samantha in the press

PSOs finally protecting commuters at Upwey train station
by Tom Minear
Free Press Leader
8 May 2013

State Budget a mixed bag for south-east
by Daniel Tran and Cameron Lucadou-Wells
Knox Weekly
7 May 2013

Eastern Transport Coalition calls for better bus services to be funded in State Budget
by Tim Michell
Waverly Leader
6 May 2013

Councillors split on land break-up vote
by Melissa Meehan
Mail Newspapers
7 May 2013

 

Selby's stinker

by Emma Sun

Mail Newspapers

7 May 2013

 

 

 



grassroots soupfest a super success

It was wonderful to be out and about at the Upwey Grassroots Community Market this weekend.

As the market was in the midst of winter, organisers decided to have a soupy theme.

Upwey Traders were invited to submit their soup for judging in Soupfest. Competition was fierce with six traders submitting their best soup.

I had the very great pleasure of awarding the Golden Ladel to the award winning soup which was taken out by Cafe Grounded and their Thai Pumpkin soup.

Leanne, proprietor of Cafe Grounded, was chuffed to be awarded the Golden Ladel, busily working away in her cafe, we decided to take the award to her.

Peoples choice award was taken out by Gherkin Relish Catering with their entry, Wont You Take me to Smokey Town.

It was a terrific day out, the weather was kind and the locals came out in droves.

Next market will be a twilight market on Saturday 10 September, from 4pm to 8pm.

samantha in the press - public transport

Upwey plan derailed Leader Newspapers by Kimberley Seedy 30 March 2011

samantha in the press - public transport

Platform patrol Mail Newspapers by Casey Neill 29 March 2011

upwey grassroots makes it mark

This weekend saw the second running of the Upwey Grassroots Market and it was a wonderful success.

People flocked to the market which focusses on locally grown, made and produced food and wares.

The community harvest group were there with all their home grown produce, the rhubarb took my fancy. Food Swap is a great idea and being facilitated by Transition Sherbrooke who have been set up by some committed community members in response to climate change and peak oil. It's focus is to create a sustainable and resilient community whilst transitioning to a low carbon future.

Peter Cook, president of the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association was there with DRREA solar oven and information aplenty about renewable energy. Peter also had some postcards promoting Container Deposit Legislation, a campaign he's been supporting for some time.

TVAG (Tecoma Village Action Group) were there too. TVAG have recently been contacted by a consultant working for McDonalds about the potential for a McDonalds on the site of Hippie Haven and Saffron Cottage in Tecoma. McDonalds met with me and shire officers earlier this month and I recommended they speak to community groups, particularly TVAG, about the proposal. I also emphasised to them the importance of broader community consultation on this proposal.

TVAG are gauging the community response to the expression of interest by McDonalds. If you'd like to give some feedback to TVAG you can find more details by clicking on this 'stop press'.

flood impact on yarra ranges

As of last Monday (7th Feb) the Shire had received 599 requests relating to the flooding and flood damage. Requests are still coming in thick and fast. The requests to date relate to 426 different roads throughout the municipality, covering 52 suburbs/townships.

Roads throughout the shire were impacted, this one in Belgrave was one of many that suffered extensive erosion.

~ 41 suburbs have reported 10 or less roads with issues.
~ 9 suburbs have reported 10-20 roads with issues including Launching Place, Wandin Nth, Chirnside Park, Montrose, Selby, Yarra Junction, Belgrave, Healesville and Mt Evelyn.
~ 3 suburbs have reported 20-40 roads with issues, being Mooroolbark, Upwey & Lilydale.

The volume of rain caused much erosion to private property and public infrastructure.

The focus of council’s works is on making everything safe and accessible followed by permanent rehabilitation works. We commenced rehabilitation works last Sunday the 6 Feb and I’m thankful to Boral who opened their quarry on Sunday morning to allow us to collect supplies to start immediately on repairing the roads.

The shire had reports of around 50 houses suffering inundation, this house in Belgrave one of them.

Ten contractors along with shire staff are working on tree removal, road and car park repair, unblocking and clearing drainage as well as repairs to buildings and bridges. However given the volume of requests and level of specialist works required it is estimated that it will take approximately 6 months to complete all the restoration works.

