CELEBRATING 70 YEARS HERITAGE: YARRA RANGES • MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
The New Free Press FREE MORE JOBS FOR INDIGENOUS EMPLOYEES: CR CLIFF URGES Local and Independent. Not associated with any other publication in this area.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016
Concern at low numbers at Shire
■ CR NOEL CLIFF has called on Yarra Ranges Council to do more to provide indigenous people with opportunities for permanent employment. Cr Cliff told last week’s Council meeting that there were concerns about the low number of indigenous employees at Yarra Ranges Council.
● Healesville Amateur Racing Club President David Purcell (right) met with cousin Ian Scott at the Waranga-North Eastern Football Association reunion held at Yea on Saturday. The Yea side now competes in the AFL Yarra Ranges competition which saw the weekend winners’ list comprising Division One teams Olinda Ferny Creek, Woori Yallock, Monbulk, Healesville and Wandin; and Division Two teams Powelltown, Kinglake, Yarra Junction and Alexandra. Yarra Glen had the bye.
The current total population of the Yarra Ranges has just topped 150,000 people. It is estimated that the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the municipality is approximately 1000 people. The indigenous population in the 2011 Census was 974, up from 847 in the 2006 count. The Yarra Ranges indigenous population is calculated to be approximately 0.7 per cent of the total population. The original inhabitants of the Yarra Ranges area were the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people.
● Cr Noel Cliff represents the Streeton Ward which includes Ferny Creek, Montrose, Mt Dandenong, Olinda, Sassafras, Tremont, Upper Ferntree Gully and Upwey One section of the Yarra Ranges Shire, Healesville, is recognised as part of the land belonging to the traditional Wurrundjeri tribe, and it is still home to many Aboriginal descendants. Across Australia, it is estimated there are 517,000 Aboriginal people, representing 2.5 per cent of the total national population.
Ash Wed. Centre opens at Cockatoo
PUSH FOR ABC TRANSLATOR AT WARBURTON
● Sunday’s opening of the Ash Wednesday Centre at Cockatoo won statewide TV publicity on 7 News
Fears over 12m buildings at UFTG ■ Buildings could be allowed to go as high as 12 metres in the Upper Ferntree Gully foothills, local residents fear. Knox City Council's proposed C141 planning scheme amendment could mean developments with 12-metre frontages, says the Upper FT Gully Foothills Society. Members are angered by Knox City Council’s vote last week which they say will be assessed by an independent planning panel. They claim there local councillor, Karen Orpin, was denied the opportunity to voice the concerns of Upper Ferntree Gully residents. They argue that Rose St will become “some darkened canyon with buildings rising to 12m on both sides of the road”.
● Mount Victoria at Warburton Photo: L. Walker
● Buildings, 12 metres high, could be allowed in Upper Ferntree Gully
■ Warburton residents are workingt towards funding being made available for an ‘ABC Translating Station on Mount Victoria. The Warburton Emergency Planning Group wants to see funding provided to assist in emergency situation in the Upper Yarra area, Cr Jim Child told Yarra Ranges Council last week.
NEW ALDI STORE UNDERWAY IN YARRA RANGES: PAGE 3