a new era coming

Yesterday marked the end of one chapter and the start of another.

Regular readers will know that I've been running in the Victorian State Election and I'm delighted to announce that I was declared successfully elected as a Member of the Legislative Council for Eastern Metropolitan on Tuesday afternoon.

I'm elated to be the first Greens to be elected to Eastern Metropolitan Region, as I was when I was the first Greens councillor elected in Yarra Ranges. But there is a small tinge of sadness too as I move on from representing the wonderful community that makes up the Lyster Ward and further afield those communities across the 55 townships in Yarra Ranges.

This community has put their faith in me by electing me for three terms in local government, the most recent in 2012 with a primary vote of 58.93%, making me the longest serving woman councillor in Yarra Ranges.

I thank the community for that and I look forward to continuing to participate in the myriad of community activities in the Dandenong Ranges and beyond.

 

My earliest councillor pic on my blog,
World Environment Day 2006,
people turned out in their thousands to say no to
the logging of old growth forests,
I was there as the Lyster Ward councillor. 

I first decided to run for council in 2005 as part of a community campaign to save Long Day Care at Sherbrooke Children's Centre in Upwey, I never expected to get elected , but have enjoyed the experience immensely. In a full circle moment, it is a curious coincidence that my last meeting as the Lyster Ward Councillor was in the newly developed Sherbrooke Family and Children's Centre on Monday night.

My time in local government has seen me take on the roles of Chairperson of the Eastern Transport Coalition from 2009 to 2014, Board member of the Victorian Local Governance Association from 2009 to 2014, including two terms as President and Board member and Chairperson of the Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation.  It's been a great experience and I've loved being an advocate across these sectors.

This is my last blog entry on "Cr Samantha Dunn, the official blog of Greens Councillor Samantha Dunn, Shire of Yarra Ranges".

I thank everybody who's helped me along the way, there's been much laughter, some great community outcomes and I've made friendships that will endure through time.

 

My most recent councillor pic on my blog,
October 2014 - the launch of the Enough Pokies campaign,a Municipal Association of Victoria and Salvation Army
campaign to better protect vulnerable communities from
inappropriate placement of pokies machines,
I was there representing Yarra Ranges Council.

I assure you I will continue to be passionate about the Dandenong Ranges and protecting what's special about this unique part of Melbourne, but it's also time to look forward and be a strong voice for Eastern Metropolitan.

My victory is for all those people who want to see action on climate change and the environment and improvements to our public transport system.

Yesterday's result reaffirms the need for a rail line to Doncaster, improvements to the rail and tram network and better bus services. People want to see a transition to renewables, a reduction in emissions and the establishment of a Great Forest National Park.

As I look forward I will always remember, very fondly, my time as the Lyster Ward councillor.

Cheers

happening around and about local lyster bushland

There's a lot going on in the bushland areas in the Lyster Ward, here's a snapshot of some of the current range of activities. I acknowledge and thank our environmental volunteers whose efforts are the key to the success of many of these projects and they contribute many volunteer hours to improving our local environment.

Belgrave to Lysterfield Bike Trail

Yarra Ranges is working with Melbourne Water and Parks Victoria on constructing the linking trail from Belgrave through Birdsland, Melbourne Water’s retarding basin (the lakes at Birdsland) and Parks Victoria’s existing trail network to Lysterfield Lake Park.

This project includes the newly constructed Monbulk Creek footbridge at the entrance to Birdsland on Mt Morton Rd, the linking trail to the Wellington Road/Lysterfield Road traffic lights and the upgrade of Melbourne Water’s Blackwood Forest Trail.

It's a great example of a range of land managers working together to maximise project outcomes.

Belgrave Lake Park Revegetation/Weed Control Project

There's a lot of weed control works going on at Belgrave Lake Park, funded through the Urban Fringe Weed Management initiative and Melbourne Water’s Corridors of Green Program. This project is in its third year starting with extensive woody weed removal and trad removal along the Monbulk Creek. It's been terrific to see more than 3,000 plants be part of a revegetation program, planted by both contractors and volunteers (some on Awesome Ornithorynkids day).

Birdsland Reserve Pest Animal Control and Nest Box Program

There's been some fox control activities taking place in conjunction with Parks Victoria, in its third year and exploring new techniques like soft jaw trapping.

