Tuesday, 17 June, 2025
Coucil debate over flag order
New budget, big plans
Men’s mental health week
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Hills Celts rock again By Tanya Steele Celtic musicians, bands, dancers and more flocked to the frosty and windy shores of Portarlington to perform, learn and collaborate across many stages at the annual National Celtic Festival last week. The Mast Gully Fellers from Upwey joined the festival this year for the third time. “It’s certainly one of our favourite festivals to play, the people, the culture, the music... It’s just so much fun,” said band member Freo Freeman. Bringing their beautiful trio of voices to the event were the multi-talented Nightingales which saw members Tracey Roberts, Maria Forde and Claire Patti perform original and trad pieces on an array of instruments several times over the weekend. Read more on page 14
The Mast Gully Fellers from Upwey returned to the National Celtic Festival for the third year. (Tanya Steele)
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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 to have occurred. Turn to page 3 to read more
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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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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
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By Oliver Winn