Geelong Independent - 05th June 2015 by Star News Group

Geelong

Friday, 5 June 2015

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Phone: 5249 6700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

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SHAKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ALL OVER: Walking partners Rina Verhoef and Jacob Leder felt the chill on Geelongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterfront this week as winter made a particularly icy arrival across the region. 139992 Picture: REG RYAN

Dying parrot puts $4B plan in doubt By NOEL MURPHY

THREAT: An orange-bellied parrot.

MOOLAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S $4 billion Nelson Cove project has been dealt a curve ball with news the orangebellied parrot is facing extinction from an outbreak of beak and feather disease. The former saltworks site is considered crucial habitat to the endangered bird, now down to 50 in the wild. Federal Government has demanded an urgent response to the latest threat, which has killed many of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fledglings. The orange-bellied parrot has been a political issue several times in the past when its presence conflicted with develop-

ments including a petrochemical complex proposed for Point Lillias, a $220 million wind farm at Bald Hills in south-east Victoria and a Mornington Peninsula marina. The bird, which migrates annually between Tasmania and Victoria, has also been regularly involved in Tasmanian forest issues and was used against a now-failed $2 billion wind farm development on King Island. Ridley Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nelson Cove, proposing 4000 dwellings, would create thousands of jobs. But Geelong Field Naturalists Club has cautioned against the development and Environment Minister and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville has called for a land-use

study of the area. Threatened Species Commissioner Gregory Andrews was unsure whether the disease was a problem yet for parrots in the Geelong area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is too early to say whether the local populations in the Geelong region have been affected,â&#x20AC;? he told the Independent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Experts will be reviewing and assessing this next week. Adult birds are much less vulnerable to the disease than nestlings, so birds that have successfully migrated to the mainland are likely to be okay.â&#x20AC;? Mr Andrews said the Government had put more than $5 mil-

lion toward protecting the bird since 2006, including funding for habitat restoration in Victoria. Monitoring of a Tasmanian breeding site earlier this year found that 19 out of 26 chicks tested positive for the disease, which is common among other species such as sulphur-crested cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets. Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has demanded an urgent response to the birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease crisis and Mr Andrews has called for scientists with differing views to collaborate on the threat. Continued page 5

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Page 2 Friday, 5 June, 2015

Deadlines: Display Advertising Booking: Trades: Classifieds:

By Kyle Davis

5.00pm Tuesday Noon Wednesday 11.00am Thursday

Managing Editor: Tony Galpin: 5249 6700 editorial@geelongindependent.com.au Advertising Manager: Steve Clark: 5249 6700 steve.clark@geelongindependent.com.au General Enquiries, Display Advertising, Digital Advertising, GC Magazine: Tel: 5249 6700 Fax: 5249 6799 Email: advertising@geelongindependent.com.au Classifieds: 1300 666 808 Web: www.geelongindependent.com.au Facebook.com./GeelongIndependent Twitter.com/GeelongIndy Published by Geelong Independent Pty Ltd ACN 006 653 336. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Geelong Independent Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible. Distribution numbers, areas and coverage are estimates only. For our terms and conditions please visit www.starcommunity.com.au

As a phone repair shop, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen a lot of dead phones. Some phones decide to take up swimming as a hobby, others try to play stunt-man by seeing how long they can hold on to the roof of a moving car (as far as I know, the record is held by a particularly resilient Nokia from Wangaratta who managed to hold on for a whopping 12 seconds before itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s untimely demise, mayherestinpeace) . A great number of phones have mastered the art of altering the very fabric of space and time, rendering themselves entirely more susceptible to the forces of gravity. In an age where we can instantly share our thoughts and ideas across the entire globe from a device that its perfectly in our pockets and in what this writer can only describe as complete and utter cockamamie, we have yet to see the invention of tiny parachutes for our phones. Inconceivable!

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STICK your head up and, well, you know the rest. Just ask mayor Darryn Lyons, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adopted the social media hashtag #onetrickpony after Geelong MP Chris Couzens branded him as such in parliament. On Twitter this week he reminded her that his trick snaffled Geelong $15.6 million in media value during his first 100 days as mayor. Seems Christine canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take a trick! AND it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just political heads popping over Lyons - he also used social media this week to show off a couple of purple-and-white 3D-printed miniatures of his noggin as well as a mohawked Lego offering. Yet another post offered further signs of frustration with council colleagues when he circulated a photo of a lion up a tree surrounded by marauding buffaloes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Tuesday nights!â&#x20AC;? he tweeted in a reference to council meetings. LOCK your car is the word around Geelong after the RACV posted a 50 per cent in theft claims last year.

A total 67 cars were nicked, worth $743,483 in insurance payouts, with damaged cars - malicious damage, actually - costing another $99,488. FRESH from last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s findings about beaks growing in response to climate change, Deakin University has furthered its avian exploits with video cameras on seabirds. The purpose, apparently, was to find out how the birds find food in â&#x20AC;&#x153;different environmentsâ&#x20AC;?. Double Take advises the boffins to consider trademarking the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first feathered drone. LABORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S candidate for the federal seat of Corangamite is certainly keen. In a media release this week she described herself as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Federal MP, Libby Cokerâ&#x20AC;?. That would have come as a surprise to Liberal Sarah Henderson, who won the seat from Darren Cheeseman at the 2013 federal election. Ms Coker will have to wait at least until August 2016 for her crack at the seat. Maybe she hopes for a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Fight hits jobs By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN AN ACRIMONIOUS dispute between the developer of an $80 million residential golf estate and the owners of a flower farm threatens 15 jobs. The dispute, which has reached the Supreme Court of Victoria, could lead to the closure of Geelong Flower Farm, affecting four full-time and 11 parttime staff. The claims and counter-claims include allegations of assault, bad blood and legal wrangling dating back more than a year. The dispute has widened to include legal actions in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and Geelong

