calling all Victorian filmmakers under 30...

Our region has rich and historic links to the arts, it seems the natural beauty of the area brings out the creative spirit in local artists and visitors alike. I have always been a great supporter of the arts in The Dandenongs.

One of the events I have keenly supported is the Blue Dandenongs Young Filmmakers Festival. Auspiced by Burrinja and supported in part by a Shire Community Cultural Development Grant, the festival is shown at the outdoor cinema at the Cameo, always a great place to take in a movie under the stars. I have not missed any of the festivals since it’s inception in 2006 and have seen some amazing short films over that time.














WHAT STATE IS THE FUTURE OF FILM IN...?

is the theme of this year’s festival and organisers are calling for entries from Victoria’s most promising new talent.

If you are a young and emerging filmmaker and have great stories and great short films them perhaps its time for you to share them?

Not only do you have the chance to see your work up on the big screen in a professional festival environment, there are also some fantastic awards to be won including a $1000 prize generously sponsored by Bendigo Bank for Best Film Award, $500 from the Shire of Yarra Ranges for the
Best Local Film Award, and a Madman Entertainment Prize Pack for Best Under 18 Filmmaker Award.

Entries will be judged by some of the industry's best, including award-winning director of Kenny (AUS 2006) - Clayton Jacobson, and will be screened, once again, at the unique Cameo outdoor Cinema in Belgrave. Entries can be any genre or style as long as they run for 15 min or less, and the filmmaker is Victorian based and aged 30 or under.


ENTRIES CLOSE NOVEMBER 28th 2008 so pick up that camera and show us what State the Future of Film is in.

For more info visit www.bdyff.org.au or contact info@bdyff.org.au

Look forward to seeing you at the next festival!

english ivy – scourge of the hills

In a recent community chat session I held at the Belgrave Library, a Tecoma resident raised the issue of ivy growing up trees throughout the Dandenong Ranges. Her concern was for new residents who weren’t aware of the dangers ivy posed. I thought it was about time the Shire reinvigorated the awareness campaign around the dangers of ivy.















Ivy is one of the Shire’s number one weeds and The Dandenongs has ideal growing conditions for ivy to thrive. The spread of English Ivy throughout much of the Dandenongs, including large areas of Crown land and roadside reserves, poses a threat to biodiversity and to public safety.

Many of our magnificent Mountain Ash are threatened by English Ivy, which can undermine the tree’s structure resulting in large limbs failing or in some cases the entire tree toppling. Ivy eventually kills its support plant (mainly trees) by smothering, preventing bark shedding or excluding light and photosynthesis. It is the weight of the ivy that may cause the support plant to collapse.

There is no doubt that tackling the ivy problem in The Dandenongs requires a whole of community solution and we all have a part to play. As part of the awareness raising I am working with the Shire's environment department to produce a new fact sheet to assist residents. I also intend to highlight the issue through the local papers and council’s quarterly magazine Shirewide.

The ivy on this magnificent Mountain Grey Gum has been treated by cutting the woody stems of the ivy and applying a glysophate based herbicide. It's not only trees in the forests that have an ivy problem, this tree is located in a busy car park in Belgrave. Eradicating ivy helps to stop the spread of ivy across our region, whether it be in a national park or your back yard.

Nb: I hold a community chat session from 10:30am to 12:30pm on the first Wednesday of every month at the Belgrave Library.

report from the roundtable – 23rd september

This week was a bit quieter than the last meeting, but there’s not many meetings where you get over 400 people attending for one item, the Chirnside Park Golf Club (see blog entry: Friday, September 12, 2008 - report from the round table – 9th September).

There was an application for a church, additions to a winery, development of a function centre, a subdivision of green wedge land and a final draft report for the Chirnside Park Urban Design Master Plan.

There were also items about the Oxfam Close the Gap Campaign, a Drug and Alcohol Working Group and opportunities for Habitat for Humanity Housing.

I never cease to be amazed by the scope of issues Councillors deal with. There is no doubt that planning matters take up an awful lot of time and are probably the steepest learning curve but the range of social issues are enormous as well dealing with the continuing pressures around infrastructure.

