samantha in the press

Child vetoes 'biased report'
by Mara Pattison-Sowden
Mail Newspapers
21 May 2013

Council's nod for small lots
by Mara Pattison-Sowden
Mail Newspapers
21 May 2013

Birdsland of a feather
by Emma Sun
Mail Newspapers
21 May 2013

celebrating black caviar, fundraiser for south belgrave

The South Belgrave Sports and Community organisations are proud to host “A Celebration of the Great Black Caviar”, Australia’s own undefeated and greatest sprinter on earth.

Many locals credit the rolling hills of South Belgrave as
a key to Black Caviar's success.

Join us in meeting our Guests of Honour - Peter Moody & Luke Nolen, Black Caviar’s Trainer and Jockey, as they talk all things racing. This night provides a chance to get up close and personal with two of Australia’s most respected racing identities.

Where: South Belgrave Football Complex, Mt Morton Rd,Belgrave Sth

When:  Saturday  15^th of June , 2013
Time:  Start – 7.00pm (be seated by 7.30pm), Finish – 12.00 Midnight
Cost: $ 170 per head or $1500 per table of 10 booking($150/head)
How to book: Contact Ian on 0412 031 021 or ianbakens@hotmail.com

Includes: 3 course meal, Beer, Wine, soft drink and great entertainment. (Mixed drinks at bar prices)

All monies raised will go towards funding the much needed upgrade of the South Belgrave Sports and Community Precinct.

Ian Bakens has been a driving force behind the development
of the Belgrave South Masterplan which includes recommendations
to improve the Recreation Reserve. The Masterplan was approved
by council in October 2012, you can read more here.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime, an intimate evening that promises to deliver entertainment, passion and a story that can be told years to come.

An evening with Black Caviar, an unmissable event for a great cause.

 

birdsland master plan gets tick of approval

report from the roundtable – 14 may

It’s been a long journey but I was delighted to be able to move a motion at this week’s council meeting to endorse the Birdsland Master Plan.

The plan has been in the making since 2010 and has included extensive consultation with community members, key users of the reserve, environment groups, community group users as well as agencies who have an interest in the reserve.

Birdsland is one of the jewels in Yarra Ranges, with high conservation areas, significant habitat for the local wildlife including a pair of wedge tailed eagles and a beautiful part of the shire offering abundant passive recreation in a stunning setting.

I was pleased to learn that Betty Marsden OAM (ex Sherbrooke Shire President and Councillor), the visionary behind the Shire of Sherbrooke acquiring the land, was pleased with the masterplan recommendations.  Betty has long been involved with the reserve so it was terrific to hear her positive feedback.

The masterplan sets the direction for the reserve into the future and provides a framework to ensure that the site is sensitively developed and managed for the future. It focuses on three development zones being the entrance car park, the central picnic zone and the education centre and cottage precinct.

The masterplan will provide the strategic basis to seek funding not only through the Shire’s capital budget but also through the state and federal government.  There is great potential for the site, particularly greater community use of the education centre and cottage precinct, but it must been handled sensitively and the masterplan provides a basis for any future development. I look forward to seeing the masterplan implementation for this wonderful asset in Yarra Ranges.

I’m pleased to report that the motion was supported unanimously by councillors (note: Cr McCarthy absent).

belgrave south masterplan gets the tick

Inspecting the Belgrave South Recreation Reserve after a
re-seeding in 2009. It will be great to see the masterplan
progress, this is such a well loved and used reserve.

At last week's council meeting, council unanimously endorsed the Belgrave South Master Plan. It was a great step in what has been an extensive journey.

The masterplan was the formalisation of the community effort to determine the next steps for the improvement and enhancements at the Belgrave South Recreation Reserve.

This reserve is much loved by the community, in fact 83% of community members who responded to council's survey had recently used the reserve. What was really pleasing to see was the amount of passive recreation use there, so many more people use the reserve for walking and playing rather than organised sport.  

