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Mount Evelyn

Tuesday, 21 May, 2024

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A Star News Group Publication

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Backbone of the Yarra Ranges This National Volunteer Week say thanks to those who donate their time in keeping programs, services and shops afloat because of an innate need to give back. Volunteering Australia found that between late 2019 and April 2021 there was a fall of about 25 per cent in volunteering but demand for volunteers has reach an all time high. For organisations like Caladenia Dementia Care, volunteers are a necessary and much needed base for providing support to people experiencing dementia, as well as their carers. Turn to page 11 to read more

Caladenia Dementia Car volunteer Heather Barnard with club member Frank. 407528 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

Village approved By Mikayla van Loon A heavily opposed planning application has been accepted by Yarra Ranges councillors after a number of amendments were made to the proposal. The land at 375 Swansea Road Lilydale, adjacent to the Bellbird car park, will be developed into a 50 lot retirement village with councillors pushing through the application on Tuesday 14 May. A similar application was submitted to Yarra Ranges Council in 2018, where it was refused in May 2020 and then taken to VCAT by the applicant, where it was also denied permit approval. The VCAT committee, chaired by Tim Hell-

sten and supported by Geoffrey Carruthers, found the original proposal “inappropriate within the Rural Living Zone” and “inconsistent with the Planning Policy Framework” based on the “scale and extent” of the build of 72 dwellings. Councillor Tim Heenan, who moved the motion to approve, said however, “we are looking at something entirely different from what we looked at back in May 2020. “I can assure you I’ve seen a substantial change in this new application in relation to all of the matters that I so vehemently opposed.” An emotional plea from Lilydale resident Kim-Maree didn’t persuade councillors to oppose the development, despite their thanks for putting forward a case for objection.

“375 Swansea Road deserves to be protected as it is part of a beautiful precinct, seen as a community wellbeing and enrichment space, where families not only from the Yarra Ranges, but other parts of Melbourne come together to explore, celebrate, relax and admire this precious environment we live in, not more urban sprawl,” she said. “We are aware of the pressure the State Government and councils are under to deal with the housing crisis. “However, this is an inappropriate development on a floodplain for a retirement village, and with three lifestyle villages already in Lilydale with current vacancies on appropriate sites, this is not the right thing to do to protect our vulnerable community.”

Kim-Maree also spoke to the protection of the platypus in the Olinda Creek which runs along the boundary of the property. “The destruction of the flora and fauna, especially six endangered platypus, that I have personally seen on several occasions that live in the Olinda Creek which runs along this development site “The platypus conservation plan, authored (sic) by William and Serena in 2009, that was commissioned by the council itself for the Shire of Yarra Ranges, noted that the Yarra Ranges Council had a crucial role to play in conserving the platypus within the Melbourne metropolitan area. Continued page 3

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