Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Melton and Moorabool
24 MARCH, 2026
Striking a charitable chord
Creekside College Caroline Springs students Ashleigh (front), Marcus, Noah, Oliver, Nicholas and Zara. (Damjan Janevski) 541711_04
Students at Caroline Springs’ Creekside College are ready to play music with a purpose this month, raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal as part of its annual busking event. The tradition has struck a chord with the school community for nearly two decades now. Acting assistant principal (years seven to nine) Katia Gerovasilis said it’s a big day for everyone involved. “It’s run by our student leadership team. [Students] love it. They really look forward to it and they’re really involved,” Ms Gerovasilis said. “We have a lot of talented kids at our school who are really keen.” As part of the event, students from all classes organise and run stalls, games, performances and activities to help create a festival-like atmosphere. The day features separate events for primary and secondary students. This year the school has set its sights on a $10,000 target. Locals are encouraged to donate to the cause online to help the school hit a high note for charity. Details: fundraise.goodfridayappeal. com.au/fundraisers/creeksidek9college
Panel requested Moorabool council will seek an independent planning panel to review community feedback on a proposed amendment to its planning scheme which is designed to shape the region’s retail future. At the 4 March meeting, councillors voted to request the minister for planning appoint a panel to consider submissions received during the public exhibition of Amendment C115moor, which underpins the implementation of the Moorabool Retail Strategy 2024. The amendment proposes changes to the Moorabool Planning Scheme to reflect
the vision outlined in the Moorabool Retail Strategy, which the council adopted in September 2024. The strategy will guide how and where shops and commercial centres develop across the shire over the next decade, supporting growth in key areas including Bacchus Marsh and Ballan. Eleven submissions were received when the plan was publicly exhibited late last year. While several supported new neighbourhood activity centres in growing areas, others raised concerns about commercial locations, potential impacts on Ballan’s heritage and character, traffic pressures, and requests for site-specific changes.
One submission also called for delaying the amendment until the completion of a separate planning study for Maddingley. Raph Krelle of Centrum Town Planning on behalf of the BMS Retail Group, which operates IGA supermarkets in Darley and Maddingley, and Darley Plaza owner Velardo Trading addressed councillors and raised issues regarding the redevelopment of Darley Plaza. “... My clients have been working on the potential redevelopment of Darley Plaza for…probably over 15 years,” Mr Krelle said. He claimed flooding issues were delaying redevelopment work that would double the plaza’s size and add more retail, gym and
office spaces. “We would have to raise the floor level of Darley Plaza by 400 to 500 millimeters, which would result in the need to effectively demolish the existing shopping centre and stop trading, which is not a possibility,” Mr Krelle said. “...there’s a complicated series of issues we need to work through.” Councillors Paul Tatchell and Tom Sullivan moved a resolution requesting the minister establish the panel, which the council supported. When the panel concludes its report, the council will decide whether to adopt the amendment as exhibited, adopt it with changes, or abandon it altogether.
Helloworld Travel Bacchus Marsh
12736651-MP03-25
By Jack O’shea-Ayres