Record ANZAC crowds New Mayor appointed Remembering ANZAC Residents invited for budget feedback Mobile pledge towards Whittlesea Where to vote: Whittlesea CCTV promise for Whittlesea 2026 Prep enrolments now open Magpies record first win Eagles back on track Laurimar powers past Demons Kilmore stay perfect Wallan treks to the coast Kilmore clips Hawks’ wings Len Baker’s Sulky Snippets: April 29, 2025 From the Boundary with Ray Carroll: April 29, 2025 A PLEDGE of $1.5 million will see CCTV cameras installed across towns in the Mitchell Shire area Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell announced that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government would strengthen community safety across communities in the electorate Mitchell says it’s a pledge which would deliver greater safety “Our community deserves to be safe,” he said Donnybrook and surrounding areas feel safer and more secure “This $1.5 million investment is about tackling the issues that matter most to people in McEwen.” © The North Central Review Pty Ltd Aircraft supported a number of CFA brigades to control a grassfire on Springridge Bvd Crews were called to the scene around 1.45pm and managed to get the fire under control in about an hour An emergency warning was issued to residents however District 12 Rostered Duty Officer Brian Wright downgraded the warning to a Watch and Act "The cause seems to be suspicious so we're working with Victoria Police to determine how the fire started," Mr Wright said however crews were able to protect homes in the area." 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Tweets by CFA_Updates We are currently experiencing issues with our embedded Twitter feed We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land Copyright 2025 CFA (Country Fire Authority) McConnell Dowell will undertake track slew works within the rail corridor at the Wallan Station to create the horizontal track clearance required for double-stacked freight trains Track slewing involves unclipping and cutting of the existing rail track moving the track horizontally and rebuilding the relocated rail sections For any concerns or enquiries phone 1800 929 244, email inlandrailvic@inlandrail.com.au Thank you for your patience and cooperation while we carry out these works All current works notices Explore more: The Project Benefits Opportunities Inland Rail contractors will continue ground investigations utility relocation and site establishment works near Broadford’s Short Street bridge during May Inland Rail contractors will begin construction of the new vehicle underpass which requires the closure of the Anderson Street bridge in May Inland Rail contractors will establish project worksites and undertake surveys and investigations in Wandong during May Inland Rail Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Australian Rail Track Corporation Upgrades to Donnybrook and Wallan stations are complete safety and comfort for passengers in two of Victoria’s fastest-growing communities Learn more about Donnybrook Station Learn more about Wallan Station The Reverend Prashant Bhonsle is leading a church plant to develop an Anglican presence in Wallan He hopes to begin a worship congregation that will become a centrifugal force in the community The plant is reaching out to potential members through information sessions in July Church planting hadn’t been part of my story to this point But I am finding it a real adventure becoming part of one in the making and remaking stage Our church is recommencing the Anglican Ministry in Wallan – stopped during COVID in 2021 – in a new location that belongs to the diocese.   The previous congregation in Wallan was small But this means the Anglican presence is not totally new Even before we came to Australia we were told of the growth in the northern corridor From the time I took the decision to come here I prepared myself to unlearn and relearn in a new context.   As the son of a priest in the Church of North India I grew up around the church and it’s been a beautiful gift passed down from generation to generation Read more: Church planting is pivotal to our future. Here’s how it can flourish My inner call came by observing my father reading And over time a whole new avenue of learning realising and understanding was slowly opening for me.  Much of my theology was shaped outside of my seminary when I was confronted with the real situations of the people in the caste-ridden Indian society tribal and or due to their gender identities All throughout the Bible we find God’s preferential option for the poor Jesus began His ministry with Nazareth manifesto As a program team leader with the Justice and Development wing of the Church of North India I was able to work with local congregations to spark meaningful interventions across society integrated issues of the community in their liturgy and practice An insider’s view from a lay parishioner of the Melbourne diocese visiting Kolkata changed my perspective I realised role I could play ministering in an evolving I realised I could offer the gospel in this context My wife the Reverend Dr Satvasheela Pandhare – now leading the Hume parish – was also convinced she had a role to play as an ordained priest and chaplain.  the “no need of God” in our life attitude of people And these people have diverse needs and real struggles in life bound in genuine love and concern for each other will always thrive I therefore call upon people to come together have fellowships in a safe and sound environment Here we together can sustain in mutual love understanding of each other and thereby share joy and peace Worship goes hand in hand with the service work we do having understood the community’s felt needs together we can collaborate more with Anglican agencies city council and other likeminded agencies our work has a simple vision: to be inviting welcoming and replenishing.  I am sure God who offers life abundant continually to all without discrimination will help us be an inclusive and inviting community.   I also humbly acknowledge the Anglican presence of our former congregation in Wallan I hope those who were part of that story will participate with their experience and wisdom in this new chapter for an Anglican presence in Wallan Read more: Thinking about planting a church? Don’t underestimate the recruitment phase It is one thing to minister in an organised set up of church ministries altogether another to co-create a community that drives its mandate of engagement and service in the world while being firmly rooted in faith and spirituality.   changing and challenging context we are in diverse ideologies and orientations coming and joining us every day The projected demographic change for Wallan itself is a case in point belief systems and faith practices to contribute to the fabric of society in Wallan We need to engage daily and build bridges across the society and know that truly we are a “Land of the Spirit” God is already at work here and we simply need only to participate in His mission here in Wallan I hope to be part of His work in this area to bring positive social change in the community so all will be able to flourish I thank the Hume Anglican Parish for their role in Wallan’s church growth story.   you can join an information session on 16 July at 7pm and the Wallan Neighbourhood House to talk about the possibility of relaunching an Anglican presence More than 40 people attended the kintsugi workshop where they repaired cracked plates while reflecting on how Christ’s sacrifice mends human brokenness Refugee advocates renew calls for a Royal Commission and an end to offshore detention amid ongoing health concerns Anglicans will take a stand against domestic violence in homes Iranian refugees Hass and Mahi were granted permanent residency after over a decade of visa uncertainty You must be logged in to post a comment Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a surprise visit to Wallan on Monday afternoon to see first-hand the benefits of working from home Enjoying the hospitality of Matthew and Milly Mr Albanese and Mr Mitchell discussed the importance a flexible working situation has had for the family Wini and Laurance for welcoming us all to their home and sharing with us how working from home has been a game changer for them and the work life balance of their family,” Mr Mitchell said “Matthew and Milly have been able to find a balance between raising their two gorgeous children and maintaining their careers all thanks to the flexible working arrangements they have been able to arrange with their employers “Before Milly was employed as a nurse educator with TAFE working night shifts and sleeping while her children were in care Matthew was travelling to the city and missing notable events at school and sport “Now they share the load working from home on days the other travels to work.” The visit coincided with the Coalition’s announcement on Monday that they would review their policy to return public servants to the office for five days a week as well as removing 41,000 public servants from the workforce family and friends were joined by Interim CEO Robyn Harris and Acting Commander Paul Brislin at the Wallan Bowls Club for the annual Wallan Fire Brigade presentation dinner Captain Tim Benetti thanked members for their tireless commitment to the brigade and acknowledged the family support that enables CFA volunteers to do what they do "You are the lifeblood of the brigade and I’d like to thank all of you for the time you’ve given to helping protect our community over the past 12 months," Tim said "I'd