Ash strands central Victorian mayors

CENTRAL Victorian mayors and chief executives were stranded in Canberra last night because of the volcanic ash cloud that continues to plague southern Australia.The ash cloud, from a volcano in Chile, has caused havoc with air travel from airports in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide and Tasmania.Airservices Australia warned the ash cloud would cause disruptions in Melbourne until Friday.About 1000 people from across Australia gathered in Canberra for the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly.City of Greater Bendigo Craig Niemann drove home after his flight was cancelled, while the Buloke and Mount Alexander mayors were planning to catch a bus home.Loddon Shire Council mayor Gavan Holt and chief executive officer John McLinden were scheduled to fly back to Victoria today but were yesterday unsure of how they would return. Buloke Mayor Leo Tellefson said he was hoping to get a seat on a bus hired by the City of Port Phillip.Cr Tellefson arrived in Canberra by plane on Saturday night, where he had attended conferences featuring guest speakers such as Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Climate Change Minister Greg Combet.“We probably can’t get back but we have to because we have a local government day with state Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell in Melbourne on Thursday,’’ Cr Tellefson said.“The Port Phillip council were going back yesterday but couldn’t get back so they have hired a bus from Sydney.’’Mount Alexander Mayor Janet Cropley said news quickly spread yesterday morning about the air travel disruptions.She said she was supposed to fly back with Qantas today.“It’s caused a lot of disruptions, like Hepburn Shire Council can’t get back for a formal budget meeting ,’’ she said.