Youth council, petitions on Bendigo council agenda for January 2019

The following inaugural Youth Councillors will be introduced at Wednesday’s meeting:

Forty-seven people expressed interest in the roles, which were open to applicants aged 14 – 24.

RELATED: Bendigo Youth Council positions attract high community interest

One of the two petitions before the council at this month’s meeting is from residents in the Wolstencroft Reserve area.

The petition, which has 24 signatures, requests that council involve residents in the development of the reserve.

“We feel that we have not been informed or consulted in the decision making progress associated with the Wolstencroft Reserve and surrounding area development since April 2017,” the petition states.

In April 2017, the city resolved to do an environmental audit of the reserve to determine possible uses.

The EPA had issued a formal notice to audit the site.

“The city understands that residents of the area are keen for the site to be improved and we will continue to keep residents informed about what is happening at the site,” Craig Lloyd, then the city’s director of presentation and assets, said at the time.

The final audit was due on March 29, 2018.

RELATED: 

Eleven Kangaroo Flat residents have petitioned the council to remove gum trees lining Hasker Drive, saying they are a fire hazard. 

“We do not understand why our council would allow gums to be lining our streets,” the petition states.

“If we lived on a farm, we would never plant gum trees so close to our houses because of the obvious fire risk.

“This would also be the advice we would get from the fire services. So why would council put our lives and homes at risk of fire?”

The petition says most of the drive’s residents are older citizens who would be stressed by the mess associated with gum trees being close to homes. 

“We have moved to this lovely new estate and really do not want to spend the rest of our lives cleaning gutters, paths and gardens from the mess the gums will make... Not to mention the worry that comes with gums and fire,” it says.

“As the rate payers of these properties we feel we should have some say about the trees placed in front of our homes.

“We sincerely hope that we will be heard and common sense will prevail".

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