The Adviser 1507

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■ Letters to the Editor pages 18,19+20 ■ Classifieds | pages 26+27 /SheppartonAdviser GREATER SHEPPARTON SCHOOL AT HOME? HOW TO THRIVE PAGE 16

No 1:1506

DRAFT BUDGET 2020/2021

WHERE DOES OUR RATE MONEY GO? PAGES 10+11

MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS Three pages of gift ideas

PAGE 23,24+25

TREAT MUM AND THE FAMILY THIS PAGE 14+15 MOTHER’S DAY Fab Food

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

www.sheppadviser.com.au | ADVERTISING HOTLINE: 5832 8900

Successful Mall can reap huge benefits to community Business the key to Mall success IT is almost two years to the day since Greater Shepparton City Council released four designs to revitalise Shepparton’s Maude Street Mall.

Continued on page 22 Letters to the Editor pages 18,19+20

MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR STUDENTS AFFECTED BY ISOLATION... GOTAFE client engagement officer Skills & Jobs, Debbie Quinn, client engagement officer, Diane Pungitore, client services officer, Monica Kelly, client engagement officer, Ildi Kerry and client engagement officer, William Vise. Photo: Supplied. STORY PAGE 22

GOTAFE – Stepping up for community

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NEWS

Shepparton Mall design needs work The current design needs a rethink to avoid spending a huge amount of money on a project that may not work for Shepparton as it must.

CONCERNED THE MALL WILL NOT MEET EXPECTATION… Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, John Anderson. Photo: Supplied.

A response by the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry re the Mall revitalisation The Mall Revitalisation Plan has now proceeded past the community consultation phase without sufficient contribution from

stakeholders, CBD traders and Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

Over social media and calling various traders around the Mall, the SCCI is asking for more work on the design.

Comments such as ‘the Mall design is flawed’, ‘why remove all the trees’, ‘where is the community hub’, ‘why not use the park under the Telstra Tower’, ‘how will this design bring back traders’, ‘it’s cluttered’, ‘why have traffic in front of the village cinema, this is a safety issue’, are the questions that have been referred to the SCCI. For the longer term the Mall design needs

to include a more natural feel with an avenue of shady trees, adequate parking, slow traffic straight through the centre from Fryers to High St., and areas for business and commerce to thrive.

A simpler outcome would be to replicate the success of Fryers Street with cafes and restaurants mixed with retail, commercial business, a community hub, parking, careful traffic flow and shade trees.

If this concept can be achieved, business success will follow.

The design needs to have elements that bring excitement, passion, and a need to want to be

part of a potentially dynamic boulevard design that can take the CBD into the future and bring back a mix of business and a community hub.

The current design needs a rethink to avoid spending a huge amount of money on a project that may not work for Shepparton as it must.

“It’s cluttered and far too busy,” John said.

“We need a forward thinking, dynamic plan that is going to bring economic activity back to the Mall. Stakeholders, traders and SCCI are disappointed. Where now?” John asks.

“Council has listened to representation but not heard the important message,” he said.

Time is running out to register your pools and spas SINCE December last year, it has been mandatory for property owners in Greater Shepparton where a swimming pool or spa is located to register their pool or spa with Council.

The safety regulations were introduced by the State Government in an attempt to reduce the incidence of drownings of young children.

Once residents have registered their pool with Council, which can be done by visiting Council’s website or calling Council, owners are also required to obtain and lodge a compliance certificate for the safety of their pool or spa barrier every four years.

Once a pool or spa is registered with Council by the land owner, Council will contact the owners with advice on how to proceed with their compliance certificate.

Pool and spa owners in Greater Shepparton have until 1 June 2020 to

register their pool or spa with Council.

The initial cost to register a pool or spa in Greater Shepparton is $79.20 and is payable at registration.

“We understand there is plent y happening in the lives of our Greater Shepparton residents at the moment, but we ask you to please take the time to register your pool or spa and thank you for your understanding,” Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Seema Abdullah said.

It is an offence not to register a pool or spa. Under the State Government legislation, fines will be issued for pools and spas not registered by 1 June 2020.

To access a list of frequently asked questions and a step-by-step example of how to register your pool or spa, please visit www.greatershepparton. com.au/bpi/building /pools-and-spas/ pools-and-spas-registration

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 3

NEWS

Supporting local business through Response G R E AT E R S heppa r ton R e sp on s e is a digital communit y that helps local businesses to raise their profile with new local customers, to connect and collaborate with each other, and for local suppliers to connect to local procurement opportunities.

To register your business and to f i nd suppor t du ri ng t hese t r y i ng times where COVID-19 has created a business downturn, simply go to the Greater Sheppar ton Response

website and register an account. www. greatersheppartonresponse.com.au T he communit y noticeboard provides leads to where members of the community having difficulties, can go for assistance.

Greater Sheppar ton Response is supported by the Greater Shepparton C it y C ou n c i l a n d a nu m b e r of community and business organisations operating in the district.

