the ice epidemic spreads its grip across Moorabool, one local is doing all he can to help deal with the crisis.Leading Senior Constable

Jim Ross has worked with young people in Moorabool for years, but an upcoming drug forum to be held in Bacchus Marsh is not just aimed at the young.Its for everyone aged 13 to

63; the point is, drugs and not just Ice arent just a problem for young people, he said.The forum, to be held on

Thursday 28 May at the Bacchus Marsh Town Hall from 7pm, is set to be an eye-opener for some, as well as an informative session.Were asking people to

send in questions that they would like covered at the forum we can develop the presentation around that. Well also cover the

drug addiction signs and symptoms, the health aspect, also the way forward. That way forward includes a

number of projects currently being worked on that locals can be involved with. There is a lot happening,

and it takes people and the community to do that so Im providing an opportunity for the community to sit around the table and start to come up with initiatives, strategies and plans to put in place to tackle not just the Ice problem but drug addiction

problems.The local Drug Action

Group, which will be further developed following the drug forum, is a key part of the fight against drugs.Ive got the Mayor, and

Djerriwarrh Health Services CEO Bruce Marshall on board, as well as local businesses like Cook Homes, and local churches.One thing that has increased

conversation about drugs is the recent story featuring Bacchus Marsh on Channel Nine show 60 Minutes.It got people talking

both positive and negative regarding the story, however it did get people talking about drug addiction. One of the speakers at Snr

Constable Ross drug forum will be former Carlton and Essendon footballer Glenn Manton from Outside the Locker Room. Its an organisation that is

aimed at young people, and hell be a guest speaker. Meanwhile, building the

Drug Action Group with interested people from the drug forum is about pro-actively involving the community to take steps forward.Its for people that want to

do something, but are not too sure what.Bookings are not required

to attend the drug forum, however arriving early may be a good idea as the two previous forums have drawn more than 200 people.

Forum to address drug

issues

What do you want to know? Provide us with your thoughts so we

can provide you with the information you seek.

Send to: [email protected]

Moorabool Drug Information Evening A Way Forward MAY 28TH 7.30 9.00PM

Special Guest Speaker

Glenn Manton

Co Founder Outside the Locker Room.

Proudly Supported by

Town Hall Main Street Bacchus Marsh

Email - [email protected] The Moorabool News 28 April, 2015 Page 13Anzac Day 2015Bacchus Marsh

Yendon

The Moorabool News 28 April, 2015 Email - [email protected] Day 2015Ballan Historical Society We Remember Exhibit

Ballan


By Jessica Howard

A century on from the First World War, the infamous red poppy is more evocative than ever. Close to 80 Ballan seniors

gathered in the Ballan Senior Citizen Centre last Thursday, where they laid poppies on a memorial board, symbolis-ing the hundreds of service-men and women from the area who served, and died, in the war.

Hand-knitted by the wom-en of the senior citizens club, the poppies were placed alongside 26 wooden crosses hand-made and painted by the Ballan Mens Shed.

Ballan Senior Citizens president, Ron Callander said months of preparation had gone in to the service through working bees and arts and craft classes.

The ladies met for a few months to make the collec-

tion of crocheted poppies and the Mens Shed spent a whole day making the cross-es, which weve attached the poppies to and theyve turned out really great, he said. The centre fell silent as The

Last Post played, followed by Moorabool Shire Mayor, Cr Paul Tatchell calling the names of soldiers from the district as members placed a poppy on the board of remembrance.

A significant symbol

Anzac Day 2015Blackwood

Navigators

Bungaree

(L-R) Ron Callander and Lee Snaith at the Senior Citizens Service. Photo Helen Tatchell


