Bike lane trees highlight cycle safety problem Opinion: Page 7
Warragul & Baw Baw
Citizen
Unused bus stops 'ridiculous'
TWICE MONTHLY // FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2015
BAW BAW // WARRAGUL Bus Lines and a local campaigner have expressed frustration over bus stop facilities at Warragul station going unused, with one campaigner labelling the newly built infrastructure a "ridiculous" "white elephant."
Campaigner Jim Chapman last week told media the present review being undertaken by Public Transport Victoria into regional public transport networks needed to put Warragul first to address a massive shortcoming in bus service delivery. "We've got this big bus interchange, I call it a white elephant, sitting up here with 200 car spaces and no buses," he said. "We've been waiting [for expanded services] since [the local service review of] 2010; I think we are entitled to an expansion. "Before anyone else gets buses we need buses in Warragul and Drouin, and that is what I've been campaigning for." Warragul's bus timetable is limited, running only a small number of services in the late morning and early afternoon, while Drouin is the largest regional Victorian town to have no town service at all.
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"The response has always been 'it has been approved. [Local Liberal MP] Gary Blackwood told me that very early in the piece,'" Mr Chapman said. "Every one of them (politicians) I've dealt with, Liberal and Labor, has told me there's no funding. All approved but no funding. Well, now there's [state-wide] funding available, where are they going to spend it? It's time we got some of it." Warragul Bus Lines chief Philip Radford joined Mr Chapman at his media event and told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen he was not sure how well bus service shortcomings were being communicated to PTV. "I think a lot of the [Regional Network Development Plan] feedback locally has been about trains rather than buses," he said. "I think there were a lot of concerns about the single track between Bunyip and Longwarry and being on time, but I don't know how much feedback there was about the buses. "There's been a few surveys done and a lot of people didn't even realise there was a bus because the times it
Hearthero
Story continues on Page 4
Behind the fundraiser supporting sick kids: Page 7
Canning plan
BAW BAW // STREET art is something many people identify with the laneways of Melbourne, but there has been rising interest in fostering local artistic talent.
Four generations 25 years serving Gippsland and now the world Still Warragul's home of Australian made 1a Barkly Street, Warragul 5623 4369 www.portphillipshop.com.au
The continuing rise of street art as an accepted art form can, according to Drouin-based artist Jesse Toby, can be summarised with a change in name. "The stigma attached to 'graffiti' has [gone with the] swing to 'street art,'" he told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "It's funny that renaming something can change the stigma or perception attached to it, and as soon as certain people say it's all right then
By William Kulich Keening_Product
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suddenly the public starts to think it's all right. That leads to more realistic types of budgets given because people don't just think 'you just want to spray paint for fun because you like to do it,' so it can become more of a recognised profession." Jesse and Melbourne man Trav Bradshaw, both members of Melbourne street art group The Fatcap Concept, recently completed a mural at Warragul's Liberty Inn restaurant and bar. It is not often that Jesse, a full-time street artist doing works
Jesse Toby (top) and Trav Bradshaw working on a mural at a local restaurant. Photo by William PJ Kulich.
across the state, receives local commissions, but street art's slow uptake in West Gippsland is something he is looking to change. "I've been in Drouin for five years and haven't done anything locally, painting-wise, except for at Drouin South Primary School. But I have just started touching base with more local community-style stuff," he said. "There's a lot of opportunity and a lot of space [in Baw Baw] which I
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Candidates unite on detention P2 Together for good P3 INSIDE
2 · NEWS ·
WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 1 6 OCTOBER 201 5
Candidates unite on 'unacceptable' Meeting hears Queen Street tree detention centre policy McMILLAN // CANDIDATES for the federal seat of McMillan at the next election have backed sitting Liberal MP Russell Broadbent's disagreement with his own party's refugee detention policies.