Subsidies drive Murray-Darling Basin extractions as environment loses

LOOKING AT EXTRACTION DATA… Professor Richard Kingsford from the University of New South Wales. Photo: Supplied

T H E Au s t ra l i a n G over n m e nt ’s $ 4 billion irrigation efficiency program has led to irrigators who received irrigation infrastructure subsidies extracting up to 28 percent more water in the MurrayDarling Basin (MDB) than those who did not receive any funds – affecting the environment and other users, new research has found.

Water management experts across disciplines from Universit y of New South Wales, The University of Adelaide, Australian National University and the Environmental Defenders Office examined the impact of taxpayer-funded irrigation i n f r a s t r u c t u r e up g r ad e s o n wat e r extractions and environmental water recovery in the MDB. Their findings identified a ‘rebound effect’ of increased water extractions, coinciding with the Australian Government’s investment in irrigation infrastructure upgrades.

Combined with documented concerns around measurement of water and compliance, this raises serious doubts about the true extent to which

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envi ron mental f lows are increasing at a catchment and basin level, as a consequence of the subsidised upgrades.

The subsidies aim to help irrigators upgrade their infrastructure technology to save water and return some savings to the environment, in a bid to increase stream flows and ultimately reinstate a sustainable level of extraction in the MDB. Study co-author and environmental scientist Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at U NSW Sydney, said “The ‘buyback’ of irrigation water has put water back into the rivers, but our research found the subsidised infrastructure program could be ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ by enabling more water extractions than water recovered through the efficiency program.”

Compounding the problem, the study used publicly available water data that suggested reductions in extractions from the MDB, supposedly commensurate with increases in environmental flows may have been overestimated, particularly in the Northern MDB.

NEWS

A MUCH-NEEDED EXTENSION… The Federal Government has extended the First Home Owners Grant for another 12 months.

Photo: Danielle Cox.

First Home Owner Grant to be extended THE Victorian Government is extending the $20,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) for people buying or building a new home in regional Victoria for an extra 12 months, in another measure to support Victorians through the Coronavirus pandemic.

Treasurer, Tim Pallas last week announced that the regional grant, which had been due to end in June this year, will be extended until the middle of 2021.

“We know the Coronavirus pandemic is making it even tougher for young people to achieve their dreams of homeownership – that’s why we’re extending the grant which has helped so many regional Victorians,” Mr Pallas said.

Modelling by the Department of Treasury and Finance predicts property prices may fall by up to nine percent by the end of the

year, as well as the unemployment rate more than doubling to 11 percent in the September quarter.

In 2017, the Labor Government doubled the regional FHOG from $10,000 to $20,000 to tackle housing affordability and help Victorians achieve their real estate dreams. Since then, more than 8,800 regional FHOGs have been provided, saving Victorian families $176 million.

To be eligible for the grant, the purchaser or purchasers must be first home buyers buying or building a property valued at $750,000 or less and it must be used as the principal place of residence for 12 continuous months following settlement.

The grant is available for first home purchases across 48 councils, with the Greater Shepparton area among the most popular.

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 5

NEWS

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS FROM STATE GOVERNMENT… Local Member for Northern Victoria Region, Wendy Lovell is seeking transparency on school construction funding. Photo: Steve Hutcheson

Silence on super school funding puts a cloud over completion IT has been over two years since Victorian Government Education Minister, James Merlino announced that the four existing public secondary schools would be closed to make way for a single secondary college - the site of which was later announced to be the former Shepparton High School site, yet according to local Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, the government has still not allocated a single dollar towards construction of the new school.

M s L ovel l c ont i nue s to a sk t he State Government, “Why the secrecy surrounding funding for the Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) and when will it be allocated?”

Late last year a tender process was undertaken for the construction of the new school. It was concerning that the tender called for quotes as low as $50 million when this project has been touted to be a

$120 million build.

In January, the minister announced that Hansen and Yuncken would commence early works in February.

“But where is the funding announcement of the $120 million needed to construct the school that was promised to the Greater Shepparton community?” asks Ms Lovell.

“In Parliament last week to pass the supply bill that included a $24.5 billion Treasurer’s advance - which created a gover n ment slu sh f u nd w it h no transparency over how this will be spent.”

In the meantime, GSSC has commenced operation with a two-year transition period that sees students attending three different campuses until the construction is completed. Any delay in allocating funding for this project will make it increasingly difficult to meet the project’s timeline of opening on the first day of the 2022 school year.

send us your snaps WA N T to se e you r photos i n t he newspaper? We are calling on all our readers to send in their photos for the chance to have it selected to go to print.

This week we were sent this photo by Ash Lee of a sleepy koala found along the Murray River near Bearii.

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Please send your photos to photo@sheppartonadviser.com.au or message it to us via our Facebook page ‘The Shepparton Adviser.’ If you are sending via email, please keep your email’s total size to under 8mb.

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 7

NEWS

Council budget looking for community feedback GR E AT E R Sheppar ton Cit y Council released the 2020/2021 Draft Budget for community exhibition and feedback at a Special Council Meeting held last night.