Magistrates Court as well as the Supreme Court writ. Court documents say Geelong Flower Farm has been operating on its site on the Bellarine Hwy, Moolap, for 15 years, with Bellarine Lakes Country Club developing behind. The the main dispute is over access to the battle-axe shaped Bellarine Lakes site. In the VCAT action Bellarine Lakes claims Geelong Flower Farm is operating illegally because flowers it sells are grown elswehere. Bellarine Lakes has petitioned VCAT for an order to withdraw the farmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operating permit. Geelong Magistrates Court

heard a fencing dispute between the parties this week, with arguments over an easement to be heard in the Supreme Court on Thursday. Barrister Daniel Aghion, for Bellarine Lakes, told the magistrates court of â&#x20AC;&#x153;immense bad blood between the partiesâ&#x20AC;?. Barrister Andrew Meagher, for Geelong Flower Farm, said his client objected to Bellarine Lakes building fences between the properties. After negotiations Geelong Flower Farm conceded to a fence on the southern boundary but continued to dispute fencing on the northern boundary.

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Bunnings’ new plan to be masters of Leopold By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN BUNNINGS has snapped up an opportunity for a hardware store at Leopold after the troubled Masters chain abandoned it in 2013. A City Hall spokesperson confirmed council had received an application for an expansion of Gateway Plaza Shopping Centre to include a large format hardware store. A sign advertising the planning permit application has appeared on land beside the existing shopping centre. The Independent reported in February 2013 that Leopold lost a proposed Masters hardware store after a planning wrangle. Developer Lascorp had sought approval to extend Gateway Plaza Shopping Centre west along Bellarine Hwy as part of an 35,000-square-metre

expansion. But council adopted a Leopold structure plan maintaining the town’s western boundary, which blocked the westerly extension. An independent planning panel backed council on the boundaries in the structure plan. The planning panel heard that Lascorp “made it very clear to the panel that it wishes to develop a stand-alone bulky goods outlet on its land west of Clifton Ave”. “In the event that this option was not supported, Masters would not develop anywhere in the centre, which would be to the loss of both Leopold and the Bellarine Peninsula.” The panel backed council position that the shopping centre extension should be along Melaluka Rd instead.

Masters also won a permit for a large-format hardware store in Bacchus Marsh Rd, Corio, but has yet to carry out any work on the site. Woolworths and American hardware giant Lowe’s own Masters, while Bunnings is a stablemate of Coles in the Wesfarmers group. The home-improvement rivals have been conducting a price war and advertising blitz as Masters attempts to turn around its losses and win market share from the established Bunnings. The former owners of major Mitre 10 stores in Geelong, Keith and Barry Fagg, used landholdings to stymie development of other large-formate hardware store in the region for years. The Faggs lodged objections against planning permit applications from both Bunnings and Masters.

In brief Lifeline win A $50,000 funding lifeline will help a phone counselling service maintain its operations in Geelong. Lifeline chairman Joe Crosbie said the Andrews Government had committed to continuing an annual $50,000 funding top up implemented under the coalition.

Hummer chase A STOLEN Hummer driving on rims after blowing two tyres has escaped police at Ocean Grove. Police called off the pursuit in Oakdene Estate around 2am yesterday, later finding the vehicle dumped at Drysdale.

Jobs rally WORKERS and union leaders rallied in Geelong yesterday against the pending loss of 80 jobs from Barwon Health outsourcing laundry services. The rally called for government intervention against the outsourcing plan, which would save Barwon Health the expense of an $11 million upgrade to its own laundry.

Man wanted POLICE have released an image of a man who they want to interview over a van theft holding up aid deliveries from UnitingCare Geelong. Police said the man, pictured, spent petrol vouchers form the Ford Transit van’s console at an APCO service station in Moorabool St.

Bridge closes DRIVERS’ collisions with support beams will force the closure of a bridge linking Newtown and Highton this long weekend. Vicroads said Queen’s Park bridge would close from 7.30pm tonight to 7am Tuesday so workers could carry out repairs in safety.

Veterans revamp VETERANS in Geelong will continue receiving face-to-face services three days a week under a revamp of existing arrangements, according to Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson. He announced the changes ahead of the closure of Geelong’s Veterans Access Network office amid declining visitation.

NEW BUSINESS awards will recognise top operators in the Lara district. Lara District Community Bank and the town’s Chamber of Commerce opened nominations this week. Chamber vice-president Natalie Candy said Lara District Business Awards would recognise businesses playing “an important role in the local community”. “These awards are not like any other businesses awards – there are no written submissions and no costs to enter,” Ms Candy said.

“We’re excited to recognise the work being done in the community.” Ms Candy said winners would be announced at a presentation event in August as Victoria conducted its annual Small Business Festival. “Prizes include media exposure and substantial funds contributed to the local community group of choice.” The Geelong Independent is sponsoring the Lara District Business Awards. Managing editor Tony Galpin said the Independent was rapt to participate.

PERSONALISED coaching and peer support via the phone and social media will seek to boost the fitness of 2000 central Geelong workers in a pilot program. City Hall said Geelong Active City would work with 14 employers, with the aim of increasing participants’ physical activity by 10 to 15 minutes a day.

“I commend the chamber and community bank on establishing such an accessible awards program,” Mr Galpin said. “I’m sure local businesses will appreciate the absence of entry fees and time-consuming submission forms. The emphasis on community involvement is also a welcome point of difference.” Ms Candy said nominations forms were available at Lara District Community Bank until 30 June. Ms Candy said more information about the awards was available from the bank’s branch manager, Damien Foster, phone 5282 6430, 0434 769 972, or email mail@LDCE.com.au.

