17 SEPTEMBER, 2024
Pie oh my! What a win Melton’s Buddy’s Bakery has been awarded the Best Plain Meat Pie in the 35th annual Great Aussie Pie Competition. The High Street patisserie’s chunky pie was selected as the winner by The Pie Council, much to the delight of baker Sarel Hok. “I’m very surprised but very happy … I love doing my job and I’m glad Melton is home to the best pie,” he said. While Hok was reluctant to reveal his secrets, he emphasised the importance of great flavor from bottom to top. “Some people love to eat a good pie with tomato sauce, and that’s fine, but if the pie has great flavour then they don’t need it.” The award will be prominently displayed in the shop, and word has quickly spread, with customers traveling from across Victoria to try Buddy’s award-winning pie. As a result of the win, Buddy’s Bakery will receive a $500 cash prize, a new oven, and various other products and vouchers. Eddie Russell
Buddy’s Bakery owner Mey Sok with the award. (Damjan Janevski) 431222_03
Shopping centre shelved By Eddie Russell Plans to build a Westfield shopping centre in Mt Atkinson have been abandoned, leaving locals in the lurch on “desperately needed” facilities. The retail destination was meant to sit in the heart of the 30-hectare town centre and act as a commercial hub for the 12,000 residents in Mt Atkinson and Deanside. A spokesperson from Scentre Group, which own and operate all Westfields in Australia, said the deal fell through due to a lack of feasibility for the company. “We had explored this potential opportunity with Mount Atkinson Holdings for a significant period of time and could
not reach an agreement that we believe would deliver a commercially viable project for Scentre Group,” the spokesperson said. It is a major setback for locals, who can spend an hour commuting on Hopkins Road or the Western Freeway just to get groceries. However, residents like Lavan Ruben are staying positive about the future. “There is a business case for someone to come and join us down the track,” he said. “It’s palatable to private investment – with tens of thousands of residents in neighbouring estates, as soon as shops come we will be spending there.” Mr Ruben conceded the situation was “not ideal” and said homeowners were angered by
the backflip. “I’m frustrated – that’s the sentiment. Some people were convinced that it [Westfield] was coming,” he said. “And why wouldn’t they be? There’s prominent signage everywhere … it’s unconscionable, in a moral sense, that all this branding was used.” The area around the proposed town centre site is still plastered with Westfield logos. Mensch Investments is part of the Mt Atkinson Holdings group, which owns the Mt Atkinson Town Centre. In a statement on September 11, it said it “remain committed” to the growth of the estate, including funding “roads and utilities” to “enable the activation of the town
centre”. Despite Scentre Group’s decision to pull out, Mensch insisted that it will work with stakeholders, including Melton council, to approve plans for the town centre. A spokesperson from developers of the estate, Stockland, said the company acknowledged the concerns of the community and would do what it could to help. “We will continue to collaborate closely with all relevant stakeholders to support the planning and delivery of the future Mt Atkinson Town Centre,” the spokesperson said. Mr Ruben said he hoped someone could “move and shake” to attract private investment in the area.
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Opening Hours 9am - 5:30pm (Mon - Sat), and 10am - 5pm (Sun) Shop 1C, 415-429 High Street (cnr Station Rd.) MELTON | VIC | 3337
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