7 AUGUST, 2024
Kinder milestone Somers Parade Kindergarten in Altona invites community members to celebrate its 60 years of operation this month. A free, family-friendly event will be held celebrate the past and reaffirm the kindergarten’s commitment to nurturing young minds. Centre director Liz Ryan has been at Somers Parade for 22 years. She urged past families to join in the celebration. “In my time, I’ve seen many changes, especially a government grant for a $200,000 upgrade to the children’s playground. So many families have come through the service and we still have contact with past children and families,” she said. The celebration will be held on Saturday, August 24, from 1pm to 3pm, and will feature face-painting, children’s activities and a sausage sizzle. Somers Parade Kindergarten, is at 4 Somers Parade, Altona. Anne Parisianne Centre director Liz Ryan and educators Olivia Marchioni, Lisa Richards, Jacyln Farrugia and Anita May. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 421417_01
West flood ‘let down’ By Laura Michell
12533599-HC07-22
A report into the October 2022 floods which inundated parts of Maribyrnong was a “missed opportunity”, according to Maribyrnong Community Recovery Association president Madeleine Serle. A parliamentary inquiry into the floods, which affected Maribyrnong and parts of regional Victoria, released its final report last week. Inquiry chair and Labor MP Ryan Batchelor said not all the damage done in the flood was caused by nature alone. “The impact of the volume of rain that fell was exacerbated by decisions made, often years prior, on the shape of the built environment, new physical
infrastructure, and by our planning system.” The report made 73 findings and 90 recommendations. “Some areas received excessive warnings from competing sources whilst others received incorrect, limited or delayed warnings,” the report said. “In both circumstances communities experienced confusion, which limited people’s capacity to make informed decisions.” The report recommended improvements to early warning systems and flood governance arrangements for emergency services, including clarity around chains of command and communication protocols. It also found the Flemington Racecourse flood wall did increase the extent and duration
of the October 2022 flood event for residents in Maribyrnong, by an average of 1 per cent in flood extent, and 2 per cent in flood depth. “Modelling shows these effects for the Maribyrnong Township will increase in the future in more severe flooding events,” the report said. The report also recommended affected homeowners be prioritised under a proposal to raise or retrofit at-risk residential properties. Ms Serle said it was disappointing there was no recommendation for mitigation action to protect Maribyrnong from flooding. “I keep reminding people that the Maribyrnong Floods in October 2022 was the largest single metropolitan disaster event – apart from Covid in over 50 years – but that
still did not translate into immediate action for mitigation,” she said. “Too few people along the Maribyrnong River appreciate that the Yarra River is mitigated to protect the eastern side of Melbourne. Over here … no mitigation – except for the racecourse. “MCRA represents around 600 members and our growing community has been let down again.” Ms Serle said MCRA will increase its advocacy for river communities in the west, which she felt had been treated as “second best”. “We will push innovative thinking for a better mitigated, resilient future for Maribyrnong River flood victims past, present and future,” she said. -with AAP
Kenyon-Smith Denture Clinic A family tradition for 60 years 100 Pier Street, Altona 9315 9231 • 27 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 9748 8204
Dental Prosthetists Full dentures, Partial dentures, Repairs - relines • Victorian Denture Scheme • Veterans’ Affairs John, Andrew, Simon and Paul Kenyon-Smith