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IN FOR THEIR CHOP: Damien Foster, Natalie Candy and Lara butcher Andrew Gunther expect the town’s new business awards to be a cut above the rest. 139900 Picture: REG RYAN

Page 4 Friday, 5 June, 2015

Taxi driver ‘hits sign, blows .279%’

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A TAXI driver was almost six times over the blood-alcohol limit when police caught him at Bellbrae, police have alleged. A Victoria Police spokesperson said the driver’s licence was “immediately suspended”. Police arrived on the Great Ocean Road from Geelong around 5.10am Wednesday in response to reports of a taxi driving erratically, the spokesperson said.

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LOCAL gay marriage campaigners have welcomed Corangamite’s Sarah Henderson as their new “voice“ in federal parliament. The Liberal MP attracted national attention when she came out in favour of same-sex marriage this week, saying it was “consistent with fundamental Liberal values”. Geelong for Marriage Equality convener Sharyn Faulkner said the group was “extremely happy” with Ms Henderson, who was now “a voice in parliament that truly believes in human rights and in equality for all Australians“. “When we first met with Sarah over 18 months ago she challenged us to provide her with evidence to show that the Corangamite electorate wants marriage equality. We are proud to have been able to assist Sarah in this quest,” Ms Faulkner said. “We encouraged the City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire to support marriage equality. We have been instrumental in getting the Geelong Football Club and the AFL to support marriage equality.

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VOICE FOUND: Sarah Henderson has come out in support of gay marriage. “We have spoken to thousands of people and delivered thousands of emails, letters and postcards to Sarah’s office.“ Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome also praised Ms Henderson. “Sarah Henderson did the right thing listening to her electorate and will do the right thing representing their support for marriage equality in parliament Ms Henderson made her an-

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“Waurn Ponds members located the taxi after it allegedly hit a sign and burst a tyre. “The male driver was requested to attend the local police station for a breath test where he returned an evidentiary sample of .279 per cent.” The spokesperson said police expected to charge the driver with “numerous traffic offences including driving under the influence”.

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nouncement earlier this week in anticipation of a party-room vote the following day. The vote failed to materialise. “I confirm that I support both marriage equality and a free vote for Coalition MPs,” she said. “I committed to consult broadly and then make my position known when the issue came before the party room. Since being elected as the Member for Corangamite I have listened to hundreds of my constituents with an open heart and an open mind. “As an MP driven by a strong sense of compassion, equity and justice, I believe our nation should follow the lead of countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland and legalise same-sex marriage. “Support for marriage equality is consistent with fundamental Liberal values that embrace freedom of the individual and stable, long-term relationships. “If two people love each other and wish to commit to a life together they should have the option to be recognised equally under the law.”

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Mansion bid riles green group By NOEL MURPHY are ENVIRONMENTALISTS anxious a bid to expand Campbell Point House might be the start of more incursions on Lake Connewarre and a world-recognised wildlife habitat. The high-end function centre will take its plan to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after suffering a first-

round knock-back at council. “A major concern is the possibility that an approval for this development would act as a precedent for further applications for development around the lake system,” Geelong Environment Council (GEC) stated in its latest newsletter. “The land is zoned rural and covered with protective planning overlays. There is also a Trust for

HIGH END: Campell Point House, $5000 a night on weekends. Nature covenant over the area of the property on the edge of the lake.”

GEC was especially concerned about potential building plans on private land where titles extended to the water’s edge. “Considering Connewarre lake is a component of the Bellarine Ramsar listing, GEC also believes that this application should trigger an environmental effects statement as there are many bird species listed under this federal act.”

Campbell Point House is on 14 hecatres off Matthews Road, Leopold. The property was used for an episode of TV’s MasterChef and a baby shower for footy WAG Rebecca Judd. The property, offering five bedroom suites, a pool, spa, tennis court, private jetty and full butler service, costs $3500 a night midweek and $5000 at weekends.

The owners want to add a new tennis court, gym, staff house, two five-bedroom log cabins, four one-bedroom garden pavilions and two four-bedroom cottage houses, each with a pool and cabana, plus a 92-space car park. St Quentin Consulting, acting for the owners, did not respond to the Independent’s request for comment.

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Mr Andrews said he had contacted the Tasmanian Government, Birdlife Australia, NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Team and the CSIRO ahead of an emergency meeting at Melbourne Zoo next week. “CSIRO has advised that it has capabilities that could build in resistance to the virus that causes beak and feather disease. This is a DNA virus and several approaches could be evaluated to assess resistance.” Ridley spokesman Stephen Butler said the company had never found an orange-bellied parrot on the site despite “numerous surveys” over “a number of years”. “We’re aware that surveys regularly undertaken by the Geelong Field Naturalist Club in the past have also failed to record the species at the site.” Mr Butler said Ridley had proposed a 450-hectare state-owned-and-controlled bird conservation reserve on a former saltworks site at Lara, providing “ideal habitat for migratory birds including the orange bellied parrot”. Ridley still had “no details” of the Government study, he said. “But we’re keen to be briefed as soon as possible, as timing is critical AWARDED: Torquay nurse Kim Poyner has won national recognition for her work helping patients manage chronic disease. for our investors.”

Page 6 Friday, 5 June, 2015

geelong.starcommunity.com.au

Geelong Businessman, Mark Ward has ownership of the Mill Markets group and brings years of expertise to this amazing concept. The Mill Markets operate three massive venues located in Ballarat, Daylesford and Geelong. With a total of over 12,000 square metres of undercover loor space, (3 acres), treasure hunters have the opportunity to spend many hours browsing and meandering through the eclectic mix of products. There is a fantastic variety of home decor, furniture, records, vintage clothing, books, ine china, glassware, industrial items, jewellery, antiques as well as Australian pottery, homewares, memorabilia, retro fashions and collectables. We also have many stalls selling new products and have gift vouchers for those people who have everything!

