report from the round table 27th May

A very planning orientated agenda at council last night, a lot of subdivisions to vote on, a dwelling construction and a couple of planning scheme amendments. Yarra Ranges is a very diverse shire and I find I need to have a very good understanding of the issues in the urban, environmentally sensitive and rural regions. The decisions council makes leaves a lasting impression on the shire and is not something to be taken lightly.

I’ve decided this time in my Report From The Round Table to list the meetings and events I've attended as councillor for Lyster Ward in the past fortnight.
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Wednesday
Filmed by a Swinburne student from Selby about the shire’s stance on GMOs
Met with officers to discuss festivals and events in the shire
Met with the community to talk about a masterplan for the Belgrave South sporting precinct
Participated in the development of a campaign strategy to get back federal funds for Burrinja
Thursday
Went to the launch of Open Studios at Burrinja
Friday
Special Council Meeting to appoint Yarra Ranges’ new CEO
Saturday
Spoke at a GMO forum put on by GeneEthics, giving advice to people across Victoria about how to approach their council to become GM free zones
Monday
Another follow up meeting to develop campaign strategy for Burrinja
Met with the community about the Menzies Creek Reserve
Tuesday
Went to the Council Forum, where councillors and officers meet to discuss issues
Wednesday
Attended the Shire’s Sustainable Food Forum
Met with a local sports club to discuss a redevelopment in Kilsyth
Attended an initial planning meeting to discuss my, Cr McRae and Cr Keane’s event to celebrate 100 years of women’s vote in Victoria
Met with concerned community members about the Belgrave toilet redevelopment
Thursday
Went to the Grab-a-Cab Forum at SkyHigh
Attended the planning consultation meeting for Burrinja
Friday
Met with a resident to discuss their application to build a house in an environmentally sensitive area
Spoke at the Forest and Water Forum in Warburton
Saturday
Visited eight local artist studios as part of Open Studios weekend
Sunday
Visited Fernlea House open day
Went to the Scouts Family Fun Day in Belgrave South
Monday
Went to the Belgrave Trader’s Association meeting
Attended the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service Public Meeting to discuss the future of the service
Tuesday
Met with officers to discuss the Belgrave Planning Project
And finished the fortnight with our Council meeting

One of the stand out things I’ve learnt in the last fortnight is the desperate plight of the disadvantaged and homeless people in our community. I learnt if someone from our community wants to have a free shower in a public facility to do so they have to travel to Wantirna, on a Friday and be there between 9am and 11:30am. In such an affluent society as ours this is a crying shame. I am investigating if I can address this issue locally in the short term, I hope a quick solution can be found.