L2P Program Community Feedback

Council’s Youth Services L2P program provides driving practice to learner drivers (under 21 years) who do not have access to a supervising driver or vehicle.

Learner drivers who are struggling to meet their mandatory 120 hours are matched with a fully licensed community member to work towards driving practice for their Probationary License. 
All mentor volunteers undertake a selection and training process to become supervising drivers.

Last week we received some positive feedback about the L2P program from community member Jess.

“I have just read an article in the local paper regarding the L2P program and wanted to express how happy I am this program exists!

When I was a learner driver I had to accumulate 120 hours of driving, however my mum was too nervous to take me out driving nor did she have much money for fuel. 

I had to wait until my partner turned 21 so he could be my supervising driver, which resulted in me getting my license a year and a half late and putting off getting into the career of my choice after completing VCE.

Just wanted to say keep up the great work! It's a excellent idea and I'm glad the youths of the Yarra valley are getting assistance.”

We’re always looking for more mentor volunteers, if you’re interested in getting involved please contact Youth Services on 9294 6716.

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Detox Your Home Update

On Saturday September 7, Council held a mobile Detox Your Home drop off service in Lilydale in conjunction with neighbouring Councils.  

The Detox Your Home Program is administered by Sustainability Victoria in partnership with Local Governments.

Interesting stats from the day:

·         1,037 participants attended on the day

·         Residents dropped off an average of 50 kilograms per person

·         78 per cent of respondents were first time users of the service

·         The highest volume of products collected were paint, hydrocarbons and oil

·         Most attendees came from the Yarra Ranges area

·         Approximately 51,970 kilograms of household chemical products will now be recycled for recovery and diversion from landfill

·         About 80 per cent of residents found out about the collection through the A5 flyer provided with the annual waste booklet distribution to residents

 

Council thanks neighbouring Council’s Knox and Maroondah for their support and assistance with the collection!

Detox Your Home is a shared council service to ensure all Victorian residents have access to safely dispose of chemicals, no matter where they live.

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Sustainability Recognised - At Home and Afar...

Council's Learning for Sustainability (or LfS) team works with local schools to teach students about the environment and sustainable living in a fun and practical way. 

And recently, a couple of the programs (which are developed and run collaboratively with local schools) have caught the attention of both the State Government, as well as the international community.

The team's HabitAT Schools program - one of a dozen activities offered under Council’s LfS program - has been named as a finalist in the "Environmental Protection" category of the Premier's Sustainability Awards for 2013.

With the help of customised worksheets and Council resources, teachers and students are encouraged to conduct an audit – or HabitAT Census – of their local area. They then develop a HabitAT Plan tailored to their site and take action that addresses the biggest threats to local wildlife.

The Premier's Sustainability Awards will be held on 22 October. Winners will be selected and presented at the ceremony by Victorian Premier, The Hon Dr Denis Napthine.

But it is not just sustainability fans in Victoria that are recognising the achievements of the LfS team...

Building on the fantastic collaboration between Council and The Patch Primary, the LfS team - along with The Patch's Environmental Educator Michelle Rayner - have been sponsored to present at a conference for the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO in Okayama, Japan.

Impressively, despite the conference being attended by environmental educators from across Asia and the Pacific, the LfS team will be the only presenters from Australia at the event.

The story of Council’s partnership with The Patch Primary School will also be compiled into a resource that will distributed to the international community in the lead up to the UNESCO World Conference in 2014.

 

For more information on the Learning for Sustainability program, check out the website

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Find Your Way - New Tourist Maps

 



New maps and signs in popular Yarra Ranges towns are making life easier for tourists while supporting local business at the same time.
The town signs have been erected in Lilydale, Healesville, Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Warburton, Seville, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction, Belgrave, Olinda, Mt Evelyn, Kallista, Montrose, Monbulk and Mt Dandenong.
Council partnered with Yarra Ranges Regional Marketing to create the signs.
The maps and signs have a consistent look and feel to help people navigate their way through the Yarra Ranges.
The maps include walking trails, picnic grounds, gardens, play spaces, aquatic centres, petrol stations as well as a list of tourism businesses.
The feedback from local business has been positive with business groups reporting an increase
The maps are available to businesses associated with Yarra Ranges Regional Marketing to use for their websites, map productions and apps.
For more information, contact Economic Development at Council on 1300 368 333.

 

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Stormsafe Week 2013

Be StormSafe before the storm hits

Storms inflicted $1.1 billion in loss and damage on Victoria in 2011 alone. That's $3 million a day or $128,000 an hour. Much of this damage is preventable.

That's why Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) is holding StormSafe Week September 9-15.

StormSafe Week encourages everyone to be better prepared for the threat of storms in the community. This year's theme is "prepare now or pay later", highlighting the simple tasks that, if undertaken before a storm hits, can save Victorians a lot of money in the long run.

Actions to take before storms hit include to:

•   Tie down loose outdoor objects and remove loose tree branches to prevent them flying into property or power lines.
•   Clean gutters, downpipes and drains to stop them backing up and sending water into your house’s roof or drains.
•   Park your car under cover and away from trees.
•   Prepare a home emergency plan and kit.

More information about preparing for storms can be found at www.ses.vic.gov.au/stormsafe

SES volunteers will hold events across the State during the week to inform communities about storm risks and ways to prepare. Information about events in your area can be found on the VICSES website at www.ses.vic.gov.au. 

A quiz will be run on Facebook to find out how prepared you are for storms. Visit www.facebook.com/vicses. 

 For SES assistance during a storm call 132 500. In a life-threatening emergency, call 000.

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Selling Your Car?

If this year's Spring Cleaning routine involves getting rid of your car, you'll most likely be selling it to an eager buyer.

But before you put it out for sale, you may want to consider how you advertise your vehicle...

Did you know, for instance, that it is actually illegal to advertise cars for sale on Council land?

Council's Local Law around advertising cars for sale on Council land has been around for several years, and breaches can attract infringement notices.

The reason for the bylaw is two-fold; not only does it help keep roadsides and nature strips free of potentially dangerous obstructions, it also preserves the natural beauty free of potential eyesores caused by "psuedo car yards".

So if you're looking to flick your car on, consider the alternative options - such as online advertising, or a car yard trade-in - before parking it on Council land.

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