Thirty nest boxes have been installed in two sections of the reserve, the Monbulk Creek corridor and old growth tree section of the ridge paddock. Ongoing monitoring of all locations has revealed up to 80% of boxes are in use. This project has been jointly funded through the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group Caring for Country grant and Council’s budget.

Here I am with Yarra Ranges Environmental
Achiever of the Year, Vicki Boyle, a powerhouse
in the environmental volunteering stakes.
Nest boxes provide our local arboreal
mammals with housing options.
Many habitat trees have been removed
over time leaving nowhere for these
creatures to call home.

Bushland Management Plans for Hazelvale Valley Reserve, Bellbird Street Park and Birdsland

The Bushland Management Plans set priorities for bushland management for all these important reserves situated along the Monbulk Creek, they span between 2 to 5 years and are a collaboration between Shire contractors and our dedicated environmental volunteers.

budget released for comment

report from the roundtable - 14 may

Last night’s council meeting saw the unanimous endorsement (note: Cr McCarthy absent) of the council budget 2013/14 and council plan for 2013/17.

The two documents guide Council’s strategic direction and activities in the next term of council and are out as a draft to seek public comment. Council will consider public submissions prior to the budget being endorsed at its meeting on the 25 June.

It is pleasing to see key directions in place for some time at Yarra Ranges reinforced by this current council. There still remains an emphasis on active and engaged communities, quality community infrastructure, protected and enhanced natural environment, vibrant economy, agriculture and tourism and a high performing organisation. I’m very pleased that councillors approved an increase of $1million towards footpath construction for 2013/14, this is yet to be allocated to projects throughout the municipality. Footpath and pedestrian links were key issues highlighted in our recent community survey which attracted over 1500 responses.

There are some key influences that have shaped the development of the budget including the ongoing pressure to maintain and renew the shire’s ageing infrastructure. This is complicated by the fact we have minimal growth in our rate base due to low levels of new development.

Council has committed to implementing a long term asset management program on renewal of over $950million worth of ageing community infrastructure.

There are also increasing community expectations for an expanded range and scope of service delivery, overlaying this is an ageing population, placing increased demands of direct care service provision and with that that the challenge of delivering services across the board where we see ongoing growing costs of delivery.

A further constraint is the capping of many user fees and charges by the State Government, this restricts council’s ability to recover the true cost of proving services in the planning and building area.

With all of this at play council realises that we need to seek a balance when striking the rate rise and meeting our infrastructure and service demands as well as legislative requirements. Our long term financial strategy includes a 4.8% rate increase across the next four years.  

At this stage the budget and plan are out for public comment, you can submit your comments via mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

 

Some of the projects on the cards for Lyster:

$60,000 – Blair Rd Drainage, Belgrave

$25,000 – Bus stop, Belgrave Hallam Rd, Belgrave

$20,000 – Commence footpath construction in Station St, Belgrave

$50,000 – View Rd, Belgrave construction

$112,000 – ongoing work on the Belgrave to Birdsland trail

$53,900 – Belgrave Hub feasibility study

Included in block funding in the capital works budget:

$7,000 – upgrade of the entry to Selby Community House

$30,000 – major maintenance to Selby Tennis Club Pavilion

$14,000 – major maintenance to Tecoma Preschool

$40,200 – drainage improvements in Belgrave South and Heights

$70,000 – floodway works in Selby

$19,000 – drainage works in Narre Warren East

$35,000 – kerb and channel rehabilitation in The Patch and Belgrave South

$22,000 – intersection sealing in Kallista and Belgrave South

$15,000 – road and drainage improvements, Nation Rd, Selby

$15,000 – road and drainage improvements, Old Monbulk Rd, Belgrave

$351,000 – road resurfacing and repairs for Brenda Gve, Tecoma, Colby Drv, Belgrave South, Georges Rd, The Patch, Kallista Emerald Rd, The Patch and The Patch Rd, The Patch

$24,000 – shoulder reconstruction, Grantulla Rd, Kallista

let me keep working for you

It’s been my privilege to serve the people of the Lyster Ward in the Yarra Ranges as your current councillor.

Living in the Dandenongs comes with its challenges and as a resident for over 20 years I’m familiar with the issues we face.

I’ve worked hard to win funding for our community, major projects like the Sherbrooke Family and Children’s Centre and the Monbulk Pool redevelopment and the myriad of smaller projects that improve community assets and liveability for all of us.

