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proudly serving Brimbank and the North West
30 SEPTEMBER, 2025
Kangaroo great Anthony Stevens writes exclusively for Star Weekly 12790528-JD33-25
....SEE SPORT
For the love of cycling Braybrook local Sammy Muscat has returned from his second 4000km self-supported ride across Europe that involved sleepless nights, treacherous weather and the equivalent of climbing Everest seven times. Not bad for a guy who hasn’t been cycling all that long. The ride started in southern Italy, took him through the Alps, in and out of all kinds of conditions, then ended in the Netherlands. But the journey started long before that. Nine years ago, while in his early 20s, Mr Muscat suffered heart failure. The day he woke from an induced coma was the day his family had come to say goodbye. This ride helped raise more than $10,000 for the Heart Foundation.
‘Send it Sammy’ Muscat cycled 4000km across Europe for charity. (Damjan Janevski) 500055_03
‘Substandard’ plan By Sam Porter Brimbank council said it does not support Development Victoria’s draft development plan in its current form for a housing estate in Cairnlea, and said the “substandard“ plan “falls short of community and council expectations.” Council provided its feedback in a letter to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) after the department sought council’s review of the plan in July. The draft plan applies to the first stage of the project at 147A Cairnlea Drive and 26S Glenbrook Avenue. In the September council meeting Cr Virginia Tachos said council remained disappointed the minister had become the
responsible authority, reducing council’s authority over the project. “I also thank the officers for their diligence and ongoing vigilance in the face of substandard development plans being prepared for Cairnlea and call on Development Victoria to lift their game,” Cr Tachos said. In the letter, council cited a range of reasons it does not support the draft including the plan not fulfilling certain mandatory requirements under the Development Plan Overlay as well as a number of clauses in the Brimbank Planning Scheme. Council also called the draft a “partial development plan” that excludes large areas of the site such as a former landfill. “It would be a concern if these sites proved to be too difficult to deal with and were
Luba Grigorovitch
abandoned in the future,” the letter stated. Council also identified the need for the plan to include plans for siting, traffic, access and landscaping. Council made a number of recommendations including increased protection for existing trees on the site and for the development plan to be assessed under one application rather than a staged approval. Another request asked for “the preparation of a comprehensive social impact assessment, to be undertaken by a suitably qualified expert,” which council said should “rigorously evaluate the potential short and long-term impact of the proposed development plan on local community facilities.” The DTP told Star Weekly Development
Victoria is currently finalising a planning strategy in line with Brimbank’s existing planning framework. “The DTP continues to work closely with Development Victoria and Brimbank City Council to finalise plans for the site,” a DTP spokesperson said. The DTP said delivering the Cairnlea project in stages will allow flexibility to respond to infrastructure needs and community feedback as the project progresses. Development Victoria published preliminary documentation regarding the proposed development’s potential to impact listed threatened species, and opened a period of community consultation until October 6.
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YOUR LOCAL MEMBER OF STATE PARLIAMENT REPRESENTING THE ELECTORATE OF KOROROIT Need help? Visit my office on 2/11 Commercial Road, Caroline Springs luba.grigorovitch@parliament.vic.gov.au
8361 7133 Authorised by John Ballestrino, 2/11 Commercial Road Caroline Springs Victoria 3023.
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