like to thank the unsung heroes - the wives a heartfelt thank you from a captain who's job would be much more difficult if it wasn't for your support." Tim also spoke about the incredibly busy year for the brigade responding to 336 calls last financial year - the busiest year in the brigade's 87-year history - and the brigade's achievements including the delivery of the new heavy tanker in May Interim CEO Robyn Harris and Acting Commander Paul Brislin presented CFA service awards to Kacie Graham (five years) Hayden McMennemin (20 years) and John Meldrum (35 years) National Emergency Medals for the 2019-20 bushfires were presented to Andrew South National Medals were presented to Justin Cardiff Deb Hanson (1st Clasp) and Colin Prentice (1st Clasp) Deputy Group Officer and Brigade President Peter Roylance was presented with the CFA's highest internal award the Outstanding Service Medal to recognise his more than half a century dedicated to the protection of life and property from fire and other emergencies Peter joined Epping Fire Brigade in 1971 at age 15 and has maintained an exceptional level of commitment to CFA throughout his volunteer service He has held an elected leadership role in a brigade or group (often at the same time) for the past 49 years and has mentored countless volunteers on their CFA journeys Peter thanked his family and brigade members for their support and reflected on his years of service "These things don't happen without family support and that's been a big part of my achievement throughout the years of service," Peter said "I just love being there and listening to the different opinions and the conversations from the newest member of the organisation to the 70-year-old member It all means something in the big mix of things "The fire brigade became my real passion at age 15 because in those days you could become a senior firefighter at 15 I was just totally dedicated totally to CFA and it has just been there all that time The evening's formalities concluded with the presentation of internal brigade awards to Captain Tim Benetti Firefighter Edward Martin and Firefighter Chris Answer and the unveiling of a new Brigade Life Members honour board Live music and raffles entertained members into the night WALLAN travelled to Surfcoast on the weekend in a pair of crucial matches for the Panthers The women’s team were up against a high-flying Chargers team who had only lost one game in the early portion of the season The opening stanza suggested it would be a close contest with the Chargers scoring 18 points to 14 to lead by four the Panthers started making their move and closed the gap to just a single point at the main break after scoring 20 points to 17 Wallan made their move with a superb close to the third quarter scoring eight unanswered points in the final 90 seconds of the term to deliver a sucker-punch to the Chargers hopes of winning with the Panthers leading 48-41 at the final change The Panthers continued on with their momentum into the final term scoring the first 12 points to silence the Surfcoast crowd and ensuring they would control the rest of the game six assists and four steals as she did it all while Emmie Gardiner added 13 points and 17 rebounds and Maddison O’Nial had 12 rebounds and a team-high six steals While there was success for the women’s team the men’s Panthers were blown away by Surfcoast across the final three quarters on Saturday night A tight opening term saw the Panthers well in the mix throughout the opening term it was all Surfcoast as they continued to build their lead throughout the rest of the half scoring 22 points to 13 in the second term as they took a commanding 46-32 lead into the main break Wallan did everything they could to bring the margin back but every time they asked questions of Surfcoast and they scored 25 points to 18 to lead 71-50 at the final change The Chargers managed to clear away even more from Wallan who are still seeking their first win of the season scoring 32 points to 16 to record a runaway 103-66 win But with only six assists for the entire game Wallan were unable to create enough shots to trouble the Chargers Wallan’s Youth League men’s team were able to come back and defeat Western Port after a slow start trailing by 12 points at the opening change before roaring back into the game to win 86-81 Kaleb Graham and Hunter Graham scored 27 points apiece Wallan’s Youth League women were no match for Sherbrooke The first and last quarters saw the Suns pile on the points despite Wallan putting in a decent effort in the middle two quarters Chloe Mott scored 11 points and had 11 rebounds to lead the way for the Panthers A FREE art exhibition featuring local artists will be held across Saturday April 12 and Sunday April 13 at the Wallan Multi-purpose centre from 10am to 3pm both framed and unframed will be on sale at the Wallan Country Art Show at affordable prices and also yummy refreshments including scones with cream and jam The Visual Arts Community (VAC) Inc is a vibrant new group dedicated to fostering creativity through cultural heritage and supporting emerging artists in the north regional corridor of Mitchell Shire and they also hold paint and sketch classes every Monday at the Wallan Multi-Purpose Centre The fun-loving group welcomes all artists of all levels to paint and aims to enrich the local community with art shows ‘Come and explore the creative possibilities with VAC Inc and together we can nurture talent and celebrate the beauty of art!’ For more information phone Mari 0409 933 595 It was a surprising Saturday morning for Wallan’s Janet Laffan who had no idea what to expect when Benjamin Gregory presented her with a $4000 cheque in her living room Ms Laffan was prepared for a photoshoot with ‘Joseph’ from ‘Photography4Life’ it was Mr Gregory’s good friend and musician Aydan Calafiore who was behind the lens capturing B-roll footage of the special moment which will appear on Mr Gregory’s show Coming Together Christmas The moment captured saw Ms Laffan in shock shedding a few tears as she was surrounded by family who have stood by her side since she was diagnosed with stage four cancer in February wanted to make this Christmas special for their mum Ms Laffan expressed that the surprise meant the world to her and her family “I had no idea what was going to happen,” she said “It was so good to have the family all together getting to the hospital appointments … that’s hard The cheque was made possible thanks to a generous donation from Hilltop Caravans with Love in Action Wallan and Mr Gregory selecting Ms Laffan as the recipient Love in Action Wallan President Sarah Brewer said Ms Laffan was an obvious choice for the kind gesture “We knew that Janet was starting more treatment and that the treatment she was on—the chemotherapy—had made her really sick so she was trying something else,” she said “We knew that it was such a special time and a really important time for her family to get together this Christmas.” Mr Gregory said it was his favourite time of the year to give back to a deserving person “Christmas is normally a time where sometimes you can be a little bit indulgent she’s the complete opposite of that,” he said “To be able to give back to someone who’s really passionate about family and the people that [she] surrounds herself with is really important Bendigo Bank’s community carols event will screen the heartfelt moment to audiences this Saturday in Hudson Park Coming Together Christmas will be broadcasted statewide on December 22 at 8pm on Channel 31 Wallan Police would like to welcome recently appointed First Constable Rose Halse to the team As Community Crime Prevention Officer (CCPO) Constable Halse will engage with local stakeholders to prevent crimes and share preventable crime strategies such as Fortify Constable Halse said she was excited to work collaboratively and positively with Mitchell Shire Council and local businesses and community groups such as the South Mitchell Neighbourhood Watch It’s good to see some thing positive happening More than 800 community members braved the wet weather on Saturday to attend Wallan Police Station’s open day and commemorate its new 24/7 schedule Diving deep into the support that Victoria’s emergency services provide attendees spoke with Victoria Police specialist units and the CFA while excited children participated in station tours and fun activities such as a scavenger hunt and plaster painting While local police have always been on duty around the clock for patrols the new opening hours will ensure the station’s reception is always open to the public Senior Sergeant Heidi Twining said the event piqued the community’s interest “We had in approx of 870 community members attend the open day which is epic and for which we are truly grateful,” she said Community organisations on hand to support the event included Mitchell Shire Council (MSC) Southern Mitchell Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) along with two of the group’s 15-strong volunteer army was also on hand to promote crime prevention strategies such as the UV marker pen which can be used to record an ID on personal property and assist police to recover and return any stolen items to their owners The organisation’s monthly newsletter is sent to schools and made available at MSC’s four major libraries and customer service centres Ms van der Ree expressed the group’s interest to start a network in Beveridge and invited interested residents to reach out via their Facebook page “We need to start a NHW in Beveridge,” she said “They have their own unique issues like theft