Meeting recap - 13 July, 2021

A tender for the construction of the Mount Evelyn Community Sporting Pavilion will be awarded to Melbcon Pty Ltd.

The pavilion will provide a permanent home for sporting and recreation groups in Mount Evelyn, with facilities for football, netball and cricket for the next fifty years.

The space will be all-inclusive and accessible, suitable for sporting and community events.

Five pre-qualified suppliers were invited to participate in a selective tender for the project earlier this year. Council received five submissions and the evaluation panel recommended Melbcon Pty Ltd’s tender be accepted.

A permit for the construction of the pavilion was discussed and approved by Council at a recent meeting.

Community members on Heath Road, Grandview Road and Huon Road in Belgrave Heights will be notified of Council’s intention to levy a Special Charge to seal their roads, as part of the Federal Government-funded Roads for the Community Program.

Councillors voted to endorse the motion, which will formally advertise Council’s intent to declare a Special Charge at their meeting on 14 September or the closest possible meeting.

The Roads for the Community Program is a $150m Federal Government-funded program to seal roads across Yarra Ranges.

Traditionally, sealing of unsealed roads is done via a Special Charge Scheme, where Council and property owners on the affected roads both contribute to the construction cost, with property owners repaying their contribution through the property rates over 10 years.

The Federal funding will subsidise community member contributions for sealing the roads, dramatically reducing the out-of-pocket costs for property owners and enabling Council to seal more than 100 kilometres of unsealed roads.

Community members subject to a special charge who are experiencing financial hardship, or having trouble with payments, are encouraged to call 1300 368 333 or visit yrc.vic.gov.au/ratesrelief

Community members on Witnish street and Victoria Street in Yarra Junction will be notified of Council’s intention to levy a Special Charge to seal their roads, as part of the Federal Government-funded Roads for the Community Program.

Councillors voted to endorse the motion, which will formally advertise Council’s intent to declare a Special Charge at their meeting on 14 September or the closest possible meeting.

O’Shannassy Ward Councillor, Jim Child, acknowledged that 93 per cent of survey respondents were supportive of sealing the road via a special charge.

The Roads for the Community Program is a $150m Federal Government-funded program to seal roads across Yarra Ranges.

Traditionally, sealing of unsealed roads is done via a Special Charge Scheme, where Council and property owners on the affected roads both contribute to the construction cost, with property owners repaying their contribution through the property rates over 10 years.

The Federal funding will subsidise community member contributions for the sealing the roads, dramatically reducing the out-of-pocket costs for property owners and enabling Council to seal more than 100 kilometres of unsealed roads.

Community members subject to a special charge who are experiencing financial hardship, or having trouble with payments, are encouraged to call 1300 368 333 or visit yrc.vic.gov.au/ratesrelief

Council’s Draft Road Management Plan will be open for community comment, following a review earlier this year.

Council has to review its Road Management Plan following each election. This year’s review of the 2018 Road Management Plan identified opportunities for Council to refine the information and provide clarity and transparency on issues, such as inspections of unsealed roads and drainage pits.

The changes will make the plan clearer for staff to implement and more efficient for the community.

Community members will be able to read the new plan and provide feedback at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au shortly.

Council has approved funding allocations to several projects, which recently received State Government support through the Growing Suburbs Fund.

The most recent round of the Growing Suburbs Fund provided more than $3m for four projects in Yarra Ranges:

• $2.25m for the Chirnside Urban Park
• $539,680 for the Coldstream Station Activation
• $128,000 for the Bailey Road Playspace and
• $150,000 for the Mooroolbark Heights Playspace

As part of the conditions for Growing Suburbs Fund support, Council must match each contribution, dollar-for-dollar.

The Bailey Road Playspace and Mooroolbark Heights Playspace projects were already funded in Council’s 2021-22 Capital Expenditure Program, but Councillors voted to allocate funding to the Chirnside Urban Park and Coldstream Station Activation projects.

This means that all four projects will have funding allocated for the 2021-22 financial year.

Councillors acknowledged the support of the State Government for these community projects, all of which will have a positive impact on health and wellbeing in the community.

Council will write to the State and Federal Governments, requesting further support for recovery from the 9 June storms.

Streeton Ward Councillor, Cathrine Burnett-Wake, put forward an urgent motion to write to the Prime Minister, the Federal Minister for Emergency Management, the Premier of Victoria and the State Member for Police and Emergency Services seeking support.

This motion was passed unanimously.

Council will now write to the State and Federal Governments to:

• Request a review of eligibility for private property owners in bushfire prone areas, to obtain assistance with tree and debris cleanup;
• Try to secure a commitment and timeline for additional funding and resourcing to clean-up the region before the next fire season and;
• Request additional funding to Council to facilitate storm-related community recovery programs.