Lucky 13 in RCoW vote battle

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 28.10.08

Candidates to begin task of winning your support for council

Written by SALLY EVANS.

A FIERCE political campaign is expected to play out in the Rural City of Wangaratta in the coming weeks with 13 candidates nominating for the seven-member council.

Nine men and four women will contest the November council elections following the close of nominations at noon yesterday.

The field consists of mainly Wangaratta-based candidates, while Anthony Griffiths (Greta West), Neville Wright (Moyhu), Amanda Campbell and Kerrin Chambers (Milawa) will represent the outlying regions.

Among the first to put their hand up for the role were incumbent councillor Rozi Parisotto and fresh faces, Lauren O’Neill (27 years) and Lisa McInerney (29 years), who are also the youngest of the group.

Newcomers Doug McPhie, Amanda Campbell, Ron Aldridge, Anthony Griffiths and Kerrin Chambers helped fill out the rest of the field along with incumbent councillors Bernard Young, Neville Wright, Roberto Paino and Ron Webb.

But a surprise nomination came from long-time local resident, Malcolm McKay, who had kept his intentions to run quiet up until yesterday.

Mr McKay, 63, already has a high community profile as a former police detective and the previous operator of North East Security, and is also well-known as the owner of the Council Club Hotel.

Rather than running on a specific platform, Mr McKay said his decision to contest the council elections was driven by an interest in the local community.

"I’ve now got a little bit of free time and want to give back to the town that has given us so much over the years," he said.

Candidates now have one month to win votes, with ballot packs to be mailed to local residents from November 11 and the election closing on November 28.

Wangaratta car parking overhaul

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 28.10.08

Council to probe new areas and fee structure

Written by philip nolan.

A MAJOR overhaul of Wangaratta’s city centre car parking is on the way.

A new council plan details development of existing under-utilised car parks, development of new parking areas, identification of possible extra sites and some changes in car parking fee structure.

Council’s infrastructure services director, Stephen Onions, told last week’s council meeting that discussions on car parking had been going on since 2005.

He said there was a perception that parking in the city centre was inadequate and that the new strategy set out a process for managing parking needs on a staged basis.

He said the first phase involved consolidation and efficiency improvements in existing car parks, some of which had been developed on an "ad hoc" basis.

"Comments regarding parking spaces not being available for shoppers, business people and office workers necessitates a review of time limits.

"It may prove to be advantageous to allow inexpensive, longer term parking on the fringe of the central area with possibly pricier, shorter term parking in heavily trafficked areas," Mr Onions said.

He said that a review of parking fees could be considered a high priority if the "currently held perception" that parking fees were too high was correct.

"It appears from working group meetings that competing towns with the immediate area offer more attractive options where car parking is concerned.

"This, allied to the review of parking time limits, could significantly change the parking patterns currently experienced."

Parking areas which are under-utilised and could be developed include the end of Bickerton Street, Sydney beaches and the end of Baker St.

Mr Onions said there were a number of areas including adjacent to the new Aldi supermarket and adjacent to the Co-Store which could be redeveloped for parking.

"When captured as development sites, it may be possible to maximise public and private parking opportunities including possible multi-deck car parking," he said.

The three stages of the new strategy are set out over the next five years and council formally adopted the plan last week.

Anita Laurence’s landscapes

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 28.10.08

KING Valley’s own painter laureate, Anita Laurence, has just opened a new exhibition of her richly colored landscapes of the local region.

Her paintings have become celebrated for the way they capture not only the landscapes of the King Valley, but its cultural heritage and the changing lifestyles of its inhabitants.

Her exhibition at the Muse Gallery of Milawa, which runs until November 28, is a large body of work painted over the last year.

"I’m lucky to be able to work meditatively in my studio, as it provides me with time to be very inward," Anita said.

"My work is on heavy paper that I engrave patterns into, inscribing it with various tools such as burnishers, screws and forks.

"The thick paper readily takes up and retains the rich colors of the concentrated inks I use, and I build the paint up in layers so that some of the under paint shows through."

Anita’s works not only reflect the changing seasons, it shows the agricultural history of the King Valley, from the turn of the century farmhouses flanked by water tanks on stands, to old orchards and, later, tobacco kilns.

Her works inspire people to look with fresh eyes at what’s around them.

"The best thing is when people see what I see in the landscape," she said.

"People who drive through the valley every day tend to stop looking.