Due to the COV I D -19 restrictions, C o u n c i l w i l l b e p r ov i d i n g p u b l i c i n for m at ion s e s sion s v i a Z o om on Wednesday May 13, at 5. 30pm and

Thursday May 14, at 12.30pm, with direct feedback being able to be provided online on Council’s website.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Seema Abdullah said “We encourage our community to view the draft budget on Council’s website and have your say on how it should be allocated.

It’s important to note that the budget has been prepared on the assumption current COVID-19 restrictions impacting Council services will continue through to 30 September 2020 Cr Abdullah.

“As you can see, you can actually make a difference to how the Council’s budget is allocated, so we encourage you to find out more detail via participating in an online Zoom information session or reading the information on Council’s website and then providing feedback. Staff are looking at how in-person presentations to Council can be done to ensure people can explain t hei r subm ission wh i le ad her i ng to COVID-19 social and physical distancing requirements,” said Cr Abdullah.

“It’s important to note that the budget has been prepared on the assumption current COVID-19 restrictions impacting Council services will continue through to 30 September 2020. The biggest impact we have seen on the budget has come from User Fee income from areas such as Aquamoves, Riverlinks and Shepparton Sports Stadium, which have obviously been out of action under State and Federal Government restrictions,” said Cr Abdullah.

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BRINGING OUT A DIFICULT BUDGET….

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Seema Abdullah puts forward the first budget of her tenure. Photo: Supplied.

T he S t at e G over n m ent h a s s e t a modest rate cap increase of two percent, which for the median capital improved value of a residential property in Greater Shepparton equates to $28 per year, or 53 cents per week. “These funds will support the recovery of our community post the COVID-19 emergency as well as ensuring Council’s ongoing financial sustainability.”

The draft budget was released for public feedback for a period of four weeks, and submissions must be made by 5pm on 29 May 2020.

Please email council@shepparton.vic.gov. au to register for the Zoom session.

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 9

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The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 11

NEWS

End of an era

While students of the Greater Shepparton Secondary College are currently spread out across different campuses around Shepparton and Mooroopna, the construction for the new campus is well underway. Demolition hasn’t stopped at the old Shepparton High School site to make way for the state-of-the-art school. The Greater Shepparton Secondary College is part of the $20.5 million Shepparton Education Plan through the State Government. Photo: Katelyn Morse.

Mooroopna war memorial redeveloped COMPLETED in time for this year’s limited Anzac Day ceremony, the redevelopment works to the Mooroopna war memorial are now substantially done.

Work on the $320,000 upgrade to the Mooroopna War Memorial began earlier this year. The work included new memorial panels and flagpoles installed along with new concrete paths and walkways to the rotunda, a raised platform, lighting, rose garden and irrigation infrastructure. Some additional minor works will be completed over the coming weeks including landscaping and painting of the rotunda.

This project has been jointly funded by Greater Shepparton City Council, Mooroopna Rotary Club, Victorian State Government, Australian Federal Government, Shepparton RSL and a number of private donors.

“Council is pleased to have played a part in delivering the new Mooroopna War Memorial panels that will honour the soldiers and servicewomen from the WWII, Vietnam and Korean Wars as well as acknowledging those who served in the Indonesian conflict,” said Greater Shepparton City Council director infrastructure, Phil Hoare..

“I want to thank the community for their assistance in providing

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REDEVELOPED MEMORIAL OPENS AT MOOROOPNA... Images from World War II, Vietnam and Korea along with recognition of those that served have been added to the memorial. Photo: Steve Hutcheson

names of those who served and are now recognised. I would also like to thank the work of the Mooroopna Rotary and Shepparton RSL for all their efforts to ensure this project was completed. Thank you also to the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation for their assistance in gathering names and images for the panels, this is such an important part of this project.

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 13

SPOIL MUM WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES!

Enjoy great food delivered to your door or pick-up by contacting these businesses

FAB FOOD DIRECTORY BUBBLE CUPPA .......................... 4800 3730 DEGANI CAFE.................................5823 5630 ENZO’S BURGER ........................5891 2488 GOULBURN VALLEY PORK............................................. 0408 130 558 LAGOZZINO’S TOP PUB.........5824 1600 LAST STRAW ................................ 5822 4990 MY MATES PIZZA ........................ 5822 2226 PEKING CITY...................................5821 6868 THAI COCONUT............................5831 6613 VERNEY ROAD MILKBAR & TAKEAWAY.................................. 5821 2676 WENDY’S MILK BAR RIVERSIDE PLAZA.......................5891 2444

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Fab Food

This Mother’s Day

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 15

NEWS

School at Home? How to thrive ARE you concerned with how to teach your children at home? Worried about your child dropping behind with their school work?

These are strange and worrying times for our children. While we need to look after ourselves and others, we also need to consider how all this is affecting our kids, and how we can help them through it.

We need to remind ourselves that doing school work at home is not like doing it at school. Divide your day into a few hours in the morning, when you and your child are fresh, to concentrate on curriculum work and the rest of the day to focus on other things like mental well-being and activity

as recommended by Dr Justin Coulson. He says “Your kids need you to be a parent.”

