At last an answer to our question! But a disappointing answer…

Over the past years DNC staff and several other concerned community organisations (particularly The Daylesford Foundation) have been seeking answers to an oft-repeated question:

“Why doesn’t DNC use the empty, abandoned police station and residence on the south side of the Courthouse?  Wouldn’t it be a very suitable and convenient structure to house homeless people?”

After a protracted series of to-ing and fro-ing with various bureaucracies (the most recent taking 317 days!) we have received an answer from the Department of Transport and Planning:

 Although it would seem a perfectly reasonable proposition to have those sleeping rough in the Daylesford community use the property over this coming winter, there are reasons why this cannot be permitted:

    1. A professional Hazardous Materials report has been prepared for the Department which identifies the following key issues with the property:
      • Asbestos containing vinyl floor tiles throughout.
      • Asbestos containing flat cement sheet in the form of internal linings to the switchboard cupboard and splashback areas in the toilets and kitchen.
      • Asbestos containing rope seal within the wall heating unit.
      • In the former residence, asbestos containing flat cement sheets in the laundry walls, ceiling, internal linings in the switchboard cupboard, external eaves and porch walls and ceilings.
      • Asbestos containing flat cement sheet in the external eaves of the garage.
      • Synthetic mineral fibre materials in the ceiling cavities throughout.
      • PCB containing capacitors in the florescence light fittings throughout.
      • Lead containing paint on various building materials on the site.
      • Air-conditioning units with ozone depleting gas.
    2. The property has not been occupied for a long time and has probably become more degraded since the report was prepared in October 2016.
    3. The property is being prepared for a future public sale, subject to the consent of the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation.
    4. Pursuant to the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010, any leasing/licensing of Crown land property requires traditional owner consent.
    5. The property is not suited to residential accommodation and the Department is not funded to deal with all the compliance issues affecting the property.

And so the homeless in our community are still looking for suitable temporary or permanent accommodation! At least we tried!

 

DNC Joke of the Week

Several men were gathered in the locker room of the golf club when a phone on the bench rings.  It’s answered by one of the men who puts it on speaker.  Everyone else listens.

MAN:  Hello!
WOMAN:  Honey, are you still at the club?
MAN: Yes.
WOMAN:  I’m at the shops and I’ve found this gorgeous leather coat.  But it costs $4,000.  Should I buy it?
MAN:  Sure.  If you like it that much, go ahead.
WOMAN:  I also stopped at the local BMW dealer and they have the latest model on the floor.  I love it, but it will cost $90,000.  Should I buy it?
MAN:  OK, but for that price, make sure you get all the options.
WOMAN:  OK.  Thank you.  I love you so much.  I’ll see you when you get home.
MAN:  I love you too.  Bye.

He hangs up. The others in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths wide open. He says: “Does anyone know who owns this phone?”

 

[If you’ve got a better joke, (and doesn’t everyone??) send it to  admin@dncentre.org.au and we’ll publish it. (Remember, this is a family publication! ?).  We’ll even include your name if you wish – or you can protect your anonymity!]

 

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