Front page news: August 22-28, 2007-2015
A snapshot of news from across the years
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August 28, 2007: Stawell’s gift has been exposed and now people are seizing on it.
Naomi Anderson, of Syndey was watching ‘A Current Affair’ on August 8 when Stawell featured on the program as the ideal place for people in the city to make a tree change to, offering affordable housing and stress-free living.
‘‘I don’t watch it, in fact I hate the program, but I had it on and my ears pricked up as the
story about Stawell went to air. They said there was space, accommodation and work, ’’ Ms Anderson said.
Two weeks on Ms Anderson is in Stawell, renting a house and looking for work.
After watching the program Ms Anderson got in contact with Pernina Peterson at the Northern Grampians Shire.
From there Ms Anderson packed up her home, packed her car, her dog ‘Betty Boop’ and made the 1200 kilometre journey to Stawell.
August 26, 2008: Northern Grampians Shire Council has undertaken an extensive review of its road safety strategy in a bid to reduce the number of deaths on the shire’s roads.
The strategy was first prepared in 2004, with the objective being to implement strategies that would improve the safety of all people who used roads in the Northern Grampians Shire, in accordance with the Victorian Government ‘Arrive Alive’ initiatives.
Council’s general manager customer services, Jim Nolan, said the review process examined the achievements of each of the 12 action groups within the road safety strategy plan.
‘‘To achieve this, council records were examined, and council staff and outside agencies who had been involved in the plan were interviewed,’’ he said.
‘‘It would be fair to say that originally from 2004 and for the next 18 months the plan was executed in a very timely manner.
August 24, 2010: Northern Grampians Shire Council is working with the committee of the Stawell Brass Band to secure a home for the organisation.
This follows a decision by council to give notice of its intention to sell the property at 52 Wakeham Street, the Band Hall.
While the decision did raise concerns at first about the implications sale of the property would have on the Brass Band, the two organisations have been deep in discussion to come up with a positive outcome.
Vice president of the Stawell Brass Band, John Carman, said negotiations had been ongoing, with the band eager to stay at its premises.
“After all, the property has always been known as the Band Hall,” he said.
“It’s a legal process that needs to be gone through and we will definitely put a submission in. We are very hopeful of retaining occupancy.
“At the end of the day though, it still comes down to the fact it is council’s decision and we will wait and see what that decision is.
August 23, 2011: Northern Grampians Shire Council has agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding with Grampians Tourism for the next twelve months, but not before issuing a challenge for it to become a more regionally focused organisation.
Mayor, Cr Ray Hewitt, said he was not of the opinion Grampians Tourism was fulfilling the role it was formed for, to promote tourism in all areas of the region.
“There is a deep sense of betrayal in the Pyrenees and St Arnaud the way things have unfolded,” Cr Hewitt said.
“Not much attempt has been made by Grampians Tourism to act as a regional tourism association.
“I think we need to impress upon Grampians Tourism that they were formed after a lot of discussion, to act as a regulatory tourism body.”
Cr Hewitt said the alarm bells started ringing for him when the name Pyrenees was dropped from the association’s name.
“As time has gone on I’ve made appeals to Grampians Tourism regarding St Arnaud,” he said.
“When I first started these discussions, there were six hotels in St Arnaud and you could get a drink and a meal at any of them. There are now only two.”