Every council meeting allows councillors to raise issues through ‘items raised through the chair’, this time I reported back on correspondence with the Director of Liquor Licensing (LL). Earlier on I had written to the Director of LL outlining my concerns about the display of a liquor licence application for the old Flash Mechanics site in Tecoma (see blog entry: Saturday, August 23, 2008 - display not so flash) and requesting an extension in display time for the application.

I am advised that to date the liquor licence application has received 25 individual objections and a petition with approximately 300 signatures. The Director will continue to accept any further objections until such time as the applicant (BWS – Woolworths Ltd) has submitted all of the supporting documentation required.

I’m pleased that the Director continues to accept objections and that awareness of the application has been raised in the local community.

monbulk pool redevelopment underway

Last week I attended the first project meeting for the Monbulk Aquatic Centre (MAC) redevelopment. It is a very exciting start for this project. The community members on the MAC Redevelopment Working Party are very enthusiastic and pleased to be part of the process. The redevelopment of the Monbulk Pool has certainly had its ups and downs in the past. The last time funding was announced for the pool it suddenly was withdrawn by the council of the day, reasons unknown.

Given past disappointment I am committed to see this project through to completion. I have been able to secure $1.5 million in council funding towards the project. The MAC is a thriving community facility, well loved and well used with around 100,000 visits per year. My family have used the facility for some 7 years and it is the place my son learnt to swim. The Learn to Swim program is one of the centre’s most popular programs and invaluable for children to participate in, to teach them not only swimming but water safety as well.


The redevelopment will consider a number of different possibilities which will be determined in consultation with the community. There is no doubt that some work is required around the possibility of a program pool to free up pool space for leisure activities. I know on the top of my list is change rooms and in conversations I’ve had with community members I think this is on the top of their list too!


If you would like to input into this exciting redevelopment of the MAC please contact me on s.dunn@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or call 9752 6869. I’d be pleased to hear your contributions.

I’m standing for re-election

This week I started my campaign for local government re-election in the Lyster Ward in the Shire of Yarra Ranges. I joined with the other Greens candidates from Yarra Ranges and Cardinia at a launch at Earthly Pleasures in Belgrave where we had a great response from the local community.
















It’s a great privilege to be the councillor for Lyster Ward, however there is still much to do. I’m passionate about the local community and the Dandenong Ranges. I have developed great working relationships with local sporting and community groups to make our townships a better place to live. I look forward to building on my achievements and seeing projects through to completion like the Monbulk Pool and the Children’s Hub.

The Shire is a broad and diverse community living in urban, rural and environmentally sensitive regions. The Dandenong Ranges is a unique environment and offers a lifestyle we all enjoy however it needs a sensible and balanced approach to ensure the needs of the community and environment are enhanced. I offer that sensible and balanced approach.
















Pictured left to right: Jo Tenner - candidate for Chandler,
Linda Hamilton - candidate for Ranges (Cardinia),
me - candidate for Lyster and
Sandra Betts - candidate for Streeton.

If you’d like to talk to me about the local government elections or any other matter please contact me on samanthalistens@gmail.com
or call 9752 6869 or 0407 364 509.

environment strategy launch

Last week I had the great pleasure of MCing the launch of the Shire’s Environment Strategy at Birdsland in Belgrave Heights. .


.
.

.
.
.

..
.
.
.
The weather turned on a treat and it was a great celebration of all things environmental. What a great setting, Birdsland is one of the Shires high conservation reserves and supports considerable populations of native animal and bird species. The area is also home to an important colony of platypus.

The Grade 2ers from The Patch Primary School provided the entertainment and sung some beautiful songs with an environmental flavour including a very special rendition of ‘All the Earth is Sacred’ a Native American song about the environment.

I was one of the councillor representatives on the Steering Committee assisting with the development of the strategy. There were countless meetings and numerous readings of the document, and all worth the effort. I think the Shire of Yarra Ranges now has a strategy it can be proud of, I know I certainly am.



