Potholes, WRL, Creswick Mine, and DPP
It seems that potholes never end these days. The worst ones are on sealed roads because of the speed of traffic and the sharp edges that destroy wheels and tyres. Council is working with Regional Roads Victoria to identify and lobby for their speedy repairs. The work on Shire roads is almost a constant job. A service request is far more constructive than a social media post or pile on.
Recently, Council rejected a motion to take the issue of damage, and repair of roads and infrastructure caused by powerline construction, to the Municipal Association of Victoria to negotiate the issue with Government and powerline builders. It is a matter of appropriate timing. My position is that the Western Renewables Link (WRL) project has not yet been approved and we must stand behind our impacted farmers and rural residents by maintaining the demand that the project be stopped or put underground. This position is what our Council has consistently said. I believe that negotiating, and community groups applying for AusNet grants, is tacit approval of the project and may be seen as granting social licence to the projects. Our planning scheme demands of us to minimise fragmentation and to protect valuable agricultural land.
A recent event held at the Australasian Mine site in Creswick saw descendants of the 22 miners who lost their lives come from around Australia to remember the tragic event. Many Creswick and district groups also came together to unveil the new interpretive signage. This signage is part of a wider project that highlights the Buried Rivers of Gold Trail and really compliments and highlights the unique mining activity that is part of the ongoing World Heritage bid.
Recently, we saw a major part of the litigation against councillors and staff come to an end when the Magistrates’ Court upheld an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions to dismiss the charges on the basis that there was an absence of evidence to allow the charges to be continued. There are no winners in these things and a great deal of damage to reputations and the well-being of people on both sides has been the result. I sincerely hope that we can put things into the past and concentrate on the very urgent and essential task of doing what we should be doing, and that is making the best efforts to bring our Shire into a stable and viable position. It will take a team effort.
Finally, I would take this opportunity to thank the people of our Shire and far beyond for the overwhelming support and kindness shown to me during this difficult time.
This article has been reproduced with the permission of Cr Don Henderson.
