JANUARY 31, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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(Dennis Manktelow)
Action in year of the rooster Chinese lunar new year celebrations have kicked off across Brimbank to mark the year of the rooster. Chinese New Year officially began on January 28, with Chinese Association of Victoria president Dr Ka Sing Chua highlighting the importance of this time for the Chinese community. “This is the most significant celebration of the year for the Chinese community,” Dr Chua said. “It is the most important time for family in China, where traditionally, no matter where you lived, you had to travel back to the family home to celebrate. “In China, they get 10 days of public holidays … if only we got that here.” Brimbank libraries will celebrate Chinese new year from January 30 to February 5. Library staff will distribute traditional red packets with chocolate gold coins to children at bilingual story-time sessions at Deer Park, St Albans and Sunshine. All libraries will be decorated with Chinese lanterns and symbols of the rooster. “The red envelopes traditionally symbolise good luck, and also to encourage people to save for the year ahead,” Dr Chua said. “Every animal is a good animal in China, but the Rooster does symbolise taking action and accepting challenges, which is very important.” WIL LAU WITH DAUGHTERS CHLOE AND EMMA AND THEIR GRANDMOTHER LUISA
Ewen McRae
Backdown on new limits By Alexandra Laskie
12338123-PB05-17 10048356-03
In a win for St Albans residents, Brimbank council has backed away from plans to restrict parking near Keilor Plains train station. A letter circulated to residents of Jane Avenue, Rafter Drive and Roche Street says the council’s proposal to install two-hour parking limits between 9am and 6pm on weekends in their streets did not get majority support. Council’s engineering services manager Adrian Ashford says, given feedback from residents, the parking restrictions would not go ahead.
“I write to advise that engineering services did not receive a clear majority of responses in favour of the proposal to install parking restrictions in these streets,” Mr Ashford wrote. In December, Star Weekly reported the proposed restrictions would force residents to vie for the same parking spots as train commuters using Keilor Plains station. Restrictions were flagged for the south side of Rafter Drive (between Newcombe Drive and Regan Street), the north and east sides of Jane Avenue (between Newcombe and Rafter drives), and the south side of Roche Street (between Newcombe Drive and Jane Avenue).
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The proposal followed complaints about parking congestion in the area. However, two-hour parking limits will go into the “critical areas” of Jane Avenue and Regan Street, “to improve traffic flow and congestion issues that have been identified by affected residents,” Mr Ashford’s letter says. Newcombe Drive resident Laura Rovetto is relieved the council listened to residents’ concerns. “It’s great the council does take people’s feedback on board,” she says. Ms Newcombe says she hopes the council issues parking permits for residents, saying the
issue is only going to worsen. Late last year, Brimbank council floated the idea of parking limits in Rafter and Newcombe drives and Jane Avenue after train commuters took over both sides of the streets. The limits aim to discourage parking on one side of the road to free up spaces for residents. The same restrictions are in place in side streets on the east side of Keilor Downs station. In April last year, the state government announced it would add 220 parking spots to Keilor Plain’s station’s car park, news that was welcomed by commuters who have been fined by the council for parking on nature strips.
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