Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Melton and Moorabool
21 MARCH, 2023
12496404-AV22-21
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SIG N U P N O W!
Sharing the ‘sunshine’ As Moorabool settles into autumn, about 100,000 sunflowers have turned Bolwarrah Springs farm into a “carpet of yellow”. Agronomist and farmer Stuart Grigg said that his family-run farm is a “unique” set up that “challenges the norm in the region”. The farm’s major focus is around sustainable vegetable production, “trying to produce high yielding crops with as little impact on the environment as possible”. This involves working with nature to reduce the need for pesticides, and using mixed species cover crops on a five year rotation. The mixed species crop helps promote soil and plant health, this year the farm’s crop consists of rye grass, beetroot, peas, safflower and sunflowers. Mr Grigg said sunflowers are a “vigorous grower with a deep root system for recycling soil nutrients, and also adding a high amount of organic matter to the soil”. “This year the sunflowers have taken over so we thought we’d open it up and share a bit of sunshine and put some smiles on the faces of the public.” Kiara, 10, and Bridie, 8, have been enjoying the sunflowers at Bolwarrah Springs. (Damjan Janevski) 324153_01
Massive cemetery plan A 128-hectare site in Harkness is earmarked for development into the largest cemetery built in Victoria in the last 100 years. The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) has released a master plan for the site adjacent to the Gilgai Woodlands Nature Conservation Reserve, between Harkness and Bulmans roads. GMCT said the development will be a “reimagined public cemetery”and the largest built in the last 100 years. According to GMCT, the cemetery would be the first it has built on a greenfield site. The master plan provides an overview of the cemetery design, including how the development might be staged to provide
multi-use purposes for the site over time as it transitions to meet the burial and cremation needs of Victorians for the next 100 years. “ Our masterplan seeks to reimagine the public cemetery, delivering a space that is first and foremost a sanctuary for families to remember and grieve,” GMCT said. “As an innovative community space, new public facilities will make the site a welcoming multi-use space to celebrate life. This includes public access to venues, recreational spaces, suitable retail and parklands.” GMCT plans to develop the site into three areas, offering a different experience.
It is proposed that the north-south cultural axis will feature a series of intimate rooms creating an inclusive, multicultural journey. The east-west community axis will offer a space for people to come together to share knowledge, while the natural dissecting ecological axis will provide an experience connecting to nature with the creek and woodlands. “These axes, or the areas that divide the site, create separate spaces, making it clear what different areas are for. This is a strong way to plan out which areas would be for interment, and which for events and activities. Clear wayfinding and signage will help visitors navigate easily. This means the site will be set
up to contain or divide certain experiences and activities while respecting cemetery use for memorialisation and encouraging exploration of areas that have a combination of uses,” the master plan said. GMCT said the new cemetery was necessary, with the majority of Melbourne’s grave sites or spaces for cremated remains will have depleted by 2035. “GMCT’s immediate challenge is to provide burial, cremation and memorialisation space for communities in the city’s north and west growth corridors and surrounding areas,” the master plan said. Details: https://yoursay.gmct.com.au/ harkness
We are OPEN for Take Away and Home Delivery Contactless delivery with Menulog, Doordash, Ubereats,Instore and La Porchetta online. Follow us on Social Media /LaPorchettaMelton /LaPorchettaMelton
Woodgrove Shopping Centre www.laporchetta.com Download our New iPhone or Android App 12505545-JW34-21