Upper Yarra
Tuesday, 19 September, 2023
Gladysdale Primary School delays
Police investigating vandalism of memorial
Conference talks about the Future of the Platypus
Art factory for Healesville High from HICCI delights
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A Star News Group Publication
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Festival set By Callum Ludwig
Linda Jay is bringing back the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival in 2024.
Picture: VAL REES
Nine years after the first successful edition, the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival is set to make a triumphant return in January 2024. The event is the brainchild of Linda Jay, owner of the Donkey Shop in East Warburton. Ms Jay said there’ll be a large gathering of donkeys competing in events, ranging from showing to jumping and obstacle courses to fancy dress. “There’ll be donkeys in the yard for people to walk to and have a look at, or donkey rides to enjoy. I’ll also have guest speakers, a vet and a farrier and a few other speakers who will talk about the care, wellbeing and training of donkeys,” she said. Over 2000 people and 40 donkeys attended the 2015 festival. Turn to page 12 for more
Permit ticked off By Callum Ludwig A planning permit application for a multi-million dollar dwelling in Coldstream has been approved by Yarra Ranges Councillors after a lengthy debate at the Tuesday 12 September Council meeting. The application for the 193 Victoria Road property was first submitted in December 2021 with plans including a helipad, golf course, function centre, indoor recreation centre and restaurant, with the scope
since reduced to a residential dwelling only. The revised application still includes a bar, cinema, art gallery, a 19-car garage, basketball court, separate male and female toilets change rooms and bowling alleys as well as golf cart parking, a winter garden and a roof garden. Coldstream resident Ms Price’s property is 924 metres away from 193 Victoria Road and she spoke in objection to the application, supported by other neighbours in attendance.
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“Where it is said to be a dwelling, you are being absolutely misled as to what this planning permit is about… there are a number of exceptionally unusual features,” Ms Price said. “This car gallery, apart from being completely absurd, 19 cars with a viewing window that you can see from outside of the house, is exactly the type of space which without those cars is a wedding venue.” Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Planning and Sustainable Futures Kath McClusky said Council’s officers must consider
the application that’s in front of them. “We note that the initial application had a number of elements to it, it has been amended and the amendment request is for a dwelling so the officers have to consider it as a dwelling under the Act,” she said. “In terms of who the applicant is, Urbis lodged the application so from a planning perspective we don’t really take that into consideration who that it might be, we can’t look at it too much into that.” Continued page 6
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