Wednesday, 28 April, 2021
Pakenham
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House of horrors
Walk to defeat MND
Lest we forget
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PAGES 50-55 12483474-SN09-21
Love that lasts
Spirit of the Anzacs
Picture: STUART WATSON
They may have been slightly different to past years and came with a few limitations, but people around the state were pleased to see Anzac Day services spring back once again on Sunday 25 April, with community members from far and wide coming out to pay their respects. The community spirit was clear to see in Gembrook, as the Cardinia Civic Concert Band led the way down the Avenue of Honour towards the town cenotaph, with many following behind and proudly remembering the fallen. This photo was taken by local amateur photographer, Stuart Watson, who captured the comradery perfectly in this shot. Head to pages 50 - 55 to read the Gazette’s full coverage of the many Anzac Day services held across the region over the weekend.
Cross at rail delay By Gabriella Payne
been reviewed twice already by the AuditorGeneral. Mr O’Donohue believes the documents should be made readily available to the public, as there should be nothing for the state government “to hide”. “Why the need to go to VCAT to get the advice and information central to the removal of these level crossings, all the while spending tens of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars on expensive lawyers to keep secret these important documents?” he asked. The Gazette reached out to Bass MP Jordan Crugnale’s office for comment on the issue, but had not heard back before the paper went to print. However, Ms Crugnale’s office did encourage any concerned residents to attend an on-
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line community information session on the Pakenham level crossing removal project, set to be held this week. The online information session will be conducted via Zoom on Thursday 29 April between 6pm and 7pm. To learn more about the project, residents can register online and submit their questions for the free public information session at: https://pakenhamlevelcrossingremovalproject.eventbrite.com.au Zoom details will be sent out 24 hours prior to the session. For the most recent update on Pakenham’s level crossing removal project, visit https:// levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media/publications/pakenham-community-update-december-2020 ADVERTISEMENT
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The Liberal Nationals have taken the State Government to VCAT as concerns grow over its “secretive” behaviour in refusing to release “key documents” to the community in relation to the Pakenham level crossing removal project. Liberal Eastern Victoria Region MP, Edward O’Donohue, voiced his concerns publicly on Tuesday 27 April, describing the government’s refusal to provide the opposition with the documents as “deeply troubling”, adding that the local community had “a right to transparency and accountability”. “If the Andrews Labor Government has nothing to fear, it should have nothing to hide,” Mr O’Donohue said in a statement. “The community has a right to transpar-
ency and accountability but yet again the Andrews Labor Government is snubbing its nose at both taxpayers and commuters.” The Victorian level crossing removal project is set to remove 17 level crossings along the Pakenham line as part of the government’s $15 billion investment to help improve safety and reduce congestion throughout the area. The authority’s website says construction on the Pakenham corridor is planned to begin in mid 2021, with all 17 crossings expected to be gone by 2023/24 and the new stations at Pakenham and Pakenham East completed by 2024. But Mr O’Donohue said that the government was “already billions of dollars over budget” and the level crossing removal project was “plagued with management issues” - having
jordan.crugnale@parliament.vic.gov.au P 03 5672 4755 JordanCrugnaleMP Authorised by J Crugnale 9 McBride Street, Wonthaggi. Funded by Parliamentary Budget.