By Mikayla van Loon
Civic Centre update
At the council meeting on Tuesday 26 October, Yarra Ranges Council gave an update on the Civic Centre redevelopment and when it is likely to be completed.
Councillor Len Cox said due to the pandemic, the building of the new centre had been delayed but it is expected construction should be finished by early January.
While being built as the council offices, Cr Cox said it has been built with purpose and is very much in line with the needs of the community.
The redevelopment began in 2019 but had been on the cards for several years prior.
Council is working in partnership with an artist team of Aunty Joy Wandin, Jonathon Jones and Tom Nicholson to deliver an integrated artwork installation at the new building, sitting within the pavement and area next to the main entry.
Land use framework
In partnership with the fellow councils of Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash and Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges Council has submitted its Eastern Metro Land Use Framework Plan to the State Government.
It is a 30 year plan outlining the use of land for infrastructure, provides a long-term framework to manage growth, focus on resolving regional and metropolitan issues and ensure projects align with the planning scheme.
The council’s submission specifically asks for acknowledgement of how the Yarra Ranges fits into and contributes to the eastern part of Melbourne, as well as raising the key issues and challenges for the region and what can be done to address those issues.
Councillor Sophie Todorov said the framework submitted by the council focused on the importance of tourism, transport, social community housing and the local economy.
Unused land sold
A section of council land on Ida Grove in Olinda has been resolved by councillors to be sold to the owner of the abutting property.
The 762 square metre portion of land was an unconstructed road reserve used as a driveway and for car parking.
This land was part of a three way subdivision in 1953, with one owner occupying the land for more than 20 years.
The landowner formally submitted a request that the land be discontinued from the council’s control.
Councillors moved to approve this motion at the council meeting and were successful.
Declaration of a special charge
Menzies Road in Menzies Creek will join the list of roads to be sealed, with the council approving a declaration of a special charge.
The special charge scheme allows residents and the council to fund the sealing of dirt roads, with assistance of $150 million from the Federal Government.
After consulting with residents along Menzies Road, the council shared its intention to levy a special charge.
Since the submission stage has finished, the council moved to approve the special charge scheme for this strip of road.
All those liable for the special charge will be notified by the council, explaining in writing the decision and what happens next.
June storm update
Yarra Ranges Council supplied a storm recovery update at the 26 October council meeting, noting the impacts still remaining.
Of 135 houses which sustained significant damage, 74 are still uninhabitable, 49 have been assessed as habitable and 12 are still awaiting assessment. Several properties are still struggling to re-establish a reliable water supply.
From council surveys of the land, it is estimated over 25,000 trees fell in the region and a number of places in the Dandenong Ranges show just 10 per cent canopy coverage.
A community consultation has just wrapped up, showing 789 people completed the community impact survey about the storms and the pandemic, of those 613 were storm affected residents.