On Monday Mr Broadbent told ABC Radio National having children in detention was "unacceptable." "Women and children in detention, behind razor wire in this country or locked away on an island, is unacceptable," he said. Mr Broadbent was responding to a protest by Royal Children's Hospital doctors on the weekend calling on the federal Liberal government to remove children from immigration detention. Doctors said they would refuse to discharge refugee children back to detention centres. "The Australian people, through the Royal Children's Hospital, have shifted. They've said our detention policies are not good enough," Mr Broadbent said. He said the doctors were not "lefty activists", in line with an interview with the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen earlier this year in which he described refugee action groups as "whingers," and added: "when the people shift, the politicians will shift." "I know the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is doing his utmost to stop the people smugglers, turn the boats back, but we have to do something with the issue of people in long-term detention." Asked what he thought of Mr Broadbent's comments, Labor candidate for the seat Chris Buckingham deferred to a letter to the editor he sent to many Gippsland papers last month. "In recent weeks Australians rediscovered their humanity when the
By William Kulich Keening_Product
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tide of public opinion turned in favour of Syrian asylum seekers," he wrote. "The refugee crisis in Syria and Europe precipitated an outpouring of good will that no cynical government could resist. "The Australian Labor Party has a clear policy position as a result of heartfelt and sincere debate at the [party's] national conference in July. "Through a democratic process we voted for an increased intake of refugees, the establishment of faster and fairer processing of refugee claims and increased support for a more collaborative regional approach. We are not prepared to let the people smugglers get back into business. "The ALP does not support the use of offshore processing centres as punitive holding cells. We have an obligation to protect the human rights of all people who come to Australia no matter how they come here. The purgatory created by the coalition government on Manus Island and Nauru is a stop gap measure. "The inhumane detention of asylum seekers is a source of national shame. Locking women and children up in forced detention for jumping the queue is disproportionate punishment." Greens candidate Donna Lancaster said she agreed public opinion had changed and, when asked if she thought Mr Broadbent's comments were reactionary, noted his previous stands for refugees against the former Howard government's offshore detention policies.
"I recognise that Mr Broadbent has, in the past, stood up against the [poor] treatment of refugees," she told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "Public perception is changing, it’s a shame that Russell’s voting in parliament and that of his party hasn’t changed to reflect this. "I wonder if it is the change in Liberal leadership (from Tony Abbott to Malcolm Turnbull) that has given Mr Broadbent scope to speak up and it would be great if he can convince the rest of the party to take action on refugees. "I agree that public perception is changing. In 2010 I organised a fundraising dinner with Sarah HansonYoung where she talked about our policy. Our stance hasn’t changed and this has been Green's policy for many years, not just when public perception changes. Ms Lancaster said her experiences working with children added to her compassion for detained refugee children. "I agree that locking people up off shore is not the solution," Ms Lancaster said. "Over the last few months Mr Broadbent has called for a solution from groups opposing the Liberals stance. The Greens have a solution which I am proud to stand up for. "The Greens have long called for onshore processing of refugees. "I work with children and see the impact that major traumas can have on them. I shudder to think what impact it must have on the children locked up for long term, going through what they see and experience on a day to day basis. WBBC approached Mr Broadbent with questions for this story. No response was received before print.
concerns
WARRAGUL // AROUND 50 business owners, cyclists, council representatives and concerned citizens met on Tuesday to discuss the Baw Baw Shire's planned tree planting along Queen Street.
The council began works to plant trees in the shared parking and cycling lanes on both sides of the street last week before partially pausing the project after a strongly negative response from the community. At the start of the meeting Baw Baw community assets director Phil Cantillon explained the full plans for the works, which had been approved by VicRoads. He explained previously undiscussed details, including a plan for the shared bike and parking lane to be widened from two metres to 2.2 metres and the main road lanes narrowed to allow cyclists space to pass the one metre deep planter boxes which will be installed around each tree. Later asked by the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen, if the lanes should have been changed before works began to ensure interim cyclist safety, Mr Cantillon said the works had to start somewhere and the lanes would be changed soon. He also said the shared lanes could be widened even further than planned, depending on community consultations. During the
meeting Mr Cantillon said the vehicle lanes were presently wider than the national standard.
