Tuesday, 24 February, 2026
Ridge Road creek concerns
Tributes flow for Ursula
Mates walk for Ben
Real estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Safety anxiety Sun, survival and stories By Tanya Steele Belgrave Survival Day in the Dandenong Ranges went ahead over the weekend as community gathered in the dappled sunshine at Bothwick Park to listen, lounge, dance and more at the family friendly afternoon on Wurundjeri Country. With a deadly lineup of musicians, artists, vendors and panel speakers featured Belgrave Survival Day celebrates the strength and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people, with dance, song, art, food and yarns. After a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony with Senior Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, the afternoon kicked off in earnest. Presented in partnership with Burrinja Cultural Centre, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place and Yarra Ranges Council, with the 3MDR team broadcasting live to 97.1FM, turn to page 7 for more pictures from the day.
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Torres Strait Islander musician Kiwat Kennell delivers some soulful storying telling over acoustic guitar. (Tanya Steele: 536308)
Residents across the Dandenong Ranges have raised serious concerns about the state of unsealed roads, which have become increasingly busy due to population growth. Cockatoo resident and member of the Cockatoo Road Action Group (CRAG21), Paul Keen said the roads are unsafe for pedestrians and pose respiratory risks due to dust, which he suspects may contain silica. “Children walk to school and pets are walked along these roads, but there’s no footpath and cars are speeding, it’s unsafe for everyone,” he said. Many of these roads, including View Hill Road, also form part of the local emergency access network, making conditions during bushfire season particularly concerning. The Federal Government launched the Sealing the Hills program in 2019, committing $150 million over eight years to upgrade and seal unsealed roads. Construction began in 2021 but was discontinued in 2023 after a change in funding, leaving only a small portion of roads completed. A recent meeting from Cockatoo Road Action Group (CRAG21), attended by Councillor David Nickell, saw residents present a petition with 100 signatures calling for View Hill Road to be sealed. Mayor Brett Owen said the council is committed to maintaining roads safely and securing long-term co-investment with state and federal governments. The Australian Government has committed $22.9 billion over the next decade for Victorian transport, including $88.7 million
for sealing roads in Cardinia Shire and Yarra Ranges. A spokesperson said the funding will improve road safety, capacity, and emergency access, with Roads to Recovery allocating nearly $34 million to the two councils for 2024-2029. “This isn’t just about convenience, this is about public health, safety, and emergency access,” Mr Keen said. Cardinia Shire Council is advocating for the continuation of the Sealing the Hills program and is prioritising a strategic road-sealing package that would involve both state and federal support. Council representatives say improving unsealed roads is essential not only for safety, but also for long-term community resilience. Council officers have also indicated they are in the early stages of developing an Unsealed Roads Improvement Plan, which will help guide future maintenance and upgrade decisions based on factors such as weather impacts, traffic volumes, community feedback and emergency access requirements. Yarra Ranges Council, which also manages a significant number of unsealed roads, has continued to work with residents through Special Rate and Charge Schemes to fund road sealing projects, however, with limited funding available, unsealed roads are expected to remain part of the region’s transport network for the foreseeable future. To read the full article, turn to page 5
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