Councillor Terry Avery

Election Results

2008-12-05T08:29:00.002+11:00

http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/yarrarangesresult2008.html#5

Please check out the above link and see the fantastic results. I want to thank all those who voted for me and I will do my best for my community over the next four years.

About Me

2008-11-06T11:30:00.000+11:00

I’ve spent most of my life in the Yarra Ranges, having arrived with my parents as a seven year old from England before settling in Mooroolbark.

I have been a member of Victoria Police for just over thirty years and I currently work at the Lilydale Police Station. I have been an operational officer all my career having worked as a detective, traffic management, and special duties.

I love the Yarra Ranges and I’m committed to protecting what is special about this area and providing opportunities for people to keep living here as they age. My priorities during my term as a Councillor have included the tackling community safety issues such as graffiti, and road safety and I would also like to see bike paths extended, the Lilydale to Healesville rail trail development commence, and progress on the Lilydale bypass.

My favourite spots to share with friends and family in Yarra Ranges are Lillydale Lake, the local wineries and restaurants.

I represent Council on the following groups … The Community Safety Advisory Group, Road Wise and Graffiti Management Committee.

Please feel free to contact me.

Regards Terry

Team Links

2008-11-06T11:26:00.002+11:00

Shire Of Yarra Ranges - Your Councillor

Tim Heenan - Mayor - Shire of Yarra Ranges

Introduction

2008-10-23T17:52:00.004+11:00

Hi and welcome to my blog, a site where you can see what is happening in the community of Melba Ward.

It's a brand new site and I'm new at this and I'm not what you would consider really IT savvy so please excuse my lack of experience.

If you would like to discuss something with me or have a suggestion for the community simply click here to email Terry Avery. or phone me on 0448 696 100

Interesting Information

2008-10-22T14:19:00.004+11:00

- CCTV For Mooroolbark

- Graffiti Clean-up Kits (1)
- Graffiti Clean-up Kits (2)
- Graffiti Clean-up Kits (3)

- BMX Track Foolish Stunt

- Opening Of Yarra Junction Police Station

- Yarra Ranges Task Force To Tackle Drugs And Alcohol

- Drug And Alcohol Taskforce

- Candlebark Nursery

- Police Association Delegate

- Heather McTaggart (State Member for Evelyn) and Terry Avery (Local. Councilor). Both spoke of the outstanding contribution the Lilydale - Lilydale Football Club No 1 ticket holder

- Common Urban Myths About Transport

- CCTV surveillance call for all rail stations

Ward Funding For Community Projects

2008-10-21T16:16:00.004+11:00

Each councillor had a ward fund of $5000 until 2007 when we agreed to increase the amount to $20,000 dollars. There was a bit of chest beating and carry on about how it was a slush fund and wasting ratepayers money. The ward fund was and still is to help community based projects that simply don't have enough cash to undertake or complete a particular effort. I have helped (as all other councillors) to many groups and people in the community. To help a lot of our young to compete interstate in basketball, dance, karate, boxing, etc. Also to projects shown in the attached photos. This was undertaken by Mary Bourchier to paint a mural on the back of some Mooroolbark shops. A lot of time and effort by volunteers resulted in this fantastic mural. Once a wall that had been graffitied now a showpiece depicting some historical aspect of our town, a job well done. I was fortunate enough to be asked to officially open project. I am sure Mary has some more ideas surfacing. I have given out almost all the money allocated and wondered how we managed with $5,000.

CCTV Mooroolbark

2008-10-20T08:50:00.020+11:00

Some twelve months ago the Mooroolbark Traders and Community Group was successful in obtaining $150,000 Federal Government grant (Attorney Generals Dept) for a community and safety initiative to install CCTV in and around the Mooroolbark Railway Station and CBD.

This follows in the footsteps of the same successful initiative at Lilydale Railway Station and CBD. In the first twelve months reported crime dropped 77%. In about one month strategically placed CCTV will be mounted in and around the CBD and train station. It will be viewed in real time at the Mooroolbark Police Station. I have attached some photos of the Lilydale CCTV.

Your comments would be appreciated

Recently I went to the Mooroolbark Railway Station with Sergeant Richard Higgins (Mooroolbark Police) Geoff Pierce (secretary of the traders) and Brad Mayall (Director of Security Power) and discussed various locations for optimum viewing ability for the CCTV.

It's an exciting project and I am confident it will create a safe and positive environment around the town.

Brad, incidentally is the contractor responsible for the installation of the CCTV at Lilydale, Croydon, Boronia and Mt Evelyn.

On 31.10.2008 we received an initial payment from the Attorney Generals Dept Canberra, the Mooroolbark Lions and Bendigo Bank. We are underway, and installation will start shortly. The handing over of the cheques to the left was at Hookey Park and many thanks to Tony Smith our Federal member who was instrumental in us obtaining the funding (thanks Tony)

Aging Population

2008-10-09T15:16:00.002+11:00

I have a concern regarding our aging population of which I am obviously one.

In particular, an issue recently in council regarding rate rises. It's is a very difficult path we travel and more and more folk are feeling the financial burden and increased rates is a major issue.

Local government can not do it alone and I will be lobbying both state and federal government to help our older generation to offset the hard financial burden.

Something has to be done. They have worked hard and in twilight years should not be struggling under the weight seemingly never ending rate rises.

I certainly would welcome any comments.

Recent Capital Works Projects

2008-04-24T09:48:00.004+10:00

Cambridge Road from Hawthory to Hull Roads, Mooroolbark

Project: Providing an extra lane through the roundabout to improve traffic flow.
Approximate cost: $95,000.

Taylor Road/Hull Road, Mooroolbark

Project: Roadworks to improve traffic flow through the Taylor Road/Hull Road intersection. Approximate cost: $50,000.