The following are ways to support your child’s well-being and your own.

• Keep important relationships alive: this can be through phone, FaceTime, letters, sending a drawing to grandma • Activity, movement and exercise: Have regular breaks throughout the day where your child moves, takes a walk, jumps on the trampoline, plays a physical game or gardens. Even get out your old game of Twister or draw chalk hopscotch on the driveway • Work with your child to set up a routine that works for the whole family. Get their input on how they want to set up the day (e.g, when to have breaks, when to read, when to play). Having control over the day can help to ease the stress. Program fun things into the day as well • Time to do nothing. Make sure there is

down time each day where there is no agenda. Time to read, listen to music, lie on the grass outside and look at the clouds • Kids need to learn something new every day. This can be from learning to cook, or making something they enjoy; it can be in the form of watching a science show on TV or reading a book about dolphins. Consider picking different days for certain activities to break up the week (for example, Monopoly Mondays) • Finding ways they can make a difference: Fi nd a way ch i ld ren c a n ma ke a difference in someone else’s life, whether it’s writing a letter, baking a cake for the elderly lady next door or helping to make dinner. This gives a sense of contribution and empowerment If you are finding it all too much talk to someone, your child’s teacher is a good start.

WORKING THROUGH HIS LESSONS ONLINE… Young William Ryan, 6, a student at St Mary’s Primary School, Mooroopna does his studies online. Photo: Mathieu Ryan

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The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 17

LETTERS

OPINION

Letters to the Editor

COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE A LONGER LOOK Dear Editor, I have viewed and am impressed with the quality of the audio-visual of the planned revitalised Mall which I accessed online through the Council website on Friday 24th April.

I would like to register my disappointment at some of the proposed alterations of the Mall upgrade.

1. 1/ I agree with the Chamber of Commerce re the traffic to exit the Mall (from the north) via Stewart Street. This is a busy section of the Mall what with patrons entering & exiting the Cinema & the games arcade. I also question the proposed trees in that area hindering pre 9am deliveries by high & wide vehicles.

2. I am concerned that traffic is not a 1 way basis from Fryers Street to High Street. High Street has traffic light infrastructure, which would allow for a left hand turn at High Street or traffic to continue on down Maude Street towards Vaughan Street. This would also remove the proposed 3 point turn.

3. Why not utilise periodic angle parking in lieu of right angle parking. More convenient for the public than currently proposed.

4. Why the industrial strength concrete needs to be completely replaced.

On Saturday 25th April I walked the Mall & observed the following – Of the 58 odd retail shops in the Mall about 25% were vacant.

Pre COVID-19 I estimate that most of the Retailers in the Mall were operating at about 60% of perpetual .

I further estimate that with a proposed ‘up to 12 months’ repair time frame - will see a lot more

retailers close their doors.

In conclusion, I believe Council needs to look longer & harder at reconstruction of the Mall • 12 months to upgrade will be devastating to the Retailers • 1 way traffic from North to South with angle parking.

• Make the Mall equally as appealing to retail shopping as a comfy leisure area.

• Long & harder consideration – cost wise to the replacement of the existing concrete roadway.

Yours faithfully, Jock O’Connor, Shepparton.

CONCERN ABOUT NEW MALL DESIGN Dear Editor, I have been in the CBD of Shepparton as a retailer for 47 years, I don’t think I am quite over the hill yet. I just cannot fathom what we are attempting to do in our CBD’s current mall. what is the CBD, is it a place to shop, do business, or is it a place to relax and play? We have some of the most stunning parks in country Victoria, the lake area is 2nd to none for social and family activities, our mall is seriously for business, retail, professional business, sure it can have visual beauty, open areas, play areas free of traffic, but really, today’s customers are just that, customers that no longer want to walk 100 or 500 metres to do their shopping, that is why the Riverside and Marketplace shopping centres are mostly full, they have parking close to the shopping, they don’t have pretty and fancy public spaces, they are designed for easy retail access, that is

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We welcome Letters to the Editor but they are not guaranteed to be included and may be edited for reasons of style or content. Letters will not be eligible for consideration if they contain defamatory material, or information of a personal nature which is not in the public domain. what shoppers and business want. If it’s too hard, they shop online, the large majority of our spending community want just easy access, yes we have become lazy, but that will not reverse, we as a community and country are busier, the large majority want to get in and out, OK if there needs to be areas to relax and play, but that is the minor requirement of what this area should be directed to, we have 2 areas, Stewart and Fraser Streets for traffic free area’s and activities, wide veranda’s for comfortable weatherproof shopping, eating and drinking, all we need is a one way road with as many parks as possible, surely we can make that visually and aesthetically possible, the only way we will attract new and hold business in our CBD is to make it simple and easy for shopping, that’s 365 days of the year, the rest is just feel good, it’s a business centre, please remember that.

Is the plan on the table what a CBD is for, we need to attract business and customers, that’s 80% of what I would think was the goal, the other is 20%, but on the planning it is the opposite. It’s pretty, but will fall very short of what we all really want.

