Tuesday, 17 June, 2025
Yarra Ranges Council finalised budget
De Bortoli Wines not fazed by industry struggles
Healesville Toy Library reopens its doors
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Enviro award By Oliver Winn The Wandin Yallock Primary School has snatched a top prize at the 2025 ResourceSmart awards. The small Yarra Ranges public school won the Container Deposit Scheme Vic (CDS Vic) Excellence Award off the back of The Enviro Squad, a team of staff and student leaders paving the way towards the school’s 2025 sustainability goals. The school received $1000 in prize money, an eco-friendly plaque made from recycled materials and certificates of honour. Wandin Yallock Primary School garden specialist and sustainability leader Jillian Dowling, affectionately known as Farmer Jill, said the school and community were instrumental in helping recycling efforts. “We’ve had bags delivered to the office full of cans, the Warratina Lavender Farm occasionally will bring over what they’ve collected from their shop, and also extended families, so not just parents but we’ve had grandparents also deliver things for us to count and return.” Turn to page 7 to read more
The Enviro Squad students show off their awards. (Stewart Chambers: 483604)
Landslide fears New mapping showed threat of landslides in the Yarra Ranges is a lot higher than previously thought. The recent revelation prompted the Yarra Ranges Council to rush through interim erosion management overlays (EMO) while an amendment to the Planning Scheme is finalised. A report commissioned by the council after the June 2021 storms was delivered in late April, replacing the hand-drawn mapping from the 1990s.
It’s an increase of just under 2000 at risk properties and the new EMOs would restrict developments to minimise unnecessary land disturbance. “There are no certainties about when the next significant rainfall event or landslide could occur. However, given recent weather patterns and high instance of emergencies in Yarra Ranges it is reasonable to consider this likely and imminent,” the report warned.. Yarra Ranges Council mayor Jim Child addressed the council meeting with grave concern
in his voice. “Councillors, this is a big one. This is something that’s happening that we need to really pay some serious attention to,” Cr Child said. The emergency EMOs now require the approval of state Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, but, at the time of publication the council is yet to formally submit a planning scheme amendment request. The Yarra Ranges has a history of landslides and the towns with the highest landslide threat are Warburton, Monbulk, Mount Dandenong,
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Montrose and Belgrave. The July 2024 landslide on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Ferny Creek, which was approximately 40 metres wide and 70 metres long, saw the road closed to a single lane and repairs are expected to finish in July. Other significant landslides on Monbulk-Seville Road in 2023 and Acheron Way in Warburton East have seen major delays and months of repair works, though these are only a few of many which have occurred. Turn to page 3 to read more 12452267-SG26-20
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