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All goods are from the 1850’s right through to present day. Mill Markets lease space to hundreds of dealers, which allows small business operators and collectors who otherwise could not aford the overheads of their own shops, to showcase their goods. This equates to a wide and diverse range of products, available and open to the public, seven days a week. Enjoy a wonderful trip down memory lane through hundreds and thousands of items available for purchase at all three locations. With over 500 stall holders over three venues, there is always something for everyone. Travel The Amazing Mill Markets ‘Golden Triangle’ and enjoy quality food and cofee at each. All venues open 7 days 10.00am-6.00pm (excluding Christmas Day).

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Liberals slam crumbling, stalled promises

Under

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Labor ‘abandons’ city Wet May finishes weather Lindsay Smail

By NOEL MURPHY

STATE Labor has abandoned Geelong on multiple fronts, opposition leader Matthew Guy claimed this week in a savage attack on Spring Street. Mr Guy said the Andrews Government had misled Geelong about its Bay West container port proposal, stalled inexplicably on a planning authority for the central city area and given Geelong’s Land 400 defence bid no more than “a shingle on a door”. The Government had also failed to provide a sorely-needed hospital for Geelong’s north, ignored the city’s convention centre proposal, foregone East West Link job and transport opportunities and stalled on an MCG-style trust for Kardinia Park, he told the Independent. “If we’d done the same we’d be getting rightfully kicked.” Mr Guy said the Government talked up its propopsed Bay West container port east of Geelong before the election but had now revealed a non-competition clause in its plan to lease Melbourne’s port. “There’s no second port for 50 to 70 years they’ve completely misled the city.” Mr Guy had heard “absolutely nothing” about Labor’s much-vaunted Geelong planning authority. “I’ve been the planning minister and I can tell you straight out...if they wanted to put in place a planning authority you could do it in a couple of days.” Mr Guy attacked the Government’s failure to lobby for a share of the $10 billion Land 400 defence contracts. “There’s no substance and South Australia is putting tens of millions of dollars into this to get the Land 400 project. They’ve already got departments set up. “A shingle on a door out at Deakin isn’t going to cut it.“ Mr Guy said the MCG-style trust for Kardinia Park was “not a bad idea but I don’t know where it is”. The previous coalition goverment had committed $5 million for “a serious look” at developing a Geelong convention centre but Labor had done nothing, he said. Mr Guy accused the Government of “spin, all

dry autumn here

ON THE ATTACK: South Barwon MP Andrew Katos and opposition leader Matthew Guy on Geelong’s waterfront Picture: REG RYAN this week. 139960 talk and no action”. A Government spokesperson said Geelong went backwards under the Liberals. “We’re getting Geelong back on track,” the spokesperson said. “Our Regional Rail Link will add 200 services every week between Geelong and Melbourne, while the Western Distributor will wipe 15 minutes off travel time between Melbourne and Geelong, providing a second river crossing to reduce pressure on the West Gate Bridge. “This is in contrast to the Liberals’ botched and

financially reckless East West Link which would have lost Geelong taxpayers 55 cents in every dollar spent on it.” The spokesperson said the Victorian Defence Procurement Office was promoting “Victorian business and research capabilities” for land 400. “Unlike the Liberals, we have stood by the defence industry since day one and we hope Matthew Guy is also speaking with his federal counterparts to ensure they end the long-standing uncertainty for workers in the Victorian defence industry.”

MOST of the Geelong-Otways region, except its northern area, received average to well-above average rain in May. The Bureau of Meteorology’s automatic weather station at Breakwater failed three times during the month, thereby missing approximately 20mm of rain and affecting the bureau’s published Geelong total. The rain for Breakwater, as computed by Geelong Weather Services, for May was 42.4mm, just above the latest 30-year average of 41.5mm. Mt Sabine, at the head of the Barwon catchment in the Otway Ranges, recorded an amazing 344mm, well-above its average. The region’s water storages were stationary at 57 per cent of capacity when the month ended but the level will need to increase over winter. As far as autumn overall is concerned, this year’s was drier than the most-recent 30-year average. Geelong received 93mm over autumn compared to its average 109mm. This corresponds with a slowly-drying trend in autumn over the past 30 years. May was also cooler than the 30-year average but the nights were warmer. Overall the mean May temperature for Geelong was warmer by a mere .2C. The month’s highest temperature was 22.7C on 2 May and the lowest overnight minimum was 4.4C on the 26th. The coldest day was 23 May with a maximum of 12.9C. Autumn overall was cooler by .3C than the latest 30-year average temperature. March and April were cooler and May was warmer. As for other weather phenomena in May, no storms were recorded but four days had strong wind gusts over 60km/h. The strongest was 74km/h at Breakwater on 11 May.

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Page 8 Friday, 5 June, 2015

Connecting people and communities

geelong.starcommunity.com.au

Parties at war over NBN ‘dud’ By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN THE NBN rollout in Corangamite is a “dud”, according to Labor candidate Libby Coker. No “pre-existing” home or business had connected so far, she said. But sitting Liberal MP Sarah Henderson hit back, saying the fixed-fibre rollout was continuing and the number of connections

to the NBN through other technologies such as wireless far outstripped results under the former Labor federal government. Ms Coker said a rollout assessment based on NBNCo information showed Corangamite was dudded then charged more for late second-rate services. “The assessment shows not one single town or suburb, small or large, in the Corangamite

region has pre-existing homes or businesses connected by fibre at this stage. Not one,” she said. “Of the 24 towns and suburbs in Corangamite the only fibre connections made available are in a few greenfield sites. “There are plans to start in only four pre-existing towns and suburbs and not one of these projects has got off the ground yet.

“Somewhere in the never never, if we do get connected, we’re going to get charged more for a second rate service. Under the Abbott Government’s policy, when this snail’s-pace rollout arrives we’ll have to either settle for a second-rate copper connection to the node or pay through the nose to get a superfast, reliable fibre connection.”