Business!

Regards Craig Blizzard, Shepparton.

THIS PLAN WILL HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BUSINESS To whom it may concern at Greater Shepparton City Council: I wish to express my disappointment at Option 4 being selected for the redevelopment of the Maude Street Mall. I have concerns this

chosen design will be a large sum of ratepayers money spent for no real benefit to the actual businesses in the Mall. The plan was to beautify and to add much needed parking to the area, in a safe manner. I believe Option 4 fails in 2 of the 3 criteria. There is simply not enough added parking, and as a business in Stewart St I have absolute safety concerns.

I have been the owner of the Amusement Centre since 2001 and the building owner since 2002, and while I only recently sold the business, I am still the building owner and have been asked to continue being the representative for FunZone Amusements.

Together with Village Cinemas we have been the entertainment precinct, servicing the Goulburn Valley for over 20 years. As a team we work together to help our businesses to continue to be successful in a time where other retail businesses have struggled to survive in the neglected Maude St Mall development.

Day, night, and weekends our community space is populated by all ages, walking safely between each of our businesses. Blockbuster movie events and School Holidays are our peak times and collectively have up to 300 people entering and exiting a movie at one time and walking over to FunZone Amusements to spend extra family fun times. A removal of the safe community space between us will have a detrimental effect to the safety that currently exists. And with a road our strong link together will be broken and will negatively impact our current successful business model.

The current choice of Option 4 design does not have a safe crossing between our businesses. It also does not have a safe crossing for the Continued page 19

LETTERS

OPINION

Letters to the Editor many hundreds of people who walk over to the Multideck parking area. Other safety concerns I have is; • Currently the area is also the main area for taxis to pick up and drop off the disabled safely. Where will this move to?

• How is the area going to address the pickups and drop offs of the many parents to Village Cinemas, if traffic is coming out of the Mall?

• There is currently a large Loading Zone which is the main delivery point to the Mall, many have forklifts and enter the Mall here. This will be affected by the traffic coming out of the Mall. This cannot be done in Wyndham, High, or Fryers Sts. Other safety concerns are the already dangerous corner of Stewart and Corio Streets. At a Chamber of Commerce Mall Traders meeting over 2 years ago, a Vic Roads representative told us that that corner was not their preferred exit from the Mall due to safety and the dollars involved to fix it. This corner is dangerous already. It would be a catastrophe to add extra traffic.

I have been to all the meetings run by council and SPIRE in the lead up to the design decision. I did attend the SPIRE meeting which was run at the Shepparton RSL, with the Village Manager at that time, and we expressed all these safety concerns and more to the then plans. We were surprised and disappointed to see the plans did not change after that meeting and no safety changes made. Also disappointing is the fact that during the entire design concept formulation process by SPIRE, did any SPIRE

representative come to our current community space and talk to either Village or myself and ask how the design would impact us, or ask us any thoughts on making this a successful design for the longevity of our businesses.

Neither did 8 of the 9 councillors come down to our area and have a conversation, before choosing and voting on a plan, with the exception of Cr Fern Summer. Thankyou Cr Summer for taking the time and showing consideration before voting, and being the only councillor to voice concerns during the vote.

I would like to see this design reconsidered.

I believe the best outcome would be to leave Stewart St as a community space. The recent Christmas promotion which saw the space beautified with greenery and seating actually increased trade by 15% on the previous year’s figures.

Many people sat and utilised the space.

A fabulous initiative which had positive outcomes.

Sadly I believe if Option 4 redevelopment goes ahead, it WILL negatively impact the viability of FunZone Amusements. I am hopeful this is reconsidered.

Thank you for the consideration Trina Laffy. ( For m e r pr opr ietor of FunZon e Amusements and current property owner in Stewart Street, who will be directly impacted by the planned exit from the Mall passed her shop and Village Cinemas).

Please note, this was a letter of concern and objection to the selected Option 4 of the Mall revitalisation, submitted to Council in September 2018.

Letters continued page 20

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 19

LETTERS

OPINION

Letters to the Editor

Continued from page 19

COUNCIL PLAN SHOULD BE REJECTEDW IN ITS CURRENT FORM Dear Editor, There appears to be growing community

concerns over the Greater Shepparton City Council’s preferred Option 4 of the Maude Street Mall redevelopment concept plan.

The concerns include those of the Beneath the Wisteria Group, who are

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We welcome Letters to the Editor but they are not guaranteed to be included and may be edited for reasons of style or content. Letters will not be eligible for consideration if they contain defamatory material, or information of a personal nature which is not in the public domain. generally focussed on environmental and planning issues, the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce, who generally looks after retail and commercial interests and most importantly, many community members.

The Chamber will take their concerns to council over forthcoming days.

Community concerns are centred around these issues: [1] The exorbitant $20M that this proposed development will cost, whether it be partly funded by outside jurisdictions or not.

[2] The removal of all mature and shade trees and plantings, that provide shade, shelter and a lovely vista through the Hub, only to be replaced with new plantings that will take many years to mature.

