A four-year battle over a proposed treetop adventure course in Melbourne’s north-east has ended with Banyule City Council dumping the plan after traditional owners penned a letter calling for the project to be halted over cultural insensitivities.
The council, which had previously supported the proposal for the high-ropes obstacle course at Yarra Flats Park in Ivanhoe East, voted unanimously this week to scupper the plans put forward by company Ecoline, in response to a letter from the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
The letter came after an independent planning panel found Ecoline, Parks Victoria and Banyule Council had failed to appropriately consult traditional owners. “They ignored the environmental aspects and strong community opposition to it,” said Andrew Lees, president of Friends of Yarra Flats Park.The Yarra Strategic Plan – an initiative led by Melbourne Water to protect the Yarra River, or Birrarung – identifies the billabong complex at Yarra Flats Park as a site of significance for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.
A 2020 document prepared by the company said its proposal would have minimal impact on the area with no trees removed, minimal undergrowth trimmed and branches only cut when posing danger. The panel found that the ecological impact was likely to be minor, but labelled the approach to Aboriginal cultural heritage as “unsatisfactory”.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Property Council wants government to bypass ‘ineffective’ councils to fast-track planningProperty developers are stepping up pressure on the Andrews government to push through major reforms ahead of next month’s state budget, including fast-tracking planning approvals by bypassing councils and establishing a housing affordability council.
Read more »
'Voluntary' change not possible, report recommends forced council mergersA report on the future of Tasmania's 29 councils says amalgamation is necessary for local government to survive but it needs to be mandated.
Read more »
Long-serving country GP's council contract dropped after funding requestA WA council will terminate the contract of a small town's general practitioner over claims it is being held to 'ransom' amid requests for up to $300,000 to fund additional locum support.
Read more »
Local council to host a ‘drag storytime’ for kids at library for IDAHOBIT daySky News host Chris Kenny says some local councils are getting into the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). He said in the Oakleigh Library in Victoria, they are having an IDAHOBIT day event next month in May, and there’ll be a “drag storytime” at the local library for kids aged 1-6 years old. “I’d argue that local councils shouldn't get involved in promoting this sort of thing - they should focus on roads, rates and rubbish, and maybe lowering their costs,” Mr Kenny said. “That’s your role - leave the virtue-signalling, the preaching and sanctimony, and the promotion of gender and sexuality diversity to others, on their own time, on their own dollars.”
Read more »
SA councillor caught on video swearing during council meetingA South Australian councillor has been criticised after video footage of her swearing at another council member during a meeting surfaced. 9News
Read more »
Cash still king as online petition gets Cairns council cashless payments overturnedCairns Regional Council reverses a decision to ban cash from its facilities after residents rallied against the decision.
Read more »