from building sites Crime prevention strategies can prevent community members from becoming a victim of home and property thefts.” In addition to the importance of marking valuable property NHW also recommended that vehicle owners have a one-way anti-theft screw fitted to their vehicle registration plates to prevent the plates being removed once stolen We are going to team up with the Kilmore SES open day next year and we’ll fit the one-way screw for a gold coin donation,” Ms van der Ree said Firsts Wallan Wallan Scouts Assistant Group Leader Erin Petrucelli supported recently-appointed Crime Prevention Constable Rose Halse with the attendance photo activity “We’ve had our joey scouts do a tour though [the police station] which was really fun,” she said A number overcame their fear by coming which was wonderful and the officers were so lovely and supportive and they realised that these people are here to help.” The Wallan Police Station is located at 100 Watson Street THE second round of the Riddell District Football Netball League saw Wallan finally get their season underway while the Magpies were out to get their season underway with a small side of revenge on their grand final conquerors and their movement with the ball once they forced turnovers inside Wallan’s forward 50 meant they were able to slingshot from one end to the other with ease The Bombers would ensure they would lead throughout the day with Wallan’s sole effort coming on the siren through recruit leaving the Magpies down 12 points at the first change The Bombers kicked the final four goals of the first half to earn a six-goal lead at half time Wallan got their offensive game going in the third quarter and were rewarded with four goals throughout the term But the Bombers had every answer for the Magpies kicking four of their own to maintain their six-goal cushion While Riddell got the margin as high as 51 points at one stage Cloke kicked three goals in the last term to keep the margin at 44 points by the end of the game with the Magpies kicking 9.7 (61) to Riddell’s 16.9 (105) Cloke’s five goals meant he was named as the Magpies’ best Chris Stewart and Micallef were also named in Daniel Nolan’s better players who fell to a 38-point defeat to Diggers Rest The Redbacks were unable to get their game going in the opening term with Diggers kicking the opening four goals to lead 25-2 at the first change Diggers kicked the first two goals of the second term to increase the margin to 34 points but Romsey fought hard to ensure the margin wouldn’t get out of control scoring two of the last three goals of the term to trail 15-45 at the main break The Redbacks had plenty of chances in the third Diggers kicked two goals to ensure the game was over at the final change Romsey had their best quarter of the day in the last but it wasn’t enough to eat into the margin as they lost 5.12 (42) to 12.8 (80) Callum Lever and Jack Jedwab were named as their best players The second and last quarters were the difference for Seymour in their 38-point loss to Shepparton Swans at Kings Park on Saturday The Swans led by one point at the first change before putting their foot down in the second term to score four goals to two to increase their lead to 16 points at the main change Seymour looked to do everything to cut into the margin as they kicked five goals kicking six of their own as they were able to increase the margin to 21 points at the final change The final term saw the Lions’ charge snuffed out with the Swans kicking four goals to two to increase the margin by the end Jack Murphy and Nathan Beattie gave their all for the Lions who will be seeking their first win when they travel to Mansfield over the Easter weekend Wallan lost all four quarters to Riddell in their 11-goal loss on Saturday afternoon The Bombers opened up a four-goal lead in the opening term as they were able to restrict Wallan’s scoring Wallan went goal-for-goal in the second quarter Riddell made another move in the third quarter scoring 15 goals to 11 in the third term to essentially seal the game It was another goal-for-goal affair in the final term Maeve Donegan scored 26 goals to lead the way for Wallan inside the goal circle Romsey had a terrific second half to score an 18-goal victory over Diggers Rest The Redbacks were able to increase their margin at every change to make sure they bounced back in the best way possible the Redbacks made another good move in the second term to score 12 goals to nine to lead 25-19 at the main break But the Redbacks ran away with the game in the third term scoring 14 goals to seven to lead 39-26 at the final change before scoring 15 goals to 10 to finish up with a 54-36 win THE Wallan Bowling Club Division Six Section Three side won all rinks against Rosanna over the weekend It is the club’s seventh grand final win in the past seven years the unit attended brigade training and spoke to Junior members about the many roles carried out by VICSES and how the emergency services work together during emergencies Juniors were given the opportunity to look over the VICSES vehicles and see what equipment they carry on board Terry Ouroumis from CFA’s Vegetation Management Team visited the brigade with the simulation table This gave Juniors an opportunity to see and explore how fire behaviour is affected by different weather conditions and terrain a simulated fire was ignited in the Wallan response area with Juniors working as a team to manage a response and extinguish the fire – learning about the key role of CFA in protecting life and property Our thanks to Kilmore VICSES and Terry Ouroumis for visiting and engaging with Wallan Junior Fire Brigade Kids First Australia has recently been announced as the service provider for the new Wallan Secondary College Kindergarten (interim name) The kindergarten site will be established at Wallan Secondary College as part of the State Government’s Best Start the project shared in $1.3 billion allocated to build around 100 new kindergartens to support the reform Locating kindergartens on or near schools helps children get the most out of their early learning while also providing a smoother transition from kindergarten to school for children Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence said she looked forward to having a new kindergarten which would support many families in the community “I know just how difficult the double drop off can be for busy parents and families which is why I’m so excited that Kids First Australia has been appointed as the service provider for Wallan Secondary College Kindergarten (interim name),” she said “We’re now one step closer to delivering this brand-new state-of-the-art kindergarten in Wallan Mitchell Shire Council is managing enrolments through their Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme, which can be found at www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/community/children-and-families/kindergartens This Saturday will witness the inaugural Gisborne and District Cricket Association (GDCA) women’s seniors 20/20 cricket match between Wallan and Kilmore played under the lights from 5pm at Greenhill Reserve The men’s first XI Wallan V Kilmore two-day match will be played earlier It is hoped that the double-header will become a regular part of the season fixture attracting community support for all teams While the women’s competition is a recent addition to the local cricket calendar women have been playing cricket in the district for over 100 years with occasional matches documented in the local press a Wallan Ladies Cricket Club was officially formed with sponsorship from the Bonds Hotel in Wallan East the club made history by causing a huge upset defeating the Wallan men by an innings and 46 runs Wallan District Cricket Club President Robbie Fowler said he was keen for community members to support the event “Our club is really looking forward to both games this Saturday in particular the women’s twilight game,” he said “We are proud of getting a women’s side going this year and this clash with our cross-town rival Kilmore is highly anticipated We hope this innovative twilight game straight after the men’s game sets a precedent for others to follow in the GDCA.” Wallan Women’s Captain Felicity Vance echoed Fowler’s sentiment about the upcoming twilight game “This is a really exciting way that we feel that the men’s and women’s fixtures can work together to help promote the game not only at both clubs “The support of the GDCA and both clubs to be able to organise this has been great and I hope it will become a regular event each season “The women are really looking forward to playing in this game and I encourage people to come along and cheer us on.” Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A vast swath of land on Melbourne’s northern fringe should be locked away for a new park before it is snapped up by developers for new housing and industry Victoria’s environment department has urged the state government the state Labor government committed to investigating a proposal to create a regional park on rural land used for generations for farming but which could be developed over the next 10 years into housing and industrial estates between Craigieburn and Wallan Wallan Environment Group president Norbert Ryan (left) and former presidents Cr Claudia James and Rob Eldridge on Green Hill with the drained Hernes Swamp and the Wallara Waters housing estate behind them The proposed park would potentially be the largest in Melbourne’s outer north providing a refuge for native wildlife and an expansive outdoor escape for hundreds of thousands of residents of booming outer suburbs such as Kalkallo But the government was warned three years ago that the window of opportunity to secure the land was closing as the area being proposed for the regional park is mostly in private hands and likely to increase in value Environment and Climate Change has urged the government to apply a public acquisition overlay on the land “as soon as is practicable” to avoid a blowout in costs as property values rise due to demand from residential and industrial developers The park could span up to 2888 hectares – about 76 times the size of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens – taking in the headwaters of Merri Creek Kalkallo Creek and four volcanic cones that are landmarks for travellers on the Hume Freeway long a landmark for Hume Freeway travellers Local environmental volunteers hope the park would encompass a network of drained swamps that would be revived into a healthy wetland They point to work conducted by Yarra Valley Water that restored a small part of Hernes Swamp as an experiment in 2020 The area exploded with native birdlife within one season becoming a breeding ground for black swans Campaigner and former local councillor Rob Eldridge said the swamps and creek lines were degraded after many years of being drained and used for agriculture but could be restored in a short time “You’ve only got to walk along Merri Creek You don’t have to do a lot to bring it back.” Eldridge was instrumental in developing the park proposal, dubbed the wallan wallan Regional Park but now fears the push is losing momentum as the state government advances its plans for new housing in the area The Andrews government committed in the 2018 election campaign to complete a feasibility study for the wallan wallan Regional Park as part of its $150 million promise to create a 6500-hectare “ring of new parkland in our growing suburbs” The environment department completed the study in 2022 but did not release it until last week following a freedom-of-information request by The Age It has made no other commitments towards the park The released report advises the government that any delay in putting an acquisition overlay on land that would be turned into a public park would probably increase costs to the state This has already happened in some places identified in the report as suitable parkland which have since been designated for future housing Mitchell Shire councillor Claudia James said the government needed to swoop quickly to secure the land for the park as it would probably face a fight from developers over land use The land for the proposed park forms part of a number of undeveloped precinct structure plans that are due to be developed as part of Melbourne’s urban expansion over the next 10 years “There is a window of time available,” James said “It would have been better if it happened two years ago A spokesperson for the Allan government said the feasibility study would be used to guide future planning decisions on land use in the area The spokesperson did not answer a question on whether the government had moved to apply a public acquisition overlay on any land within the proposed park’s boundaries “We are creating and upgrading 6500 hectares of open space across Melbourne through the Suburban Parks Program and delivering more open spaces for families in Wallan with the new Wallan Central Cycle and Nature Trail Project and upgrades to the playground at Greenhill Recreation Reserve,” the spokesperson said Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter A vast swath of land on Melbourne\\u2019s northern fringe should be locked away for a new park before it is snapped up by developers for new housing and industry Victoria\\u2019s environment department has urged the state government The proposed park would potentially be the largest in Melbourne\\u2019s outer north Environment and Climate Change has urged the government to apply a public acquisition overlay on the land \\u201Cas soon as is practicable\\u201D to avoid a blowout in costs The park could span up to 2888 hectares \\u2013 about 76 times the size of Melbourne\\u2019s Royal Botanic Gardens \\u2013 taking in the headwaters of Merri Creek the Maribyrnong was degraded,\\u201D he said \\u201CYou\\u2019ve only got to walk along Merri Creek You don\\u2019t have to do a lot to bring it back.\\u201D Eldridge was instrumental in developing the park proposal The Andrews government committed in the 2018 election campaign to complete a feasibility study for the wallan wallan Regional Park as part of its $150 million promise to create a 6500-hectare \\u201Cring of new parkland in our growing suburbs\\u201D The land for the proposed park forms part of a number of undeveloped precinct structure plans that are due to be developed as part of \\u201CThere is a window of time available,\\u201D James said \\u201CIt would have been better if it happened two years ago The spokesperson did not answer a question on whether the government had moved to apply a public acquisition overlay on any land within the proposed park\\u2019s boundaries \\u201CWe are creating and upgrading 6500 hectares of open space across Melbourne through the Suburban Parks Program and delivering more open spaces for families in Wallan with the new Wallan Central Cycle and Nature Trail Project and upgrades to the playground at Greenhill Recreation Reserve,\\u201D the spokesperson said Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories The Wallan Classic Vehicle Club (WCVC) is gearing up for its 10th annual Show ‘n’ Shine and Swap Meet with over 300 classic cars competing for a trophy this Sunday at the Wallan Secondary College oval and fellow car enthusiasts come from near and far to meet up and find rare car parts for their restoration projects they are expecting more than 12,000 wheels to cruise through the gates The trophy presentation for the best Holden and will be followed by the highly anticipated People’s Choice award Sponsor Rare Spares will present the Real Streetcar and the Real Restoration award Club President Kerry Walton said he was excited for the upcoming event “This year the swap meet sites are nearly sold out and we are introducing the Best Motorcycle and Best Truck award,” he said Public entry on the day will be from 8am–3pm while children under 16 and show vehicles can enter for free The Watson Street Interchange upgrade is one step closer with the business case for the project now complete which will see the addition of an inbound and outbound ramp works are unable to commence until final approvals have been made the business case includes detailed considerations of traffic modelling Planning work will continue to progress as the project team undertake detailed environmental investigations and prepare a Cultural Heritage Management Plan Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell and State Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage celebrated the milestone both stating they were looking forward to the project moving ahead “Our community is looking forward to the realisation of this significant investment,” Mr Mitchell said AFL premiership player Heath Shaw is headed to Wallan this weekend The former Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney player will pull on the Wallan jumper for the club’s Riddell District Football League clash with Kyneton Magpies coach Daniel Nolan said it’s an exciting opportunity for the community to have some of the calibre of Shaw at the club won a premiership with Collingwood and was a two-time All-Australian “He has a connection with a few boys at the club in particular Chris Stewart from playing together last year at East Keilor,” Nolan said “We have a strong junior program at Wallan and the kids in the town are really excited to see Heath play “We have a fairly young side and are still developing so to have the experience and leadership of Heath it will be so valuable on and off the field “He is also planning on coming back later in the year for a sportsman’s night and to give some advice to the players-coaches in the lead up to finals.” who are new to our competition and are still a bit of the unknown,” Nolan said “They are well coached by Ethan Foreman and have talented players such as Harrison Huntley Caleb Fisher and mid-season recruit Josh Smith “It should be a great contest and hopefully a big crowd at Greenhill Reserve A trio of boys have been charged and arrested following an alleged stabbing on a bus in High Street In the issue following the incident on June 4 the Review had reported that charges were yet to be laid with the exact circumstances surrounding the incident yet to be determined Transit Crime Investigation Unit detectives will now allege that the altercation took place on a bus just before 5pm leaving a 17-year-old with non-life-threatening injuries A 17-year-old Wallan boy was charged with intentionally cause injury assault with a weapon and assault in company and was remanded to appear before a Children’s Court this afternoon and was bailed to appear at a Children’s Court at a later date A 15-year-old Wallan boy has been charged with intentionally cause injury It is believed the parties are known to each other Residents have been reassured that safety remains paramount in the area with Red Suburbs reporting that the township has a very low crime rate of 14 per cent Wellington Square Shopping Centre stated management took security seriously with personnel working seven days a week to ensure customers feel safe and comfortable A 34-year-old man has died after being shot on a suburban Melbourne street with Homicide Squad detectives now probing the circumstances surrounding the fatal attack Homicide Squad detectives are probing how a man ended up dead about 60km away from his home following a shooting on a suburban street The fatal shooting unfolded about 9.10pm on Friday in Burnside Heights in Melbourne's north-west with police believing it was not a random attack Emergency services had received reports a man was outside a home on Tenterfield Drive with gunshot wounds Police said the 34-year-old male died at the scene a town which is located about 45km north of Melbourne and an almost one hour drive from Burnside Heights A crime scene was established at the scene "The exact circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be determined at this stage however police do not believe this was a random attack," Victoria Police said Anyone with information which could assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) kicked off at the weekend with all teams returning to play after taking the King’s Birthday break Loyal Wallan supporters walked through the Greenhill Reserve gates knowing former AFL player Heath Shaw was in the lineup for Wallan’s home game against Kyneton.  