Responding to traders' concerns about lost parking, Mr Cantillon acknowledged around 40 metres of parking space would be lost on each side of the road. He argued the project
was about consistent beautification of Warragul while saving long term tree pruning costs under power lines and avoiding the short term costs of moving underground services for tree planting. "We're trying to provide some level of consistency, this is just a small component of a wider trend," he told the meeting. Mr Cantillon confirmed to WBBC the trees planted on the nature strip outside the old butter factory were not planted onthe road due to awatermain. During the meeting Mr Cantillon compared the plan to major Melbourne avenues including St Kilda road. A number of retailers raised concerns about visibility leaving their driveways and large vehicle access. Mr Cantillon said large vehicles would fit and the trees would mature to be high enough from the ground to ensure visibility and cyclist passage. A member of the Warragul Cycling Club said the widened shared lane would not make the road safer for cyclists. "You're not creating more space, you're removing space from the road," he said. Mr Cantillon insisted the 1.2 metre clearance from the edge of planter boxes was sufficient. Mr Cantillon said the Queen Street part of the project could be changed completely depending on community response. Another meeting between key stakeholders will be held next week. Consultations on further beautification works closer to the CBD will be conducted with face-to-face sessions at a later date.
1 6 OCTOBER 201 5 · WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN
Warragul goods shed could move to Noojee
· NEWS · 3
BAW BAW // A REPORT will be prepared by the Baw Baw Shire Council into the option of moving Warragul's historic railway goods shed from its present location in the Warragul station car park precinct to the heritage precinctin Noojee. North ward councillor David Balfour moved a motion in general business at this week's council meeting calling on the report to be prepared "as a matter of urgency" after consultation with "appropriate stakeholders." If successful, the shed would not be the first piece of rail history to be moved from Warragul to Noojee an historic steam locomotive was moved from Rotary Park to the small town a few years ago. Speaking to the motion, Cr Balfour said no groups had shown interest in using the facility since it was moved to its present location as part of the station precinct redevelopment. "It's been locked up and caged," he told councillors. "We've advertised for community interest and not much is happening at the moment, and I think it's time to take a further step. "A wonderful project happening out at Noojee where it could be used as a blacksmith's shop or something like that." While some councillors spoke against the motion, all ended up voting for it. "It's not until you try to take something away that people rally to keep it," Warragul ward councillor Mikaela Power said. "We need to make sure there isn't another avenue."
Together for good
Most of the traders involved in Collective Good project. Photo: William PJ Kulich. PRN:01056
WARRAGUL // SIX local businesses are getting together to run the first in a series of fundraisers for local community projects. The Press Cellars, Big Spoon Little Spoon, Stella's Pantry, Lean & Green, String + Salt and Warragul Flower Shoppe have created Collective Good, a group of small businesses which want to give back to the community. On 29 October the group will hold a cocktail party to raise funds for James Geurts' major art project "The Presence of Giants." James' project will see the recessed footprint of a mountain ash tree, inspired by the giants that once towered over the region, planted in Warragul's Civic Park. The project, which includes lig-
hting and 3D scanning real trees, is big and expensive - $84,000 has already been contributed by the state government and significant donations have been made by other groups and fundraisers. A gap of $15,000 remains and the Collective Good fundraiser will help cover that. "This is our first event but we hope to come together regularly to do something good for our town and the people who live here," String + Salt owner Michelle Cann said in a media release. "All food, drinks, labour and event costs will be donated; so every single cent we raise will go towards our chosen cause.
"We really want to help James get this project over the line, it’s almost there and we can’t wait to see work begin. Just 50 tickets are being sold for the event at a cost of $100 each. They can be purchased at the String + Salt store, by calling 5622 2119, or online at goo.gl/hsvZik. In July James told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen the art installation "will be like a fossil excavation." "It will feel like it has just disappeared. It’s about the body of the tree, not the height." James said it was the story of the tree cut down in Thorpdale to measure its height – 114.3 metres – which inspired the work.
