Tuesday, 11 March, 2025
Supreme Court issues ‘wind up’ order
Candidates stepping up for Casey
CCTV focus continues for Yarra Ranges
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Garden design is a winner By Shamsiya Hussainpoor Emerald landscape designer Natalie Back has been awarded the 2025 Open Gardens Victoria (OGV) Student and Emerging Designers Grant, a prestigious honour that will see her garden design, ‘The Sustainable Sanctuary’, showcased at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) from 26-30 March, 2025. The annual grant provides up to $10,000 to support emerging talent in the horticultural sector. For Ms Back, the news came as a surprise while she was shopping in Woolworths in Emerald. “I turned to my partner and squealed, ‘I won!’ It’s such an honour, and a massive step for my business,” she said. Her garden design features native plants, water-smart principles, and a strong focus on soil health. With elements like grasses that sway in the wind, ‘The Sustainable Sanctuary’ aims to create a calming space that connects visitors to nature. “I want people to experience a sense of peace,” she said. To read more, turn to page 8
Natalie Beck is the recipient of the 2025 Open Gardens Victoria (OGV) Student and Emerging Designers Grant. (Supplied)
‘Seal our roads’ A renewed push for road sealing funding has been initiated by residents in the Dandenong Ranges after the Prime Minister announced a $1.2 billion road blitz across Victoria to “seal and upgrade roads that are slowing communities down.” The topic of road sealing is somewhat of a sore point after $200 million of funding was pulled for just that.
Since then, communities across the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges have been seeking the return of this funding to fix dusty dirt roads in their periregional towns. Associations like Gembrook Community Group have initiated their own road action group who are providing a comprehensive case to the State and Federal Governments.
“Part of the rationale for this is the severe angst in the community, people are eating the dirt in their water tanks,” Derek Jones said. While only three projects have been announced under the funding, future projects would be decided at a later date. The initial Sealing the Hills project was funded by the former Coalition government and removed
alongside the Yarra Ranges’ funding by the Labor Government. With an election around the corner it may be a key driver for the Dandenong Ranges when going to the polls. To read the full story, turn to page 2
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