samantha in the press

Push for booze law change
Mail Newspapers
by Kath Gannaway
18 Feb 2014

keep higher ed in lilydale, forum to find out more

Some people have suggested this isn't a Dandenong Ranges or Lyster Ward issue. As recently as today I went to Knox City and ended up speaking to a young person working part time there, who is a student of Swinburne Lilydale campus and lives in Selby.

The closure of Swinburne Lilydale and the loss of higher education and TAFE there has very far reaching implications for students right across Yarra Ranges.

If you can, come to this public forum to discuss the future of the Yarra Valley Education Precinct. 

samantha in the press - swinburne

Council attacks MP on Lilydale campus closure
Leader Newspapers
by Emily Webb
21 August 2012

tafe4all, swinburne lilydale, the impacts continue

Me with Amie and Jacinta, students at Swinburne
Lilydale. Last week Amie spoke to us about
the impacts the closure will have on students.

Last week I attended the TAFE4All rally in Melbourne, I was there to support locals also attending.


The petitions so far, in the thousands.

At its meeting of 12 June, the majority of Yarra Ranges Councillors voted to support the TAFE4All campaign. At our meeting of 10 July, we unanimously resolved to write to local, state and federal members of parliament expressing concern regarding the state government’s decision to reduce funding to the sector, which has resulted in Swinburne University of Technology’s announcement that it will close its Lilydale campus. To support students we’ve also had copies of the petitions available at all of our community links throughout the shire.

As has been well documented, Swinburne University of Technology will close its Lilydale campus, with up to 240 staff to lose their jobs. 

TAFE courses in hospitality, leisure, recreation and tourism will no longer be offered. With health related courses in nursing, community health, childcare, children’s services and home and community care will be a direct blow to the skills base of Yarra Ranges.

The march took up a few blocks from the State
Library to Parliament House.

This decision will see withdrawal of the following opportunities for local students:
·6 post graduate courses
.6 research courses
·69 TAFE courses
·26 undergraduate courses



Greens MLC Sue Pennicuik was at the rally.
The same day in Parliament she raised the
 issue of training rorts, you can read more
 in hansard.

Similarly, the closure will impact international student options with the loss of:
·3 research courses
·9 TAFE courses
·27 undergraduate courses

The decision comes after the Victorian government slashed $290 million from TAFE funding in the 2012/13 budget. Swinburne had $35 million cut from its budget for this financial year.

The Economic Development Unit of the Shire has analysed the economic impacts to the region. As a result of the closure of Swinburne will see a substantial loss of jobs in the education and training sector for our municipal economy.

At this stage definitive numbers on the amount of job losses that will be lost from the Lilydale campus across teaching, administrative support and maintenance staff has not been fully detailed by the University.

Whilst these NMIT students performed 'We are the
Champions', the Lilydale students leapt up on the stage.

The education sector is the sixth most important sector for output and is the third most significant sector of employment in Yarra Ranges (source Remplan 2012). Any impact to this sector will be immediately felt within the municipality leaving a significant challenge to replace this economic activity. Furthermore, the negative social impacts to our community by reduced access and opportunities for higher education will be significant and long term in effect.

If the assumption that the loss of direct jobs is 240, this loss corresponds to a decrease in output of approximately $26 million to the municipal economy. From this direct contraction in the economy, flow on impacts of the reduced purchasing of local goods and services could result in the loss of a further 25 jobs, as well as secondary job losses which could generate a further 51 job losses.

Modelling completed by the Shire’s Economic Development Unit shows that the cumulative loss is as much as $46 million for our local economy when you take into account the direct, industrial and consumption effect of the losses.

Add to this the harrowing story of Swinburne Students, who we heard from at last week’s council meeting, who will have to face 2 hour plus one way trip to alternate campuses to access their courses, would you travel 4 hours a day?

