Tuesday, 4 March, 2025
Monbulk nursery fined after a fatal incident
Tecoma PS participates in Clean Up Australia Day
Capturing the Yarra Ranges continues with police and crime
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Survival Day in focus On Sunday 2 March, Belgrave and the surrounding community gathered in large numbers at Borthwick Park for Belgrave Survival Day 2025. Showcasing an epic range of First Nations musicians, artists and businesses, the cool weather change did not deter crowds. Belgrave Survival Day provides community with an opportunity to celebrate by recognising and celebrating the survival of Indigenous culture locally and nationally. Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin alliance in Victoria hosted a Welcome to Country and Smoking ceremony to kick off the day. “I’m glad to be here,” she said.
Belgrave Survival Day saw a lot of younger Djirri Djirri dancers perform this year, even with a bit of rain. (Tanya Steele: 462879)
After Welcome to Country crowds were invited to participate in a traditional smoking ceremony and then enjoy dancing by the Djirri Djirri Dancers and live music by First Nations Artists. Turn to page 11 to see some pictures from the day
Tiny homes push By Tanya Steele A couple from Belgrave South who have been living out of their caravan recently started an online petition asking Yarra Ranges Council to implement a Tiny House on Wheels and/or caravan living policy in the municipality. The local council has been urged to adopt a Tiny House on Wheels (THOWs) policy in the petition posted on 6 February this year after months of back and forth with Yarra Ranges Council.
Evrim has lived with her partner in Belgrave South for two and a half years – the duo moved to the Yarra Ranges after fitting out their caravan to be roadworthy beforehand. “We’re both community workers, arts workers, and we know that we couldn’t afford to buy a traditional house because work is not always stable,” she said. The two also both have chronic issues and knew a mortgage would be out of reach.
“When we first moved here, we called the council and chatted to them and talked about the laws to understand,” said Evrim. With over 650 signatures since 6 February, the petition is gaining traction online and the couple are asking the council to work with its community to develop laws to ensure safe, affordable housing options without evictions. “We received a building order to vacate our Tiny House on Wheels, which is a roadworthy caravan, meets the Transport Victoria Standards
and is on a chassis.” read the petition. Tiny houses can often be considered as caravans, and this is why, in turn, they don’t require a building permit. They do tend to have requirements around how long one can live in them on private land – with utilities and land use issues like bushfire management overlay and green wedge coming into play for the Yarra Ranges. Read more on page 4
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