Croydondale Drive/ Mark St Mooroolbark

Project: Funds allocated 08/09 mondified T intersetion Approximate cost $40,000.

Dryden Concourse/ Holmes Road Mooroolbark

Project: Funds allocated for local area traffic managemet scheme eg: raised pavements $80,000.

Manchester Road Pre School

Project: Funds allocated for carparking inprovements $70,000

Mooroolbark Streetscape

Project: Funds available 08/09, $132,000

Lilydale Courthouse

Project: Refurbish for the use of staff from the historical society while the Lilydale Museum is reconstructed. $84,000

Mooroolbark Railway Station

2008-04-24T09:47:00.001+10:00

As a result of social and safety concerns about Mooroolbark Railway Station and its environs, the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) asked the Shire to undertake community consultation on the future of the station.

The Shire distributed more than 6,000 postcards to Mooroolbark households on behalf of the DOI, seeking residents’ ideas about the station’s future, and inviting applications to participate in a DOI taskforce preparing a vision and action plan for the station. As well, commuters were consulted and schools were notified – some placed articles in their newsletters.

There was an excellent response – more than 600 comments have been received, including a number of applications to participate in the taskforce.

The taskforce will take all responses into account as it prepares its draft Mooroolbark Station Vision and Action Plan.

Graffiti Removal

2008-04-24T09:34:00.008+10:00

As chairperson of the Shire’s Graffiti Working Group, which is implementing our Graffiti Management Plan, I’m pleased that important anti-graffiti initiatives have recently been taken in Melba Ward and the Shire generally.

These include: Funding received to purchase a trailer for the Mooroolbark Traders to create a mobile graffiti reduction initiative. The trailer contains an airless spray gun, pressure cleaner and equipment to remove graffiti.

With a new round of grants pending traders are hoping to fit a large water container for use in the removal of graffiti.

B grade water available from the Brushy Creek Treatment Plant will be used. Also a generator so the trailer will be fully mobile and not have to rely on power points and water on site.

Your comments are certainly welcome.

A three year Graffiti Management Plan (2007-2010) for Yarra Ranges, which is unique to the Melbourne metropolitan area is now in place.

The Shire purchasing mobile surveillance cameras to help police to apprehend serial graffiti offenders

Funding for a Manchester Road fish and chip shop mural, completed by local young persons to prevent graffiti on a known graffiti hotspot.

Support for a successful graffiti reduction initiative by Manchester Primary School students, who created a mural on the side wall of a milk bar near the school’s entrance.

Ongoing support for Mooroolbark traders to secure federal funding for CCTV cameras, to minimise graffiti and increase community safety.

Support for the Yarra Ranges Graffiti Project, to acquire state government funding for anti-graffiti projects in three Shire townships, including Mooroolbark.

Securing funding to acquire a purpose-built graffiti removal trailer.

So let's be realistic here. There are some great artists out there and although youth are being blamed there is a lot of adults damaging property by tagging. It's not art but just down right vandalism and anybody caught should be dealt with severely. The graffiti Management Committee in conjunction with the Ringwood Magistrates Court has successfully implanted a program to ensure offenders spend their time cleaning up their mess. A job well done I believe and another positive step forward.

Along with other councillors I donated ward funds and the fish and chip shop wall on Manchester Rd that was forever being tagged now has a magnificent mural (see before and after photos)

Never thought I'd see the day I would clean up other peoples mess but Clean Up Day is important. Just ruined my nails ha ha

You are welcome to contact me on any issue relating to graffiti; or contact the Shire’s Graffiti Project Officer on 1300 368 333. You can also access a graffiti reporting form on the Shire’s website, (search under "graffiti"), or pick up a copy at any Community Link.

Safer Streets

2008-04-24T09:32:00.003+10:00

Installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras is helping to reduce the incidence of street crime in Lilydale, and cameras are shortly to be installed in some Mooroolbark streets.

In Lilydale, there has been a 77 per cent reduction in crimes against the person and antisocial behaviour since 2004, when CCTV cameras (funded by the federal government) were installed in several streets, which is a most pleasing result.

Over the next three months, cameras will be installed in strategic positions in Mooroolbark CBD streets, and I’m confident we can achieve similar success there.

As well, the penalty for consuming alcohol in alcohol-free zones has recently been increased from $100 to $200, and I’m certain this has also led to fewer offences in our streets.

Clubs - A Vital Social and Recreational Role

2008-04-24T09:30:00.000+10:00

Where would we be without our cricket, football, bowls, tennis, soccer, netball and other sports clubs?

They play an important social and recreational role in our community. Friendships are formed and strengthened through participation in sports, and these friendships often thrive off the field as well as on it. There are almost 350 parks, gardens and reserves available for recreational and sporting activities in our shire, which are very well used by locals and visitors.

I believe very strongly in supporting our local sporting clubs whenever I can. Recently, I have been very happy to provide assistance for the Lilydale Football Club, the Lilydale BMX Club, the Mooroolbark Flashes Basketball Club, the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Netball Association, as well as some individual sportspeople.

Council Fleet Vehicle Supplied to Lilydale Police

2008-04-24T09:28:00.000+10:00

As a Victoria Police member stationed at Lilydale, I’m very pleased that the Shire has continued to support the work of the police by supplying a car to the station for police work. The shire has supplied vehicles to the station since 2002.

The vehicle is used virtually every day for police operational and non-operational work in crime, traffic, patrol, emergency management and general transport work, and is a highly-valued resource.

The council encourages a partnership approach to achieving outcomes in our community, and this is an excellent example of this approach in action. The council and the police are continuing to work together to make our Shire a safer place in which to live.