[3] The lack of variety in the uses of the Hub as demonstrated in the concept plan, there is no discussion around food stores such as butcher, delicatessen, bakery, coffee shops, community infrastructure such as a library, retail council and community information shopfront, a proper community garden area of substance or a proper open community plaza.

[4] The many months of destruction and redevelopment of the precinct will disrupt retailers currently in the Hub and will deter any potential new retailers from commencing their business until all works are completed and the new development is assessed as successful or not.

[5] As much as the consultants have made statements as to the success of the redevelopment in terms of future retail trading, no one is able to guarantee that success.

Furthermore, the concept plan seems to be very ‘busy’ in terms of infrastructure, which will restrict the Winter and Summer markets.

A big consideration, of course, is the introduction of traffic and car parking in the precinct.

The plan calls for 53 car spaces and a 10kph speed limit with access from Fryers

Street and exiting from Stewart Street, with the secondary car spaces entering and exiting from High Street. Both of these concepts will have problems in their implementation.

The Chamber of Commerce, speaking on behalf of retailers want traffic and parking as part of their plan, whilst the community, in general, is not convinced that traffic movement and parking will be a safe inclusion to the existing pedestrian traffic.

Therefore, no matter what individual disagreements that the community at large will have as to the final look and feel of the precinct, Council should know that the published plan is objected to in principle and therefore should be rejected.

I understand that many years of discussion and debate has been a feature of the Maude Street Mall and that Council won’t satisfy everyone, however, could I suggest that we plan a program of community activation to bring more events, programs and sparkle to the precinct at a much less cost.

Finally, the key to this debate is the 350 space multi deck carpark. This was built and owned by a former council, sold by the council administrators in the council restructure period and is now not performing to its maximum. Council should acquire the site from the present owners and develop it as a major link in the CBD re development including retailer customer rewards of free parking and making the multi deck more customer focussed.

I understand this is a difficult development for Councillors to make a judgement on, therefore, we all owe it to our city to make our thoughts and comments known to them, whether you are in favour of the plan, or any amendments that you think are correct.

Yours sincerly, Geoff Dobson, Shepparton, Former Mayor of Greater Shepparton City Council.

Want to have your say?

Email your letters to the editor to editorial@sheppartonadviser.com.au

NEWS

Small rural media outlets should be assisted ahead of international conglomerates THE Federal Government’s recently announced Public Interest News Gathering (PING) program could potentially hand the funds allocated to small and regional publishers to the large and powerful commercial television and radio networks and media conglomerates such as News Corporation.

Country Press Australia (CPA), on behalf of its 140 independent regional and local newspaper members, has been in discussions with the Federal Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, to prevent the allocation guidelines for the PING program producing unintended outcomes.

The Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund was established in 2018 specifically to counter the media reform laws that favoured the large public companies and help sustain diverse media in Australia. The recent announcement to expand this fund to potentially allow large media companies to access this funding program does the complete reverse.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) site itself states “The Innovation Fund is a three-year, $48 million grant program, which began in 2018. It is part of the Australian Government’s $60 million Regional and Small Publishers Jobs and Innovation package.”

It has become clear that regional and small publishers could be sacrificed to the more powerful voices of the commercial television and radio networks and media conglomerates such as News Corporation unless careful

consideration is given to the funding framework.

It is unfortunate that the conglomerates seem to have the ear of the government, yet regional and small publishers have the ears of 140 communities across Australia in the case of CPA, that they continue to serve.

That News Limited could now share in a funding program specifically targeted to regional and small publishers, concocted to push through changes to media ownership rules of massive benefit to them and other media conglomerates at the expense of regional and small Publishers, will only be to the detriment of society and the varied media voices in this country.

The original turnover cap of $30 million must be maintained to ensure the continued integrity of the fund.

The primary purpose of the Regional and Small Publishers Jobs and Innovation Program, the ‘production of public interest journalism as the primary purpose’ of a recipient must be retained as part of the funding criteria.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Digital Platforms Inquiry (DPI) final report also identified the continued support of public interest journalism in regional, local and remote communities as an area deserving particular attention and funding.

The funding criteria must include a clear correlation to the direct resources applied by entities to the original production of locally generated public interest journalism in regional and local communities.

Sign on to The Adviser as a subscriber and win The winner of the first $100 Cellar 47 voucher as announced in the April 22 edition for signing on as a subscriber to The Adviser is Rhonda Neely.

We will be running a similar draw over the next two weeks so log onto our website and register as a subscriber to our online edition.

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The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 21

NEWS

Successful Mall can reap huge benefits to community continued from front page

IN an apparent compromise that would make the mall neither a passive space for pedestrians, nor a business hub open to traffic, Councillors chose Option 4 following public consultation – a plan for one-way traffic from Fryers to Stewart Streets with limited parking.

Council’s choice dashed the hopes of Shepparton Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) to open up the mall from Fryers through to High Streets to slow-moving one-way traffic and parking on both sides for the convenience of shoppers and business.

