Established in 2003
proudly serving the Northern Suburbs
14 MAY, 2024
Battery life extended
Gurnoor, Aarna and Bentleigh from Gilgai Plains Primary School are embracing the Big Battery Rescue. (Damjan Janevski) 404643_02
The Big Battery Rescue has returned for another year, and one local school is eyeing off a big campaign of collecting. Gilgai Plains Primary School in Kalkallo has been a participant in the program for the last three years. The Big Battery Rescue aims to batteries away from landfill. Gilgai Plains assistant principal Scott Woolcock said the school was encouraged to join the campaign by partners Stockland, but have continued on their own. “We have gained a lot from being part of the Big Battery Rescue, our students have learnt lessons on looking after the environment and the amount of unnecessary rubbish that ends up in landfill each year,” he said. “We had a performance earlier in the year from the National Theatre for Children that emphasised the fact that 14,000 tonnes of batteries end up in landfill each year.” Mr Woolcock encouraged other schools to join the initiative, but warns that they are striving to be hard to beat as the north’s best recyclers. “Last year we finished in 19th place nationally with 159kg of batteries, but this year we are hoping to crack the top 10, which would be around an average 380g of batteries per student,” he said. Schools that sign up receive free recycling kits and a large battery bin that is regularly collected and recycled.
Upgrade delay ‘shambolic’ By Gerald Lynch The state opposition has slammed the state government for failing to allocate funding to and get work started on the the Yan Yean Road upgrade, following last week’s state budget. Northern Victoria Liberal MP Wendy Lovell said the government’s handling of the road has seen it fall into disrepair. “Yan Yean Road is a disgrace, and the process for planning and delivering the stage two upgrades to Yan Yean Road has been “shambolic”. “This future road infrastructure is critical
for connecting the growing northern suburbs. “The government must stop delaying this project, and get on with funding and completing the upgrades to Yan Yean Road.” The project has been in its planning stage for multiple years, and the opposition said cars are regularly being damaged by potholes and “chronically congested roads” between Bridge Inn Road and Kurrak Road, meaning the upgrades are urgently needed. The opposition said the lanes on Yan Yean Roadare narrow and congested, making for a dangerous scene and increased chance of accidents.
On Saturday, April 13, a young local was struck by a car while walking on the dark and narrow on Yan Yean Road. He is currently in ICU, in an induced coma. The stage two upgrade involves widening Yan Yean Road between Kurrak Road, Yarrambat, and Bridge Inn Road, Doreen. According to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), the project underwent an environmental effects statement process (EES) in 2020, which was presented to the planning minister in February, 2021. The minister gave the upgrade the green light in March, 2021, pending changes to the
scope and design of the project. Major Road Projects Victoria is currently working to refine the project design, obtain environmental and planning approvals required and address the outcomes of the EES to ensure the best outcome for road users, the community and the surrounding environment. DTP completed major maintenance works along Yan Yean Road between Worns Lane and North Oatlands Road at the end of 2023. DTP also has upcoming maintenance works between North Oatlands Road and Ashley Road in the coming months.
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