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proudly serving Brimbank and the North West
23 JANUARY, 2024
Westvale turns blue The Westvale Community Centre (WCC) has embraced the Blue Tree Project, turning a once ordinary tree into a symbol of mental health awareness. The initiative, to foster conversations about mental health, has seen blue trees cropping up across the globe. The blue transformation of the tree is a conversation starter for people visiting the WCC, and a reminder that, ’It’s OK to not be OK’. Recognising the need to raise awareness among children, often an overlooked cohort in mental health discussions, the WCC organised the project for kids aged five to 11 during the school holidays. Children participated in activities focused on understanding and managing big emotions and feelings. The session also delved into coping strategies and the concept of the “helping hand,“ where kids listed adults they could turn to on each finger. The hands-on involvement extended to physically painting the blue tree and planter boxes. To reinforce the theme of using hands and coping strategies, children left their handprints all over the planter boxes. The transformed space at the WCC is now a focal point, designed to spark conversations about mental health for all ages.
Roshi, 9, kickstarts the conversation tree with a splash of blue. (Damjan Janevski) 381927_01
No go zones for trucks By Tara Murray Several Brimbank streets will become ‘no truck’ zones after years of campaigning by Brimbank council. The council has been working with the Department of Transport and Planning to install signs to prevent trucks from accessing selected residential streets, outside certain approved criteria. The new zones are Windsor Boulevard between Mt Derrimut and Robinsons roads, Derrimut, Foleys Road between Mt Derrimut and Robinsons roads, Deer Park, The Avenue and Wright Street between Fitzgerald
and Fairbairn roads, Sunshine West, and Hatchlands Drive, Derrimut. All signs are expected to be in place by February, with letters sent out to residents and businesses in those streets. The council said residents in these areas have expressed concern about trucks, including large heavy vehicles, using these streets for no reason other than to by-pass the arterial road network. The roads are in close proximity to schools, kindergartens, shops, local playgrounds and public facilities such as sportsgrounds and reserves. “Following this change residents should no
longer be constantly disturbed by the noise of trucks accelerating, using engine breaks, or alleged speeding in these residential areas,“ the council said. “Windsor Boulevard, Foleys Road, The Avenue and Wright Street are not truck routes or truck layover parking facilities. Other than the occasional truck driving down the street to service shops, schools and residential properties, heavy vehicles should not be using the street.“ Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic said the council had worked hard over many years to get trucks off Brimbank streets. “Not only will these streets be quieter, but
they will also be safer for pedestrians including kids walking to and from school,“ she said. “The introduction of the ‘no trucks’ zones is a clear win for local community in these areas. Only trucks that have a specific reason for entering, such as construction or deliveries, are able to do so. “While Brimbank acknowledges the important role trucks play in keeping our community moving, these roads are not short cuts or designated for heavy vehicle use, they are roads for community to use.” The new zones will be enforced by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. Breaches can be reported at, 1800 931 785.
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