“Although any option on the table is seen as better than none, the challenge for the Chamber has been to help refine Option 4 to make it commercially viable and attractive to businesses.

Council has assured the Chamber that its input would be welcome, but the SCCI feels it has been left in the cold on the issue,” Chamber president, John Anderson said.

At an advanced stage of the planning process, Council has now asked the public to comment on its Option 4 plan and has commissioned a slick video to support its position on what many business people feel is a foregone conclusion.

“The voice of more than 200 businesses of mostly CBD retailers, the SCCI has met Council for many years to update and revive business prospects of the Mall – the once prized shopping hub that has lost its allure for shoppers and visitors to both its shops and passive areas,” John said.

The Chamber strongly believes that business success is key to bringing people back to the Mall, rather than the opposite situation of filling the community spaces to attract business.

“We need businesses to come back to the Mall.

When this occurs many of the things the wider community would like, would fall into place,” John added.

It has also been suggested that moving the Shepparton Library to the Mall would be popular with the public and create more foot traffic in the area. “This would be perfect in or near the Fraser Street precinct,” Mr Anderson said.

Passive meeting spaces and play areas for children could be located around the tower in Fraser Street, the Chamber argues.

“We have been listened to but not heard all along the process,” says Chamber president and CBD pharmacist, John Anderson.

“We have a superb opportunity to make the Maude Street Mall precinct very special,” Mr Anderson said.

KEY CHAMBER VIEW POINTS: • One-way (restricted slow-moving traffic) all the way through from Fryers through to High Street, to unclog the Maude Street hub’s main artery with easy-access parking on both sides of the street.

• In line with the Council’s recently mooted climate emergency, retain all 33 existing shade trees for a picturesque avenue and cooling

precinct during Shepparton’s hot summers.

• The Chamber believes the current plan to open the Mall to traffic from Fryers Street to Stewart Street, exiting past the Village Cinema is limited and possibly dangerous due to the narrow exit past the cinema and FunZone.

• The current design creates considerably tighter access of the Maude Street strip from Fryers Street with considerably less parking, the opposite to the High Street entrance.

• Create an entertainment and children’s play area near the Telstra Tower with a town square look and feel, convenient to the newly upgraded toilet facilities.

• Use Fraser and Stewart Streets as the passive spaces community groups and the wider community are looking for. This area is perfect for family gatherings, just off the Mall strip.

• Unclutter the current design with no overhangings and remove the flowerbeds and walkways.

The Chamber believes that a simpler way to deliver a considerably more efficient commercial hub and as an alternative design would be to replicate the highly successful Fryers Street layout.

Such a simple and elegant design would be more practical and cost less in the currently difficult COVID-19 climate.

The video of the Option 4 design can be seen at www.greatershepparton.com.au

GOTAFE – Stepping up for community continued from front page IN these unprecedented times, accessing quality education and training is more important than ever. Education is the key to ensuring the economy and community can adjust, adapt and respond to our new circumstances. As a trusted regional education provider, GOTAFE is stepping up to support its students, staff, regional industry and local communities.

GOTAFE has remained open right throughout the isolation period and continues to deliver a range of education and training options to meet the needs of regional communities.

GOTAFE also provides a range of support and advice options for people whose employment may have been impacted by COVID-19 and encourages anyone to make contact with them to discuss the many options currently available, whether that be enrolling in a course or simply seeking out some free financial career guidance. A number of initiatives have also been put into place to ensure that financial hardship is not a barrier for somebody wanting to access quality education.

GOTAFE CEO, Travis Heeney said, “Now more than ever, GOTA FE is committed to delivering education and training for our communities and to supporting our students to be successful. Our primary focus is on providing a variety of education options to ensure our students can continue and complete their training during 2020.

“As such, we have provided around 140 additional laptops for staff and around 40 Page 22 – The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020

laptops for students to help them transition into online learning. We are also providing wellness checks and, with help from Shepparton Foodshare, we are conducting food drop offs to some of our most at-risk students.”

Maintaining a sense of connectedness is also important to GOTAFE during this time.

Over recent weeks, the GOTAFE team have been working together to find ways to reach out into the community and provide support and opportunities for engagement.

“Our newly launched Community Connect campaign aims to engage with our community across a range of areas including physical health, emotional well-being, nutrition and education,” Travis explained.

“We have also been hosting regular staff catch-ups on Zoom, where around 300 staff members get a chance to check in with each other and feel connected to their community.”

GOTAFE’s new Student Life Hub is a great example of the Community Connect initiative. It is a new blog-style space on GOTAFE’s website that is designed for the student community, where they can find helpful tips and tricks, resources and other information to help make the most of their study experience.

For those just out of school or seeking to adjust their career, there has never been a better time to get in contact with one of GOTAFE’s career advisers.

Mr Heeney said, “I acknowledge that this is an extremely challenging time for many people in our community and I would urge them to simply take the first step and reach out to us, it could lead you anywhere.”