Ms Henderson said Labor would have delivered a “goldplated NBN” costing taxpayers an extra $32 billion and householders $43 a month more. She said fibre-to-the-node products would deliver speeds of up to 100 megabits a second without additional cost to householders over and above ordinary connection fees. “Under Labor in Corangamite

there were just 199 premises in greenfield areas connected and 140 on fixed wireless. Not one home was connected to the NBN’s fixed line network in established neighbourhoods in six years,” Ms Henderson said. “We now have 1333 in greenfields and 777 connected on fixed wireless, with 2260 passed by fixed wireless and another 387 on the interim satellite service.”

Cold snap delays coastal link work By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN A COLD snap has delayed the final seal on a section of Geelong’s newest road, Baanip Blvd, connecting Anglesea Rd and Surf Coast Hwy. VicRoads opened the main section of Baanip Blvd to ensure the seal on the road sets correctly. When the weather permits, the final 700m between Ghazeepore and Angelsea Rds will be sealed, opening the entire length of the boulevard to traffic. All works on the new road were expected to be complete ahead of schedule by the end of this year. The project so far runs to Ghazeepore Rd but has been completed six months ahead of schedule. Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the new $90.4 million road was important for the developing Armstrong Creek precinct. He said shared pedestrian and cyclist paths connecting the boulevard to the local network were also important community benefits. “When this upgrade is complete it will provide a more direct route for commuters travelling to and from Melbourne via the Geelong ring road. The upgrade will also provide a more effective route for freight and tourist traffic travelling to the Surf Coast.” The project includes extensive landscaping works and noise walls. The road has been named after Willem Baanip, a Wathaurong man who lived around Geelong in the 1800s.

MAYBE THIS WILL HELP: Bryon Powell performs a smoking ceremony on Baanip Blvd, which partly opened this week as cold weather prevents sealing of the bypass Picture: REG RYAN link’s entire length. 139996

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Connecting people and communities

CITY NEWS CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

WWW.GEELONGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU JOIN THE CITY WE'RE NOW HIRING! Are you interested in working for the City? We currently have the following positions available: • Visitor Service Officer – National Wool Museum • Manager Parks and Gardens

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT

NOTICE OF APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AMENDMENT

AMENDMENT C309 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE

AMENDMENT C266 PART 2 AND PLANNING PERMIT 780/2013 50 – 68 CANTERBURY ROAD WEST, LARA

AMENDMENT C316 LARA HERITAGE AMENDMENT

The Minister for Planning has approved Amendment C309 to the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme.

The Minister for Planning has approved Amendment C266 to the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme.

The Amendment came into operation on the date 21 May 2015 when the notice was published in the Government Gazette.

The Amendment implements the City of Greater Geelong Low Density Residential Zone Review 2013 by: • amending the existing unnumbered schedule to Clause 32.03 (Low Density Residential Zone) to become Schedule 1. Schedule 1 continues to specify a minimum subdivision area of 0.4 hectares;

• inserting a new Schedule 2 to Clause 32.03 to specify a minimum subdivision area of 0.2 hectares; • including all land zoned Low Density Residential Zone in either Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 to Clause 32.03; and

• amending the name of Clause 22.04 from Discretionary Uses in Rural Living and Low Density Residential Zones to Use and Development in Rural Living and Low Density Residential Areas, and adding a new objective and policy. A copy of the Amendment can be inspected, free of charge: • at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website at www.delwp.vic.gov.au/public-inspection and

• at the offices of the City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Centre, 100 Brougham, Street Geelong, during office hours.

• Early Childhood Educators – Occasional Care

JIM GARD’NER – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STATUTORY PLANNING AND HERITAGE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, LAND, WATER AND PLANNING

To find out more, to apply, or to subscribe to our weekly job alerts, visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au

COMMUNITY SESSIONS

PUBLIC MEETINGS

REVIEW OF WORKPLACE CULTURE

COUNCIL MEETING The next meeting of Council will be held at 7.00pm on Tuesday 9 June, 2015 at the Council Conference and Reception Centre, City Hall, Geelong. Enter through the Little Malop Street entrance. This meeting is open to the public.

PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING The Planning Committee will next meet at 5.00pm on Tuesday 16 June, 2015 at the Council Conference and Reception Centre, City Hall, Geelong. Enter through the Little Malop Street entrance. This meeting is open to the public.

A review of workplace culture at the City of Greater Geelong is underway with oversight by Susan Halliday, former Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission. Ms Halliday is independently informing herself about community experiences and concerns related to interactions with Council staff, Council as an entity or Councillors. Former employees are welcome to speak with Ms Halliday. The community sessions are being held over two days at a meeting room at the Novotel Geelong. It was considered that people may prefer to attend a neutral venue.

The next meeting of the Central Geelong Task Force Special Committee will be held at 1.30pm on Thursday 11 June, 2015 at the Council Conference and Reception Centre, City Hall, Geelong. Enter through the Little Malop Street entrance. This meeting is open to the public.

Bookings are essential. To make an appointment with Ms Halliday please email; appointment@geelongcity.vic.gov.au or phone 5272 4256. All sessions will be held in private. Council staff will not attend. If sessions are booked out, further sessions will be arranged. The content of these meetings is confidential. If there is a need for specific follow-up, the process will be agreed with the relevant member of the public during the meeting.

CENTRAL GEELONG MARKETING COMMITTEE MEETING The Central Geelong Marketing Committee will next meet at 7.30am on Tuesday 16 June, 2015 at 100 Brougham Street, Geelong. This meeting is open to the public.

