Established in 1924 as the
proudly serving Brimbank and the North West
24 MAY, 2022
12496404-AV22-21
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SIG N U P N O W!
(Damjan Janevski) 280803_03
Bantering with the best Young podcaster Brandan Muhtari has grown the popularity of his podcast, ‘Banter with Brandan’ to the point where he has a waitlist for the St Albans footballers wanting to be interviewed. “A few boys have been coming up to me and saying, ‘When am I going to be able to podcast?’ It’s a pretty huge wait list,” Brandan said. The 12-year-old, who is in his second season at St Albans, began his podcast in 2021 through the club’s Facebook page. The podcast has since featured club players, including former AFL footballers Josh Hill and Sam Butler. Brandan’s podcast has featured interviews as well as a post-match ‘Roaming Brandan’ segment inspired by AFL commentator Brian Taylor. He put down his impressive communication skills to his personality. “I think it’s just because I’m a big talker. A lot of people say that I’ve swallowed a radio most of the time,” he said. “So I think it’s just come naturally for me.” Brandan’s next step for the podcast is to grow and interview players from other clubs. “And I hope to one day get some AFL players on or some big people on.”
BRANDAN MUHTARI
Calls for Calder action By Max Hatzoglou The state government has been criticised for failing to include significant funding for Calder Freeway upgrades in this year’s state budget, despite predictions it will become Melbourne’s second most congested road by 2031. Calder Action Group president Russell Mowatt said significant population growth along the freeway corridor meant the road needed to be upgraded urgently to reduce congestion. As reported by Star Weekly, a 2019 Infrastructure Australia report warned that the Calder Freeway will become Melbourne’s
second most congested road during morning peaks, and the third most congested in the evening by 2031. The report stated the freeway was struggling to meet demand from outer growth areas, and in 2016 was the seventh most congested road in Melbourne during morning peak periods and ninth in evening peak. The state announced $50 million to upgrade the freeway between Gap Road in Sunbury and the M80 Ring Road last year, following Brimbank council’s ‘Fix the Calder’ campaign. The federal government had already committed $50 million, with $400,000 allocated to be spent in 2021-22. Planning work on the upgrade is under way,
however the 2022-23 state budget papers reveal that just $3.45 million is expected to be spent by June 30, with an addition $5.90 million projected to be spent in 2022-23. According to the budget papers, $90.65 million of the $100 million set aside for the project last year is unspent and there is no confirmed completion date for the upgrades. Mr Mowatt said the Calder Action Group had expected more funding for the upgrades to address the “serious economic and social penalties” associated with the road’s congestion. He said the Calder Park Drive overpass was “needed now” to improve safety at the
interchange. “However … time has passed without any clear indication of when further work will be funded, despite significant population growth in the areas that the Calder services and continuing accident rates,” he said. A government spokesperson said the overall investment in transport infrastructure in the north and north-west would help people move around. “These local communities have experienced significant growth, placing pressure on the transport network, so it’s fantastic to see planning works under way on the busy Calder corridor.”
Authentic Traditional Greek Cakes MADE FRESH DAILY ONSITE • BISCUITS • CAKES & BAKLAVA TAKEAWAY AVAILABLE GREEK FOOD
GIFT PACKS INSTORE. ASSORTED STYLES • NOW SERVING COFFEE • NUTELLA BAKLAVA IS HERE! Open: Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday CLOSED 12550334-SG21-22
11 FOSTERS RD, KEILOR PARK I 0434 099 450