The strategy covers these policy directions:
Reducing our Human Footprint
- Climate Change
- Water Scarcity
- Purchasing, consumption and Waste
Protecting natural assets and enhancing biodiversity
- Land, waterways and wetlands
- Flora and Fauna
- Air Quality
Facilitating environmental stewardship












I am proud to have played a significant role in its development. I had the opportunity to speak at the launch and said:


“The Shire of Yarra Ranges plays an important part in the liveability of Melbourne, for we are the lungs of Melbourne and the water supply of Melbourne. Our environment is fragile, faces many threats and is under much pressure.

To give you a picture of the environment in the Shire we have 1,920 flora species, of those 108 are rare or threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG) Act and 7 are significant under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act. We have 408 Fauna species, 62 of these are rare or threatened under the FFG Act and 41 are significant under the EPBC Act.

If we fail to act to protect our environment there will be serious consequences such as reduced biodiversity, pollution, nutrient loss or nutrient build up, erosion, reduced air and water filtration, reduced carbon sequestration, reduced productive land and decline of natural eco systems, the very thing that keeps us alive.

Of the land in the Shire, 2% is owned by council, 30% is in private ownership and the rest is Crown Land. Given this mix of ownership it is important that the Shire, the community and government agencies all work together to improve our environment.

We have an intergenerational obligation to work towards a more sustainable future, one that aligns with our community’s aspiration in Vision 2020.”




















If you would like a copy of the:
Environment Strategy
State of Environment Report or
Environmental Iniatives
email me on s.dunn@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

belgrave traders agm

I have always been a keen supporter of local businesses in my ward. "Shop local" is something I have not only espoused but practiced since I moved to the hills.

Each of the townships in Lyster are varied, offer diverse services and have differing needs, I understand the differences even though some of these townships are geographically close.

Part of my support to traders in the local region extended to me chairing Belgrave Traders Association AGM Election of Office Bearers.

I’m pleased to announce that for 2008/09 the following traders will take office:
President: Donna Burgess (Ample & Reel Café)
Vice President: Gary Felstead (Curves)
Secretary: Rod Kaye (Duncans)
Treasurer: Michael Alexander (Belgrave Dry Cleaners)
General Members:
Lee-Anne Benson (Savvy Organic Pizza)
George Harmon (George Harmon & Associates)
Steve Davies (Hair Down There)
John Ding (Belgrave Licensed Post Office)
Arthur Kyriakos (Belgrave Pharmacy & Bronco Bjelan Chemist)

Congratulations to all elected, I look forward to our continued good working relationship through 2009.


Clean up the Way Day coming, keep posted for more info on clean up Blacksmith's Way - 19th Oct 2008, being organised by the Belgrave Traders Association.

childrens hub one step closer...

It was a wonderful moment in my time as a councillor to be able to attend a recent community meeting to talk about the development of a Children’s Hub for the Dandenong Ranges.


.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It marked an important time for me in securing the long term future of Sherbrooke Children’s Centre (SCC).

Prior to me being elected to council in 2005, SCC faced an uncertain future, was facing closure by 2009 with very little support from the council of the day.


.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
April 2005: The SOSCC campaign received a lot of media coverage, this story was to commemorate 1 year of fighting to save SCC.

I was part of a group of parents (Save Our Sherbrooke Children’s Centre) who fought furiously to save SCC. I have worked very hard to raise the profile of children’s issues and the importance of good quality, community based long day care since my election to council. The hard work has paid off and there has been a complete turnaround and reinvestment in children’s services. Part of this investment includes the development and building of a Children’s Services Hub to cater for families of the Dandenong Ranges to the tune of over $5 million.


.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
. .
.
.
.
September 2004: SCC was voted "The year of the built environment: our favourite place".

The community are excited about the prospect of a centre dedicated to the provision of children’s and family services.

The meeting was to talk about what sort of opportunities are available in the development of the hub, of course long day care, pre school, toy library and maternal child health services are part of the mix but some of the additional uses could be playgroup, gymbaroo, intervention services, family counselling, school holiday programs, mobile library visits, computer training for parents, the list goes on and on and the prospects are immense.

