AFTER many years of serving the community Robyn Hale is retiring from her role as a councillor, firstly for the Shire of Sherbrooke and then Yarra Ranges Shire.
Residents of the Dandenongs have much to thank Robyn for.
There are a couple of issues that residents of Ferny Creek in particular owe Robyn a debt of gratitude.
About 13 years ago over 90 properties in the Dandenongs found they were caught in the fire buffer zone debacle where their properties were artificially devalued because the Department of Conservation had placed them on a “buy back” list without their knowledge.
Robyn was one of only two councillors out of the 12 on Sherbrooke Council that supported residents in their fight to have this zoning abolished.
In 1997 a deliberately lit wildfire swept through Ferny Creek destroying 40 homes and killing three.
The State Coroner stated in his report that lack of warning contributed to the three fatalities and recommended that areas of high fire danger be given early warning. The CFA rejected residents’ requests for an extra siren to be installed to the existing three siren system in the area.
After over two years of unsuccessful lobbying by residents, Robyn stepped in to bring the agencies together with residents to form a working group. This examined the possibility of an alert system for this area known to locals as The Devil’s Chimney and described by experts as “the worst in the world on a bad day”.
From that an alert system was developed and installed, believed to be the first of its type in the world.
From that the Department of Justice has used information gained to warn the residents surrounding the Coode Island petrochemical installation and residents of Hall’s Gap.
Also the telephone warning system now on trial in Mt Evelyn was first examined by this committee she chaired.
So from all the people you’ve helped over the years and particularly the residents of Ferny Creek we say a heartfelt thanks Robyn for all you’ve done and for caring so well for the residents of The Dandenong Ranges.
Best wishes for the future.
John Irving
Ferny Creek
LIBERAL candidate Nick Wakeling should do his homework before spreading false rumours and creating unnecessary concern in our community.
There are absolutely no plans for parking fees at railway stations as he claims (Mail, 15 November).
Instead of misleading people, he should get behind the Bracks Government’s great local public transport projects, such as the tram/bus extension to Knox City Shopping Centre, the Wellington Road SmartBus (from 2006) and the Stud Road (Ringwood-Frankston) SmartBus (from 2008) as well as improved bus services in the hills.
We need to encourage more people to regularly use public transport, not make them afraid to use it.
Then he got it wrong again (Mail, 22 November) – this time about our local schools.
The parents and school community of Ferntree Gully Primary School are totally in control of decisions about the future of the school.
Declining enrolments at the school are due to a whole range of complex factors going back many years and nothing to do with maintenance funding. All government schools get a maintenance budget every year.
As well, schools in the Ferntree Gully electorate, including Ferntree Gully PS, got a share of an extra $153,650 for maintenance in 2004 to address particular maintenance needs.
Five primary schools, including Ferntree Gully, also got grants of $5500 each for schoolyard improvements in the past two years. There is also a maintenance audit of all schools currently underway to find out what more needs to be done.
Education is the Bracks Government’s top priority and record investment has seen over 6000 extra teachers provided to our schools so far, as well as an additional $1.5 billion for rebuilding schools.
This includes $1.42 million for stage one of rebuilding Mountain Gate Primary School and about $1.5 million for the upgrade of Kent Park Primary School in Ferntree Gully.
It just goes to show that the Liberal Opposition will say and do anything to get a story in the paper, including using 12 month old figures that wrong at the time and are still wrong now.
They don’t do their homework, can’t get it right and are not ready to govern!
Anne Eckstein
Ferntree Gully MP
Call for animal code
FORTUNATELY, here in Australia, we have animal welfare legislation to protect animals from cruel treatment.
If I confined my pet dog in such a way as to prohibit walking or even turning around, for the virtual entirety of his life, I would be open to prosecution.
These laws, however, do not apply to ‘production’ animals, such as pigs.
The food industry operates under ‘codes of conduct’ which in effect exempt them from animal welfare legislation.
It is indisputable that this has resulted in unmitigated cruelty towards such animals.
This situation can be changed.
Britain has legislated against particularly cruel intensive farming practices, and the European Union is following suit.
Australia is reviewing the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals (The Pig), but the advisory group is weighted in favour of industry.
It you are interested in the plight of factory animals, please contact 5968 9642 sphi5@student.monash.edu.au or have a look at www.savebabe.com.
Perhaps together we can do something to promote informed and compassionate production of such food, for those who wish to consume it.
Shirley Phillips
Cockatoo