I’m a strong and successful voice for improved public transport, weed eradication, investment in the early years, better library services, economic development, responding to climate change, with a sensible and pragmatic approach to environmental management.

But there’s more work that needs to be done and I want to keep working for you. I’m keen to build on my achievements and continue to encourage appropriate development for the hills.

I offer sensible, balanced decision making and stand for transparent, hard working, cooperative grass roots democracy.

If you’d like to help my campaign you can donate here. All donations cheerfully received and are tax deductible.

Ballot papers will be in your letterbox soon, so I ask for your vote to let me keep working for you.

authorised by S Dunn, 1/377 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne 3000

monbulk pool gets a try out

Just a little update on the Monbulk Pool redevelopment.

The main pool was re-poured as part of the $7.2million project and is currently being tested to make sure the new shell doesn't leak - so far so good. Water from this pool will be recycled into the balance tanks and the new leisure pool as they are completed to minimise water usage.

Work on the new gymnasium is going ahead in leaps and bounds since the structural steelwork is in place, it's just wonderful to see this project come to fruition.

The redeveloped facility will include:Refurbished 25 metre pool;New learn to swim and leisure pool, including beach entry;New male and female change room facilities;New pool store and family change room;New plant room;New foyer administration and kiosk;New outdoor deck area andNew gym and
Refurbishment of the childcare areas

awesome ornithorhynkids day - it'll be great!

Look forward to seeing you there.

samantha in the press - elections

Will you vote Yarra Ranges Councillors in again?
Leader Newspapers
by Kimberley Seedy
5 September 2012

Yes it's that time again, council elections will be upon us in October.

It has been a privilege to serve the community of the Lyster Ward and I ask for your vote in the 2012 elections.

 

If you'd like to help me get re-elected and continue to be a strong voice for the people of Lyster you can donate to my campaign here.

 

I look forward to working hard to make Lyster an even better place to live and offer sensible, balanced decision making and stand for transparent, hard working, cooperative grass roots democracy.

 

Authorised by S Dunn, 377 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne 3000

birdsland discovery day

Mark the 9th September in your diary, it's Birdsland Discovery Day.

Enjoy this wonderful reserve and discover what's been proposed in the Draft Birdsland Masterplan at the same time. Back at council's meeting on the 24th July,we endorsed the draft to go out for public comment.

When: Sunday 9th September, 11am to 3pm
Where: Main Picnic Ground, Birdsland Reserve, 271 Mt Morton Rd, Belgrave Heights

Council officers and environmental volunteers will be there to talk about the masterplan. I'll be there as well to listen to your views.

Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group will also be on hand to show off one of the Shire's most unique reserves.

The day will include:
Kids activities
Story Tent
Espresso Coffee - that's right the real stuff!
Planting event
Nature Walks 
and there's food available too.

If you'd like to know more you can email Gavin at g.prentice@yarraranges.vic.gov.au. 

community grants awards night

What a terrific night tonight at the Mooroolbark Community Centre. Tonight was the Grants for Community Awards night and it was wonderful to celebrate the diversity of projects successful for shire funding through our Community Grants program.

Some of the Lyster Ward Community Grant recipients.
From left to right: Sue Clisby - Dandenong Ranges
Music Council, Cr Samantha Dunn - Lyster Ward,
Marina Dennis - Belgrave Buskers Festival, Dave
Millar - Selbyfest and Renate Crow - Belgrave
Lantern Parade.

I was delighted to be able to personally hand out certificates to successful applicants from the Lyster Ward.

Local artist, Pauline Molenaar, Kallista Kindergarten Director
Lu-Ann Randall and Cr Samantha Dunn - Lyster Ward.
Kallista Kindergarten are very excited about their
artist in residence project to develop a community mosaic.

I was impressed by the breadth of projects being undertaken in 2012/13 throughout the hills. It's a place a great creativity and this is reflected in the grants awarded.

Peter McIlwain is the creative behind Imaginary Ornithology,
a project that centres on computer generated sound art
that includes software models of birds. These models
 create a range of bird sounds but have the curious property

that none of the sounds exist in the real world.