I am very keen to see the Children’s Hub used as a centre of excellence and utilised as a training facility for workers in the childcare industry. I think the hub could be a shining example of best practice for children’s services in local government.

I look forward to working with the community on this project and giving our children and their families the best start in life.

climate change, forestry and water

I recently attended a forum at Melbourne High to hear Brian Walters SC and Bob Brown speak about ‘Embracing Change: Why We Need Leadership on the Climate Crisis’.


.
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Brian covered the many elements that make up a speech on climate change including water, forests, petrol, extreme weather, sea level rise and the distinct lack of leadership in responding to climate change.

Some of the key points in relation to forestry included:
*Over the last 30 years one third of Melbourne’s water catchments have been logged.
*According to Melbourne Water and CSIRO studies, we lose at least 30 gigalitres each year from these catchments because of logging – equivalent to the water used by 150,000 Melbourne households.
*It would cost the State Government $3.9 million to buy out all the timber licenses but instead the government are spending $3 billion on a desalination plant.
*Our forests have a vital role to play, both in holding carbon in the trees themselves.
*Native forest logging, unlike plantations, is a massive contributor to greenhouse gases. Sir Nicholas Stern found that ending the logging and burning of the world’s old growth forests would reduce global greenhouse emissions by more than the combined emissions of all the world’s transport systems.
*Australian National University studies under Professor Brendan Mackey have found that the Mountain Ash forests of Victoria and Tasmania store up to 2000 tonnes of carbon per hectare.
*When we log a hectare of forest, most of the carbon is lost in the subsequent regeneration burn, but the paper and cardboard products soon deteriorate, releasing most of the balance of the carbon within a space of a few years.
*Replanting with 80 year logging cycles only restores a fraction of the original carbon.
*Over time, we lose about 1000 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere every time a hectare of mature forest is logged.
*In Victoria, logging in 2004-5 contributed over 10 million tonnes Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions – that’s equivalent to 2.4 million cars – nearly all of Melbourne’s domestic fleet.

If you’d like a copy of Brian’s speech click here

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It was great to be able to chat with Bob about
issues in the Yarra Ranges.

This continues to reinforce the position of Yarra Ranges Council to oppose logging in Melbourne’s water catchments. Not to mention the fourteen other metropolitan municipalities who have joined with Yarra Ranges to oppose logging in the catchments.

Yarra Ranges plays a key role in the liveability of Melbourne, we are the lungs of Melbourne and the water supply of Melbourne too. It is irresponsible to continue to jeopardise and squander these natural assets.

Will your grandchildren thank you or blame you for the part you have played in action on climate change?

report from the round table – 9th September

A very big night at council this time round. Although a big agenda with a lot of major applications, one dominated more than any other, the amendment proposed to the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme (C67) to allow a residential subdivision of the Chirnside Park Country Club Golf Course. The recommendation from officers was that the Minister for Planning be requested to appoint an independent panel to hear further submissions.

As such a large crowd was anticipated for this meeting it was moved to the York on Lilydale in Mt Evelyn to fit everybody in. I estimate that the crowd in the gallery numbered around the 350 to 400 mark.

First off council heard verbal submissions from objectors and supporters, both sides had the opportunity to put forward 4 speakers.

Cr Ken Smith moved a motion to support the request for a planning panel and was seconded by Cr Terry Avery. Then the debate began, most councillors had a say and it was certainly one of the most contentious matters I have dealt with as a councillor.














I could not support the motion and said:

“this proposal would see the removal of 1248 trees. We like to pride ourselves on our environmental stewardship, 1248 trees, we like to pride ourselves on environmental leadership, 1248 trees. We wear these badges with pride, how can we continue to be proud of our environmental credentials and allow the removal of 1248 trees?

The proposal does nothing to protect the existing vegetation, we cannot continue to cut down mature trees, 1248 trees, this isn’t an option we can support.