It is even more galling when considering the response of the Member for Gembrook who says “the government welcomes the strengthened focus on these areas” (science and technology.. by Swinburne) and goes on to say that the decisions made by Swinburne “makes sense”. Tell that to students in the Upper Yarra who now have to travel a considerably longer time to take up vocational education. 

If you’d like to keep in touch with what’s happening you can visit the TAFE4All website or Save Swinburne Lilydale/Prahran Campus facebook site.

samantha in the press - tafe

Council split on education union action
Mail Newspapers
by Mara Pattison-Sowden
20 June 2012


Swinburne TAFE faces staff and course cuts
Leader Newspapers
by Angus Livingston
19 June 2012

council supports TAFE4All

report from the roundtable - 12 jun

At this week's meeting I moved a motion (item 9.1) in relation to the state government's funding cuts to TAFE.

I'm pleased that the motion (wording below) was supported by the majority of councillors. 

For: Crs Samantha Dunn, Richard Higgins, Len Cox, Noel Cliff, Tim Heenan, Terry Avery and Graham Warren
Against: Crs Jeanette McRae and Chris Templer

Yarra Ranges joins with 16 other councils in Victoria concerned about the effect on their local communities, who have voted to advocate to reverse the decision to cut funding from TAFE.

For Yarra Ranges students, the effects of the cuts are likely to be very detrimental to their ability to access training. Already students in Yarra Ranges are disadvantaged due to poor public transport services, if the funding cuts mean students need to travel even further for their studies this could be disastrous for ongoing vocational education and training. 

The Lilydale campus of Swinburne TAFE had 1,479 students enrolled in 2010.

The overall cost impact of the Government’s decision for Swinburne is likely to be in the order of $35 million in 2013, whilst exact figures are not yet known

for the Lilydale campus, it is evident that there will be a significant impact.

It is highly likely that such impacts include a reduction in the number of courses offered and to the shared support services to TAFE and higher education. Added to this, the flow-on impact to the pipeline of TAFE students who articulate into higher education will be significant owing to the budget changes.

We also know that the education sector is the sixth most important sector for output and is the third most significant sector of employment in Yarra Ranges. Any impact to this sector will be immediately felt within our municipality owing to is location on the urban fringe and difficulties in generating employment opportunities within the local region.

It goes without saying that the negative social impacts to our community by reduced access and opportunities for higher education will be significant and long term in effect. Given the lack of replacement strategy in the interim to improve skills and productivity of those relying on TAFE education, the budget cuts will have far reaching negative impacts on local communities.

This week the local paper ran a story on the job cuts at Swinburne, I encourage you to have a look: Swinburne TAFE to axe jobs.

I also encourage you to support the TAFE4All campaign.


MOTION:
That Council:
a) Resolve to write to the Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Higher Education and other relevant ministers, seeking that the State Government reverse its decision to cut the training and salary budgets of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges across the state.
b) Express concern that the cuts will put up to 1,200 jobs at risk and appear designed to put TAFE into direct competition with private providers, which will lead to fee rises, course closures and the eventual privatisation of TAFE.
c) Consider the cuts are particularly ill conceived in a period where there are increasing job losses in other industries and an Australia-wide skills shortage.
d) Support the joint Australian Education Union (AEU)  – National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) TAFE4All campaign.
e) Write a letter of support for the campaign to save TAFE funding, to the Australian Education Union and the National Tertiary Education Union.
f) Send a copy of this motion and campaign information to the MAV and VLGA 
requesting that they also make representations to the Government seeking reversal of its decision.
g) Call for a report investigating the economic, social, community service, and 
educational implications of any proposed cuts in Yarra Ranges.
h) Send a representative to the public meeting being held by the NTEU at the Melbourne Town Hall on 20 June at 12pm.

lilydale up for some landscaping – have your say

Lilydale’s main street has been chosen as the subject for a national landscape design competition. The first Australian Institute of Landscape Architects street design competition was officially launched earlier this month.

