Sunday burning ban lifted - Rural Category ONLY........

Following Councillors' endorsement of the Open Air Burning Local Law 2018, the local law is now in effect.

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Open Air Burning Local Law finalised

I was pleased to achieve a common sense change to the Rural Category of the Yarra Ranges Council Open Air Burning Local Law 2018, the change recognises our Rural Sector landholders and farmer's right to farm and to be able to manage fire prevention and biosecurity risk seven (7) days a week.

The change means that in the Rural and Bushlands categories only, open air burning is for the purpose of fire prevention and biosecurity control.

In the Rural Category only, open air burning is allowed every day with no time constraints, subject to conditions to open air burning.

My Motion/Alternate Recommendation to that on the Agenda at Yarra Ranges Council meeting last Tuesday night 24th July:

"Moved: Cr Child

Seconded: Cr McAllister

That Council, having given notice in the Victoria Government Gazette and public notice of its intention to make the Open Air Burning Local Law 2018, and, having invited and considered all public submissions received:

1. Make the Open Air Burning Local Law 2018 in the form attached to this Report

as Attachment 1 with the following amendments:

(a) insertion on page 5 of the words “or road reserve” within the definition of Council Land.

(b) insertion on page 21 table of the Local Law of ‘Everyday’ to replace ‘Monday to Saturday (inclusive)’.

(c) deletion of the text ‘Sunday’ from page 21 table of the Local Law.

(d) add on pages 19 and 21 item 2c ‘and biosecurity control".

Agenda and Minutes of the Council meeting 24th July 2018.

The Victorian Auditor General's Office Report - Managing the Municipal and Industrial Landfill Levy

The Victorian Auditor General's Office Report - Managing the Municipal and Industrial Landfill Levy.......
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) - Conflict of Interest.
The report highlights a range of concerning anomalies and conflicts of interest in the administration of the Sustainability Fund which the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has now undertaken to address.
The Victorian Auditor General's Office makes 14 recommendations for Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in this audit.

A few interesting points from the report: 

•         Since 1992, Victorians have been paying the Municipal and Industrial Landfill Levy (MILL) when they dispose of waste to landfill. Since 2005, approximately $1.7 billion has been collected through the levy.

•         As at 31 December 2017, the balance of the Sustainability Fund was $562 million. DELWP expects this to be $513 million by 30 June 2018. The balance of the fund was $29 million in 2009–10. 

•         Over the past three years, MILL payments to environmental agencies have increased by 71 per cent—from $76.1 million in 2015–16 to a forecasted $130.5 million in 2017–18. This increase is primarily due to EPA reform funding. Over the next four years, the MILL is expected to collect approximately $215 million a year.

•         The rate of expenditure from the fund against income has been low when compared to other trust funds such as the Community Support Fund and the New South Wales Environment Trust Fund that typically distribute over 90 per cent of their annual income.

•         Until May 2018, public reporting about the activities of the MILL and the fund was limited to appendices to DELWP’s annual report and general information on their website. In May 2018 DELWP published an activity report for 2015–17, Investing in a more sustainable future. It is unclear why it has taken DELWP nearly two years to produce the report. DELWP advised it intends to publish an annual activity report each September after the close of the financial year.


The report highlights a range of concerning anomalies and conflicts of interest in the administration of the Sustainability Fund which the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has now undertaken to address. For example, the role of the Sustainability Fund Committee is to provide impartial, strategic advice to the Minister regarding allocations from the fund. DELWP is now the primary recipient of funding from the fund, receiving $354.13 million or 79 per cent of active program funding (though a proportion of this funding is passed on through grant programs). Two of the five Sustainability Fund Committee members are DELWP employees responsible for policy areas that benefit from funding. As committee members they are also involved in assessing and providing advice on their own budget proposals.

Yarra Ranges Council Yarra Ranges Business

Warburton Street Library

My pleasure today on behalf of Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Cr Len Cox to open the Warburton Street Library in the Yarra Park, Main St Warburton.

Street libraries are a free community resource that aims to complement the great work of the Yarra Junction Library and Eastern Regional Libraries

• Street libraries encourage the whole community to enjoy reading, and makes books more accessible.
• One of the best activities you can do with children, from the time they are babies, is to read with them. Looking at books together helps adults to bond with children and also helps little brains to grow.
• There is nothing more exciting that when children learn to read themselves, which opens up a whole world of knowledge for the rest of their lives.