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WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN · 1 6 OCTOBER 201 5
Parkingstudies foreast By JackLacy
BAW BAW // AN audit of parking availability in the Trafalgar and Yarragon central business districts by the Baw Baw Shire Council will begin late nextmonth.
The Trafalgar Parking Study will investigate the CBD betwen Waterloo Road to the north, Anzac road to the east, Kitchener Street to the south and Lady Hamilton Lane to the west. The Yarragon study will look at the area bounded by Waterloo Road to the north, Anzac Road to the east, Kitchener Street to the south and Lady Hamilton Lane to the west. Mayor Debbie Brown said the studies would identify more efficient parking measures in both areas. "As Baw Baw Shire continues to develop it is imperative that we meet the growing demands of our residents and visitors," Cr Brown said in a media release. "The Trafalgar and Yarragon Parking Studies will help the council identify the action necessary to meet parking requirements in these towns. "Providing adequate parking in our municipality's central business districts will ensure that our visitors are more inclined to stop and spend time in the Baw Baw Shire." Community consultation and feedback will be requested for both parking studies to determine the best course of action to accommodate parking in both districts. Initial consultation with key stakeholders and the wider community will likely occur next month. The audits will be finalised in June next year, in time for works on the proposed parking solutions to be considered for implementation in the 2016/17 financial year. These are not the only recent studies of parking in Baw Baw. A study of Warragul's parking found that by mid 2016 the town will start to experience inefficiencies during peak times caused by overall occupancy rates being greater than the parking supply.
Unused bus stops 'ridiculous'
Still waiting: Phillip Radford and Jim Chapman at the largely unused Warragul station bus interchange. Photo: William PJ Kulich. PRN:01057
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operates are when people are at work. It's only operating between 09:15 and 14:45." A spokesperson for local Labor MP Harriet Shing said an expansion of services was being considered as part of PTV's review. "Expanding the delivery and frequency of bus services for West Gippsland is being considered as part of the Regional Network Development Plan - Victoria's first ever short, medium and long-term plan for better regional public transport," the spokesperson said. "Warragul's bus interchange has been built to accommodate growth in local train and bus services and use as our communities expand." The Warragul station precinct
redevelopment was a project of the former state Liberal government, and a spokesperson for MP Gary Blackwood said they did not believe it was a "white elephant." "The plan that had come out of then-public transport minister Terry Mulder's office was a staged process, with a review of services after we saw how the precinct redevelopment performed," the spokesperson told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "There was no point establishing bus services before we knew how everything fitted together. "Of course, the car park [and bus interchange were] finished in October 2014 and with a change of Government at the November election the responsibility to create new services is now with the new Government." Mr Chapman also questioned the
main link between the new station car park and the station itself - a long ramp and bridge. He said it was long and difficult for older residents and a growing problem as the car park becomes increasingly full. Mr Blackwood's spokesperson said the design was appropriate. "We definitely think the pedestrian ramp was the right option for the development of the Warragul Railway Station," the spokesperson said. "Since the completion of the station precinct our office has only had one negative comment from the electorate about it being a walking overpass. "There is the potential for either a footbridge or underpass at the far end of the car park if there is demand, which would reduce the walk."
Starting the mental health conversation GIPPSLAND // MENTAL health indicators and service usage patterns indicate the burden of mental illness on individuals and psychological health services in Gippsland is extremely high.
