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14 APRIL, 2026
The mate you need Sunbury youth Harley Elliott is back with a new fundraiser, this time raising money for anti-bullying charity Dolly’s Dream. Alongside running 60km this month, Harley will also host Make Some Mates Day, an event for kids in Sunbury struggling to make friends or experiencing bullying a space to find some new friends. Find out more about his fundraising efforts on page five.
Harley, 10, continues to run for a new cause. (Damjan Janevski) 542105_02
VCAT permit fight By Georgia Tacey Macedon Ranges council has said it would have refused a permit for a new childcare centre in Gisborne – but the proposal has already been appealed above council’s jurisdiction. A planning application for a new childcare centre in Howey Street has been appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after council did not make a decision on the application in the prescribed timeframe. At the 25 March council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to not
support the proposal at VCAT, and said if council was still the responsible authority on the permit, it would not have been approved. Council’s stance follows significant public objection to the proposal, with 64 residents opposing the project when it was advertised to the public. Council said the proposal would have been rejected for a number of planning scheme inconsistencies, including the building design, the height and style of fencing and the existing or desired future character of the area. The scale and intensity of the use of
the building will not maintain township character and is not in a suitable location, according to council. Council also said the proposal fails to provide enough car parking spaces, and will have impacts to road usage due to the increased number of vehicles resulting in traffic congestion and the lack of continuous public footpaths. Cr Jennifer Anderson said she thanked the community for the feedback submitted to show the true usage of Howey Street. “We’re not saying no to childcare, they just have to be in the right location. You have to have the right amenities. We really value
our neighbourhood character,” she said. “I think it’s really important that people that are considering childcare centres really do consider sites appropriately, designs, size, and that is what would appear to have not been considered in this application.” Cr Rob Guthrie said the high number of objections showed how unwanted this proposal was. “Th is is a very lovely part of old Gisborne, no footpaths, no curb and channel, and beautiful street trees and that must be preserved,” he said. The matter will go to VCAT in July.
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