Community Development Grants - Applications 09/10 Close on 16th April

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Solar Neighbourhood Meeting

Community Building Initiative Project: Upper Yarra Community Environment Part

Invitation to a Community Information Workshop

Rescheduled Date: Monday, 23 March
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Wesburn Netball Club House, Wesburn Park
Old Warburton Rd, Wesburn (Melway map 289-C9)


To register your attendance please contact;
Bernie Lobert - SYR Community Projects & Property Officer on 9294 6741
or by email b.lobert@yarraranges.vic.gov. au
The committee of the Park acknowledges the generous support from the Department of Planning & Community
Development, the Warburton Community Bank and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Community Cabinet

From the Premier of Victoria web site:
Next Community Cabinet
"We are pleased to announce that the next Community Cabinet will be held in the Yarra Valley on Tuesday 17 March 2009.This event will be the first of several Community Cabinets held over the coming months that will occur in areas that were affected by the recent bushfires. Due to the short notice in arranging this event we are still formulating the programme which will include Ministerial roundtables, site visits and discussions.
Further details will be available on Thursday, 12 March 2009."
Check: Premier of Victoria - Community Cabinet

From Jim Child - Council Watch: Community cabinet comes to the Yarra Valley on Tuesday, March 17

Community Fireguard Groups

We are very lucky to be a part of Milners Rd Community Fireguard Group. This group was founded about 18 months ago and we have met regularly with Serafina from the CFA. Serafina has taken us through a program to inform us about fires, wind changes, weather, how to prepare a fire plan - including detailed discussion of the stay or leave decision, how to create a phone tree and it's use and so much more.

We haved talk about our fears and concerns (oh so many) to attempt to allow us to make informed choices. Serafina has been able to provide the focus and direction for our discussion ensuring that the facts have been clearly understood and that we do not allow emotion to muddy our thoughts.

After recent tragic events, we again met to discuss how we implemented our fire plans and to provide support for each other in a very stressful time. Many issues have arisen and we have welcomed many new people to our group.

To me, it is very clear, that we must continue to keep ourselves informed about living in a fire risk zone and the Community Fireguard Program run by the CFA has been essential for our local community.

Tips from a bushfire survivor

Canberra woman Liz Tilley and her husband John Flannery and children Patrick, now 13, Conor, now 11, and Rosie, now eight, lost their home in Warragamba Avenue, Duffy, in the January 2003 firestorm. They moved back into their rebuilt home in August 2004. She has penned the following ‘tips’, based on her experiences.
As a survivor of the January 2003 firestorm in Canberra, my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones, homes, pets, and a lifetime of memories in the tragic Victorian fires.
As I sit watching TV news coverage, with my heart racing and my body shaking slightly as I remember the fear, the flames, the heat, the smoke and the knowledge that I would probably not get out alive; I also remember in the days, weeks and months after the fires what support we needed and valued. The victims of the Victorian fires are coping with the loss of homes, possession, pets and property as well as trying to cope with immense grief.
A great relief effort is one that is based on the experiences of previous disaster situations, and yet, after the Canberra bushfires, we were so often "re-inventing the wheel". I just can’t bear to see those victims in Victoria not benefit from what we learned in Canberra.
While the aid agencies will swing into action to do what they do best and the State and Federal government will put their disaster planning into action, how can the Australian public, and the Victorian Relief Effort, help in the best way possible?
What the surviving victims need, both in terms of donations, and physical and emotional support comes will come in phases. Of course, the first weeks after the fire, in the immediate post trauma phase, these needs will be different from what they will need in six, 12 months or two years time.
So, for what it’s worth, here are my tips for a "great" relief:

Please go to Comments to few the rest of Liz Tilley's letter:
Or go to:
Canberra bushfire victim's tips for a great relief
LIZ TILLEY
11/02/2009 5:43:00 PM
Thank you to Anne Jenkinson of the Warburton CWA for forwarding this wonderful letter to us.