A recent report by the former Gippsland Medicare Local, the Summary Needs Assessment, revealed 13 per cent of people in the region experience a high or very high degree of psychological distress. According to the report, people living in Gippsland use drug and alcohol related mental health services at a much higher rate than the state average and stigma associated with mental health is still a major barrier to proper treatment. According to Beth Fogerty, local regional manager for support group the Mental Illness Fellowship, the prevalence and severity of mental health-related issues shows the need for ongoing discussion. "Having an open and honest discussion about mental health takes away the stigma and shows those affected that there is nothing to be ashamed of," Ms Fogerty told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "Discussing mental health [publicly] encourages people who might need support and assistance to open
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By JackLacy jack_m_lacy jack.lacy@warragulcitizen.com
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up and ask for help." The MI Fellowship is a non-profit organisation which supports people with mental illness, as well as their families and friends, through recovery, education and advocacy programs. MI Victoria has several centres in Gippsland, including one in Warragul at 78 Albert Street. "We work on transitioning individuals affected by mental illness back into the community, starting from day one," Ms Fogerty said. "We discuss transition plans, review goals... and review how and where [clients] can gain support from. "Mental health services work closely with each other. It's really important to look at what we need and how to address certain challenges." One of several approaches the institute takes to education and support is the facilitation of presentations by clients who have experienced mental illness first-hand. "We have a strong presence of
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peer workers and educators who are able to talk from lived experience, which provides others with hope and insight," Ms Fogerty said. "Seeing someone [who] recovered talking about their own experience gives hope, inspiration [and reinforces the notion] that recovery is possible. "We also do presentations for lots of community based organisations. Our record is 20 over a couple ofmonths." Doorway is another ofMI Fellowship Gippsland's key programs. It is a collaboration with Latrobe Regional Hospital to support homeless people withmentalillness. "Doorway supports people with mental illness who are homeless and their entrance into the rental market," Ms Fogerty said. "We [also] work with real estate agents and Work Solutions Gippsland." For someone who has a loved one with mental illness, it can be difficult to provide the support they truly need. Information from support service Mind Health Connect suggests it is crucial for an individual to be there for their loved one to encourage them to seek help from a medical professional. Validation of what a person is going through, even by those without experience of mental illness, can be extremely helpful. Knowing
what to say to someone experiencing mental illness can however be difficult, and unhelpful or dismissive comments can be damaging. If you know someone who is experiencing mental illness there are several things you can do. Firstly, read evidencebased information on identifying mental health issues. You may wish to expresss your concerns to that person in order to start a conversation, and once talking you can be encouraging and offer practical support. Ms Fogerty said the wider community needed greater education about mental health. "We need to work on how we productively inform the community about mental health," she said. "Mental health issues don't discriminate. One in five Australians will experience mental illness at some stage in their lives. We need to highlight the matter and not put those affected in a certain box.” If you or someone you know requires help with mental illness you can contact the MI Fellowship on 8486 4222. You can also contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or visit beyondblue.org.au or, for youthspecific services, call headspace on 1800 650 890 or visit headspace.org.au.
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Citizen
FOOD Warragul & Baw Baw
MONTHLY SECTION // FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2015
U N E M G N I R NEW SP WINNER ofthe Best Restaurant in a Winery category in the 2015 Victoria/Tasmania Savour Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence Opening hours
A taste ofAmerica
AT THE MARKETS
Those who frequent many of the markets around Baw Baw will recognise Californian couple Carl and Sandra Wenz's kettle corn stall, but many do not know what it is they sell. WBBC found out.
You're based in Pakenham, you're doing all the markets, how do people respond to the kettle corn? Sandra: It's very popular. People enjoy the different flavours. We have sweet and salty, cinnamon, chocolate and spicy.
And you've been experimenting with a barbecue flavour?
Carl: We've experimented with a vanilla flavour, a strawberry flavour, an apple pie flavour and today we did a sweet and smoky barbecue flavour.
How hard is it to invent those flavours?
Carl: Anything in a powder form is really easy to create. If it's liquid you don't get a good pop because it shrinks the pop size.
Anything you can powder can be used?
Carl: Yes, we're thinking of maybe trying a cheese flavour next.
What's the process ofmaking kettle corn?
Carl: We have a giant kettle, it's 160 quarts, and we start with oil and when it gets hot enough we put the corn kernels in. Then we get a pop of top layer and we add our ingredients while stirring. When it pops fully we put it in the cooling bin and add salt.