GF N I K O O

H S CA

GEELONG MAJOR EVENTS MEETING

FOR

FOOTBRIDGE CLOSURE BAILEY STREET / CROWS ROAD, WAURN PONDS In the interest of public safety, the footbridge between Bailey Street and Crows Road will be closed for three weeks as of Wednesday 10 June, 2015. A new bridge will be constructed at the site. Pedestrians should detour via Bailey Street and Crows Road to cross the Waurn Ponds Creek.

Permit No: 780/2013

Description of Land: 50 – 68 Canterbury Road West, Lara. A copy of the Amendment can be inspected, free of charge:

• at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website at www.delwp.vic.gov.au/public-inspection and

• at the offices of the City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Centre, 100 Brougham, Street Geelong, during office hours. JIM GARD’NER – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STATUTORY PLANNING AND HERITAGE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, LAND, WATER AND PLANNING

Problem gambling and the impact on families Community members are invited to learn about current and planned research into connections between family violence and problem gambling. All welcome. When: Tuesday 16 June, 2015, from 11.30am to 1.00pm (lunch provided). Where: City Hall, City of Greater Geelong, 30 Gheringhap Street, Geelong. RSVP: Thursday 11 June by email cduadmin@geelongcity.vic.gov.au or phone: 5272 4061.

The Amendment is required to give statutory protection to the heritage places as identified in the Lara Heritage Review 2013, Vol 1, 2 &3. You may inspect the Amendment, any documents that support the Amendment and the explanatory report about the Amendment, free of charge, at the following locations:

• City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Centre, 100 Brougham, Street Geelong, 100 Brougham Street. Geelong during office hours • Lara Library, 5 Walkers Road, Lara

• Amendments section of the City’s website www.geelongaustralia.com.au/amendments

• Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website www.delwp.vic.gov.au/publicinspection. Any person who may be affected by the Amendment may make a submission to the planning authority. Submissions must be made in writing giving the submitter’s name and contact address, clearly stating the grounds on which the Amendment is supported or opposed and indicating what changes (if any) the submitter wishes to make. Name and contact details of submitters are required for Council to consider submissions and to notify such persons of the opportunity to attend Council meetings and any public hearing held to consider submissions. In accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Council must make available for inspection a copy of any submissions made. The closing date for submissions is Monday 13 July 2013. Submissions must be in writing and should be sent to: The Coordinator, Strategic Implementation Unit, City of Greater Geelong, PO Box 104, Geelong VIC 3220 or by e-mail to strategicplanning@geelongcity.vic. gov.au or lodged online at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/amendments For more information call the Strategic Implementation Unit on 5272 4820. PETER SMITH – COORDINATOR STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION

ecoCHALLENGE at home ecoCHALLENGE at home is a Council program designed to help residents choose high quality and affordable energy and water saving products.

UNITY

COMM

AND ARTSTIVALS FES NTS

ARTSJECT? PROSTIVAL

The next Geelong Major Events meeting will be held at 4.00pm on Monday 15 June, 2015 at the Council Conference and Reception Centre, City Hall, Geelong. Enter through the Little Malop Street entrance. This meeting is open to the public.

CHANGED PEDESTRIAN CONDITIONS

The Amendment rezones land at 50 - 68 Canterbury Road West, Lara, from Farming Zone to General Residential Zone Schedule 1. The Minister granted the following permit under Division Five Part Four of the Act:

The Amendment applies to 24 sites of identified local heritage significance located in Anakie, Lara, Little River and Lovely Banks, together with ruins located on three sites in Anakie and Lara, which are recommended for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Inventory.

Come to a free session on Thursday 18 June from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the Waurn Ponds Library to learn about: • Solar power • Battery storage • Solar hot water • Heating and cooling • Living off the grid.

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The Amendment came into operation on 21 May 2015 when the notice of approval was published in the Government Gazette.

The City of Greater Geelong has prepared Amendment C316 to the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme.

Please advise if you have any specific dietary or access requirements.

Sunday 5 July, 3.00 – 8.00pm Monday 6 July, 12.00 – 6.00pm

CENTRAL GEELONG TASK FORCE SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING

Friday, 5 June, 2015 Page 9

geelong.starcommunity.com.au

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Page 10 Friday, 5 June, 2015

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Connecting people and communities

Elderly ‘relief’ on bus access

By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN

| starco tarco arcommunity mmuni .com.au mmun m.a a

Connec e ting people people e and communit communit mmunities ies

NEWTOWN residents faced with the loss of their bus service have had a win with new regional timetables released this week. The Independent reported in January the proposed bus service cuts could force elderly and unwell Newtown residents to sell up and move so they were closer to public transport. More than 200 residents around the Barwon River end of West Fyans St signed a petition protesting the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) cuts. But Newtown's Kevin Boland said the timetables showed only a reduced service to the area rather than an absence of any bus access. “It’s not as frequent as it was but at least we still have a service,” Mr Boland said.

Friday, 5 June, 2015 Page 11

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Friday, 2 23 January, 2015 2015 15 Page g 11

Elde El derl de rlly, unw nwel elll ‘f el ‘for orce or ced ce d to lea ave v homes om mes es’’ wi with thou th outt trran ou a ssp por o t