"These pictures make people take in what’s around them.

"There is so much in this landscape: the seasons, the days, the elements, and painting it is a way for me to explore and put down colors and textures."

Muse Gallery of Milawa director George Piercy cordially invites people to come and enjoy "Anita Laurence: New Works".

RCoW CEO given another two years

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 24.10.08

Written by PHILIP NOLAN.

RURAL City of Wangaratta chief executive officer, Doug Sharp, has been given a two year extension of his contract in the municipality’s top job.

Mr Sharp, a former shire secretary with the old Shire of Wangaratta and later chief executive officer with the Alpine Shire, took up his current role with the rural city in April 2006.

The initial appointment was due to expire on April 24 next year, with councillors having the option to extend the appointment for a further two years "at the mutual discretion of both parties".

However, this action needed to be taken no later than November 24 this year.

With council about to go into caretaker mode because of the coming elections, council needed to make a formal decision at its meeting this week.

The move to extend Mr Sharp’s appointment a further two years won unanimous support from councillors, with Cr Don Joyce saying Mr Sharp had done an outstanding job in the city’s key role.

He was supported by Cr Bernard Young, who said that Mr Sharp’s vision and his capacity to be innovative had produced many benefits for the city.

Mayor Roberto Paino agreed, saying Mr Sharp had already made "an outstanding contribution" to the city.

Councillors have no say on market move

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 22.10.08

Don’t blame us for lack of market consultation

Written by philip nolan.

THE Rural City of Wangaratta’s elected councillors have not had any input into the decision to force the city’s Sunday market from its popular Wareena Park location.

And the council has laid the blame for the lack of consultation with stallholders over the issue squarely at the feet of the market organisers.

The issue was not raised on the official agenda of last night’s council meeting at Tarrawingee, but quickly surfaced during public question time.

Three members of the gallery quizzed the council over the lack of consultation on the decision to move the market and also the reasons behind the decision.

Rosa Bandera asked why consultation on the issue had only been between the council and the organisers and not the stallholders.

She said that there was strong opposition to the planned move to Avian Park, and that 900 signatures opposing the move had been obtained in just four hours at the market last Sunday.

Andrew Smith said that the complete lack of consultation with stallholders had meant it was impossible to address the problems which council claimed were behind the need to move the market.

"It seems that the decision was just rubber-stamped by council with no opportunity to work through the problems," he said.

"Many people chose to walk to the market as a Sunday outing, but the council is now forcing them to use their cars. What is the sense in that?"

Lauren O’Neill asked why council had built the Market Pavilion at Apex Park if it was zoned the same as Wareena Park.

City mayor Roberto Paino said the decision to move the market had not come before councillors for discussion.

"It was an operational issue and was not discussed by councillors," he said.

City chief executive officer, Doug Sharp, said there "had been nothing to consult about".

"The temporary permit to run the market at Wareena Park was due to expire, and because of the zoning we could not issue a further permit," he said.

"This was not a council decision.

"There was simply no other option.

"We dealt with the organisers of the market in working out a solution, and it was up to them to consult with the stallholders.

"They are the organisers of the event."

Mr Sharp admitted that the zoning aspect of the Apex Park pavilion had been an "oversight" by council.

"However, in our coming planning review, that will change," he said

Farmer’s bid to rejoin council

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 22.10.08

Rural and urban issues familiar ground for Anthony

Written by JACQUIE SCHWIND.

ANTHONY Griffiths believes his involvement in many varied groups gives him the ability to represent both rural and urban needs on the Rural City of Wangaratta council.

The 39 year old, Greta West cattle farmer and former rural city councillor from 1997 to 2003 has decided to stand as a candidate for the November elections.

"I’ve had a lot of community encouragement which has been building all year," Mr Griffiths said.

He was involved in the rural city’s 2030 Community Vision, is deputy chairman of the Wangaratta Water Advisory Committee to the North East Region Water Authority, belongs to groups including the Greta Valley Landcare Group and the Greta CFA and is a graduate of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program.

Mr Griffiths believes in increased community consultation, improved rural representation, a balance between lifestyle and production in rural planning policy and local government responsibility in easing the burden of the drought and financial hardship.

"I think it’s very important we continue to have community focus, valuing and supporting our community," he said.

"We need to have a good look at some of the planning policies particularly happening in rural areas.

"I’ve got a good understanding of rural issues in rural areas which is something lacking in the current council as a lot of councillors are from urban areas."

