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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016
■ MURRINDINDI Shire executives have been told by the Essential Services Commission that no future rate increases above a 2.5 per cent cap will be allowed over the next three years, informed sources say. The sources say that the ESC is disappointed about the Shire’s submission for a 5.4 per cent rate, and the Council’s calculation of rates ● Turn To Page 5 income.
‘Accounting trick’: Cr Healy reports Shire
Race is on for Council elections
● Yea Football Club volunteer goal umpire Brett Reece was visited by a mate, Stephen Sanders, of Hobart (Tasmania) at the weekend. They took advantage of a sunny winter Saturday to watch the local football at the Rec., where Powelltown scored a five-point win over the Tigers seniors. ● Kinglake suffered a one-point loss to Gembrook-Cockatoo on Saturday. All the AFL Yarra Ranges scores are inside this issue of The Local Paper.
Deadline soon for Yea youth survey ■ More survey forms need to be urgently returned in the next week if the Yea Youth Room and Community Gym project has Yea Youth Room and any chance of proCommunity Gym Survey ceeding. Please complete this survey and return promptly to: The Rotary Club of ● Mannafest at Yea Emporium, 94 High St, Yea Yea last week com● Yea Pharmacy, 72 High St, Yea bined with Yea High School and Yea Police in circulating a sixquestion form to be completed by local families. The forms need to be returned by Tuesday (July 26) to either Mannafest at the Yea Emporium, or Yea Pharmacy. Without further evidence of the need for a Youth Room and Community Gym in ● The full-page ad in last week’s Local Yea, it is unlikely that Paper with the Youth Room survey form www.LocalPaper.com.au
The Local Paper Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Page 11
Q1. Do you have children under the age of 18 in your household? o Yes o No
Q2. Would you support a community space with a youth focus in Yea? o Yes o No Q3. What 2 activities would you like to see represented? (eg: art/drama/self defence) 1 2
Q4. Would a child between 10 and 18 in your household use: o Gym o Youth room (under 18 only) o School holiday program
Q5. Would you use: o Gym o Fitness training (weights / equipment) o Weight loss program o Fitness programs (Yoga, Pilates, Dance, Zumba, boxing, kick boxing) o Child minding service while exercising Q6. If yes to any of the above, would you rather: o During school hours o After school hours
CAN YOU HELP? If you have any other ideas, questions, comments or can assist with our project including equipment, skills, time or funding please let us know by completing this part of the form and returning it to Yea Emporium 94 High Street, Yea. Name: ..................................................... Contact Number: ......................................... Assistance Offered: ........................................................................................................
Yea Youth Room & Community Gym
The Yea Youth Room & Community Gym steering committee which consists of members from Rotary, Victoria Police, Yea High School students and teachers and other community members would like to thank you for taking part in this survey. This project has risen from a need for young people to feel connected to their local community. A fully supervised youth space will create a safe location for young people, giving them a sense of belonging and purpose and provide them with valuable life skills.
A youth gym will benefit the community as a whole, encouraging healthy lifestyle choices promoting health and wellbeing, mental health and physical fitness. The gym will be available for use by all members of the community providing weight loss programs, physical fitness and social interaction.
● Cr Eric Lording
■ CR ERIC LORDING is the first Murrindindi Shire Councillor to declare that he is re-standing for election in October. A poll will be held in three the project would promonths’ time if more than one ceed. Members of the candidate stands in each of the Rotary Club of Yea seven municipal wards. are keen to help establish the Youth Room and Community Gym, in an effort to promote lifestyles, particularly for the Yea region’s teenagers. The Community Gym, if it proceeds, would also be available to Yea people of all ages. The survey includes simple multichoice questions about preferred activities at the gym, suggested hours, and the likely ages of young people who might use the facility if it goes ahead.
Nominations will also be called for each of the wards: Cathedral (currently held by Cr Christine Challen), Cheviot (Cr John Kenn-edy), Eildon (Cr Chris Healy), Kinglake (vacant after the resignation of Andrew Derwent), Koriella (Cr John Walsh) and Red Gate (Cr Margaret Rae). Cr Lording announces in this week’s Councillor’s Column of his intention to seek another term: “At this stage, I would like to announce that I will be running for re-election in October.” The Local Paper sent an e-mail on Friday to each of the other five Councillors: “Dear Councillor, Cr Eric Lording announces this week that he will be standing for re-election at the Murrindindi Shire Council elections in October. Will you be standing for re-election?” Cr Chris Healy replied that he is not re-standing. No other Councillor had replied to our enquiry when we went to press.
● Cr Chris Healy ■ Independent Murrindindi Shire Councillor Chris Healy has reported his own Council to the Essential Services Commission. Cr Healy has asked the Commission to investigate Murrindindi Shire Council’s submission earlier this year, requesting a 5.4 per cent rates increase for the 2016-17 financial year. The Local Paper has obtained a copy of the letter that Cr Healy wrote to the Commission’s Andrew Chow on June 28: “As per our phone conversation this morning, I request that you have a look at the Council’s 2016-17 budget with respect to compliance with the ESC’s decision granting a 4.3 per cent increase in the General Rate,” Cr Healy wrote. Cr Healy points to a $159,857 discrepancy in the Council’s general rates income figure for the 2015-16 year. “Council’s calculation regarding the 4.3 per cent is shown on table 7.2 on page 49 of the Budget document. “The amount shown as the local amount of General Rates raised for 2015-16 is $12,741,366. “The figure shown for this amount in the 2015-16 Budget, appendix B on page 57 is $12,581,508. “The only explanation for the change is the possible inclusion of Supplementary Rates in this figure. The difference is $159,857.” Cr Healy questions the calculations made by the Shire. “In the same table, the amount shown for 2016-17 is $13,28,610. Table 7.10 on page 58 clearly shows that this amount does not include the Supplementary Rates of $154,769. “To calculate the percentage increase in the General Rate from 2015-16 to 2016-17 the calculatio must be done comparing single figures,” Cr Healy said. ● Turn To Page 5
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