Where are you from originally?
California. Kettle corn is an item you can find at any shopping centre on the weekend in California, and it was something we missed when we came over here so we got the equipment and started making it out here.
It is a very American thing to be setting up here. Do people recognise this?
Carl: we try to do as many samples as we can because they think it's just normal popcorn. Once they sample it, most people fall in love with it. Sandra: it tends to be healthier than cinema popcorn or sometimes microwave popcorn.
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BAW BAW Pushing for street art space
BAW BAW'S LIFE & LIFESTYLE PAGES // FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2015
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think could be really brightened up and a few things that could be redone and a new refresh of colour. "There is space on the walks between Drouin and Warragul and other places that needs to be redone. There's opportunity there for a council or a workshop initiative, and in terms of commercial business the sky's the limit on what people want." Asked about the economic rationale of his commissioned mural, Liberty Inn owner Dino Koutsotheodoros said it had "created a buzz" about his new outdoor eating space. "Just through the advertising we've done on social media we've gotten heaps ofresponse already," he told WBBC. "Even on the day it was being done we had people coming to have a look all night, havingseenitfromoverthe fence. "It really creates a buzz. I think it will be a really popular area and it has made the space a lot better. "There were a few things we thought about doing with the wall; originally just painting it, then we thought about getting someone to just do our emblem, but for some reason street art was always the thought. "It's such a big space to just fill with paint, so to speak." "The guys were really good to work with, and I think it will be a real talking point. That's the idea, I guess, just to be a talking point instead of sitting in front ofa brick wall. "People will sit here and every time they look at it they will see something different. It won't get boring." Jesse said he had been talking with the council about public projects and was quickly making progress. "I had a few meetings and have been introduced to a couple of artists, as well as the organiser of the
Drouin Ficifolia Festival," he said. Asked if he had discussed permanent street art walls similar to those in Melbourne with the council he said "there are one or two places I've been directed to go to to paint." "The council has said 'paint this space,' so I'm not sure if I should be doing that with one eye over my shoulder. They said 'no, just say you asked the council.' "I think there's a few spots they're trying to get, but I think it's more of a community push than their push so they're taking that one step away from it. Which is good in a way because it means people are having to drive it themselves so we can create some really good stuff, but if people don't know it's legal to do it you turn away [some] who might be interested in contributing because it's not made public." WBBC asked the council if publicised open street art spaces were being considered. Planning and economic development director Matthew Cripps said there were many factors at play. "Council has not actively been looking at implementing a street art area, however our Arts and Culture Department would work to facilitate and advise of the correct pathways for
any such requests," he said in an email. "Artwork on private property poses two main issues: permission from the owner must be acquired, and where such work on a private property may have an impact on or be visible in a public space, correct planning permissions, limited to certain overlay controls, may need to be obtained from the council. "Because there are many variables, it is difficult for the council to have a standard ruling, each application would need to be assessed on a caseby-case basis." Jesse recently joined the Baw Baw Arts Alliance and will be running aerosol workshops at the new Trafalgar Station Arts Hub next year. "I will look at doing workshops ranging from primary school, middle school, teenagers to adult with different stuff," he said. "Hopefully I will be able to start running some courses with schools in the new year, and hopefully get in touch with the youth groups in the area and see if we can get some workshops going which will hopefully lead to commission walls. "Some people in the business sector can actually donate some space, maybe, for these projects."
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1 6 OCTOBER 201 5 · WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN
COMMENTS, TWEETS AND EMAILS LETTER//As a keen cyclistitwas with optimism a friend told me that the council were installing 'planters' in Queen Street. I thoughtperhaps we were being progressive and leading by separating vehicle and cycle traffic, like Copenhagen or indeed Melbourne.