Some of the key recommendations include:

• Upgrading the current sporting facilities including the expansion of the size of the oval to meet senior club dimensions
• Consolidating club rooms and change room facilities into a new integrated facility
• Upgrading the playing surface, lighting and drainage for the netball courts
• Developing the reserve as part of a network of open space with better linkages on site and off site trail connections
• Improving the functionality of the internal road network and carparking
• Upgrading the playground and barbeque area
• Developing better landscapes and path network within the site

The masterplan provides a robust strategic framework to pitch to other tiers of government to access funding and also provides a basis for works to be referred to the Shire's Capital Works program.

I thank the community members for their efforts, there's no doubting they are passionate about their reserve. I look forward to seeing the masterplan come to fruition in the future.

discovering birdsland

Cr Samantha Dunn launches the Birdsland Masterplan,
be sure to have your say about this much loved
bushland reserve.

What a great day to launch the Birdsland Masterplan at the Birdsland Discovery Day. The sun shone and Birdsland was full of people enjoying the great outdoors.

The masterplan has been a long time in the making, but necessary in guiding the future of this well loved and well used reserve.

There were some terrific activities throughout the day,
of course there was a planting along the riparian area
of the Monbulk Creek.

The masterplan provides a clear direction and strategy for the development and upgrade of facilities within the Birdsland Reserve and the Monbulk Creek Retarding Basin. It ensures that current user groups can continue to use the reserve and make use of enhanced recreational opportunities, whilst reflecting upon the environmental and historical significance of the reserve.

The masterplan is grouped into six key themes, Ecology, Circulation, Agistment, Education, History and Fuel Zone Management.

My thanks to all the volunteers who helped make Birdsland
Discovery Day a great community event. I am always
in awe of your passion for our environment.

If you'd like a copy of the masterplan click here. You can also view a hard copy at our community links in Upwey and Monbulk.

I encourage you to have a look and be sure to feed back your comments by 9 November. 

samantha in the press

Answer call of nature in Belgrave Heights
Leader Newspapers
by Kimberley Seedy
4 September 2012

Is Yarra Ranges Council too green?
Leader Newspapers
by Kimberley Seedy
4 September 2012

Mail Newspapers
4 September 2012

birdsland discovery day - have your say on the masterplan

Cr Samantha Dunn on the boardwalk over the wetlands
area of this high conservation bushland reserve.

Join with me, the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group and the Shire's Environment team for the Birdsland Discovery Day.

The day will celebrate this unique reserve and give community members a chance to learn about the draft Birdsland master plan.

Yarra Ranges council wants to hear what you think about the master plan, this is a 10 year plan that will steer what happens at our much loved Birdsland Reserve.

I'll be there will be there to listen to your views.
 
But there's much, much more:
Kids Activities
Story Tent
Espresso Coffee - yes the real thing
Planting Event
Nature Walks
Food is available too.

Thanks to Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group for their support.

Want to know more email Gavin Prentice on g.prentice@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Can't wait till then? You can check out the Draft Birdsland Masterplan here.

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. 

belgrave south had staxafun

The community flocked to the Staxafun Fete at Belgrave South Primary School today. An annual event, it's always a favourite for locals.

Fran Luke, school principal, was very pleased with the turn out for the day, busily catching up with school families and visiting community members.

It was terrific to see Ian Bakens, convenor of the Belgrave South Recreation Precinct group, there to talk to interested community members about council's draft masterplan for the area.

Council is currently seeking community comment on the masterplan, to get a copy click here.

The masterplan details the opportunities and constraints for the current recreation reserve and talks about potential enhancements to the site including the clubrooms, the sports reserve, playground and picnic area, roads, carparking and other infrastructure.

If you're interested in the reserve and what happens to it in the future I'd like to hear what you think of the masterplan. I encourage you to have a look and let me know by emailing s.dunn@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.