Bus cut plan alarms residents By JOHN JOHN VAN V KLAVEREN N ELDERLY LDERLY aand unwell Newtown resident dentss say looming bus service cuts will fo force them m ttoo ssell up and mov ove. e. More than th 200 residen residents ts arou ar nd th the Barwon Barw River end e d of West Fya Fyans St have a signed a petition pe protest rotesting ng th the Public Transport Victoriaa (PTV) (PTV) cuts, cu set to begi begin in April aas part of a bus network work redesign redesign for or Geelong Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. ula One of the petition organisers, Lio i nel TunnellTunnel Jones, said many many elderly elderl and unwell residents would ld bee left withou withoutt tr transport. o “This is a ve very steep area and yo you cannot can expectt the eld elderly erly and and unwel u l to climb tha h t hill ill up West Fyans ns St, Ardlui Dve or Camdenn Rd to access ce public pub transpo ansp rt,” hhe said. sai “Cuttin Cutting the h route ute completel complet y will disenfr disenfranchise qquite a lot ot of people. It may not bee a heavilyy patronised service rvice but the people who doo us use it really do need it it. “The oonly service ice would be fivee blocks k away on Shannon hanno Ave near Stin t ton Ave.. M Most of th those thatt use the h servicee cur currently are are elderly and people p withh a disabilityy aand nd do not not have a car. “A numb m er have told me me tthat if the route is cutt theyy wouldd hav havee to move move somewhere somewher where they havee access ss to publi public transp transport. rt “For thatt to happen happen would be morally morall wrong o .” Mr Tunnell-Jon ell-Jo ess sa said residents esidents hoped hop the new State Government woul o d reconsider reconsid the cuts. PTV saidd a new bus networkk proposed pr for Geelong an andd the Bellarin ellar e Peninsula provided v more-

FLASHBACK: The Independent’s January story on fears of proposed bus cuts. “The older residents and those relying on the bus as their only means of transport are quite relieved.” The new timetables were released to coincide with the 21 June opening of the $3.65 billion regional rail link between Geelong and Melbourne. Bus timetables were adjusted to provide more extensive, frequent, reliable and direct services, coordinated with trains. Public transport minister Jacinta Allan said the new timetable ong

Buckets& Bouquets BOUQUETS to a chance meeting. While having lunch at Geelong RSL I met a friend I had not seen for many years. It was a happy reunion for us both. I eagerly await to hear from her, as we have lots to talk about. Happy Expectations, Leopold

added 200 weekly services between Geelong and Melbourne, including trains every 10 minutes in the morning peak and every 20 minutes off-peak on weekdays. “It’s here: more trains, more buses and better services for Melbourne’s west and Victoria’s biggest regional centre,” she said. “Getting Geelong trains onto dedicated V/line tracks will deliver extra Metro services, with more to be added later in the year with a broader metropolitan timetable change. “The new bus networks in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula will add hundreds of extra services a week, making it quicker and easier to get to work, study or the train station to catch frequent, reliable trains.”

Train ‘pervert’ shocks commuters A MAN committed an indecent act in front of female commuters on a train travelling from Geelong to Melbourne, police have alleged. Victoria Police this week issued an image of a man they want to interview about the 28 April incident. A police spokesperson said two women sat opposite the man after boarding the V/Line train at Marshall about 6.30am. “During the hour-long journey the man was seen touching himself inappropriately and stopped when the women noticed what he was doing.“ One of the women used her mobile phone to take a photo of the man. The spokesperson described the man as Indian in appearance and aged in his 30s.

BOUQUETS to the staff at a Waurn Ponds jeweller. I had a lot of problems fitting a new band I bought online for my Garmin watch. The staff went to extraordinary lengths to achieve what seemed impossible. Happy Runner, Torquay BUCKETS to students littering around a Hamlyn Heights school. As a resident, I have walked past many times and seen food and other rubbish, which I have sometimes picked up and binned. The students might not deserve to eat if they can’t pick up after themselves. Disgusted, Hamlyn Heights BOUQUETS to a young man who cuts lawns and was passing by when my friend’s mobility cart overturned on top of him as we said goodbye. The young man stayed to help, rang an ambulance and waited until it arrived. We are lucky to live among caring people at Grovedale. Patricia, Grovedale BUCKETS to a considerate person who allows his dog to poop on my front lawn, not on someone's nature strip, a playground or footy oval, which many dogs prefer. It must be hard for this person, being unable or unwilling to spend a few seconds doing the right thing. I Am Disgusted, Newcomb BUCKETS to Euros Trashed (Buckets & Bouquets, 29 May) for calling Peter (Buckets & Bouquets, 22 April) a sexist. He’s not. You don’t know the particular Europeans or their situation. Some are gold diggers. Most are good. Anonymous, Highton BOUQUETS to Major Car Sales, where we bought a car recently. It was a great experience. Wally was good with the sale and after-sales service. Thankful Customer, Grovedale

WANTED: Images of a man police want to interview about the train incident.

CASHFLOW!!!…

BOUQUETS to a lady who donated $50 to me for knitting trauma teddies for St John of God Hospital’s emergency department. The money will go a long way. Maureen, Ocean Grove BUCKETS to Geelong mall rats. My once pleasurable visits to our city centre are now ruined by anti-social behaviour, smoking and littering. It’s time police showed some muscle and eradicated these vermin. Rachael, Lara BOUQUETS to the person who arranges creative figures in a paddock on Grubb Rd. You put a smile on our faces every day, especially with the latest Carlton display. Keep it up, we love it. Happy Driver, Ocean Grove BUCKETS to lazy, inconsiderate golfers who refuse to repair divots, rake bunkers or fix pitch marks and who drive buggies inappropriately. Please find another pastime. Your inattention to the game’s etiquette is a disgrace. Desist Or Depart, Geelong West BUCKETS to a road-rager in a white 4x4 ute, who blocked a taxi at a Belmont intersection, left his car and screamed filth at the driver as I sat in my wheelchair in the back. The driver, who did nothing wrong, is more of a man than you’ll ever be. Wheely Scary, Belmont BUCKETS to a cyclist who displayed typical behaviour while riding through central Geelong during morning traffic, failing to give any indication at corners then slowly wobbling through a red light. Why is it one rule for vehicles, another for bicycles? Is the answer the presumed moral superiority of cyclists? Unworthy Motorist, Waurn Ponds

Write to us… Mail: PO Box 407, Geelong, 3220 Email: editorial@geelongindependent.com.au Facebook.com/GeelongIndependent Contributions must be less than 50 words and include the writer’s full name, address and phone number.

