Property holders urged to clean up for Fire Season

COUNCILTO SEND OUT ‘COURTESY’ LETTERS TO REMIND RESIDENTS TO TIDY UP FOR SUMMER
With the fire season fast approaching the City of Greater Bendigo isasking residents to start cleaning up around their property.
City of Greater Bendigo Fire Prevention Officer Eric Smith said over thenext week Council will send out 4,500 courtesy letters to remind residents tobegin preparing their properties for the fire season.
“Residents who have received a letterin the past as well as properties that have been reported to Council byconcerned members of the community will receive a letter.  The letters are purely a reminder to clean upthe property and are not meant to cause any offence especially if the propertyhas since been cleaned up.
 “Whilemost people adopt a responsible attitude to ensuring their property is clear,others need a reminder and we hope the courtesy letters will provide this.
“The City of Greater Bendigo would alsolike to thank residents  who have identifiedhazards and reported them to us, however it’s important to note that actionwill not commence until mid to late October. 
“The approaching fire season is onceagain expected to be a challenging one for both landholders and the City ofGreater Bendigo with recent rains expected to cause excessive grass growthacross the municipality,” said Mr Smith.
Indicators from both the CFA and DSEshow that this year there is most likely to be a greater risk of fast movinggrass fires.  This is something that hasalready been confirmed with the report of up to 200 grass fires in Queenslandin recent weeks and with 30 fires attended across Victoria on the one day lastweek.
“To help residents prepare for the fire season theCity of Greater Bendigo will provide residents with an opportunity to disposeof their green waste free of charge at the Eaglehawk and Heathcote Landfills onthe weekends of November 5 & 6 and November 19& 20.
“The two, free green waste disposalweekends will assist residents to prepare for the summer fire danger period,and by taking advantage of the free disposal, residents will save $20 per ute or small trailer load atthe landfill,” Mr Smith said.
He said the City of Greater Bendigo hasalso commenced its annual grass slashing program on land managed by Council.

Latest news from the council may be of interest to those in the city affected by last years floods.

 
CITY UNDERTAKES REPAIRS TO
BENDIGO CREEK FOLLOWING FLOODS
The City of Greater Bendigo has undertaken two important projects along the Bendigo Creek to repair damage caused by major flooding in late 2010 and earlier this year.
City of Greater Bendigo Director of Presentation and Assets Darren Fuzzard said 32 sections of the Bendigo Creek’s floor between Charing Cross and Maple Street Golden Square were damaged as a result of the storms.
“The work has involved the removal of debris and the excavation and replacement of damaged concrete on the creek floor and channel.
“The $126,000 repair work commenced in mid May and was completed in late June,” said Mr Fuzzard.
He said the City has also undertaken a $15,000 project to repair damage to the Bendigo Creek’s historic bluestone section between Rosalind Park and the rear of the RSL.
“A number of bluestone blocks were dislodged in the floods and the creek bed was damaged as a result.
“This project involved the recovery and relaying of the bluestones and repairs to the creek bed.
“While we have undertaken these repairs we will need to secure significant funding from other sources to continue to repair and restore the Bendigo Creek,” said Mr Fuzzard.
He said the City is continuing to undertake a range of other infrastructure works to repair damage resulting from the floods.

Vampyre by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Andrew Yeo. Book Review.

Vampyre by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Andrew Yeo $29.95 ISBN  9781921529221
Hardback, 32 pages Age: 8+ Category: Picture Book
Below is the information received from Walker Books about the latest story from well known author Margaret Wild.
“I am Vampyre. Feared. Despised. I sleep in darkness. I long for light.
From the dark depths of his vampyre world, a vampyre boy reflects on the joyous days of
his childhood and his current life as a vampyre. Thought-provoking and atmospheric,
Vampyre is a monumental picture book about identity, making choices and being true to
oneself from award-winning author, Margaret Wild, with breathtaking illustrations by new
illustrator, Andrew Yeo.
Margaret Wild is one of Australia’s most highly regarded and awarded children’s book
authors. Some of her works include There’s a Sea In My Bedroom, The Very Best of
Friends, Old Pig, The Midnight Gang, Nighty Night!, Fox and Woolvs in the Sitee.
Margaret has two titles in the Walker Classics series: Going Home and A Bit of Company,
both illustrated by Wayne Harris.
Andrew Yeo is a talented new illustrator from Sydney, Australia. Vampyre is his first
picture book.”
This poignant story is about a young (teen?) Vampyre who is struggling with his soon-to-be-role as a fully fledged member of the world of adult vampires- meaning he will need to kill to survive. The young vampire is struggling with these changes as it means he will no longer have the fun and carefree lifestyle he has had as a child where all the animals and birds in the forest trusted him.
When he finally escapes his family and flees to the sun, risking his own death in the process, the reader is left with the question of whether he will survive in the forest without killing his animal friends, (my impression was he has chosen to die in a place he loves rather than live a life that he would hate) or somehow he will be able to live blood free.
This hauntingly illustrated book is I feel unsuitable for the dedicated age of 8 +, being more suitable for older readers who will have the maturity and interest in questioning the motives of the main character, as there really isn’t enough action to sustain a younger reader.
An unusual book that I feel will have a limited audience despite the reputation of the author.