Established in 1924 as the
proudly serving Brimbank and the North West
28 MAY, 2024
Making their steps count Thousands of Australians have been walking 7000 steps a day this May to raise awareness and acceptance for the 70 per cent of autistic people who experience mental health issues. Aspect’s annual ’Walk for Autism’ fundraising campaign, now in its ninth year, has raised more than $7.7 million to support the estimated one in 40 Australians on the autism spectrum. Caroline Springs couple Aaron Lee and Jade Rameka are participating for the first time, walking their 7000 steps each day and raising more than $900 so far. Their daughter, Kaia, was diagnosed with autism earlier this year, making the cause deeply personal. “It is something that is really close to our hearts and we thought raising awareness around it is a really positive cause,” Jade said. Aaron saidt he first week of May was tough but he continued to clock up his 7000 steps a day. “I also work in warehousing where I do the same amount of steps but I just tried to push past those boundaries and remind myself that I’m doing this for my daughter,” he said. To make a contribution to Aaron and Jade’s fundraising campaign visit, https://shorturl.at/aaTtj Aaron Lee and Jade Rameka with their two-year-old daughter Kaia. (Damjan Janevski) 409020_05
Energy park green light By Hannah Hammoud Brimbank council will move ahead with its vision for the Sunshine Energy Park (SEP) development, despite reports revealing the presence of Indigenous artefacts on site. Less than three months ago council decided to scrap long-awaited upgrades to Green Gully Reserve after Indigenous artefacts were found at that site which could have potentially blown out the cost estimate of the project. The decision to pull the plug on the Green Gully Reserve upgrades was made after council spent seven years and more than $2 million on
the project. At the council meeting on May 21, council adopted the final draft Sunshine Energy Park vision plan noting that it was “feasible” but would not be able to be funded by council alone. Sitting in the chamber, it was deja vu for councillor Maria Kerr. “My concerns are with what happened at Green Gully recently. I don’t want to find ourselves eight years into the planning process and spending $2 million worth of ratepayers’ money. What kind of guarantees can you give that we’re not going to be in this situation at
[Sunshine] Energy Park?” Cr Kerr asked. Council officers said that while no guarantees could be made, due diligence would be carried out where required. The Sunshine Energy Park encompasses council’s vision for a new major parkland destination next to the Sunshine CBD which includes large-scale tree planting, a possible solar farm location, cycling and walking tracks, sports fields and stadium, play spaces, a large urban forest and wetland system, and more. The SEP is 54-hectares of closed landfill in Albion, which is part of the closed Sunshine landfills, and was a former basalt quarry. The
site is bordered by Ballarat Road, St Albans Road, the Western Ring Road and Jones Creek. Council said it will actively explore external funding opportunities for a staged implementation of the plan through grants, partnerships and business case development and it will consider funding for implementation in future budget processes. Councillors Kerr, Virginia Tachos, and Bruce Lancashire voted against adopting the plan, however were outnumbered by Crs Ranka Rasic, Jae Papalia, Sam David, Victoria Borg, Thuy Dang and Sarah Branton who voted in favour of its adoption.
50% Off Your Excess | Courtesy Car | 24Hr Towing www.autobodyprestigemelbourne.com.au 26 Williamson Rd, Maribyrnong VIC 3032
12674455-AI11-24
Had an accident that wasn’t your fault? CALL US TODAY! 1800 002 276