The sMy thanks to our emergency services who energy and efforts are untiring on behalf of our community, also thanks to the community for maintaining their good spirits, and lastly thanks to the Shire staff who are busily working on repair and restoration works around the clock.

If you need to report any flood damage please call the Shire’s 24 hour number on 1300 368 333.

samantha in the press - infrastructure

Upwey hub set to come to life
Free Press Leader Newspaper
by Kimberley Seedy
15 December 2010

next local food swap

Magpie House Food Swap is moving to a later time, with organisers also including a mini talk on various subjects.

Although it is a quiet growing time Magpie House Food Swap still has on offer seeds, seedlings and greens eggs, lemons, etc.

If you’d like to sell, meet, swap and buy locally grown produce be sure to visit the next Magpie House Food Swap.

When: 28 August 9.30 to 11.00am
Where: Magpie House, 48 Main street, Upwey
Talk: Christine speaking on Medicinal Herbs for 30 minutes at 9.45am.

There are plans afoot to increase the sites food swap operates from, watch this space for more info.

more accreditation accolades for sherbrooke children’s centre

Good news - Sherbrooke Children's Centre, council's long day care centre, has received notification that the service has achieved an overall high quality accreditation rating from the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC). The NCAC is the body which the Australian government uses to assess the quality of childcare services nationwide.

Sherbrooke Children's Centre achieved high quality ratings in all of the seven quality areas and received particular commendation for their commitment to maintaining equitable practices that respect individual needs, promote children's self esteem and confidence and in providing a responsive and inclusive program for children.

It is great news and shows that this service is committed to the early years and local families who use the centre. I have long been passionate about the centre and fought hard to ensure it survived a push by the council of the day to close it (even before I was a councillor – see blog).

This latest accreditation continues the recognition that Sherbrooke Children's Centre has gained since the inception of the quality assurance and improvement system was initiated in 1994.

It won't be long before details plans are completed for Sherbrooke Family and Children's Centre and council can call for tenders to see the centre extended (see blog).

I look forward to seeing the children's hub project start, it is one I have fought for on behalf of our community over many years.

locals feeding locals

What: Upwey Food Swap June 2010

Where: Magpie House, Main Street Upwey

When: 26 June 9-10am

Join the Next Food Swap - Meet,Buy,Sell,Swap your produce

This month will see the second Sherbrooke Transition Towns Food Swap. Produce available includes fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh herbs, plants, seeds, seedlings and eggs (although there aren't a lot of eggs around at the moment as some chooks are taking their winter break).

The Food Swap allows for growers to either swap, or sell home grown produce and Sherbrooke Transition Towns are keen to increase the number of growers. Their aim is to provide access to good healthy food while increasing local food availability.

The Sherbrooke Transition Town's food group wants to support you in combating the effects of climate change by reducing your family's food miles.

The Food Swap has been designed to create more community awareness around food issues along with increasing community resilience.

It is a great initiative and encourages those with surplus fruit and veg to stay local and swap for other fruit and veg.

If you'd like to know more please contact Michelle from Sherbrooke Transition Towns on 0409 526 862.

station rats and other scum bags

Last week I had the great privilege of opening
Station Rats & other Scum Bags,
an art project with tiffany bishop and the SCUM PUPS at the Burrinja Gallery in Upwey.

Tiffaney Bishop, local artist (left), has done a great job assisting these young people with their works. Tiffaney works with compassion and dedication, committed to the project and the young people of Upwey.

Station Rats & other Scum Bags is an art exhibition with serious intent. The exhibition compassionately considers a community of young people living in and around Upwey, a community that is often criticised for their anti-social behaviour.

The exhibition is a slice of life of young people in Upwey in their space in and around the Upwey railway station. The exhibition touches on some of the emotional, social and cultural issues impacting on young people.

The young people of Upwey want to change the way they are viewed and this exhibition is a celebration of their positive energy and youth activism.

The work is a credit to the young people who created it (mostly 14 year olds) and to tiffaney bishop the artist who assisted with the project.

It is well worth a visit. Station Rats & other Scum Bags is on at the Burrinja Gallery until 14th March, 2010.

children’s hub a reality

report from the roundtable – 8 dec

Tuesday night was a great victory for the community who have fought for many years to save Sherbrooke Children’s Centre, council’s long day care centre in Upwey.

