MAY 5, 2015 \ MACEDONRANGES.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Rates up, with CPI cap on way
Alison Pouliot with a toxic mushroom, or “yellow stainer”, which can be confused with the field mushroom. (Joe Mastroianni)
Don’t be in the dark By Matt Crossman Growing interest from amateur mushroom foragers and ideal autumn weather have prompted health authorities to warn about potentially fatal fungi in the Macedon Ranges. The state’s chief health officer said people should avoid picking wild mushrooms in parks, forests and their own gardens because of the risk posed by poisonous varieties that often look quite similar to their edible cousins. Professor Michael Ackland said that with autumn rain promoting growth, the most dangerous variety, the death cap, was extremely toxic and thought to be responsible for 90 per cent of all mushroom poisoning deaths. In past years, death caps have been found near deciduous trees in towns including Gisborne
and Mount Macedon. If eaten, the mushroom can cause death within 48 hours. ‘‘While commercially-sold mushrooms are safe, poisonings can occur when people gathering wild mushrooms inadvertently include toxic species,’’ Professor Ackland said. Another dangerous variety found in the Macedon Ranges, the yellow stainer, turns yellow when the cap or stem is bruised by a thumbnail. ‘‘These are often gathered and mixed with field mushrooms and can cause nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea in some people,’’ Professor Ackland said. Former research scientist Alison Pouliot, one of several experts who conduct workshops in the area, said mushrooming was perfectly safe for people who knew what they were doing.
‘‘Unfortunately, the poisonous types tend to overshadow all the good things about mushrooms,’’ Ms Pouliot said. ‘‘There is a risk, but it’s probably 1000 times less than the risk of driving up the Calder Freeway.’’ She said interest in foraging had exploded in recent years, but she urged anyone wanting to pick their own mushrooms to become educated first. ‘‘There are dangers. It’s not something you can just learn in a day.’’ Kyneton District Health nursing director Karen Laing said no cases of mushroom poisoning had been treated at the hospital this year, but she urged anyone experiencing symptoms after ingesting wild varieties to seek help. ■ What to look for: www.macedonranges. starweekly.com.au
Macedon Ranges residents will pay an average 4.8 per cent more in rates if the draft council budget gets the green light. The 2015-16 budget is out for public comment and proposes $54 million in expenditure on services and more than $19 million for capital works. If approved, it will be the council’s eighth consecutive rate increase of less than five per cent. But with the state government introducing a cap on rate rises to the consumer price index (CPI) from next year, councillors warned that challenges lie ahead. Cr Russell Mowatt told last week’s meeting a range of excellent projects and services would be delivered this year. ‘‘[But] I have concerns … that a future rate charge at a current CPI value of 2.1 per cent, versus tonight’s proposed 4.8 per cent, will leave a shortfall of 2.7 per cent. This will in effect cut council’s rateable income by well over half; it translates into millions of dollars.’’ The proposed rate increase equates to an extra $84 for a median house valued at $445,000, taking the typical annual rates bill to $1824. The capital works budget includes a $3.7 million early learning centre at Gisborne, new lighting at Kyneton showgrounds and a pavilion at Gisborne’s Dixon Field. Almost $6.2 million will be spent on road and footpath works, including at Romsey, Riddells Creek and Lancefield. The draft budget includes new borrowings of $4.07 million, taking the council’s net debt to $13.27 million. Almost $480,000 in interest will be payable in 2015-16. Macedon Ranges Residents Association secretary Christine Pruneau said ratepayers should look closely at the budget. She said 4.8 per cent was ‘‘still getting up there’’ and ‘‘a hell of a long way from CPI’’. Council chief executive Peter Johnston said the budget had the right balance. “We must balance the environmental, infrastructure and social needs of our community with their capacity to pay.’’ Submissions close May 29. A special council meeting will hear submissions at Gisborne on June 3. Details: www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/yoursay Matt Crossman