Mr Griffiths said a major problem in land planning policy was the "one size fits all" attitude towards rural areas across the municipality.

"If it’s below 40ha you can’t build a house in rural areas essentially," he said.

Mr Griffiths said people wanting to subdivide land had been frustrated and people who had bought blocks in good faith, couldn’t build homes on them.

He believed the Rural City of Wangaratta’s big issues were encapsulated in the 2030 report, and he wants to see the ideas and directions in the report actually followed through.

"I’d hate to see it go on the shelf," he said.

And, Mr Griffiths, said council should be playing a more direct role in helping those doing it tough in rural and city areas by steps such as rate capping and better support services.

Bright ideas flow to help ‘battlers’

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 22.10.08

Car exchange scheme, weather refuge for pensioners mooted

Written by JACQUIE SCHWIND.

A CAR exchange scheme and an extreme weather refuge for pensioners were two bright ideas which arose from sessions designed to give people on limited incomes a chance to have their say.

‘Coffee Shop Conversations’, three sessions organised by Upper Murray Family Care and held at Wangaratta’s Idyl Book Café last week, were attended by a variety of people taking up the opportunity to informally chat about their financial difficulties and suggest ways financial hardships in the community could be addressed.

Session co-ordinator, David Newport, said those who came for a chat were almost an equal mix of men and women.

"There were about 15 individuals and some came back again for other sessions," Mr Newport said.

"The youngest would have been round about 30 and the oldest in their early 70s.

"There were some aged pensioners, a couple in public tenancy, others who were home owners having a bit of a struggle, a couple of self-funded retirees and at least one person in business, self-employed."

Suggested at the sessions was a community-managed car exchange scheme whereby eligible people could replace old vehicles in need of costly repairs with a restored, roadworthy and registered vehicle converted to run on gas.

It was suggested the scheme could be linked to a savings program to help meet future registration, maintenance and basic insurance costs.

Mr Newport was impressed by the concept, saying for many people it was an absolute necessity to have a car available.

"We’re a very much rural area, we don’t have any public transport options and a lot of people work casual shifts and work odd times.

"It’s such a universal idea, it would be really good to see how far we can push it."

Also raised was a weather refuge for pensioners - somewhere public they could keep cool or warm in extreme weather if unable to deal with temperatures or bear the cost of keeping heaters or cooling on all day at home.

"A number of people have noticed in the Wangaratta Plaza elderly couples sitting on chairs there for hours on end.

"It would be a nice way of making life civilised for people who need a bit of consideration.

"I’m going to put some of the ideas to my agency and a couple of networks and it might be worth advocating one of them as a future project."

Mr Newport said participants’ feedback about Coffee Shop Conversations was positive and he hoped the sessions could be repeated.

"It’s quite an easy and cost-effective way of reaching people.

"They thought it was very good, they had a really good chance to have their say and they would like to do it again in the future."

People who would like to be advised of, or get involved with, any future financial hardship discussions/projects can leave their name and number with Upper Murray Family Care, 57234000.

Italian honors for King Valley vigneron, Gino Corsini

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 22.10.08

A KING Valley vigneron has been honored with a prestigious award in his home country.

Gino Corsini, who operates La Cantina Winery, has won an award from Lucchesi nel mondo, an association of ex-patriots born in the province of Lucca in Tuscany, Italy.

The award recognises people who have excelled out of Lucca and only 15 people are honored each year.

Mr Corsini, who was one of two awardees from Australia, travelled to Lucca with his four children to receive his gold medal and certificate.

They were special guests at a dinner attended by over 700 people who gathered to welcome the medal recipients.

The official presentation was carried out at a luncheon the following day.

On the third day, the Corsini family walked with members of the Tuscan Club of Melbourne in a candle lit procession as part of the Santa Crosse festival.

The festival was broadcast live on local television.

Fun community day for Typo Station

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 15.10.08

VICTORIAN non-profit youth organisation Evolve at Typo Station (Evolve) will celebrate its 14th annual Bush Fair on Saturday, October 25.

The fair will be held on the Typo Station property, located south east of Wangaratta on Rose River Road, Cheshunt.

Evolve’s CEO Paul Stolz said: "We hope that the community enjoys the Bush Fair as much as we do and knows how much their coming along to Bush Fair year after year means to our organisation.