Next Meeting of Upper Yarra Community Voice

Next Meeting: Wednesday 11th March at 7pm at the Yarra Centre

Objectives: To keep our community in touch with council decisions and to make known to Council the wants and needs of our wider districts.
To liaise with other township groups, as we all have the same needs.
UYCV Meetings:2nd Wednesday of each month.
Glennice Mathers (President Chairperson) Telephone: 5964 6152.
Email: Glennice Mathers rkandgm2@bigpond.net.au
Postal Address: P.O. Box 478Yarra Junction3797
http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=2399&h=0

"Our Mission Statement as a Group is to work together: To make the Upper Yarra area a pleasant, safe and prosperous place to live and work."

KILMORE EAST- MURRINDINDI COMPLEX SOUTH

Awareness message at 6.00pm Wednesday 4 March 2009
Residents in the Yarra and Warburton Valleys need to be aware that although rainfall and today's milder conditions have significantly reduced the threat, fire activity continues in the area. No properties are under threat. Crews returned to the fire line today, however access was severely restricted in many areas by muddy tracks, fallen trees and debris. Firefighters will focus on clearing park and forest tracks over the next few days. The crews will also patrol and black out any smouldering logs and stumps on the edge of the fire.

Agenda Council Meeting - Tuesday 10th March

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Jim Child's comment: Tecoma Supermarket - My Prediction

Community Meeting Tonight at Warburton

WARBURTON

Community Meeting (public)

Wednesday 04 Mar 2009 6.00PM-7.00PM

Warburton Mechanics Hall - 3411 Warburton Hwy, WARBURTON

For more info please ring: 03 8739 1300

Upper Yarra Schools Closed Tomorrow 4th March.

3 schools will be closed on Wednesday 4 March:

• Milwarra Primary School - Millgrove Campus and Warburton East campuses
• Warburton Primary School
• Wesburn Primary School
  

Licensed children's services
2 licensed children's services will be closed on Wednesday 4 March:

• Millgrove Preschool
• Warburton Preschool

Please check Dept Edu Web Site

Extreme fire and storm warning - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Extreme fire and storm conditions are predicted across the entire state for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
All Victorians, no matter where you live, need to be alert to increased fire risk and bad weather conditions.
All residents should monitor fire and weather reports and be ready to activate their fire plans.
While every attempt will be made you may receive little, if any, official warning of fire.
All residents choosing to leave their properties need to leave early.

Bushfire Awareness message at 5.15 pm Monday 2 March 2009

Residents in the Warburton Valley including communities in the vicinity of Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Millgrove, Warburton, Warburton East, McMahons Creek, Reefton, Gladysdale, Hoddles Creek, Yellingbo and Big Pats Creek need to be aware that fire activity continues behind control lines in the area.
No properties in the Warburton Valley are under threat at this time.
DSE and CFA are reminding communities in the areas surrounding the fires to activate their bushfire survival plans. For those choosing to leave this evening, the Relief Centre at Lilydale showgrounds will be opened at 6pm. Please be aware of increased traffic on the roads with people choosing to leave as part of their bushfire survival plans.
The Relief Centre will open at Lilydale showgrounds at 6pm this evening.

WARBURTON Community Meeting Tonight

WARBURTON
Community Meeting (public)
Monday 02 Mar 2009
6.00PM-7.00PM
Warburton Mechanics Hall - 3411 Warburton Hwy, WARBURTON

Enquires: 03 8739 1300

Upper Yarra Valley Solar Neighbourhood

From just $1,895* after the Federal Government's $8000 rebate. *For 50 houses in a solar neighbourhood

The ekoenergy solar neighbourhood offer is a new way of bringing solar to market. It relies on the bulk purchase and bulk installation of solar panels within a limited geographic area. By being more efficient in the buying and installation significant savings are made and these are passed on to their customers.

• The solar neighbourhood is a community offer. By purchasing together, significant savings can be made
• The solar neighbourhood is a very efficient way of installing solar.
• By installing many systems in a limited area travel time is reduced and installation efficiencies can be gained.
• The solar neighbourhood is a way of buying quality solar systems in bulk and therefore getting the best value.
• Quality is not compromised.

For further information contact the Upper Yarra Valley Solar Neighbourhood Coordinator:

Paul Colcheedas: paulc@tsn.cc

Phone: 0402 478 077

Please visit and register at http://www.rezeko.com/