The hype for the former AFL player – who played for Collingwood Football Club and the Greater Western Sydney Giants – matched the game as both sides took the field with ambition after returning from the break Most kicks in the first quarter were behinds from both sides but a few more behinds and goals from Wallan placed the side in front kicking the first goal in the second quarter including three more and a behind to make up for the first quarter but Kyneton brought on the challenge for the side with only four points behind at the end of the second quarter.  The Magpies put a stop to the challenge during the last two quarters which led the side to be victorious with an 94-46 win Assistant Coach Spencer Mathieson said Wallan responded well after half time “I thought Kyneton were playing better footy than us in the first half but we lifted after half time and had 17 scoring shots and won the game by 48 points,” he said.  “The club were lucky enough to have Heath Shaw play for us which was a great experience for the boys and a great day for the club.  “Next week we play Riddell away who are on top and we’re looking forward to the challenge.” Wallan is still third on the ladder under Romsey who also had another win at the weekend but experienced a struggling start against Diggers Rest The Redbacks fell to Diggers’ dominance in the first quarter only producing three behinds and a goal at the end of the first quarter It was not until the second quarter Romsey put on a battle Romsey were unstoppable in the last quarter producing all the kicks while Diggers Rest were powerless Romsey took home a 47-79 win and will host Kyneton in round 10 this weekend Lancefield did not meet its target to take home a win against Riddell – a side that is currently on top of the leaderboard The opening minutes of the first quarter were quite slow The game picked up within the second quarter but once again Lancefield could only make a behind Lancefield tweaked its football in the third quarter Wallan assembled another win against Kyneton on Saturday Wallan Coach Lucas Bennett-Hullin said newcomers Kyneton played a similar game to Wallan “It was a tough battle for three terms on Saturday we were fortunate to have an incredibly strong first quarter that set us up for the game,” he said “Maeve Donegan continued her great shooting and captain Genevieve Carboon led from the front in the midcourt to secure the win.” Romsey netballers were also in high spirits with an 48-64 win against Diggers Rest Lancefield was not far from the winning side Wallan will travel to Riddell while Lancefield will go to Melton The three-day 2024 Go-Kan-Ryu (GKR) Karate World Cup was held at Sydney’s Olympic Park last month and six members of the GKR Karate Dojo in Wallan were among 1440 competitors representing Australia and she won a gold medal for her Kumite performance and a silver in the Kata event while Kata is an individual performance that highlights a sequence of movements and is taught in a non-contact environment by a Sensei Mr Eberbach said Allanah is an inspiration and her World Cup achievements are incredible Allanah’s Sensei Glenn Eberbach also won a gold medal for his performance in the Men’s Kata and Sensei Michelle Butler won a silver medal in the Women’s Kumite and Sensei Colin Thomson at the GKR Karate World Cup but has already come so far in her journey Her focus and dedication are beyond her years and she’s just a shining light in the Dojo,” he said “She’s really taken to karate and it’s just lovely to see a young student bloom.”  The weekend was a medley of losses and wins in round 12 of the Riddell District Netball Football League (RDFNL) Wallan was in position to embark on its upcoming challenge who are currently second on the ladder behind Riddell while Wallan is fourth below Romsey.  The football was going both directions in the first quarter with Diggers and Wallan equally firing goals and behinds to make up 15 points which meant the game was still in fate’s hands It took a while for either side to make any form of score in the second quarter up until Diggers kicked a behind during the eight-minute mark and another behind between Wallan’s own – with the final score of the second quarter at 18-29 the Magpies made a difference within the third quarter But fate landed in Digger’s hands after all Assistant coach Spencer Mathieson said Diggers Rest thoroughly deserved the win at the weekend they executed and had a bit more polish on the day,” he said “We had a good third term and got back in the contest but we gave up six goals in the last quarter which was a disappointing finish and unlike us Mathieson said he looked forward to the game against Woodend-Hesket at home Woodend have got some players back and their results have improved so it’s going to be a good contest The Redbacks were the only side to put a figure on the scoreboard however the game progressed when Melton scored two goals helping the overall score to reach 12-14 – with Romsey still ahead The two-point advantage went a long way for Romsey in the third quarter Romsey pushed its 27-point lead from the third quarter into a 32-78 win in the last quarter while the Lancefield Seniors will return from its bye and head up to Diggers Rest this Saturday Wallan was on top of its game in the last term to make the 52-50 win against Diggers Rest giving the opportunity for the Under 19 players to take the court The Under 19s got the real A Grade experience Wallan coach Lucas Bennett-Hullin reminded the team about lifting intensity and getting the turnovers down the defence end – which the side acted on Wallan’s centre player Maddi Wallmeyer said the team made a real effort to make a return in the last term team effort to do that all the way down the court and got a couple of good turnovers and then made sure we were patient in attack,” she said Bennett-Hullin acknowledged the endeavours of the team “It was such a great game … and their poise throughout the game was “Big call out to Haylie Baker coming from Under 19s to play goalkeeper and Natalie McDonald allowing Melton Centrals to be victorious with a 62-58 win the ball kept going in the basket for players including Charlize Bellette with 28 goals followed by 16 from Emma Grech and 14 from Hope Hamilton Wallan and Woodend-Hesket netballers were dressed in Indigenous design in round 13 of the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) was delivered by Wurundjeri Elder Colin Hunter Jnr at Wallan’s home ground before the game commenced the Magpies powered through the first period Woodend absorbed Wallan’s power in the second period producing many baskets to attempt a takeover Wallan is now behind Woodend on the ladder and will play away against Macedon in round 15 – a side that is just below the home side on the leaderboard displaying an incredible team effort against Diggers Rest in an away game The match started off fairly well between the sides with the Tigers producing a three-point lead but Diggers were not prepared for what to expect in the next two periods extending its three-point lead to a 17-point lead by the end of the second period but the Tigers clenched on to their extensive lead for the last two periods Lancefield’s Shanae Brundell had a fantastic shooting game with 41 goals as well as Darcee Ellard in goal attack position Lancefield netballers will host Romsey in round 14 on Saturday Wallan recovered from its loss the other week against Diggers and showed up to its home game with Woodend-Hesket on Saturday Although the side were not the leading team by the end of the first quarter Wallan committed to taking the lead during the second quarter Motivation was the tickle behind Wallan’s shoulder during the third quarter while Woodend only produced a goal and a behind in the mix of Wallan’s goals the scoreboard was presenting a 35-point lead from Wallan With another three goals and the same number of behinds Assistant coach Spencer Mathieson said it was pleasing to take the win after last week’s challenging performance with Diggers It was pleasing to see us bounce back after our indifferent performance against Diggers,” he said “Our players have a lot of pride in their performance and were keen to atone for last week and they did but we had a lot of contributors this week “Next week we play Macedon away who have been in good form and play well at home so we’re looking forward to the challenge.” Lancefield