The number of objectors speaks volumes, and we’ve already heard from Cr Keane about the numbers (note: 963 objectors to 399 supporters, 87.3% of objectors lived locally, 52.8% of supporters lived locally). The people have spoken and we need to listen.

I would just like to read part of our (council’s) mission ‘we will work in partnership with the community to improve the quality of life of residents, protect and enhance the natural environment, create jobs and manage the Shire to provide for the needs and expectations of local and wider communities’. We would not be living up to our mission to allow this motion to go through.

We do not need an independent panel, we have already heard submissions and the message is clear. This amendment has already been on exhibition, the people have already had an opportunity to have their say, we do not need an independent panel. The people have spoken, we know what our community wants.

Councillors I cannot support this motion, I cannot support the removal of 1248 trees, I urge you to not support this motion and I foreshadow an alternate motion.”

The vote was taken and the motion was lost with the votes as follows:
For: Crs Avery, Heenan, Warren and Smith
Against: Crs Dunn, Keane, Cox, Cliff and McRae
.
As I had foreshadowed an alternate motion in the earlier debate, I had the floor so I moved a motion “That Council abandon Amendment C67 to the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme,” which was seconded by Cr Keane.

In support of my motion I spoke about how people don’t realise how precious something is until it is threatened and that’s what had happened with the Chirnside Park community. I urged the community to work in cooperation with the Golf Club to find a way forward.

The motion was won with the votes recorded as follows:
For: Crs Dunn, Keane, Cox, Cliff and McRae
Against: Crs Avery, Heenan, Warren and Smith

greens launch local gov campaign

and you're invited.....

Join me and other candidates in Yarra Ranges and Cardinia for an organic feast at Earthly Pleasures in Belgrave. Music, Talk, Auction, Food – a festive night for a festive occasion at only $30 per head.

For more info contact me on samanthadunn@vic.greens.org.au

or click on this image for more details

celebrating 100 years of the vote

It is with great regret that I have to inform you that this event has had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. The 100 years of the vote celebration will no longer be held on the 20th September.

If you would like to know more about events around Victoria to celebrate 100 Years of the vote for Women in Victoria click this link.

climate torch hits yarra ranges

Climate Change talk was in the air this week with the arrival of Get Up’s Climate Torch in Yarra Ranges. I had the very great pleasure of attending the Climate Torch relay on a number of occasions as the torch made its way through the Shire.

First the relay kicked off at the Cement Creek water catchment, located just beyond Warburton.















The Wilderness Society talked about the Green Carbon report and the important role the forests had to play in climate change.

The gathering up at Cement Creek. These closed water catchments are due to be logged later this year.

Me and Bianca Rich, Torch Relay organiser.

Next the torch made its way to Warburton.

Me, walking with the Warburton community along side the Yarra River.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The next day saw the torch in the Dandenong Ranges. It was great to accept the torch from the students of the Sherbrooke Community School on behalf of the Dandenong Ranges community.
.

.

.

Me and Steve Meacher, organiser of the Healesville leg of the relay in Sassafras.

The students of the Sherbrooke Community School are very interested in reducing their footprint with the school's VCE Environmental Science Class participating in the "Switch and Save" program - helping to reduce your carbon footprint without reducing your bank balance.

After that the torch made its way to an evening with David Spratt, co-author of Climate Code Red at Burrinja in Upwey. David spoke about the urgent and pressing need for action on climate change now. It was a great night organised by the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association who are playing a key role locally assisting residents with solar installations.

The next day the torch had a dawn start from Mt St Leonards, just outside of Healesville and made its way to Healesville Railway Station passing through a number of schools on the way through. I handed the torch on to Cr Jeanette McRae who accepted it on behalf of her local community.

.

.

.

.

.

.

..

..

.

...

.

The torch will make its way to Canberra to highlight concerns about lack of action on climate change, calls for a 50% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions are part of the campaign. It seems there’s still a ways to go given the latest recommendations from Garnaut.

I think Garnaut needs to read Climate Code Red!

If you’d like to read more about Climate Code Red visit www.scribepublications.com.au/book/climatecodered