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Page 12 Friday, 5 June, 2015

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Connecting people and communities

1187237-KC24-15

Friday, 5 June, 2015 Page 13

geelong.starcommunity.com.au

Write to us:

Letters Gee(21), that’s costly THE ALLIANCE body for the region’s councils, G21, wants to open an office in Canberra and it will only cost about $600,000-plus. Then on top of that, according to City of Greater Geelong budget figures, we ratepayers already pay $436,000 to the running of G21. Of course, the other four local shires put in as well. If G21 gets an office in Canberra ratepayers will be up for over $1 million per year – and that’s only from Geelong’s council. Not bad for a group that we never elected. Bob Thompson Ocean Grove

Unheard on fluoride BARWON Water’s marketing department had the greatest idea for a while. I was invited to partake in a community consultative meeting – me, who suffers chronic illness from fluoride. It was a very enlightening experience, addressing developments, new infrastructure and the need for a new holding basin at Airey’s Inlet along with new pumping station. The customer relations information was encouraging and Barwon Water was really concerned about getting things right with bill payments, one-on-one advice et cetera. I look forward to the next meeting. I do hope others are given the same opportunity, even one at a time, to know how the consultative committee uses its information. It is vital for the committee to have a community member who listens to the people in the street. I believe that the good people on the committee did not understood that the fluoride State Government has instructed Barwon Water to feed us in the name of dental caries contains dangerous heavy metals. Safe drinking water for all should be a priority, not care of dental caries for the minority. Sandra Camm Highton

Signs of adaptation ear, there and everywhere DEAKIN University’s latest research, revealed in Double Take (Independent, 29 May), concerns the adaptation of animal and human bodies to ensure survival as our environment becomes hotter. I'm pleased to report the good news is that certain individuals world-wide are already showing signs of developing larger appendages that will indeed keep our bodies from overheating. From Prince Charles in the Northern Hemisphere to Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Canberra, bigger ears are becoming more common.

BIG EARS: Does Tony Abbott’s head represent an evolutionary response to global warming?

The outer-ear is the thinnest part of the body and as the heated blood flows

Why did Mr Pallas ignore the fact that 62 communities throughout the affected regions in Victoria had declared themselves gas field-free? These communities include City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire, both of which are partly in the PEP 163 onshore gas exploration area. The gas field-free declarations were made because each community had determined the unconventional gas mining industry to be toxic to the environment, our water resources and health and that the industry cannot be trusted to dispose of wastewater safely. Now Ms Pallas claims these communities are “confused”? If comments like this provide an indication of what we can expect at the forthcoming parliamentary inquiry into unconventional gas mining then can we expect this type of government misinformation to be part of the inquiry process? Alan Manson Frack Free Grovedale

Pallas ‘confused’ on fracking Help our cats and koalas AT A RECENT Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) conference Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said the public was "confused and uncertain about unconventional gas exploration and extraction (fracking)”.

SADLY yet another Parks Victoria act of incompetence is unfolding in the Otways with the koala fiasco. Parks Victoria has been incompetent for decades on koalas, quolls, Tasmanian tigers and big cat in the Otways and Surf Coast.

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through the ears it is able to release heat and become cooler, so bigger ears will be more proficient in cooling the body. Therefore, people with large ears will be preferred as marriage partners to ensure the survival of future generations. Animals should also be studied so that those developing larger ears, such as rabbits, hares and kangaroos, might well become a viable source of meat. In this debate the ears have it! Melva Stott Anglesea

Private enterprise is needed to get conservation into the 21st Century. The failing Labor State Government has put public sector unions ahead of conservation tourism and farming communities. Parks Victoria hides behind silence and has contempt for the taxpaying public, which finds it unproductive and unaccountable. Readers can report sightings of Tasmanian tigers and puma or panther-like animals to me on 0434 904 944. Michael Moss Richmond

Back from caring hospital I RECENTLY spent time in Geelong Private Hospital for a back injection. I must say it is the best hospital in Geelong for care of patients. Its nurses also give excellent care. I thank the nursing staff. Geelong Private is the most-caring hospital in the city. Brian Porter Grovedale

The hub of Groveale I WAS a proud to attend the recent opening of

Email: editorial@geelongindependent.com.au PO Box 407, Geelong, 3220 Fax: 5249 6799

Grovedale Community Hub with my youngest sons, Christian and Jack. The hub was funded via an election commitment I made in 2010 but which, incredibly, was not matched by Labor. The project cost was $6.7 million, with the Napthine Government providing $2 million. The hub provides for an integrated children’s centre, Grovedale Senior Citizens Club, Grovedale Neighbourhood House, aged care and youth services. Importantly, occasional care and playgroups will also be available for families. Grovedale Community Hub will cater for growth in Grovedale and Armstrong Creek. Andrew Katos MP Member for South Barwon

Putting acid on deniers I NOTED with interest Tim Saclier’s letter in the 15 May Independent, denying acidification of the oceans by carbon dioxide. It seems climate change deniers are switching their tack. Just which part of the science do they not understand? Do they not accept that about 35 per cent of all carbon dioxide generated ends up in the oceans? If they don’t then where do they think it’s all going because only a fraction remains in the air? If they do accept that it’s dissolving in the oceans then how is the carbonic acid so formed not acidic? Can’t we move this debate on to how we combat this problem before it’s too late. Don Bartlett Indented Head

Test old drivers AS I LEFT a shopping centre car park a car drove toward me in my lane. Fortunately, I stopped so it was a reasonably gentle knock when we made contact. I got out of my car to see at the wheel an elderly gentleman who promptly and angrily accused me of driving on the wrong side of the road! “I'll report you to the police. Don't you know how to drive,” he shrieked. Conversation was impossible – he was away with the fairies. It was further evidence we need to check the driving skills and road knowledge of older drivers annually. Michael J Gamble Belmont

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