Lyster Ward recipients include:

• Dandenong Ranges Music Council - Sunnysiders, a celebration in Kallista
• Pocket Bonfire - Three One Six Oh! Film Festival no. 8
• Belgrave Community Arts Partnership - Belgrave Lantern Parade
• Belgrave Trader's Association - Belgrave Buskers' Festival
• Selby Community House - Selbyfest
• Belgrave Survival Day - Belgrave Survival Day 2012
• Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group - Awesome Ornithoryhynkids Festival 2012
• Peter McIlwain - Imaginary Ornithology
• Kallista Kindergarten - Kallista Kinder Art Incubator Project
• Kierea Brew Kurec - Belgrave Temporary Art Gallery

I look forward to seeing this fabulous range of community projects develop to provide wonderful opportunities for people in the Dandenongs.

aussie toys in store at belgrave south

It was great to visit the Belgrave South Toy Library to see the toys purchased with a grant from my Community Ward Fund.


Belgrave South Toy Library fans join Cr Samantha
Dunn and toy library president Jill Ilyes with the
new Australian toys.

Toy Library President, Jill Ilyes, is keen to re-energise the library and highlight it to families in the region. When Jill joined the library she noted that there were no Australian animal toys and no Indigenous toys either.

I was very pleased to be able to assist. It was great to see the children playing with Tasmanian Devils, Snakes, Quokkas, playing the digeridoo as well as having a great time with a family of Indigenous puppets.

Toy Libraries are a great service for families. For a small joining fee, families have access to a broad range of quality toys and educational equipment.

Not only a more sustainable way to keep your children in toys the Toy Library  can supply toys that may otherwise be beyond the means of many families. If you'd like to find out more about the Belgrave South Toy Library visit their website here. 

cupboards officially open

I have long been a supporter of the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service. For near on fifteen years they have been providing relief services for those in need.


Cr Samantha Dunn cuts the ribbon to officially
open DRERS new cupboards. Also celebrating the
occasion is DRERS manager, Tania Bevan,
founder, Frank Watson and volunteers John and Bob.

Their services continue to expand with demand and DRERS find themselves playing a key role in food distribution for the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community.

Their offices, in the old Belgrave schoolhouse, were packed to the rafters with boxes of food, making it difficult to distribute and sort. I was delighted to be able to provide a grant from my community ward fund to assist in building cupboards and shelves so DRERS could easily distribute food to needy locals.

My first official cupboard opening, it was great to be able to provide practical support to assist DRERS, they provide such an important safety net.

If you can spare some cash, food or blankets you can donate to DRERS, click here for more info.

community grants night at yarra ranges

It was wonderful to join with my colleagues at the Yarra Ranges Community Grants Awards night. Community members and organisations from across the shire came together to receive their grants for an amazing range of projects.

Pictured here with myself are some of the community grant recipients from the Lyster Ward, I am always reminded of what a diverse, passionate and committed community we have in the Dandenong Ranges.

Here's Jordan, committee member from Belgrave Survival Day. Survival Day is a wonderful celebration of indigenous heritage and culture and it's survival since settlement.













Jackie and Vicki from the Southern Dandenong Landcare Group, along with the SDLG members, are a powerhouse in the local community. The SDLG interacts in so many ways with the local community, whether its a land assessment, helping with planting guides, doing revegetation or weed removal works, they are truly passionate and the region and the environment. SDLG were received a grant for their Awesome Ornithorhynkids Day, a day to learn about local waterways, the platypus and how we can help care for it's habitat and ongoing survival.

Selbyfest ran for the first time in 2011, it was wonderful festival and a great example of community involvement. It was terrific to be able to award Leanne and Karl with a community grant for Selbyfest 2012.

Vicki Boyle accepted the community grant award on behalf of the Belgrave South Community House. The house have been awarded a grant to run the All in Gardening project, a gardening group developed primarily for people with disabilities.

Jaime Snyder from Pocket Bonfire Productions received a community grant to run the Hillside Youth Film Festival. The festival is an annual youth focused film festival held in Belgrave, showcasing the best original short firms from emerging Victorian filmmakers.

Liz and Dianne from BRAG were pleased to receive a community grant to fund their Belgrave Historical Plaques and Walk project. The project will see a series of plaques displaying pictures and text showcasing Belgrave's past.

