Through my strong advocacy in the Council Chamber Yarra Ranges Council will commence road construction works along Cement Creek Road (The Yarra River Bridge to the Redwood Forest Car Park), on Monday 28 September for a period of approximately 3-4 weeks (weather permitting).
The existing access from the bridge to the Redwood Forrest is currently an unformed track. The aim of these works is to upgrade the road to an acceptable standard to cater for the traffic associated with the forest post COVID. The works include shaping the road and drainage as well as providing a solid road base.
It is also proposed to upgrade the bridge and Parks Victoria proposes to install toilets at the forest.
Re Elect Jim Child, known and trusted to deliver. ....
Just a reminder that the Warburton Water World water will be
turned on Monday 28th September. .... Everyone, please abide by the COVID-19
Stage 4 Restrictions. Let's hope the weather warms up. Stay safe everyone.
Authorised by Jim Child 265 Tarrango Rd WESBURN 3799. Phone
0419550523.
Thank you so much to all our emergency services, volunteers, community and businesses for all your efforts and support during this difficult time. .... Cr Jim Child.
Thank you so much to all agencies and community involved in the continuing search for young William Wall. From all of us our thoughts and love go out to William's family, we sincerely hope for a positive outcome. .... Stay safe everyone, we're all thinking of you.
Splash Parks including Warburton Water World will open on 28 September. Current social distancing rules still apply. For more information stage 4 restrictions visit DHHS website: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels...
Because of the current Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions my normal Monday morning 'Drop-In' sessions at the Yarra Junction Community Link continue to be suspended.
Please don't hesitate to call me anytime on 0408079227 or 92946800
. Email: crjimchild@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
. Facebook message via this page.
Please stay safe everyone, together we WILL beat this. ....... Jim.
From 11.59pm tonight Melbourne, including Yarra Ranges
moves from Stage Four to the First Step of the roadmap for reopening, with
modest changes including more social interaction and more time outside. Social bubbles begin, allowing those living alone or single parents to have one other person in their home. Exercise is extended to two hours split over a maximum of two sessions, and you will be able to use that time outside for social interaction with one other person or the members of your household. Playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment reopen, libraries will be able to open for contactless click and collect and the curfew will begin at 9pm as we move into warmer months. Council is working with DHHS, State Government, Municipal Association of Vic and neighbouring Councils to address a satisfactory Regional reclassification solution for our rural areas. But at the end of the day it's the Premier's call on the advice of the Chief Health Officer. Thank goodness the case numbers are coming down. Yarra Ranges Council
We must open up very carefully, we do not want a repeat of coming out of the first wave. Reclassifying the the Upper Yarra as regional Victoria would achieve that careful transition to COVID-19 Normal. And businesses could open up ahead of Metropolitan Melbourne.
Community organisations that are supporting people who have been impacted by COVID-19 are encouraged to apply through the Small Grants Program.
Council welcomes applications for activities which seek to build social connection and community resilience. Activities may include those which connect people to the services and information they need, provide training for staff, attract donations and volunteers, or deliver group activities online. Funding is also available to support volunteers who are contributing to the relief effort.
Applicants are eligible to apply for up to $1000. We will endeavor to respond with an outcome to application within two weeks to applications that are responding to the impacts of the pandemic.
To see if you are eligible, please refer to the Program Guidelines.
Council is again urging the State Government to reclassify non-urban areas of Yarra Ranges as regional, with rural areas caught up in the metropolitan Melbourne lockdown.
Councillors endorsed an urgent motion brought forward by Cr Jim Child at their Tuesday, 8 September meeting, calling on the State Government to reclassify the Ryrie and O’Shannassy Wards – and rural communities in the Chandler Ward - as regional and therefore be excluded from Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions.
Ryrie Ward Councillor, Fiona McAllister, said that regional areas were caught up in the metropolitan Melbourne region’s lockdown because of Yarra Ranges’ status as an interface Council.
“We have one of the most unique Council areas in the state, due to our mix of urban areas, the hills in the Dandenong Ranges and the regional towns in the Yarra Valley, and this is something we’re proud of,” Cr McAllister said.
“Unfortunately, it also means that our regional areas have been unfairly swept into the metropolitan classification for COVID-19 restrictions.
“Over the year, we have consistently had very low case numbers in the Yarra Valley, which are more reflective of regional Victoria rates.
“Our towns are isolated from Melbourne and we remain a rural community with a low-risk lifestyle, so we’re hoping the Premier actions our request swiftly.”
O’Shannassy Ward Councillor, Jim Child, said that while the Stage 4 restrictions were suitable for urban areas, they didn’t suit outer regions like the Upper Yarra.