"We are so grateful to all those who help out with organising the event, those who volunteer their time and skills, perform at no cost, hold stalls and demonstrations and show their support by coming along."

There is a full day of activities planned for the Bush Fair to appeal to young and old, with amateur sheath tossing championships, cross cut saw competitions, bush poetry, local produce and craft stalls, wine tasting, children’s activities, games and much more.

The Bush Fair promises to be a fun-filled community day, offering family and friends a taste of what Evolve at Typo Station has to offer.

Gates open at 11am (no pets or BYO) and close at 11pm.

Entry to the fair is $5 per head, with a free sausage and bread upon arrival, and there will be plenty of tempting food and drink to choose from throughout the day.

With camping facilities available onsite, the Bush Fair is a perfect excuse for a weekend camping trip in the bush.

Organisers expect the fair to attract close to 1000 people from across Victoria.

With a significant amount of local community support, Evolve hopes to raise $10,000 this year to assist as many young people as possible with their programs in 2009.

During the fair, there will be many prizes to be won, ranging from accommodation and gift vouchers to local hand made items, some made by participants in Evolve’s programs.

A number of local businesses and organisations will be holding stalls at the fair.

Anyone looking for more information on the Bush Fair can see the Evolve website at www.evolve.org.au or call (03) 94162322.

Melbourne Rail/Bus service starts November 8

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 15.10.08

Rail commuters’ short term pain for long term train gain

Written by HARVEY DIKE.

A $500 million upgrade of the North East rail line promises long term gain, but it won’t be without short term pain for local commuters.

Works to upgrade the broad gauge line to standard gauge will see train services between Seymour and Albury replaced with buses from November 8.

And V/Line said yeserday that it could last for as long as 18 months.

It has also confirmed that the bus service:

• will not check in luggage, meaning only carry-on is allowed;

• has no first class seating; and

• no bicycles will be allowed to be transported.

Travellers are being advised to allow up to 30 minutes extra for the journey to and from Melbourne.

Twice daily XPT services can be used, and while 68 seats at V-Line prices will be available, reservations will have to be made.

But according to V/Line spokesman Daniel Maloney, the 18 month wait for the project’s completion will be well worthwhile.

"The improved track will mean that trains will run at normal speeds between Albury and Melbourne, and that the old travel times can once again operate," he said.

"The track has been in a very poor state, and we will be able to remove the speed limits that we were forced to impose.

"As well, the track shutdown time will be used to refurbish three locomotives and 15 carriages, as well as convert them to standard gauge, so travel will be much more comfortable."

As well as the upgrade involving conversion of the 200 kilometres of track between Seymour and Albury to standard gauge, new platforms will be built at some stations, and a totally new station west of Wodonga will remove 11 level crossings through the centre of that city.

Travel times on the Melbourne to Sydney rail corridor will therefore be further reduced.

Brian Dale of the Australian Rail Track Corporation said yesterday he is confident the new track will bring further benefits.

"Because it is to be a high quality track, it will be much quieter, it will require less maintenance, and our monitoring facilities will ensure that noise never becomes an issue with people living nearby," he said.

"The crews involved in the work are very experienced, and we are confident the project will be delivered on time and on budget."

However, both spokesmen emphasised the need for people to continue to exercise extreme caution at level crossings during the works.

"It is wrong to think the rail lines will be less busy because the broad gauge is out of action," Mr Maloney said.

"It is possible that the opposite will be true.

"The standard gauge will still be carrying the XPT and goods trains, and there will be even more activity on that line during construction."

Mr Dale agreed, saying that construction traffic would be using the old broad gauge right up to the time it was dismantled, and that people still had to check both lines.

"And we won’t be starting the project at Seymour and working our way north," he said.

"We’ll be active at various stages all along the track, work trains will sometimes have to use the old broad gauge, and there are times when we’ll be operating around the clock."

No dam hope for 50 years

buuprvkbezbxSource: Wangaratta Chronicle - 15.10.08

State’s 50 year water plan rules out enlargement of lakes Buffalo, William Hovell

Written by SALLY EVANS.

A DRAFT water plan released by the State Government has quashed hopes of enlarging lakes Buffalo or William Hovell in the next 50 years.

The northern region sustainable water strategy puts forward 57 proposals to improve water management for farmers, communities and the environment in northern Victoria.

But it has ruled out the development of Big Buffalo near Myrtleford, and expansion of Lake William Hovell in the King Valley, as a means of offering water security to the North East.