confronted Diggers Rest on Saturday who are currently second on the ladder It was a hard game to watch for Lancefield supporters considering Diggers only let the side make one point in the first quarter But the stretched lead did not stop Lancefield to restrict its own game firing a few more goals and behinds in the third quarter – the biggest quarter for Lancefield in the challenging match The final score saw a major win from Diggers Lancefield will go up against its ancient rivals Romsey while Wallan footballers will take on Macedon away in round 14 of RDFNL We're getting on with the job with delivering the Structures Rehabilitation Package with motorists now able to use the new Wallan Road bridge north of Whittlesea The work was carried out day and night throughout July and August to strengthen the small watercourse bridge to service the community for years to come Construction crews worked approximately 2,400 hours during a 2 week construction blitz to demolish the existing bridge installing 14 new precast culverts and safety barriers while also improving drainage and laying new asphalt each weighing up to 6 tonnes and measuring up to 2.4 metres long – manufactured in Wangaratta - have been moved into place by a crane weighing up to 120-tonnes More than 6,000 drivers rely on Wallan Road each day with the existing 2 lane bridge reaching the end of it’s natural lifespan requiring renewal to ensure it continues to operate in a safe and optimal condition is a critical link for traffic travelling between Wallan Upper Plenty and the growing surrounds of Whittlesea It’s the first bridge to be strengthened as part of the Structures Rehabilitation Package with crews this month also completing around-the-clock works to upgrade the busy Barry Road bridge over the Craigieburn rail line in Broadmeadows Bridge upgrade works are being delivered throughout metropolitan Melbourne to ensure all road users including heavy vehicles are being catered for across our ever-changing transport network Nine other bridges and culvert structures around metropolitan Melbourne make up the Structures Rehabilitation Package funding for works at Yan Yean The Structures Rehabilitation Package is scheduled to be completed by 2023 A proposed aquatic and leisure centre will be located at 300 Northern Highway but the project may not go ahead without external funding Mitchell Shire councillors voted unanimously in support of the recommendation to endorse 300 Northern Highway Wallan as the site for the aquatic and leisure centre noting the timing for the delivery of the centre is unknown with the project only proceeding if substantial financial contributions from external sources are secured Cr Rob Eldridge said it had been a long road with the planning of the centre but now we’re at somewhere we can think about building the aquatic centre,” he said “The feasibility that has been proposed is outlining three sites that could be used but [300 Northern Highway] is the only practical one.” the project was estimated to be $85 million Upgrades to roads or provisions of authority services infrastructure external to the site The figure is only indicative and will adjust as planning proceeds and construction timing is known Once planning is complete council will begin an advocacy campaign to attract funding “It is worth noting that this project is dependent on external funding and you’ll note it’s estimated to be about $85 million and obviously with our budget this isn’t something we’re going to be able to tip in and support,” Cr Eldridge said “Now we’ve got a site we can very strongly advocate for A community consultation and engagement program were undertaken between June and September 2019 Ninety-three per cent of respondents believed the proposed aquatic and leisure centre is important and more than two-thirds of respondents indicated they would like a centre five to 15 minute from home Respondents said the centre must be of sufficient size to cater to current and future populations and must have adequate carparking An assessment of the appropriate configuration of the aquatic facility was undertaken with the preferred option chosen to appropriately manage construction expense and operating costs and inclusion of outdoor leisure water can significantly increase construction and operational cost The proposed facility will therefore include an eight-lane 25-metre indoor heated pool; 800m2 of internal leisure water; a 20-metre x 15-metre warm exercise pool sauna and steam room; 700m2 gymnasium; 250m2 group fitness room; 150m2 mind 190m2 occasional childcare/program room; a café with seating for 50 people; and a 10m2 prayer room It’s interesting that the community consultation was held in 2019 and it’s now 2023,” Cr Eldridge said “I understand COVID has been a factor in that but it’s also interesting to note that 93 per cent of respondents from the survey thought the leisure centre was an important item for the community It has very strong community support and that will come as no surprise to anybody.” Cr Bob Cornish said he hoped residents read the report from the council’s agenda “I hope everyone down south and from surrounds take time to look at pages 10 and 11,” he said “I hope people take the time to read it and provide feedback to council so we can finally move forward and get a start on this very important project.” Is that different from a hydrotherapy facility Another long wait for the residents of Wallan and the surrounding area A major interchange on the Hume Highway on Melbourne’s fringe is set for an upgrade to improve transport connections for all modes Wallan is a rapidly developing community an hour by train from Melbourne The Hume Highway carves through the middle of the area with many residents living in new suburbs on the other side of the highway from the railway station Major Roads Projects Victoria (MRPV) is currently planning an upgrade to the interchange of the Hume with Watson Street which bridges over the Hume and connects Wallan to the Station There is already an off-road bike path along Watson Street to connect the communities on both sides of the highway Concept plans show the new interchange connections slicing through this path and the path connecting Wallara Waters Boulevarde and the residential neighbourhood to the south It is important that these vital links to the station are not compromised in any way by these new road connections And there are other Strategic Cycling Corridors (SCC) planned for the Wallan area in the future that also must be taken into consideration by this upgrade and there will be a new SCC on the west side of the Hume along the Northern Highway from Beveridge to Wallan And Wallan will eventually be the endpoint of the Merri Creek Trail which will run along the rail line to Wallan from Kalkallo MRPV is developing the business case for the upgrade It will consider options to create a full diamond interchange at Watson Street and the Hume Freeway by adding south facing ramps (an outbound exit ramp and an inbound entry ramp) as well as upgrading Watson Street to improve capacity and safety and unless a convenient bike network is created for local trips Wallan will be a community 50km from Melbourne yet choked by traffic The Great Victorian Bike Ride is set to return in 2025 on 24–28 November offering an exciting new format while keeping the spirit of this beloved event alive Bicycle Network Memberships offer benefits to all kinds of riders The Peaks Challenge Ride2School fundraiser is on again for this year's epic event on Sunday 9 March The City of Adelaide will undertake a speed limit review to understand the need for reducing speeds to support business and residents and create a safer city environment Work on the much-anticipated $38.9 million Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp upgrade has begun the bike lane will link the country's most famous bridge to the bike network in Milsons Point we launched our Affiliate Membership program specially designed for cycling groups and clubs Orange in New South Wales is in line for a nice new stretch of bike path one that will expand the off-road network and improve access to schools Work has kicked off on a key Canberra bike route setting the wheels in motion for safer and more pleasant journeys through the city’s northern suburbs In a submission to the federal government’s draft National Urban Policy Bicycle Network and seven other Australian bicycle organisations have called for active transport infrastructure funding to be increased to 10% of federal transport investment Many of our best bike journeys are along coastlines or up and down the creeks and rivers that meet the sea But with rising sea levels some of this vital infrastructure is at threat of inundation erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry This website uses cookies to ensure you get a better experience Students in Wallan and surrounding areas now have a TAFE campus to call their own La Trobe University and GOTAFE celebrated the High Street campus opening this week with Minister for Training and Skills and Minister for Higher Education Gayle Tierney.La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar AO said the new campus will further study options for regional students with courses set to commence this month “La Trobe and GOTAFE share the same commitment to giving every student with ability and aspiration the opportunity to go on to further study and rewarding careers after secondary school regardless of where they live,” Professor Dewar said “We want to help communities in fast-growing regions like Wallan to build a local