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Puppy pride Get ready to go mutts for a Puppy Pride event at Kyneton Botanic Gardens, where the LGBTIQA+ community will come together to celebrate their furry friends on Sunday, April 10. As part of the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, the all-ages gathering will begin with a dog walk along the Campaspe River and wind up at the pig shed in the Botanic Gardens, where attendees will be greeted with a range of food and drink stalls. Organised by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health (SCCH), the day will also include pup and pride-themed stalls, fun dog displays and a ‘Fashions on the Fur’ competition hosted by special guests. SCCH’s Belinda Brain is one of the organisers and said they have been “blown away” by the support for the event, “from sellers, services and sponsors from across the whole of the Macedon Ranges and beyond”. “We have representatives from Dogs Victoria, specialist breeders’ clubs, health and wellbeing services and animal themed gifts,” Ms Brain said. To be a part of the walk, head to the outdoor gym in St Agnes Place at 11.30am, or be at the Kyneton Botanic Gardens at noon for the main event.
BELINDA BRAIN WITH COCO
‘Call in’ Sunbury carpark By Elsie Lange Hume council has requested the state government intervene in a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) process to bring forward the development of a long-awaited multi-deck carpark in Sunbury. The carpark, proposed for 106-112 Evans Street to provide more than 600 car spaces in the town centre, had been delayed until after August following two appeals to VCAT against the council-approved plan. At a planning meeting on Monday, March 28, councillors discussed correspondence between Hume and state and federal
governments, including a request from mayor Carly Moore to Planning Minister Richard Wynne to “call in” the VCAT process. It said that on February 14, council would consider a resolution to formally request the minister “exercise your powers … to call in the abovementioned appeals which are being reviewed by the Planning Division of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal”. Unconfirmed minutes from a council meeting on March 15 show the council did vote in favour of making the request. According to the VCAT Act, to call in an appeal the minister must consider that the
proceeding “raises a major issue of policy” and the determination of the proceeding “may have a substantial effect on the achievement or development of planning objectives”. At the meeting, councillor Trevor Dance said asking the government to call in the decision could be viewed as a “double standard”, because objectors should be given “their day in court”. Last week Cr Dance told Star Weekly people had a right to go to VCAT and appeal planning decisions because it was the function of the tribunal. “Requesting the minister to use his authority to make a determination as suggested by the
letter takes away the ability for objectors to use the tribunal process,” Cr Dance said. “That is quite ironic at a time when we’ve been critical of the planning minister for using his authority to determine the planning scheme changes for the Hi-Quality Toxic Soil site.” At the March 28 meeting, Cr Jarrod Bell said he was “pleased” to see council take steps to “fast track” the process of getting the carpark built. “We’re talking 693, that’s almost 700 additional carspots for both our retail and shopping community, as well as the commuter community,” Cr Bell said.
Mary-Anne Thomas MP
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LABOR MEMBER FOR MACEDON DELIVERING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
Authorised by MA Thomas, Shop 14, Nexus Centre, 9 Goode Street, Gisborne
A: Shop 14, Nexus Centre, 9 Goode Street, Gisborne, VIC 3437 P: 5428 2138 E: mary-anne.thomas@parliament.vic.gov.au MaryAnneMacedon @MaryAnneThomas maryannethomasmp
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