The report, released last week, states the Murray-Darling Basin Cap prevents the creation or expansion of dams in the region, and would provide limited benefit to water users.

An enlarged Lake Buffalo would reduce water supply to New South Wales and South Australia, with increased use in the Ovens system coming at the expense of existing entitlement-holders on the Murray River.

"There would also be environmental impacts, including on the Living Murray icon sites," it reads.

"The same types of impacts would occur if new dams were built elsewhere in the North East, or if existing dams, such as Lake William Hovell, were expanded."

The water strategy proposes more water for farmers through reformed irrigation practices and further environmental flows through major infrastructure upgrades.

Water Minister Tim Holding said continuing drought and potential climate change impacts meant Victoria faced a future with less rainfall, and it was vital to take action to better manage water resources.

"We are putting in place a 50-year plan for how water is managed to ensure that this continues to be a prosperous part of Victoria and we continue to improve the health of the Murray-Darling Basin," he said.

"The draft strategy considers the potential impact of climate change and how this may translate to actual water allocations for all water users and local river systems.

"This highlights the need to act now - to do nothing and pray for rain is not an option."

The draft strategy is available at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au, with public submissions invited until December 12.

Medical transport improved for rural areas

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 13.10.08

Written by STEVEN BURKE.

PATIENTS in need of transport to medical facilities now have more options after Wangaratta Red Cross acquired a new patient transport vehicle on Friday.

Local volunteer, Hilda Hines, said it would be of great benefit to the community as there are a lot of elderly residents in town who’ve lost their licences and have to get to medical facilities.

"It can become very difficult when you get older and are not in a position to afford a taxi," she said.

Wangaratta Red Cross was able to acquire the vehicle with money left through a bequest by Tallangatta resident, Kathleen Kennedy.

Ms Kennedy’s bequest was left to the Red Cross unit at Tallangatta which decided to pass the money on to Wangaratta as there is already a patient transport service in Tallangatta.

Red Cross state manager of community programs, Diana Carroll, said the vehicle would be used to transport patients as far as Melbourne for medical appointments.

"A lot of the people who use this service require chemotherapy and radiotherapy," she said.

"It might be used for one or two days a week going down to Peter Mac House in Melbourne and will also be used to transport patients to Wodonga for treatment."

And while happy with the acquisition, Ms Hines said the Red Cross was in need of more drivers to man the vehicle.

"We have five drivers at the moment," she said.

"But we really need more people who are prepared to undergo a police check and do some training."

To register your interest as a driver, visit Wangaratta Red Cross at 20B Chisolm Street.

Eco Village tourism for Lake William Hovell

Sourse: Wangaratta Chronicle - 13.10.08

G-MW have dam accommodation plan, but credit crunch a set back

Written by JEFF ZEUSCHNER.

COMMERCIAL accommodation remains on the cards for Lake William Hovell.

But the current global financial crisis may delay any immediate plans.

Goulburn-Murray Water has confirmed it has identified a preferred developer for an eco-tourism type accommodation development which will be a first at the picturesque storage in the King Valley.

However, G-MW manager for strategic and stakeholder affairs, Garry Smith, said the current credit crunch may make it difficult for the developer to attract an investor in that type of recreational and leisure market at present.

"We had a great deal of interest when we approached the open market for ideas for a commercial accommodation development in keeping with the lake’s tranquil, bushland environment," he said.

"We know there is a good opportunity, but we’re just waiting to see what happens in the market.

"We won’t be putting the matter on ice though."

He said going back to the market for further expressions of interest was a future possibility.

It is understood the commercial accommodation being pursued is of an ‘eco-lodge’ style, which would blend in with the thick alpine forest and make use of the passive recreation, such as fishing and bushwalking.

G-MW had previously said that a caravan park or lakeside resort was not considered a desirable alternative.

The authority said it is always looking at ways it can work with local communities and authorities, and that any specific private development proposal for the dam would be subject to consultation with the Rural City of Wangaratta and the wider community.

Rural city economic development manager, Graham Nickless, said council had had contact from a party who had submitted an expression of interest to G-MW.

A lack of commercial accommodation in the King Valley had been identified in a 2002 masterplan undertaken for council.

Mr Nickless said accommodation could take advantage of the picturesque valley, with its many wineries, burgeoning gourmet produce, wonderful bushland and trout fishing.