workforce that has the skills and knowledge needed for careers that meet industry demand and the challenges of population growth.” Students will be able to choose from courses in areas such as Early Childhood Education Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney said: “Local centres such as Wallan are crucial links in Victoria’s growing TAFE network opening new pathways to jobs and changing people’s lives for the better Local access to training and jobs is vital for a growing and thriving community and that is what GOTAFE Wallan will offer.” GOTAFE Chief Executive Travis Heeney said: “The new Wallan campus is critical to GOTAFE providing the skills necessary to meet the growing industry demand as the population expands over the coming years.” Media Contact: Kathryn Powley – k.powley@latrobe.edu.au – 0456 764 371 L-R: Vice Chancellor Progressor John Dewar AO Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney GOTAFE CEO Travis Heeney and GOTAFE Board Chair Diana Taylor Shepparton campus transformation responds to workforce needs La Trobe doubles capacity to train more healthcare workers Wallan passengers are now enjoying better access around the station as a result of car park upgrades and a new bus interchange completed at Wallan Station last week The newly opened bus interchange and reconfigured car park separates bus and car traffic entering the station precinct Work to integrate the new bus interchange and car park with the rest of the station will continue in the coming weeks reinstate street access and paint car parking spaces The car park works will be complete early next year and all car parking spaces at Wallan Station will be reinstated Local suppliers benefitted from the construction of the interchange with the new bus shelters supplied by Brunton Engineering additional bicycle parking and an extension of the waiting room with new toilets will continue into early 2020 Work is also continuing to upgrade nearby Donnybrook Station with a platform extension and new car park with 150 additional car parking spaces To find out more, see Donnybrook and Wallan station upgrades Being awoken by sewage gurgling up through drains flooding a home with foul-smelling liquid destroying everything seems unimaginable But this was a reality for some Wallan residents on early January 8 Joel Michael was in Queensland when a phone call from his mother-in-law at 2.30am informed the family of multiple SES calls for assistance in their court [She] attended our house and informed us the house was again under sewage water which was again emanating from the shower drains,” he said knowing what the process was ahead of us.” Immediately changing flights at significant cost Mr Michael headed home to ensure cleanup was done to prevent his children returning home to ‘what upset them so much the first time’ “The smell was horrendous…I spent the rest of the day and night cleaning and calculating the loss of contents this time Christmas presents were destroyed as well,” he said The home previously flooded with sewage October 13 My wife and children – then six and seven – were at home,” he said “They were panicked not knowing what to do to stop the sewage emanating from the shower They frantically tried to salvage toys and personal items.” SES attended the site removing an IS cap at the rear of the property relieving pressure through the house but destroying the backyard Youi insurance covered the first incident classed as a ‘catastrophic incident’ quickly Reclassification has slowed the process the second time The family sought emergency accommodation both times Extensive damage and content loss totalled about $100,000 each flood “My children really struggled with the constant changes and instability of the situation – their schooling was affected for most of 2023 My daughter has now been diagnosed with anxiety because of the incident Mr Michael thanked Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell for his support “He ensured we received emergency funding and was prompt and supportive to our needs,” he said Mary* awoke to flooding at 2am on January 8 “We could just hear gurgling noises and bubbling noises,” she said “My partner got up and noticed bubbles coming out of the ensuite toilet and I went to check on my daughter who is afraid of storms “It was coming up through the toilet so there was a mixture of stormwater and sewage…there was a little bit of poo and things Mary was ‘overwhelmed’ and used her wet/dry vacuum and bleach to attempt to decontaminate assessor visited Mr Michael’s property stating a YVW pump broke under the deluge of rain agreeing to pay his excess without admitting blame The same assessor visited his home on January 8 however stating the pump did not break placing blame on Mitchell Shire Council citing overflowing stormwater entering the sewer lines as the cause Council refuted this to Mr Michael blaming YVW YVW acknowledge a broken pump was identified as the cause however said this was inaccurate with no pump failure at the Wallan Treatment Plant site reported during the flood events YVW acting general manager of distribution services Natalie Foeng encouraged affected residents to get in contact “We’re sorry some residents have experienced wastewater spills as a result of January’s severe wet weather and we’re encouraging anyone who’s been impacted to get in touch,” she said severe weather events put significant pressure on our sewer system’s capacity which is not designed to withstand extreme circumstances such as a one in 20-year storm “We’re working directly with impacted customers and we’re planning several upgrade projects to increase the local sewer network’s capacity for higher sewer flows in the longer term.” After the second flood the YVW loss adjustor offered to pay Mr Michael’s excess and fix backyard damage through a landscaper He heard from the landscaper once and never again Mr Michael also requested a formal investigation into the problem and information to compliance with a 2014 report “I asked what investigation or works they had completed since the first incident to ensure this didn’t happen again and I asked what the cause of the event was at the time,” he said “I was met with legal talk and refusal to answer my questions without an approved Freedom of Information application I just want to know what the issue is so it can be fixed so this doesn’t happen again is the possibility of diminuition of property value family commitments and fighting for answers “I feel like I’m going up against City Hall by myself.” Initially YVW told Mary they would not cover her excess as they were not at fault however after continuous contact and informing YVW about multiple properties flooding She is currently trying to find permanent accommodation for her family of five Anyone impacted by sewer overflows can contact YVW on their 24-hour number 13 27 62 A new primary school is on the way for Wallan East It is one of five schools across Victoria funded through a $280.1 million State Government investment Given an interim name of Wallan East Primary School the school will cater for the growing population of Wallan East and be located at 268 Wallara Waters Boulevard Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage said the government was focused on delivering for families and residents in Wallan “This new school will provide world class facilities for 525 local students and will mean less travel time for young families and busy parents,” she said “We have also invested in Wandong Primary School where planning has begun and architects have been appointed to upgrade and modernise their facilities we have funded a competition grade gym and learning spaces The 2021-22 State Budget provided $276.4 million to acquire land for 14 future schools including Wallan East Primary School at the southern end of the Wallara Waters development Tenders to build the new schools are currently open and construction is expected to begin from the middle of this year Minister for Education Ben Carroll said it was important to provide families with options close to home “We’re proud to be giving students and their hard-working families in growing communities across our state the world-class schools they deserve “These new schools will give children and teachers the modern facilities to set them up for success – and give families of children with additional needs a choice about their education.” Wallan East Primary School will join other primary schools in Wallan Upper Plenty and Wandong as options for families in the area Details on how to enrol and enrolment boundaries will be published in the year before the school opens the traffic is dire now this will make the situation horrendous unless more infrastructure is updated it will be a nightmare MAYBE THE MACSFIELD OVER PASS WILL BE OPEN BY THEN? I hope Watson St upgrade is finished by then the traffic is horrendous at times when people are dropping of and picking up their children and that’s for only one school imagine what it will be like for two schools THE official opening of Wallan Community Services Hub on Thursday was hailed by health services and politicians as a big step towards combating and preventing family violence in the region The $1.284 million hub repurposed a former childcare centre at 42-80 Bentinck Street and will now serve as an access point for family violence support service The Orange Door The Orange Door network is a free service for adults children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence as well as families requiring extra support caring for children The Orange Door will have 17 locations