“The Yarra Ranges being a metropolitan Melbourne Council area makes sense only if you’re in our suburban areas of Mooroolbark, Lilydale, Chirnside or Kilsyth – Warburton, Millgrove and our outer areas are about as far from metropolitan as you can get,” Cr Child said.
“We don’t have the access to services, public transport or the population density in O’Shannassy, Ryrie or Chandler that our metropolitan neighbours do, and while we understand the blanket approach by the State Government to enforce restrictions, our regional areas have been suffering as a result.
“Being reclassified as regional Victoria wouldn’t end restrictions in our wards, but it would provide some much-needed relief for our community members, acknowledging our low transmission rates and rural setting.
Chandler Ward Councillor, Tony Stevenson, said that agriculture businesses, local tradespeople and businesses across Yarra Ranges’ regional areas had been badly impacted by Stage 4 restrictions.
“The last six weeks haven’t been easy for anyone in Victoria – we’ve seen and heard of businesses struggling to make ends meet, mental health calls increasing and people doing it tough in every corner of the metropolitan Melbourne area,” Cr Stevenson said.
“Unfortunately, because of our metropolitan Melbourne classification, our agricultural businesses, local tradespeople and other businesses have been particularly impacted.
“Our local producers compete with businesses in the regional Victoria bubble, which are currently subject to fewer restrictions on operating, making it difficult for our businesses to bring food to the table or to re-enter the market when Stage 4 restrictions ease.
“There has been a great level of support from the State and Federal Government to help us navigate lockdown, of course, but having the regional parts of Yarra Ranges under the same lockdown rules as the inner city is wearing our communities thin.
“Between the regional make-up of our outer towns and our low case rate through the pandemic, we hope that the State Government earnestly considers our proposal.”
Listen to Mayor of Yarra Ranges, Cr Richard Higgins, talk about Council's position on the reclassification below:
Community Sports Sector Short-term Survival Package $1,000 Community Club Grants ....
A collaboration between the Yarra Ranges Council Recreation & Active Living Team and our sporting and community groups across the municipality. The attached lists all of the successful groups, 151 community groups and four local associations securing funding from the State Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program.
The 151 groups received an initial $1000 which was then followed by a further $500 for each club, totalling $226,500 from the State Government to our sport and recreation community groups. In addition four of our associations received an initial $2000 followed by a further $1000 coming to a total of $12,000
What is also pleasing is that Yarra Ranges Council was only second to Greater Geelong in comparison to other Council areas for funding received through the program.
The Recreation & Active Living Team is following up with the clubs that did not apply the first time around and hopefully we can support them as well.
This is a great outcome for the community through the fantastic work from the Council's Recreation & Active Living team to proactively assist clubs with their applications to the program.
play grounds will be open from Tuesday 15th September in line with the limited easing of COVID-19 Stage 4 restrictions that allow play grounds to open. The construction/security fencing will be down on Tuesday and the Play grounds open.
At Tuesday's Yarra Ranges Council Forum meeting. COVID-19 Update - Increase Services during COVID-19 Restrictions. An example of just two of Council's 120 services.
We’ve heard rumours circulating online that equestrian access at Wesburn Park will be changed or reduced to provide more space for mountain biking in coming years.
This is not the case.
We spoke to the Wesburn community – including members of the Pony Club, Adult Riders Club and community members involved in horse riding – earlier this year, so we could start preparing a Draft Master Plan for the park.
This draft plan has not been completed yet, and we look forward to sharing the draft with the community later this year, for more consultation.
However, we want to make it clear that Council has no plans to reduce access to Wesburn Park for horse riders.
Wesburn Park has been a public park since the late-1800s and the equestrian community has used the park in different ways for most of its history.
This history is as important to us at Council as it is to the community, who have highlighted with us the need to ensure equestrian activities at Wesburn Park continue into the future.
While we’re looking at ways to better integrate mountain biking in Wesburn through the Master Plan conversations - to complement the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination project - we understand that this is a concern for people in the equestrian community, who worry about whether these activities will impact one another.
We’re looking at ways we can bring more recreation activities to Wesburn Park, while respecting the current use of the site, the clubs that call the park home and the people who have been passionate about this area for decades.
No decisions have been made about any changes to Wesburn Park, and the community will continue to be heavily involved in creating the Master Plan. We look forward to having more conversations about the future of the park when the draft is shared towards the end of the year, including direct conversations with user groups, including the Pony Club and Adult Riders Club.
In the meantime, we encourage community members to get in touch with our Recreation and Active Living Team on 1300 368 333 or at recreation@yarraranges.vic.gov.au, especially if they have questions or concerns about Wesburn Park that we can help address.
