Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Sunbury and Macedon Ranges
2 APRIL, 2024
Locally built art on show Fancy a day spent looking at arts and crafts? The Phoenix Macedon Ranges Art and Craft Group exhibition and sale on April 6 and 7 might be just for you. View the exquisite art and craft work and speak to the artists who created them, with all items handcrafted and made locally. Group members work with a wide range of creative activities including painting, glass art, ceramics, jewellery, paper craft, woodwork, textile art and knitted crafts. Original works are on display and for sale and entry is free. The group is celebrating its 40th year this year after forming following the Ash Wednesday bushfires that decimated the Macedon Ranges and affected many local artists and craftspeople. The group is always looking for new members. The exhibition and sale is being held at the Old Gisborne Court House from 10am-4pm on the Saturday and 9am-3pm on the Sunday. Details: Kay Beale, 9744 2646 or contact@phoenixmrac.com, or you can visit https://phoenixmrac. com/ or https://www.facebook.com/ phoenixmrac/
Russell Ball and his wood works in his production studio. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 397401
Spoil extension frustration By Tara Murray Sunbury and Bulla will be the “number one dumping town in Victoria” if Hi-Quality is allowed to extend its licence to accept spoil according to a Sunbury councillor. The minister for planning wrote to Hume council last month, seeking its views on making changes to the Hume Planning Scheme, to allow the Bulla Spoil Processing Facility to process and dispose of spoil from Big Build projects and other infrastructure projects. Currently, only spoil from Big Build is accepted at the site and that is set to end on April 1. Under the proposed changes Hi-Quality is seeking to remove the existing limitation that
spoil must come from the West Gate Tunnel project and extend the lifetime operations for a further 24 years until 2048. Hume council in its response outlined a number of concerns with the proposed amendment. It requested changes be made and are seeking Hi-Quality to make infrastructure contributions including a financial contribution towards the Bulla Bypass or any other project that would ease pressure on the Bulla Bridge, requests that Hi-Quality make a financial contribution towards a fund similar to the Sunbury and Bulla Neighbourhood Fund and seeks a commitment for the timing and delivery of the Bulla Bypass if the amendment is successful. Jackson Creek ward councillors Jarrod
Bell and Trevor Dance said they were both speaking not only as councillors, but as Sunbury residents. “We are not interested in a decision that does not listen, that does not take our concerns into account, or a decision that does not put the welfare or employment opportunities and quality of life of our residents [on the cards],” Cr Bell said. ‘We did our bit and despite our clear wish to not be the case, we took the soil from the West Gate tunnel. “Now I declare that our job should be done. I saw that [time] restriction as a promise or a guarantee from the then minister and Hi-Quality that once this experience was over, there would be no further lifting asked of our community.”
Cr Bell said they wanted to ensure that both the state government and Hi-Quality listened to their concerns. He said it wasn’t in the public’s best interest to fast track this process without providing the community the chance voice their views. Cr Dance said the promises they fought hard for could now be broken. “Now they want to (take spoil) from every big project around Melbourne… to expand this short term licence for another 24 years,” he said. “What about the homeowners of Redstone, Kingsfield and Maplestone now thinking about a temporary spoil site, now extending to possibly 2048. ■ Continued: Page 3.
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