Tuesday, 10 February, 2026
Fair Work looks into labour hire in the Yarra Valley
Cute Ute Crew delivers hay to farmers
Forgotten fabrics, new life: fashion in focus
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Racing is back By Oliver Winn Whether he’s overseas tearing up sand dunes with broken bones, or battling council over zoning disputes, Daniel “Chucky” Sanders is certainly a force not to be reckoned with. The Sanders Apple Farm have secured existing use rights to host motorbike races at the farm, two years after the Yarra Ranges Council shut the events down. “It’s been a long time coming since 2023, since we got shut down,” Mr Sanders said. The development closed the lid on the lengthy zoning dispute between the farm and the Yarra Ranges Council. Mr Sanders has big plans for the farm’s return, with a fundraiser event to take place sometime in April. “We’ll make a really good event, it’ll be fun you know, not a racing competition, it’ll be just to enjoy the property we have here and enjoy riding a dirt bike.” Read more on page eight
The Sanders Apple Farm in Three Bridges will now be able to hold motorbike races. (Oliver Winn: 533229)
Depot of dispute By Oliver Winn The fight to reinstate the Little Yarra Ranges Egg Farm’s recycling depot escalated with a petition in Parliament, while Visy face potential consequences as a council investigation gets underway. With just under 2000 signatures at time of publication, the petition has seen support come in droves as the Yarra Ranges community bands together.
The petition opened on 5 February and was sponsored by Eildon MP Cindy McLeish in what was described as the “last real option” by farm owners Greg and Sue Gimmill. “If we don’t get the signatures, it won’t convey the sentiment of the Upper Yarra Valley. So, if you want it done, you’ve got to be noisy,” Ms Gimmill said. Rather than petitioning to have Visy reinstate the farm’s license, it calls for an exemption to be
given to the East Zone operator, Return-It-Vic, to manage the site outside of its zone. Ms Gimmill said the alternate approach was because Visy had “washed their hands” from the matter. Meanwhile, Yarra Ranges Council planning and sustainable futures director Kath McClusky said the council launched an investigation into Visy’s reverse vending machine in Yarra Junction on 5 February over reports it may be breaching its
permit conditions. “Council has been in direct communication with Visy and will continue to work with the operator to address the issues and ensure the site operates in compliance with the planning permit,” Ms McCluksy said. It came after Visy shutdown the egg farm’s depot for noncompliance in December. Read more on page four
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