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proudly serving Melton and Moorabool
5 MARCH, 2024
Celebrate autumn
Ballan Autumn Festival coordinator Mel Sheeley and artist who designed the post office sculptures Lou Callow. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 392051_01
One of Moorabool’s biggest and best community festivals is returning on Sunday, March 17. Ballan Autumn Festival is an annual celebration of local culture, creativity and community, and is one of the oldest regional country fairs in the shire. Around 10,000 people flock to the event each year, and the Autumn Festival 2024 promises to be the best ever, with a central stage for entertainment, more artisanal market stalls, and a new seated and shaded dining precinct, along with the festival’s perennial crowd pleasers including the animal nursery. Don’t miss the grand parade, and get up close and personal with an amazing selection of beautiful vintage cars, browse over 100 market stalls and enjoy music from the likes of The Gordon Gypsies, the Ballan Community Street Band, The Martini Set, and African Star Dance and Drumming Company. Ballan Autumn Festival spokesperson Kevin Harper said the festival embodies the very essence of the Ballan community. “It celebrates our diversity, creativity, and unwavering sense of respect for one another,” he said. “By showcasing the talents and contributions of our residents, the festival serves as a platform for unity and togetherness, highlighting what makes Ballan such a special place to call home.”
Wetlands a ‘mood-killer’ By Liam McNally The wetlands in Thornhill Park are still a “mood-killer” for residents according to Thornhill Park Working Group member Matthew Pearse, who called on council to hold responsible parties to account for the second time on Monday, February 26. Thornhill Park’s main wetland is a two-hectare area near the corner of Paynes Road and the Western Freeway. In June last year Star Weekly reported that the wetlands were suffering from constant flooding and a lack of maintenance. At the time Melbourne Water, which took
over responsibility for the wetlands from developer Wel.Co in late 2022, said a retarding basin was needed to ensure excess stormwater runoff continued to flow north towards Kororoit Creek, and it would be completed by Christmas 2023. This would allow for landscaping works to begin the following autumn to address the maintenance issue. Mr Pearse said that in November, it seemed as if Melbourne Water’s project was taking shape, as flooding levels in the wetland receded, but, after a wet summer flooding, is now even worse in some areas. “Residents cannot use areas of the wetlands due to pathways being flooded, unsafe
makeshift walking tracks have formed. The area is becoming an eyesore as Melbourne Water has not maintained the weeds, rubbish since they took over the area,” he said. “Residents do not feel safe walking in parts of the area and dumpings are occurring. “The current timeframe was autumn this year for construction works on the wetlands area in time for spring planting but that timeline is now redundant due to the water levels being at the heights they are.” A Melbourne Water spokesperson said that the retarding basin was completed on time, but the issue was that significant rain slowed construction of a drainage channel that would
connect it to Kororoit Creek and help drain the wetlands. “While significant summer rain has slowed our progress, once these are joined they will maintain water levels in the area,” they said. “Weather permitting, we hope to complete this work in late April, early May so that we can turn our attention to landscaping, which we hope can be delivered over the course of the next year.” In response to Mr Pearse’s public question at the council meeting, Melton council City Futures director said council will contact Melbourne Water to highlight the concerns relating to the wetland.
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