Other Lyster ward recipients include:
Sherbrooke U3A for Shared Learnings in U3As, a combined project with the Yarra Ranges U3A.
Irabrina Childhood Autism Services for the Outer Eastern Sibling Support Camp, to provide children 7-12 years old with a sibling with autism the opportunity to build understanding about autism.
Belgrave Community Arts Project for the Belgrave Lantern Parade, a community celebration of winter solstice.
Fernlea House for Fernlea House in the Valley, investigating a satellite service for palliative care.

community grants granted

Earlier this week I had the great pleasure of handing out ‘cheques’ to community groups who were successful in an application for funding under the Shire’s Community Grants Program.

It is a great program and facilitates many wonderful events and projects throughout the length and breadth of the shire.

It was terrific to see some locals receive grants. Lyster ward recipients included:

Mission Impossible: The Resource Centre Inc
Project Sweet Tooth (Stage 2) Engages young people in the making and serving of cakes and slices to the needy in our community who drop into Mission Impossible in Belgrave.

Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association Community Energy Forums to talk at a community forum on an aspect of sustainability, energy efficiency and renewable energy on a 4 monthly basis.

Kallista Community House Inc
Kitchen Refurbishment - 2009 Replace the hot water service and oven/stove.

Dandenong Ranges Open Studios
To promote working artists studios in the Dandenong Ranges through the design, production and promotion of a booklet and touring map of the region's studios, an Open Studio Weekend and an exhibition of participating artists at Burrinja.

Kye Garrett and Kage Studio
Purchase and assembly of equipment needed for a free access mobile recording studio (Kage Studio).

Belgrave Traders Association
Public Art in Belgrave (Concept Plan) - To fund the development of a concept plan to determine how they proceed with having public art displayed in Belgrave

Pocket Bonfire Productions
There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake – Short film adaptation of the children's picture book "There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake".

Belgrave Survival Day 2010
A local event that acknowledges and celebrates the survival of indigenous culture through community cultural activity.










Blue Dandenongs Young Filmmakers Festival
The BDYFF is a celebration of artistic excellence and innovation in Australian film, resulting in an annual showcase of the best original short films from emerging Victorian filmmakers.


























1st Selby Scout Group
Sustainable Lifestyle Festival - A festival incorporating an open houses tour which showcases the sustainable built environment in the local area.

Thanks to Lou for the images and Kaye for sending them.

report from the roundtable – 4th december

The last week of the election campaign was such a hectic time, I didn’t get to do my regular ‘report from the roundtable’ for the 25th November council meeting. Although just over a week ago a lot has happened since then.

I was re-elected to council with a resounding 54% primary vote, a record for a Greens endorsed candidate across Australia. I am truly humbled by this result and assure the community I will always have their best interests at heart as the Lyster Ward Councillor.

Last night was a ‘special meeting’ of council where councillors swear an oath to office and elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year. It was a great pleasure to nominate Cr Len Cox for the position of Mayor and with no other nominations Cr Cox was duly elected Mayor. Cr Jeanette McRae was elected Deputy Mayor with no other nominations on the night.















The newly elected Shire of Yarra Ranges Council (Cr Avery absent), all seven councillors were returned with two new councillors elected in O'Shannassy (Cr Chris Templer) and Chirnside (Cr Richard Higgins).

Part of the special meeting is the appointment to external bodies, this year I will be representing the Shire on the following committees:
Advocacy Reference Group
Belgrave South and Heights Township Group
Birdsland Environment Education Centre Advisory Committee
Burrinja (substitute)
Eastern Regional Libraries
Eastern Transport Coalition
Local Planning Policy Framework Reference Group
MAV Strategic Environment Advisory Group
Policy and Strategy Committee
Tree Task Force
Yarra Ranges Environment Advisory Committee (substitute)

I have worked with all these committees during my first term with the exception of the Eastern Regional Libraries committee, which I very much look forward to participating in.

Affirmation of Office
I, Samantha Dunn, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will undertake the duties of the office of Councillor in the best interests of the people in the municipal district of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and faithfully and impartially carry out the functions, powers, authorities and discretions vested in me under the Local Government Act 1989 or any other Act to the best of my skill and judgement.

samantha dunn re-elected

The results of the Yarra Ranges elections for Lyster Ward are:

Samantha DUNN 4342 votes - 54%
A.L.P. CORTINHO-HOGAN 607 votes - 8%
Chris O'NEILL 2091 votes - 26%
Frank DEAN 252 votes - 3%
Manfred KRAUTSCHNEIDER 730 votes - 9%

total votes returned = 8022

Thank you so much to the people of Lyster, I was re-elected as Lyster Ward Councillor with a resounding 54% of the primary vote. I am humbled by your confidence in me and thank you for giving me the opportunity to continue to represent you.

belgrave south recreation reserve – building a plan

I have been working with the Belgrave South Football Club, the South Belgrave Cricket Club, Belgrave South Primary School, Belgrave South Red Devils Basketball Club, Belgrave South Community House, Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group and community representatives on the development of a master plan for the Belgrave South Recreation Reserve.
