It was with astonishment and some incredulity that I then found out the council was "planting trees in the cycle lane in Queen Street." Apart from the obvious lack of common sense and safety concerns, it struck me that there's inconsistency in policy. The council is pleased to take credit for the final stage of the much loved Two Towns Trail bike path (the opening of which my family attended) but then makes this decision. The council may be interested how I found out about the actual plan. It was quoted as possibly the most stupid idea by any council in Australia by respected cycling journalist Mathew Keenan and Tour de France legend Robbie McEwen on SBS's The Bike Lane. Imagine how embarrassing it was to realise why Warragul was being mentioned. So far, The Bike Lane has 2,159 Twitter followers, SBS Cycling 39,400 followers, Matt Keenan 13,100 followers and Robbie McEwen 105,000
followers. Forgive me for not counting the Facebook followers, I think you'll appreciate that the actual and potential audience far exceeds just the standard national television audience. Unfortunately for council, this will have been publicised globally. Imagine if my initial thought had been correct. All that publicity could have been positive. What a missed opportunity. Regards,
The council has been watching too many episodes of "Utopia" (ABC 1). Without community consultation, it has employed Karsten at great expense to come up with an idea to mark our town's entrances. The design is so ridiculous even the Working Dog team would think it too unbelievable to script.
COMMENT //RE: ‘Disappointing’ bike path tree planting: Baw Baw calls snap meeting (Monday, web)
I think off-leash areas can be a fantastic resource for dogs and their owners, but as the article states it is important dog owners recognise when an environment is appropriate and safe for their dog. I have two dogs and wouldn't walk either of them in an off-leash area. One has atrocious recall when he is distracted so I simply can't take the risk if there are roads nearby. The othercan be reactive and unpredictable when meeting new dogs. Therefore I feel these off-leash areas aren't an appropriate choice formy dogs and me. It is every dog owner's responsibility to ensure the safety of their own dogs as well as others!
David Arnold, Warragul
Bike Lane? It’s not a Bike Lane - for most of the day its use is parking for vehicles, ranging from motor bikes to semi trailers. Let's face it, a painted white line with a stenciled bike neither makes it safe for bike riders or defendable as an unalienable right to be used solely for bike riders. The time is coming when we will be glad to have as much shade as possible.
'Graeme'
via warragulcitizen.com
COMMENT // RE: ‘Disappointing’ bike path tree planting: Baw Baw calls snap meeting (Monday, web)
'Rahji'
via warragulcitizen.com
COMMENT // RE: Do offleash areas actually achieve whatcouncils hope they will?(WBBC 28 August)
Ella Richardson
via Facebook
'Heartbreaking' condition gives rise to fundraiser for sick kids WARRAGUL // WHEN Lisa Giblin's son Aiden was given three weeks to live at birth she was heartbroken, but 10 years on she considers her little boy "one ofthe lucky ones" who foughton.
Aiden was born with an inoperable heart condition and has been on medication for much of his life. His condition may seem rare, but congenital heart disease – heart disease present from birth – affects over 64,000 Australians. According to support group Heartkids, the childhood heart disease rate is increasing by five per cent every year. "No operation was possible, unfortunately," Lisa told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen. "For Aiden's condition the only hope was a heart transplant, but at 11 weeks of age it is very rare to get a healthy donor heart so he only had medication keeping him alive. "He spent three weeks in the Royal Children's Hospital before the doctors came to me and said there was nothing more they could do for him there that I couldn't do at home. Did I want to remember his life in hospital or take himhome and make the mostofit? "I made the heartbreaking decision to take him home and make the most of the time he had left. Christmas was just over three weeks away and we were told he wouldn't see his first Christmas. Aiden has continued
Aiden in 2005. Photo supplied by Lisa Giblin
to beat the odds and has been drug free since 29 December 2014. "He will have his condition for life, it can return at any time, so we just make the most ofthe time we have. "Aiden is one of the lucky ones and we think ourselves lucky that we have [so far] had 10 years more than ever expected.” It was her experience with Aiden which prompted Lisa to support Heartkids. She has started a fundraiser named after her son, Aiden's Heart Awareness Family Fun Day, which will be held in Warragul on Sunday. Featuring a barbecue, raffle, silent
· BAW BAW LIFE · 7
auctions, merchandise, a raffle and music in addition to market stalls, rides, car boot sales and more, the fundraiser has already attracted support from around 100 stallholders. "It would be so nice to reach that target and really make it a successful day for the kids and their families," she said. "[All] money raised will be donated to Heartkids Victoria/Tasmania." The event will be held at the St Pauls Anglican Grammar School gymnasium on Bowen Street, Warragul, from 10:00 to 14:00. A gold coin donation will be required for entry.