Environmental Opinion with Tom KingstonTOM

I went to Perth on Satur-day to join the rally against the factory fishing trawler the Geelong Star fishing in Tasmanian waters. The Gee-long Star has been brought to Tasmania by Seafish Tas-mania, a company owned by overseas interests, and is Tasmanian only in name. There were about 200 of us at the rally and most appeared to be recreational fishermen. The prime minister recently said that ships over 100 or so metres would no longer be allowed to fish in Australias waters. This Geelong Star is 95metres and has all the gear the ones over 100 me-tres have. As one of the five speakers said, there is abso-lutely no difference between these ships in what they are capable of doing.The streets of Perth, a small

town south of Launceston, were lined with boats on Sat-urday as the locals brought their boats with them. I have been to a good number of rallies over the years and this one was unlike most of the ones I have been to. This was like attending a rally in support of logging or min-ing. There were few that looked like environmental-ists whatever that look is. John Edwards from the Tuna Club of Tasmania said he would have to acknowl-edge the help of the envi-ronmentalists in this fight. He seemed to say this with a deal of hesitancy. In Tas-mania the Greens and any environmentalists are seen as taking jobs away and the other parties play on this in all their talks. Johns words of thanks to those environ-

mentalists were met with genuine applause, again if somewhat reluctantly. These people were definitely not your normal rally attend-ers, whoever they are. And yet they were fighting for a cause that has been around as long as big business has been edging its way into all government decisions. They were fighting for the dis-empowered and they were fighting with a breadth and depth of knowledge that put the political remarks of the government and big busi-ness to shame. As I said, the thing that

stood out for me about all the speakers at the rally was the knowledge these speak-ers had about the waters around Tasmania and the life in these waters: they were all in the fishing busi-

ness. They were not used to speaking at rallies and yet they spoke. They all agreed that things were in a danger-ous state with fish decline already obvious. As John Ed-wards said, Weve experi-enced localised depletion on our doorstep on at least two, if not three other, occasions through smaller operations than this industrial scale fishing. Or as another of the speakers said, The biggest worry is the stuff that is get-ting taken out of the water which is not necessary. As I said, I was moved by

the depth of knowledge of the waters and fish of Tas-mania by these five speak-ers whose whole lives were based on this livelihood. I have generally put my faith in science and had won-dered why one scientist had

been on television lately saying how good and safe this fishing was. After this rally I can understand the frustration these people feel about this science. Science, it seems, can sometimes go to the highest bidder. I can understand the locals anger when the Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Richard Colbeck, says he trusts the science when, in a recent poll, 90% of his constituents said they did not want the super trawler working in Tasma-nias waters. The last speaker briefly

talked of what this ship, or one like it, had recently done to the people of Africa. A ship like it had taken the fish from the coast of Africa that, until its arrival, was the food for the thousands of small local fisherman and

their families. This speaker surmised that the fish vacuumed up off Tasmania would be frozen, boxed and eventually sold in Africa to these very fishermen and their families. He said the science was not running this effort, but politics.Every one of us needs to

contact our local member and let them know that we do not, under any circum-stances, want any super-trawlers anywhere near our oceans.What is your opinion?

Next Moorabool Environ-ment Group (MEG) meeting - Thursday 30 April, 7.30pm. Lerderderg Library, James Young Room, 215 Main St. Bacchus Marsh. All Welcome

Super trawlers vacuum fish from the ocean

Dear Editor,A Senate select committee

on wind turbines was estab-lished recently to enquire into and report on the appli-cation of regulatory govern-ance and economic impact of wind turbines. The first public hearing was held in Portland on 30 March and was very well attended. To their credit, submissions were received from the Gle-nelg Shire Council, the Ara-rat Rural City Council and the Pyrenees Shire Council. All the representatives gave us a good idea of the prob-lems associated with the ex-pectations the present Victo-rian Labor Government has of local councils, including the fact that, proper controls and monitoring of the wind energy facilities were now the Shires responsibility and that would come at a cost. The expense of paying independent professionals, expert in their fields ap-peared daunting, but if these measures were not carried out, who knows what dam-age could be done regarding non-compliance by the wind energy companies?So far no submission from

the Moorabool Shire to the enquiry has appeared on the Parliamentary web site. It is very important that the rate payers are represented in a fair and balanced way as in the end it is the ratepayers who foot the bill. Angela KearnsMt Egerton

Dear Editor,The men and women who

served in the Australian Im-perial Force were ordinary Australians. They volun-teered to fight in the service of the British Empire and over the four years of war came to be admired for their performance on the battle-fields of Gallipoli and the Middle East to the Western Front. The current focus of the

Anzac Centenary 20142018 national programme is the Gallipoli campaign; from next year, attention will turn to the Western Front and the Middle East. During the Anzac Cente-

nary, we also commemorate a century of service, encom-passing all wars, conflicts and peace operations in which Australia has been involved. The Anzac Centenary na-

tional programme aims to give Australians the oppor-tunity to honour the service and sacrifice of all those who have worn our nations uniform, including the more than 102,000 who have lost their lives.To help local communities

learn more about our war-time history, the Australian Government is supporting a range of commemorative, educational and cultural initiatives through pro-grammes such as the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Pro-gram (ACLGP) and the An-zac Centenary Public Fund (ACPF).

