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Surf Coast Shire Council will seek an explanation from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) as to why Victorian standards for sulphur dioxide levels in air are more lenient than overseas standards.

Anglesea Ward Councillor Margot Smith moved the notice of motion at Council’s May meeting, pointing out that Victorian EPA standards for maximum hourly sulphur dioxide exposure of 200 parts per billion are much higher than the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) hourly level of 75 parts per billion.


Five projects have been shortlisted for the new City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize, established to recognise design excellence in the public domain across central Sydney.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the prize was designed to encourage projects that improve the quality of the public domain, making the city more liveable, interesting and engaging.

“We need to celebrate the imaginative, innovative and inspiring design that gives our city its personality,” the Lord Mayor said.

In the running are: The Art Gallery of New South Wales Forecourt Upgrade by Johnson Pilton Walker; Darling Quarter by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) with ASPECT Studios and Lend Lease; Newtown Interchange by Caldis Cook Group in association with the NSW Government Architect’s office; The Wayside Chapel by Environa Studio; and VSQ2 by Tony Caro Architecture.

Cardinia Shire Council has welcomed a $500,000 Federal Government grant to create an Ash Wednesday memorial at the former Cockatoo kindergarten.

Mayor Cr Brett Owen said it was fantastic that the Council’s application for funding for the memorial had been supported.

Council has also pledged $200,000 for the project which will deliver lasting benefit for the local community.

Cr Owen said he looked forward to working in close partnership with the local community to create a lasting tribute to those who died or suffered losses during the devastating 1983 fires.

“The township of Cockatoo bore the full brunt of the firestorm, with more than 300 buildings destroyed and six lives lost,” Cr Owen said.


Significant projects across the Surf Coast Shire from Connewarre to Lorne, to Mt Moriac and Winchelsea have been included in Council’s $18.58m capital works program for 2013/14.

The works, included in Council’s draft budget, are spread across the four wards of Surf Coast Shire as Council continues its efforts to boost community infrastructure.

Council’s Asset Preservation budget includes $1.2m in renewal works for sealed local roads and $900,000 in gravel resheeting work.  Playgrounds throughout the shire will also benefit from $373,000 in funding to implement Council’s Playground Strategy.

In Lorne Ward, projects include:

  • $500,000 towards extending the Lorne Visitor Information Centre
  • $200,000 towards drainage and oval upgrades at Stribling Reserve in Lorne
  • $540,000 towards rehabilitating the old Deans Marsh landfill site
  • $25,000 to reseal the road at the Lorne Transfer Station