Me, at the recently retrenched and resprigged Belgrave South Recreation Reserve, part of the Shire's ongoing drought proofing program. Sport forms such a critical part of the social fabric of our community, I think it is essential that drought proofing our ovals continues to be a high priority.

The next step in the process is to engage with the broader Belgrave South community to find out their aspirations for the site. The sorts of things that have come up in discussions with the sporting groups include lengthening the oval, resiting and improving the cricket nets, creating new pick up/drop off zones for the school, creating safer vehicle and pedestrian access to the ground, providing better parking, improving and developing pedestrian linkages between the township, the school and the reserve, exploring the potential for basketball facilities in the region, creating a wetlands area including water storage to secure water supplies for the reserve.

As you can see there’s a whole range of ideas that have come up but it is important to go that next step and start talking to the community. An information sheet is being designed for a letterbox drop which will go out to all local residents very soon. It’s important that residents have their say.

Watch this space for more info as it comes to hand. I congratulate the group, they have covered much ground in a short space of time, I look forward being part of the development of a master plan for the area.

let me keep working for you

When I ran for council three years ago my motivation was to change the direction of the Shire. The battle to save childcare and the impending closure of Sherbrooke Children’s Centre made me realise that the direction the Shire was headed was wrong and didn’t put the community first. I have a broad range of interests and passions, but changing the direction on childcare was one of the key reasons I put my hand up.

It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of Lyster since 2005. In my 3 year term I have worked very hard to help anyone who has asked for my assistance. There have been some bigger projects such as saving Sherbrooke Children’s Centre, securing funding for Monbulk Pool, finding a new site for Soccer in the Dandenong Ranges, introducing green waste bins, but there’s been countless small projects that often go unnoticed by most except those directly affected.














I’ve assisted local arts groups and projects, helped countless community, sporting and environment groups, assisted with seed funding to set up the Sherbrooke U3A, provided funding for many festivals and community celebrations, provided funding for emergency relief services, helped dozens of young people to compete in all manner of competitions, supported local CFAs and the SES, helped pre schools across Lyster, secured funding to build a shower for the homeless, just to name a few.

I have been a tireless advocate for the community of the Dandenong Ranges, whether it be children’s services, public transport, road safety, urban design, planning, environment, agriculture, I have been very vocal about our needs in the Dandenongs.

My track record speaks for itself. I am seeking another term on council because there is so much more to do. I want to see projects through to completion and work on new projects which enhance our livability and our sense of community.

My passion and dedication for our community is unwavering, Vote 1 Samantha Dunn so I can continue to work for you.


“During her time as Lyster ward councillor, Samantha has been a passionate and energetic supporter of the Belgrave Traders Association.”
Donna Burgess – President, Belgrave Traders Association

“Thank you for your friendly and approachable manner during the past term. We have appreciated your availability, dedication and balanced open minded response to the issues raised on behalf of our local Community.”
Dave and Neryl Jeffries – Menzies Creek

vote 1 samantha dunn

on the campaign trail.....

a busy time talking to residents from Tecoma, Belgrave South and Belgrave over the last couple of days about all manner of issues and getting many well wishes from the community.





“Monbulk Aquatic Club Inc acknowledges and thanks Samantha Dunn for her assistance and ongoing support of the Monbulk Pool redevelopment project which will benefit not only the Monbulk Aquatic Club but the local community as well. It is great to see our Councillors getting behind local sporting groups to ensure access, fun and fitness for all, ultimately providing the best possible services to the Hills community.”

Gaby Mitchell – Monbulk Aquatic Club

“Councillor Dunn acted swiftly to oppose high density housing in parts of Belgrave, Tecoma and Upwey when the Shire’s Draft Housing Strategy was released last year. The residents were outraged at this threat to their lifestyle and environment. She listened and acted to change the Shire’s long term plans to increase housing density in these townships.”

Betty Marsden – Kallista