Me outside Sherbrooke Children's Centre. The long day care centre is a much loved facility and well regarded in the local community, at last count there were 290 on the waiting list.

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The planning permit for the Children’s Hub came before council for approval. The Children’s Hub came about as an idea from community to save the much loved Sherbrooke Children’s Centre. Back in 2003 the council of the day wanted to close the centre, a strong backlash by parents saw the closure stall and council agreed to keep the centre open till 2009.
The Children’s Hub was first conceptualised by parents campaigning to save the centre, the vision an integrated service which would include a number of services aimed at families. At the time I was one of those angry parents campaigning and the potential closure of the centre was the reason I first ran for council.

This newspaper article marked one year of campaigning by parents to save council run long day care in the Shire. The Save our Sherbrooke Children's Centre (SOSCC) marked the occasion with a birthday cake.

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After much advocacy to my colleagues on behalf of children and families there was a recognition of the importance of the early years, integrated children’s services and the need for community based long day care in the Dandenong Ranges.

The Children’s Hub had an extensive consultative process which included the Upwey Pre School, neighbours of the site, community members, Sherbrooke Children’s Centre parents and staff, Maternal Child Health Services, Victoria Police, Childcare professionals, allied family services and early childhood development specialists.

Controversy reigned after the SOSCC were successful in getting Sherbrooke Children's Centre awarded our favourite place in the Year of the Built Environment.

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A project steering group met every 3 weeks for approximately 18months to discuss the best outcomes for children. The group toured various long day care sites throughout Melbourne and incorporated the best attributes of those sites into the Children’s Hub.

The design of the building responds very well to the site and will mean that the construction can be staged so long day care can continue through the building process. It is an exciting design and will be a wonderful municipal building.

I’m pleased to say Council approved the permit meaning detailed design and contract tendering could proceed. It is a great outcome for children and their families. It will be a centre of excellence for early childhood development and one we can all be proud of.

It was a great moment for me with a real feeling of achievement, I have worked hard for many years to see this project come to fruition and have great satisfaction knowing that more children in our community will have the best start in life.

desal doco coming to dandenongs

Magpie House is showing Out of the Blue, the Bass Coast Desalination Plant documentary. Out of the Blue is made by professional film-maker Jeremy Loftus-Hills and follows the difficulties a community environment group has in opposing a government not prepared to listen.




Where:
Magpie House, 48 Main Street, Upwey

When:
7:30pm Saturday 10th October

Cost:
by donation

free internet at upwey

Did you know you can access free public internet access at the Yarra Ranges Community Link in Upwey?

This is the internet station at the Shire's Community Link in Upwey. It provides a great working space for those who need internet access.

Earlier this year the Shire was granted funding to allow for free access to the internet for two years. There is also access to other software programs such as Word. If you’d like to use the service phone the community link on 9752 6054 to book a time slot or pop in to find out more.

The Yarra Ranges Upwey Community Link is located at 40 Main Street, Upwey.

all systems go for children's hub

report from the roundtable - 28th April
At this meeting of council the development of the Children's Hub in Upwey was considered. Approval of the hub would see the development proceed to planning application stage and inform the conditions around it's development, firstly that the proposed service be based on the business plan developed for the service and secondly that the design support the operational model for a 110 place long day care facility.

There has been extensive consultation around the development of the hub, for a bit of history visit blog September 08, blog November 08 and blog March 09.

Me standing outside the soon to be redeveloped Sherbrooke Children's Centre. It is a great turnaround for the centre who, five years ago, were facing closure in 2009. The community should be very pleased with their efforts to save Sherbrooke Children's Centre, all those weekly campaign strategy meetings were well worth it.

To pull together such a diverse range of users of the site and move forward in a positive and inclusive way has been a great example of community consultation. There have been many meetings to talk about the proposal with contributions by the broader community, Long Day Care users, Upwey Hall users, Maternal and Child Health Services, allied children's services, Pre School and Toy Library. It has been a terrific experience to be part of the Project Control Group and the Community Reference Group as a councillor representative.

The staff of the shire have done a fantastic job of capturing the views and aspirations of the community and I thought it was important to put that on public record.

