Tuesday, 21 October, 2025
Council reports and future plans
Gembrook Park celebrates 30-years
76-year-old’s excellent cycling adventure
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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It’s Archies time in Upwey By Tanya Steele The streets of Upwey are alive with colour, inspiration and joy once more as a beloved annual art exhibition returns to the hills. The Upwey Archies have landed, delivering heart and soul on canvas, painted by young and old in the community for its eighth year. First time entrants young Jasper with his sister Hannah came out with their parents to check out the portraits they painted for the exhibition on the Main Street, on until 5 November, moving to the Burrinja Cultural Centre after that. Check out the some of the amazing art on page 13
Jasper came out to check out his portrait with his dad Travis. (Stewart Chambers)
Shock relocation By Tanya Steele The Selby Primary School had a surprise relocation last week in the Hills after being informed that their bushfire at-risk rating had changed. A hot and windy day on Thursday 16 October tipped the fire danger rating to high, so students and staff had to relocate to Heany Park Primary School in Rowville. The school informed their community that the school has been re-categorised as a Category 0 on the Department of Education’s Bushfire at-
risk register (BARR) on 15 October. “Our designated shelter-in-place building no longer meets the stringent requirements,” read the correspondence. “This is a temporary measure put in place to support the safety of staff and students.” With work on the building not anticipated to be complete by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) until early 2026, term four may now be challenging for the Selby Primary School community, with hotter weather just around the corner.
A spokesperson from the Department of Education told Star Mail on Friday 17 October, that the safety of students and staff is their priority. “The community can be assured project planning is underway to rectify the Shelter in Place building compliance issues,” they said. As the Selby Primary School’s Bushfire shelter-in-place building no longer meets current stringent requirements, the Department of Education have advised that this means the school has a lower threshold for pre-emptive action and will need to relocate to a safer school setting
on days of a BOM forecast of ‘High’ fire danger rating for the Yarra Ranges LGA. Should the school at any stage be considered at risk over the warmer months, they will communicate plans at the earliest opportunity to the school community. The development comes just as CFA informed community on a state level that Victorians can expect a hotter and drier summer this year. Read more on page 3
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