Mother’s Day Sunday 10th May 2020

At Billabong Garden Complex, they know that your garden is your sanctuary, therefore they remain open seven days during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Billabong Garden Complex manager, Tracy Lamont said, “Gardening is great for your physical and emotional well-being, and we’ve adapted our operations to ensure customers’ safety.

“Customers can also make the most of our contact free local deliveries, or our car park delivery service.”

A free local home delivery service is now offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays for all orders over $30. Simply call Billabong Garden Complex to place your order, make payment over the phone and they will deliver

your goods to your door in the Shepparton, Congupna, Mooroopna or Kialla areas.

Or, Billabong’s car park delivery service allows you to call ahead to place and pay for your order. You will be advised when your order is ready for collection then once you arrive, a staff member will deliver the order to your car in the Billabong car park.

“Isolation is the new norm, for now. We know it is challenging but just imagine the amazing gardens you can create while stuck at home!” Tracy said.

And don’t forget to say ‘thanks for helping you grow’ to your mum this Mother’s Day. Billabong’ has an extensive selection of beautiful living gifts, pots, water features and

READY FOR HOME DELIVERY….Billabong Garden Complex manager, Tracy Lamont helps load another home delivery. Photo: Steve Hutcheson

gorgeous giftware, or if you can’t decide, gift vouchers are also available.

Call Billabong Garden Complex on 5821

8632 or visit the nursery at 295 Numurkah Road, Shepparton.

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1507 Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – Page 23

Mother’s Day Sunday 10th May 2020

bath bombs

SPOIL MUM WITH HOMEMADE You’ll need: n 1 1/2 cups bicarbonate of soda n 1/2 cup citric acid powder n Sieve n Potpourri or herbal tea bags such as chamomile, lemon, rosehip or peppermint

n An essential oil such as peppermint, lavender, geranium n Sweet almond or coconut oil n Food colouring n Rubber gloves n Moulds from craft shops (or use a muffin tin)

Step 1: Sieve the ‘bicarb soda’ and citric acid powder into a large dry mixing bowl.

This will make enough for four bath bombs.

Step 2: To make one bath bomb, transfer 1/2 cup of the base mix into a medium bowl and stir in the contents of a herbal tea bag or potpourri. Set aside.

Step 3: In a small bowl, combine 6 drops of essential oil of your choice, 1/2 teaspoon of oil and 8 to 12 drops of food colouring - or until your desired colour is reached. Pour this mixture into the bowl containing the 1/2 cup of base mix and stir quickly with a teaspoon so things don’t start fizzing!

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Step 4: Wearing gloves, continue to combine the ingredients with your fingertips until it starts to clump together.

Step 5: Wipe a little oil inside the mould.

Fill the mould with the mixture, packing it in firmly. Make the other bath bombs with the remaining mixture, working with 1/2 cup at a time. Leave the bath bombs in their moulds to set for at least 24 hours. Once set, turn mould over and bang it firmly once on a flat surface, then gently ease out the bath bombs.

Mother’s Day Sunday 10th May 2020

Delicious pancakes FOR MUM TO ENJOY IN BED

n 2 cup self-raising flour, sifted n 1/3 cup caster sugar n 1 egg n 2 tablespoon

melted butter, plus extra for brushing n 1 teaspoon vanilla extract n 1 1/2 cup milk n (plus, your choice of toppings)

In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar.

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and whisk in egg, butter and vanilla.

Gradually whisk milk into mixture, until a pouring consistency is achieved.

Heat a non-stick frying pan on medium.

Brush pan with a little extra butter. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into pan, to make a circle.

Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until bubbles start to appear on the surface. Turn and cook a further 1 minute until golden. Cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve with whatever topping you

(or mum) would like. You could try blueberries, maple syrup, ice-cream, Nutella, strawberries, whipped cream, or lemon and sugar. The list goes on!

HOW TO CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY DURING A PANDEMIC This Sunday is due to be a Mother’s Day like no other, with social distancing rules still in place and dining at restaurants unavailable.

You won’t even be able to take mum to the cinema or to pamper her with a massage or manicure (though you can still buy a gift voucher for mum to use later in the year). But just because this Mother’s Day is different, doesn’t mean you can’t still spoil mum.

We’ve put together a short list of ways for you to still spoil mum this Sunday, whether you live under the same roof or not.

Send her flowers What could be better than a bunch of beautiful flowers delivered straight to mum’s door, especially when she can’t leave the house? Most florists are still open and doing contactless deliveries, so why not gift her with some lovely flowers to brighten up her home.

Bake your heart out Most of us have been getting creative in the kitchen and baking delicious snacks and desserts during isolation, so why not use those skills to make something for mum? You could bake gooey brownies, fluffy cupcakes, even some banana bread! Simply drop it off at her door for a delicious surprise. And if your baking fails, there’s always the option to buy something ready-made from the store!

If you live with mum or are able to visit, there are a lot of other ways you could spoil her. Set up a picnic in the backyard, watch her favourite movies, give her a manicure, make her breakfast in bed, the list goes on! Of course, you can also phone your favourite eatery and order pick-up or delivery of mum’s favourite food as well!

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