Both the State and Federal Governments have supported the development of the Children's Hub with a combined contribution of $2.1 million towards the project. The hub will be a great example of integrated children’s services which has been shown to deliver very positive outcomes for the early years and for families.

If we get it right in the early years we get it right for life. Investing in the early years is a great long term investment in our community. Studies have shown that investment in the early years pays back seven fold down the line. We have a development that we can be very proud of.

I'm pleased to say that the vote to support the proposed Children's Hub was unanimous.

on the buses

Last week saw the first round of the Yarra Ranges Bus Services Review workshops conclude. With three workshops across the shire it was a busy time to get to all of them. I’ve already reported on the Yarra Junction workshop (see blog).

After Yarra Junction the next workshop was held in Upwey and very well attended, with representatives from across the community as well as the three secondary schools in the region.

Discussions were far ranging and there was some dissent about the statistics presented to the group as they were averages across the three municipalities of Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah. For those living beyond the Urban Growth Boundary in Yarra Ranges the statistics presented were not a true or accurate representation of the services available.

There was a great consistency in the range of problems highlighted by the group covering issues such as:
Information about timetables, routes and cost of tickets
Poor connections with other services and rail
Coverage of services
Funding of public transport
Frequency of bus services
Span of hours of operation
Links to key centres including Belgrave and Knox City
Fares and the lack of one way or ‘short trip’ ticketing
Lack of services on the weekend
Lack of DDA compliant bus stops
More direct and frequent services to Knox City, Monash and Swinburne
More buses throughout the hills including a service to connect Olinda and Monbulk
The lack of timetable information at bus stops
The use of smaller buses
The use of more environmentally friendly buses
Telebuses for Belgrave
Footpaths to bus stops
The lack of route information for tourists
Bike storage on buses and at train stations
Improved safety
Eftpos availability on buses
Lack of parking at railway stations
Allowing pets on board
Better services to cover schools

With all the information collated and recorded results of the key issues were presented to the group, top 5 came in as:
34% Frequency of services
17% Network linkages
15% Span of hours of operation
10% Coverage of bus services
8% Connections to other bus and rail services

The Healesville workshop was not as well attended with a very small number of community members there, I think this is a reflection of the recent bushfire turmoil in the town as Healesville is generally a very active and involved community.










The discussions here were very similar with top five issues coming out as:
35% Frequency of services
27% Span of hours of operation
23% Connections to other bus and rail services
13% Footpath/bus stop infrastructure
2% Real time travel information

The consistency of responses across the shire is not surprising, time and time again frequency, span and coverage issues are raised with me. I will continue to advocate for improvements for our community, the benefits of a fast, frequent well connected public transport system are immense.

emergency fire relief centre for the dandenongs

In response to the fire today (23/02) in the Dandenong Ranges the Shire has set up three relief centres for residents who have decided to self evacuate. They are located at:

 Kilsyth Basketball Stadium, Pinks Reserve, Liverpool Road, Kilsyth (MelRef 51 G8) - STOP PRESS THIS CENTRE NO LONGER IN USE AS OF 10PM 23/02 DUE TO LACK OF DEMAND

 Knox Regional Netball Centre, in conjunction with the City of Knox, entry via Kevin Ave off Burwood Highway (MelRef 73 J4) THIS CENTRE STILL IN OPERATION

 Cardinia Cultural Centre, in conjunction with Cardinia Shire, Lakeside Boulevard, Pakenham (MelRef 215 H5) STOP PRESS THIS CENTRE NO LONGER IN USE AS OF 12PM 23/02 DUE TO LACK OF DEMAND

A relief centre was opened last night for residents in the Upper Yarra corridor (Warburton, Wesburn, Millgrove, etc) at the Lilydale Recreation Reserve, Main St, Lilydale, (MelRef 38 E5) until further notice.

I visited there today, at that stage over 250 residents had registered at the centre, many armed with tents to camp out overnight. Although the centre was very busy, with residents making contact with DHS, Red Cross and Vic Police, evacuated teenagers were taking advantage of the Lilydale Pool next door with young children enjoying the jumping castle.

I cannot speak highly enough of the effort put in by the Shire’s staff. At the centre were staff from Social Planning, Statutory Planning, IT and a myriad of other areas all helping out to assist our community, it is an effort way beyond the call of duty and very much appreciated.