The ACLGP was created to encourage communities to undertake their own Anzac Centenary projects. The Anzac Centenarys

flagship community event, launched by the Prime Min-ister last month, is the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experi-ence. This free travelling exhibition uses a mix of ar-tefacts, audio and film to tell stories of the First World War and Australias ensuing cen-tury of service. It will visit 23 locations around Australia starting in September this year.Senator Michael RonaldsonMinister assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac

Dear Editor,I am writing in response

to Sue Deans letter (MN 14 April). It seems Ms Dean is misinformed. Firstly, the Mayor, when asked his opinion on wind farms, has publically stated he is in fa-vor of wind power. Secondly, the house referred to in Ms Deans letter was not owned by the mayor. In regard to the rate pay-

ers interests Ms Dean im-plies locals are against wind farms, however I would like to say there is evidence that the majority of ratepayers in the area are in favor of clean, renewable energy and would benefit from wind

farms. Recently I attended a public

meeting hosted by a group of farmers from the Crowlands area near Ararat. The three mayors from the three local councils attended; Pyrenees Shire, Ararat and Northern Grampians Shire Council. They had invited their lo-cal MP, Dan Tehan (Liberal for Wannon), with the aim of explaining to him the importance of wind farms to their local economy. The mayors explained the eco-nomic benefits to their shires of the existing wind farms and what was at stake for them if the additional four proposed wind farms did not go ahead. To quote the mayors: new wind farms for their area would total $1.68 billion in capital investment and $100 million injection into the local economy dur-ing construction. $1.5 mil-lion would go every year to host landholders who are doing it tough in the farming industry at the moment with more frequent droughts. $1.3 million in income from rates paid by the wind companies would go to councils. In rela-tion to jobs the wind farms would involve 900 construc-tion jobs and 60 direct and 74 indirect ongoing jobs during the operation of the wind farms over a period of 25 years. In addition to this there is $300,000 a year in community grants and in-vestment and construction opportunities over 25 years delivering in excess of an ad-ditional $400 million. What

council would not be in sup-port of wind farms with this economic gain?The statistics outlined by

the mayors and others at the meeting apply to the approved windfarms in our own shire. It is clear why all progressive, well-informed councilors are in favor of wind energy production.Rose De la cruz for The Moorabool Environment Group( MEG)Ballan

Dear Editor, I am writing in response

to Viv Forbes letter which was explaining her reasons for being against hydrogen fuel as she believes it is a dangerous gas. I would advise Ms Forbes to do a lit-tle more investigation into hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cell engines. There has been a great deal of research and development in this area internationally over the past 30 years.Cars, buses and space rock-

ets are being fuelled by hy-drogen. Chevrolet, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota have all got hydrogen fuel cell cars and buses on the market. In Canada, the USA, Europe and even in Perth WA you can ride in a hydro-gen fuel cell bus they are comfortable, safe and pro-duce no pollution. Like most modern creations, safety is built into hydrogen-fuelled vehicles.

Ms Forbes may also like to google The Hydrogen Economy. This is a concept that has been proposed since the 1970s, originally from the University of Michigan. Iceland is the first country to commit to becoming a hy-drogen economy and aims to do so by 2050. Iceland will use a renewable form of energy - geothermal energy, to produce hydrogen to fuel their economy. As all renewables are be-

coming cheaper and more efficient the process of pro-ducing hydrogen from air or water is becoming more vi-able. The future of hydrogen as a non-polluting, efficient fuel looks bright. Rose De la cruz for The Moorabool Environment Group (MEG)BallanPS. Can I ask why the MN

prints letters from non lo-cals such as Viv Forbes from Queensland? Can we keep to local input please?

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[Name of publication] is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you believe the Standards may have been breached, you may approach the newspaper itself or contact the Council by email ([email protected]) or by phone ([02] 92611930). For further information see www.presscouncil.org.au.

MN_2015-04-28

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