 I would like to thank the following:

• The Upper Yarra Linking Learning network (lead and supported by Yarra Ranges Council staff), who came up with the idea to install the street library and brought everyone together to make it happen
• The Upper Yarra and Warburton Township Groups, who enthusiastically embraced the idea for their communities
• The students at the Upper Yarra Secondary College who built the street libraries (what a great job they have done!) and their teacher Stephen Lystopad.
• Kate Kite and volunteers at Ben’s Shed, who lead and supported the students with the construction of the library boxes .
• Yarra Junction Library and all of those who have donated books (including those who have brought books along to donate today)
• Yarra Ranges Council who approved, funded and installed the Street Libraries in this public space. Working together across different departments and teams, including: Linking Learning Yarra Ranges Eastern Regional Libraries

Millgrove Street Library Opens..........

At the opening of the Millgrove Street Library - free community book exchange.
"Return a book and take a new one".
A Linking Learning Network Project.
Constructed by students from Upper Yarra Secondary College and Ben's Shed in partnership with Yarra Ranges Council.

'Only Water Down The Drain' - A significant piece of art with an important message.

A fantastic effort by our year 8 students from Upper Yarra Secondary College, a wonderful mural to rimind us all to keep a beautiful Yarra River clean and pristine....
'Only Water Down The Drain'.........
Thank you to DELWP PortPhillip River to the Bay Program, Yarra Ranges Council, Upper Yarra Secondary College and EEK (Environmental Education for Kids).

Click on image to read more- Mural with a message.

Telstra Mobile 'Black Spot' Tower is now switched on

The East Warburton Telstra Mobile 'Black Spot' Tower is now switched on complementing recently commissioned sites at McMahons Creek and Reefton, a total investment of some $750,000 funded by the Federal Government’s $220 million Mobile Black Spot Program delivering improved mobile coverage to regional and remote Australia. The East Warburton, Steels Creek, McMahons Creek and Reefton applications were strongly supported and lobbied for by Yarra Ranges Council and Tony Smith MP - Federal Member for Casey. 
With Tony Smith MP and East Warburton local John Harry.

Millions for bikes........... Upper Yarra Mail Tuesday 17 July 2018.

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Yarra Ranges Council - Carbon Management Program - 2000 Solar Panels

Yarra Ranges Council recently installed its 2000th solar panel. Major Energy Project Manager John Richardson and Executive Officer of Environmental Stewardship Simon Woodland explain what that means for Council's carbon emissions and energy bills.

$6 million secured for Stage 1 of the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination Project.

The Warburton Mountain Bike Destination project is one step closer to becoming a reality after a $3 million funding announcement from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.
Yarra Ranges Council applied for the funding in response to demand for recreation activities, to stimulate tourism and deliver environmental, economic and social benefits to the community by creating job security.
More than 100km of mountain bike trails in the hills surrounding Warburton will be developed as part of the project, injecting $20.4 million annually into the local economy.
The Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Ltd (Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank® Branches) has committed $300,000 to the project and Council has committed an additional $2.7 million to match the $3 million in Federal Government funding. 
Federal Member for Casey Tony Smith MP said the project was a significant investment in building a stronger economy and driving jobs for the long term.
“This is a fantastic outcome for our local community, with the project receiving $3 million to construct over 100 kilometers of mountain bike trails in the hills surrounding Warburton,” Tony Smith said.
“This will have major flow-on benefits across our local community.”
“This project will be a major economic injection for the Upper Yarra Valley, boosting visitation and therefore creating more jobs which are so critically needed.”
“It will be a magnet for tourists from all over Australia, who will stay and shop in our wonderful community and return again and again.”
Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government Dr John McVeigh said the project will deliver significant economic and social benefits to the community.

Click on image for media release......

Back Stairs, Old Warburton Rd, to Warburton.

Great walk this arvo with Teresa Child... Back Stairs, Old Warburton Rd (so quiet), to Warburton...... Back Stairs in great condition. DELWP PortPhillip Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Yarra Ranges Council Warburton, Victoria Visit Warburton - The WaterwheelYarra Ranges Business #wandervictoria

Learn more about 'Ride Yarra Ranges'

Learn more about 'Ride Yarra Ranges' an exciting new destination in the Yarra Ranges....... Yarra Ranges Tourism Yarra Ranges Council Yarra Ranges Business Vic Councils Municipal Association of Victoria DELWP PortPhillip Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningMelbourne Water Parks Victoria CEDA - Warburton Valley Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank Branches Bendigo Bank Visit Warburton - The Waterwheel 

Run-Walk-Paddle Trails in the Warburton Valley