Tuesday, 10 September, 2024
Healthcare budget under the lens
50 years of EACH bus hits the road
Floral Carpet set to return
See real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Halloween green on Green By Shamsiya Hussainpoor The Philanthropic Collective will be hosting its fifth annual Halloween on the Green at Ferny Creek Reserve – is more than just a spooktacular celebration—it’s a sustainable way of having fun while also being committed to a sustainable planet. For the second year running, Halloween on the Green has partnered with B-Alternatives, an environmental social enterprise dedicated to promoting sustainability – together, they aim to reduce waste, encourage recycling, and offer eco-friendly alternatives throughout the festival. Strategic development and event director Andrew Fillip-Gautier said the 2022 event demonstrated that a plastic-free festival is not only feasible but also advantageous for both the environment and the community.
“We urge attendees to bring their own water bottles to utilize our free hydration stations and to bring a picnic blanket to make the most of their day on the green,” he recommended. B-Alternatives events project manager Joshua Davies is encouraging attendees to adopt more mindful and intentional consumption habits. “We believe in a future where reusability is key, by recirculating items rather than discarding them, we ensure they remain useful for the future,” Mr Davies said. Continue reading on page 16 Left to right: Breanna Mann, Andrew FillipGautier and Joshua Davies are looking forward for a fun-filled, eco-conscious event. (Stewart Chambers: 425511)
Emergency fears By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Emergency services are grappling with a major issue, power outages are causing telecom systems to fail, preventing the public from reaching out for help when needed. Kallista CFA member Chris Job has raised this alarming issue on several occasions with the media and the council. “If the community wants to support us further, we need their backing in advocating for a solution. When the NBN goes down, our communication systems also fail, and no one can reach us,” he said. “We’re then left without phones, unable to provide updates on emergency situations or respond to any emergency events.” “We’re an emergency service. In a catastrophic event, we want the community to rely on us, but right now they can’t, and it hasn’t become a priority.”
Monbulk member Daniela De Martino said that telecommunications are essential, not a luxury. “When a serious weather event occurs or during bushfire season, we all rely on the mobile network for emergency calls. Unfortunately, the companies have not ensured continuity of service during power outages,” Ms De Martino said. “Following the February storms, I started a petition calling on telcos to ‘Power the Towers.’ I encourage people who want to see mobile telecommunications companies build resilience into their towers to sign it on my website.” Ms De Martino also advises the community to contact Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland and request that the government mandate uninterrupted power supply through legislation. “The State Government has intervened to improve telecommunications resilience in the
Dandenong Ranges. We’ve partnered with NBN Co, the Commonwealth Government, and local councils to establish NBN Community Wi-Fi in Emerald, Kalorama, Monbulk, Olinda, and The Patch,” she said. “I will be meeting with telecommunications companies in the coming months to discuss our community’s needs and concerns. The more signatures on my petition, the louder our voices will be.” Despite the recurring telecom outages during storms in the Hills, infrastructure improvements remain lacking. Vodafone, Telstra, and Optus were all contacted for a response. An Optus spokesperson said severe weather events in Victoria and Tasmania have led to power outages at several mobile sites, causing disruptions to both mobile and NBN services for some customers.
“Our teams are working with the relevant authorities to restore services to impacted areas as soon as possible and as safely as we can,” the spokesperson said. “Optus is committed to keeping our customers connected by providing the best possible coverage across our network.” “Generators are being deployed to strategic locations across both states, with the first already in place and operating to maintain mobile site operation.” Telstra Regional General Manager Jenny Gray reported significant progress in restoring services in Victoria after severe storms caused widespread power outages. “Nearly all of our mobile sites are now back online, and we are progressively restoring remaining landline phone and internet services,” Ms Gray said. Continued page 3
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