The competition is designed to attract top level landscape designers of Australia. It’s a wonderful opportunity for this key township in the Shire.

Yarra Ranges Council’s urban design team submitted Main St, Lilydale as a suggested town for the competition.

It’s a credit to the team that Lilydale was selected as submissions were received from around Melbourne.

Lilydale is a Major Activity Centre (Melbourne 2030) and it provides an interesting mix of retail, major manufacturing employers, transport connections, education, with heritage and regional significance.

It’s a gateway to the Yarra Valley and an entry point to the Warburton Rail Trail so there’s plenty for Landscape Architects to work with.

Competion participants will receive a brief on the town including some challenges it faces, particularly with pedestrian access.

The community also have an opportunity to be involved, with an online forum for
people to share their views on what Lilydale should look like. Thoughts and opinions shared through the forum may be used for competition entrants to help with their designs.

The competition will run for two months with submissions then judged and presented to Yarra Ranges Council and the community in November.

I’m looking forward to seeing some great design ideas for Lilydale.

samantha in the press - planning

Medical centre is a fillip for Indigenous health
Mail Newspapers
by Russell Bennett
6 Sep 2011

Council backs down over car parking
Mail Newspapers
by Kath Gannaway
6 Sep 2011

a new age for libraries

Yarra Ranges is currently reviewing it's library services and we'd like to know what you think. We want to know what you like about your library and what you'd like to see improved.
You can let us know a couple of ways, you can complete an online survey here or come along to one of our focus groups.

Focus groups will be held:

Monday 18 July - 11:15am to 12:15pm Mooroolbark Library
Monday 18 July - 2:00pm to 3:00pm Mt Evelyn Library
Tuesday 26 July - 3:00pm to 4:00pm Upper Yarra Family Centre, Yarra Junction
Wednesday 27 July - 11:00am to 12:00pm Healesville Library
Wednesday 27 July - 2:00pm to 3:00pm Lilydale Library
Thursday 28 July - 10:00am to 11:00am Belgrave Library
Thursday 28 July - 3:00pm to 4:00pm Montrose Library

To book a focus group near you click here or phone Jackie Elward on 1300 368 333, bookings are essential as places are limited.

samantha in the press - libraries

Works threaten to shelve Lilydale library service
Yarra Ranges Weekly
by Melissa Cunningham
14 June 2011

samantha in the press - libraries

Library closure rebuff
Leader Newspapers
by Emily Webb
18 May 2011

yarra ranges regional museum opens its doors

It was terrific to be part of the opening of the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, which officially opened on Saturday 14th May in Lilydale.



The museum, over 20 years in the making since its inception is a wonderful addition to the Shire of Yarra Ranges community.



It was wonderful to listen to Wurrundjeri Senior Elder, Aunty Joy, do the welcome to country. The museum features the history of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station (located in Healesville) and stories of the Aboriginal struggle for rights, led by William Barak.



The museum features a number of exhibitions, Connections - Stories People Place, an exhibition that tells the story of the Yarra Ranges region, the connections and relationships between people, the environment and the histories we share.



DigiTALES is the museum's first temporary exhibition, featuring personal images stories and objects for the region from 1950 through to the present. Visitors can also check out the digital photobooth, a modern day version of the photobooth it proved to be very popular.



The museum was jointly funded by all three tiers of government and a hefty contribution of $480,000 raised by the local community, a testament to the dedication of the local community to see this project delivered.



It's a terrific facility, the cafe is operated by the wonderful Healesville Hotel, renowned for their use of local and fresh produce. I encourage you to go for a visit, you can find them at 35 Castella Street, Lilydale.



If you'd like to know more you can call 9294 6313, email museum@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or click online here. You can also find the museum on facebook or follow them on twitter.

free e-waste collection across melbourne

The Metropolitan Waste Management Group is organising a Melbourne wide free e-waste collection on the weekend of 14-15 May, 2011.