Bike lane trees highlight a larger problem OPINION By William PJ Kulich
L Keening_Product
WHENtheBawBawShirebegan diggingholes fornewstreettrees in QueenStreetWarragulthecycling communitywas outraged theywere to beplanted inbikepaths.
But it was the council's response which highlighted the real problem at play. The council justified the move which was supported by VicRoads - by saying the paths were shared with parking and by no means a dedicated cycle lane. Unlike many bike paths on major roads in Melbourne and more major regional centres, Baw Baw's are not dedicated. In fact, they are effectively parking lanes with bike logos slapped on to look good. Motorists can legally block cyclists by parking in the shared lanes, and even the planned lane widening cannot control how wide or well parked a stopped vehicle will be. The question which should be asked by the cycling community is this: what will BawBawdo to improve safety for its growing cycling population? Queen Street is a busy road with plenty ofheavy traffic travelling at around 60km/h. A state-wide study conducted by cycling safety group the Amy Gillett Foundation found, where speed zones were recorded with crash data, 77 per cent ofall bike rider crashes occurred on roads with limits between 50 and 60km/h. There are many measures which can be taken to improve safety and Baw Baw's community assets director Phil Cantillon told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen he hoped the widening ofQueen Street's shared lanes would reduce cyclists' needs to dive into traffic to avoid parked cars. The photo above shows how much space is left for lane widening, but is only a best-case example - the truck
pictured pulled toward the centre when its driver saw me standing at the present edge ofthe shared lane. Other arrangements could be considered, though cost and road width are always factors. One ofthe most simple is to simply remove bikes from the road altogether and widen the footpaths. While easy to implement on Queen Street, this presents other issues: blind driveways and risks to pedestrians. Another option is to create dedicated bike lanes on the very edge ofthe road, possibly even separated from the parking lanes with a small barrier. This does not resolve the dooring issue having bikes on the right side ofshared lanes creates, but does separate bikes from moving traffic. Iftrees are planted on Queen Street where they are planned to be, this option will not be possible. Even simply marking dedicated bike lanes on the inside edge ofthe shared zone instead ofwidening the shared zone as planned could remind drivers to look out for bikes and how much space must be left. There are many other possible solutions which could put cyclists in a better position than they are now, and pleasingly the council's past-last minute decision to consult puts all of them on the table. While the shared bike lanes remain as they are, however, it is worth asking yourselfifyou know the road rules when it comes to driving around bicycles. Many motorists do not and are frustrated by cyclists legally riding alone or two-abreast in road lanes in areas without adequate bike riding infrastructure or illegally overtake cyclists on roundabouts. Many cyclists also break rules, though always come offsecond best. Be sure to google Victoria's road cycling rules - we can complain about safety, but we can also do something about it.
8 路 BAW BAW LIFE 路 WARRAGUL & BAW BAW CITIZEN 路 1 6 OCTOBER 201 5
More online
RECENT STORIES BROKEN AT WARRAGULCITIZEN.COM 'Disappointing' bike path tree planting: Baw Baw calls snap meeting > 12 October
Two Towns Trail finally linked directly to central Warragul > 28 September
Kayaking trip ends in tragedy near Walhalla > 4 October
Former top cop Ken Lay appointed Ambulance Victoria chair > 30 September
String ofhot days to thaw Baw Baw > 30 September
Find these stories and more at the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen's website: www.warragulcitizen.com
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