across Victoria by the end of 2022 The access point will also host several other community service organisations that specifically respond to family violence issues Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative and Family Safety Victoria Mitchell Shire Mayor Bill Chisholm said the facility would help address the high rates of family violence in Mitchell Shire with statistics showing the municipality has the 11th-highest rate of family violence incidents of any in Victoria “Our figures on family violence are far too high Behind every figure is a person and a family member needing support,” he said “This building brings together a number of services to help people in our community to access services and programs that focus on intervention and prevention “Council has worked in partnership with these services to create a new space with consulting rooms “The location provides strong links to the multi-purpose centre next door … which also includes the Wallan Youth Room and Wallan Neighbourhood House.” Cr Chisholm said services like The Orange Door were important to help break a cycle of harm in growing communities “We’re at the heart of the Melbourne growth corridor and it’s vital that we have services that people can access,” he said “We hear time and time again that people can’t access services outside our area because they can’t get to them Having these services close to home is absolutely critical “We’ve advocated for these services over many years and in recent times we have started to see results.” The Orange Door Goulburn area manager Mary D’Elia said the Wallan hub was the first Orange Door site in Victoria to be hosted directly by a council “We had clients walk in the door the first day Orange Door in Goulburn opened in Shepparton in April and within the first few days of us having staff on site here the same thing happened “In the Mitchell and Murrindindi shires there are more than 1200 people who have been directly supported by the Orange Door network since April this year.” Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green said the new hub was a fantastic result for relatively little expenditure “Mitchell Shire is really good at setting that example,” she said “For $850,000 from the Victorian Government and $434,000 from council “Places like this are about bringing families together and making them feel safe Proposed changes to Victoria’s electoral boundaries would move Wallan out of the Yan Yean electorate and from a regional to metropolitan Melbourne upper house seat as of the next state election in 2022 If the proposed electoral changes are adopted Wallan would move from Yan Yean to a new electorate called Kalkallo Craigieburn and the surrounding northern fringe of Melbourne It would also move from the regional upper house seat of Northern Victoria into the Northern Metropolitan region Wallan East would remain in the Yan Yean electorate and Northern Victoria Labor’s Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes would no longer represent Wallan despite her office currently being located there only the eastern fringe of Wallan would continue to be represented by Danielle Green Labor MP Ros Spence’s electorate of Yuroke would also dissolve and largely be replaced by the Kalkallo seat but Ms Spence declined to comment until the changes were finalised Ms Symes confirmed she intended to run in the next election but said the proposed electoral boundary changes were disappointing She declined to comment on whether her office would move out of Wallan “I’m disappointed the proposed boundaries don’t include Wallan in Northern Victoria – a community I’ve been proud to serve for the last six years,” she said “I want to reassure the Wallan community that a Labor government will continue to deliver for them no matter who their future elected MPs may be.” Under the changes Wandong and Heathcote Junction would also be affected led by deputy Nationals Party leader Steph Ryan “I’m a little bit sad that they have recommended taking Wandong out of my electorate,” Ms Ryan said “I’ve built some really great relationships with the community in Wandong and I feel like I have unfinished business there I will continue to work hard for the people of Wandong right up until election day.” Ms Ryan said the changes to Euroa were minimal and that she was hopeful for a win when she stood in the next state election “I think the changes will make it easier for us to reclaim the Northern Victorian seat that we lost at the last election,” she said Ms Green said she was excited to build on her existing relationships in Wandong should she retain her seat in 2022 “I’ve always put people in my community first and I’ll continue to put my community of Yan Yean first until the election but I’ll also take a greater interest in the new areas,” she said She said adding a new electorate to the rapidly growing Wallan area was a win for residents “There are six [Mitchell Shire] councillors that now and I think two lower house MPs that have an interest in Wallan – two’s better than one,” she said It would be Ms Green’s third electoral boundary shift during her tenure Victoria’s Electoral Boundaries Commission conducts realignments every two elections for both houses of state parliament to ensure each vote has an equal value and each elector is represented equally The proposed changes address population growth north of Melbourne The proposed new state electoral boundaries are now open for public comment following an initial consultation period Electoral commissioner Warwick Gately called for Victorians to have their say “The EBC in December 2020 invited submissions from the public and received 58 submissions – five from political parties 15 from organisations and community groups and 38 from individuals,” Mr Gately said “Anyone interested in providing comment on the proposed boundaries should lodge a written submission before 5pm Friday The commission will prepare final boundaries by late October which will take effect at the 2022 state election Submissions can be made and proposed electoral maps can be viewed at www.ebc.vic.gov.au/CurrentRedivision/ProposedBoundaries/Maps.html WALLAN Secondary College’s student leadership team has called for Mitchell Shire Council to allocate greater attention and resources toward Wallan’s youth Wallan offered minimal activities and social settings for young people to enjoy “There’s not much to go to unless you want to go to Wellington Square and sit around there all day … [or] it’s just Maccas,” Wil said shopping precincts and public pools located at other towns or suburbs the school captains said finding activities to do with friends was difficult without licences The captains said unreliable and infrequent transport made allocating time for socialising difficult amid their VCE studies “We may as well go to the city if we’re going to spend this much time [travelling] anyway,” Wil said “It’s insane when you really think about it – there should be buses going from Wallan to Craigieburn way the trains would be less packed and [the buses could be more regular].” The leaders said they had dropped hobbies they otherwise would have pursued due to the travel to other towns The group also raised access to the town centre and school as being an issue – as there were no footpaths from Wallara Waters “Someone tried to play chicken with me because I was walking on the road They literally tried to hit me with their car because they wanted me to go onto the grass,” Ivy said The captains and prefects said Wallan’s sports programs proved a great outlet for many of their peers who could commit multiple days a week to out-of-school activities But they said the cost of uniforms and memberships deterred many students from signing up highlighting the need for free and accessible activities we’re really below the threshold of income around here [and] we have some dual-income households that are barely scraping by,” Ivy said The captains said the lack of entertainment left many with few alternatives but to crowd at local fast-food franchises “If you were to find the same teenagers in the inner city or whatever they would have more stuff to do and activities to go to [Here they are] instead finding themselves wanting to hang out of home … so they go to Maccas and cause amok,” Wil said “You’d imagine if there was other stuff to do Mitchell Shire chief executive Brett Luxford said Mitchell Youth Services worked with people aged 12 to 24 years to promote the wellbeing of youth across the shire “Mitchell Shire is one of the fastest growing local government areas and we understand there is a lot of work to be done to provide for that growth,” he said “We need continued support from the Victorian Government to make the education and sports facilities transport links and commercial precincts a reality for young people now and in the future.” Council listed a range of programs available to youth across the shire including after-school program UKREW Council has also recently sworn in a new youth council But Wallan Secondary College leaders said council’s strategies failed to target the needs of their demographic adequately The prefects and captains dreamed of a shopping centre in town with a cinema food court and activities that were offered to youth in neighbouring municipalities The students said a ‘more realistic’ safe destination for youth was needed for young people to meet up with friends “We just need somewhere else to go – to physically hang out and do something,” Wil said More information on council services can be found at www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au