All items accepted for collection will be dismantled and their components sent for recycling. This is your chance to get rid of computer equipment, home office equipment, mobile phones, electronic games or entertainment equipment including televisions, VCRs, DVD players, cameras, etc.

There is a limit of 20 items per person per day.

Details for the E-Waste collection in Yarra Ranges:
When: Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May between 9am and 4pm
Where: Council Operation Centre, Nelson Rd, Lilydale

For more info click here.

samantha in the press - heritage

Shire seeks heritage overlay for 42 properties
Leader Newspapers
by Kimberley Seedy
4 May 2011

Belgrave heritage list 'flawed'
Leader Newspapers
by Kimberley Seedy
4 May 2011

samantha in the press - infrastructure

Pool plan gets OK
Yarra Ranges Weekly
by Elisa Miller
30 November 2010

samantha in the press - public transport

Station plan lights flicker
Mail Newspapers
by Casey Neill
5 Oct 2010

heritage controls getting closer

report from the roundtable – 14 sep

This week's council meeting had to consider a planning scheme amendment (C89), to apply a Heritage Overlay to various properties in Lilydale and Belgrave (the Beauty Bend precinct).

Back in December, 2009 the Minister for Planning authorised Amendment C89 to go on exhibition. Submissions were called and a total of 8 submissions were received including a late submission by the Sherbrooke Foothills Historical Society. Six of the submissions were about individual properties in Lilydale, whilst the other two were about dissatisfaction with the amendment process in Belgrave.

I moved a motion which saw 2 of the properties included for heritage controls in the original amendment be removed (in Lilydale). The motion also recommended that the submissions received be referred to a planning panel for consideration.

Councillors voted unanimously to refer all the submissions to a planning panel, once this process is completed council will make a final decision on which properties to include for heritage controls.

samantha in the press - public transport

Has Brumby short-changed commuters on the Lilydale line?
Leader Newspapers
by Kimberley Seedy
15 Sep 10

on the nose

report from the roundtable – 13 jul

At the last council meeting we had to consider an application by ANL to amend their planning permit and site layout, as well as construction of new buildings at the composting facility in Coldstream.

Over many years the compost facility has cast a shocking odour over the long suffering residents of Coldstream and Lilydale.

I seconded the motion to refuse the application. Council had no choice but to refuse the application as the EPA has objected to the current application.

Green waste composting is a really good thing to do as long as you get it right, but on this site it's anything but right. Since its operation the facility operators have made no genuine attempt to reduce the impact on the community.

The EPA reports that it has no confidence in the applicant's proposal. The EPA goes on to say that for the last three and a half years this site has continually been at the top of the list of community complaints and the EPA have received more than 2,500 reports of odour from the company's operations during that time.

The EPA was very clear in its determination that the proposal did not use best practice technology and didn't have adequate buffers to prevent off site odour impact.

It is not supportable, council didn't support it and refused the application unanimously, which I suspect would have happened regardless of the EPA's objection.

community safety expo – 7 November

stop press stop press stop press

Eastern Transport Coalition’s Monster Petition to make a cameo appearance at Community Safety Expo.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges has organised a Community Safety Expo at Lillydale Lake on the 7th November.

The day consists of emergency and safety demonstrations, including police helicopter, fire trucks, Your Emergency Services@Work, Red Cross, Animal Aid, Road Safety, Jaws of Life, water and quad bike safety.

You can get advice about development your Bushfire Survival Plan and try out the CFAs new online tool to assess how safe your home is in a fire.

There’s something for the kids too, they can meet the CFA’s very own Captain Koala, participate in the Passport to Safety activity, go in the CFA’s smokehouse and get down low and go, go, go, theres prizes and much, much more.

Now that the ETC’s Monster Petition will be at the expo, you will also be able to sign the petition to tell government you want improved public transport in the East. If you’d like to know more about the petition click here.