Tuesday, 3 June, 2025
Oonah Belonging Place permit approved
Dead platypus found in East Warburton raises concern
Oakridge Restaurant closes its doors
See Real Estate Liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
Bridging from now to next By Andrew Kwon The Memo played venue to the Yarra Ranges’ Reconciliation Week - Bridging Now to Next event, which saw those who attended moved by the powerful stories of Wurundjeri culture. Wurundjeri woman, Stacy Piper, gave a moving Welcome to Country speaking of the strong cultural connections within the Yarra Ranges with the legendary Coranderrk Aboriginal Station just a few kilometres up the road. Courtney Ugle’s emotionally charged keynote moved the crowd to tears after she detailed her own personal story and Nikki from Oonah shared vital insights about work taking place in the community. The event concluded with a generous, profound and uplifting panel discussion between Elder Uncle Richard Frankland, Ash Dargan, and Dr Andrew Peters exploring “where to from here for reconciliation.” Uncle Richard and Ash also performed two beautiful musical sets that added cultural depth to the day. Turn to page 6 to read more
Uncle Richard Frankland and Ash Dargan musical performance. (Kate Baker/The Arts and Life)
Permit pushback Shop owners of Yarra Junction Shopping Centre warned a suite of proposed changes would “destroy the heart” of the town. Clea Reynolds, owner of local variety store Cortella, started to raise the noise about the recent planning permit application after she found out her store was excluded in the permit. The planning permit would see the expansion of the Woolworths swallow up the existing Cortella discount store and strong-arm the small
business out of its home. The online petition currently has 516 verified signatures at the time of publication - to sign the petition, visit: chng.it/5x9s7vTrKr. But, it’s not just Cortella affected by the proposed changes. Yarra Junction Action Group treasurer Carole Corcoran raised concerns surrounding the significant reduction of the indoor community space and carpark cuts. “It’s where people meet, where they make friends and chat. This community here is a very,
very friendly, caring community and we do look after each other and to lose that area, the full consensus was it would be the worst thing that could happen because it’s a very unique space,” Ms Corcoran said. Should the proposed permit be approved, available parking spaces would be cut from 113 to 90, which includes the centre’s only emergency parking bay and one disability parking space. The planning permit applicant, retail property service provider RetPro, was contacted for comment.
The application is now in the hands of the Yarra Ranges Council’s planning department, who will make a decision to approve or deny the application. With no alternative provided, Cortella’s future could be curtailed and Ms Reynolds would be left to try and find a new location. “It’s just hard, I love where we are, and where we work, we’re so lucky to have the community we have,” she said. Turn to page 7 to read more
12774580-RV23-25
By Oliver Winn
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