Newsletter

You can read any news items by choosing the year, month and subject of the news item.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Last chance for Spring Fest Advertising

The booking deadline for the Spring Fest 48 page book is now a few days away so if you would like to advertise, please check your reminder email for the Advertising Pack and Order Form. Just get your form to us by 5pm Saturday and you're in.

Ad spaces start from as little as $190 + GST and the Booklet will gain exposure across Melbourne from September 1st and also be downloadable from the website from August 24th.

Remember that there are no restictions on sharing the space with another business if you like and share the cost.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop us an email at events@villagesofmtdandenong.com.au

Villages Website Softly Launches


Today, the Villages website has softly launched itself onto the world.

There is still work being done (so it may disappear every now and again as new code is upoaded) and businesses to add, but those that sent their information, will find themselves under their business category. Please check that your links work and that your businesses adds to the intinerary builder.

The site will be continually added to with interesting features, events and things for people to do up on the mountain. Remember that this is your website so if you have something going on that people should know about, please keep sending those through to: events@villagesofmtdandenong.com.au

In the next couple of weeks all members will be sent a user manual for the website and login and password. This will enable you to amend your details, packages etc when ever you like and also your photos. You will be able to choose which of your images apears on the main listing page as well as your business listing.

All buttons on the right hand side of your listing are automatically created by entering that information into your online form so you have complete control of your listing.

All members who hadn't already sent in their information will be able to log in and do this once they receive this guide.

Please feel free to send in material for the yet to be created sections of:

• Great Reasons to Visit the Villages and;
• Some suggested itineraries


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Behind the Scenes in July

Recent Developments with Government and Local Agencies.

The executive committee continues to work on your behalf to communicate our needs to SYR, State and Federal
Government representatives. Since the last General Members meeting the following actions have been taken:

1) Following a meeting at SYR a letter has been sent to Cr Noel Cliff, CEO Shire Yarra Ranges and Simon
O’Callaghan, Economic Development SYR, re sealing of roads in each town, bus shelter installation, directional signage and Village Entry signs, we are still waiting on an official response.

2) On request from Jason Wood’s office a list of what concerns we have as a business community was
forwarded to Jason’s office. This request will be used by Jason and the Liberal party to develop their policies and pre election campaign.

The issues we raised were:


Fire Ready Villages

Installation of minimum 10,000 litre underground or above ground water tanks in each village
Undergrounding of power poles in the Villages

Street scaping and Infrastructure Improvements

Street Lighting
Directional Signage for trails and walks, interpretative signage
Construction of pedestrian walkways along with pedestrian safety improvements
Street tree planting
Street paving and furniture reflecting the Villages unique character and Villages style.

Marketing and Events Funding

Events Funding, Springfest, Luscious Lunches, Masquerade Ball
Villages map print runs, marketing material
Village flag installation

Karin’s Walk Olinda


Approximately a year ago Karen the owner operator of The Cuckoo restaurant offered her land

to construct a Tourist Nature Board walk from the bottom of her customer car park through
natural bushland ending in Olinda Village at Credo car park some 500 metres. Funding for this
project is required so was put forward.

3) Meeting was held at CFA Olinda on 5th July with local Community representatives and Kevin Tolhurst,
Fire Scientist, Kevin announced his 3 year fully funded Melbourne University study that will provide in depth knowledge of fire risk factors specific to our area. Studies have commenced and when the final report is received it will help to give a fresh perspective on our fire risk status.

4) A meeting with James Merlino is to be held on 5th August.


We will give James our feedback on the findings of the Royal Commission. This feedback will
contribute to the broader Community feedback which will be used by the State Government
to choose which recommendations made on fire safety will be implemented by State
Government.

For this meeting we have also requested to receive details of the Regional funding announced by John Brumby which included Sassafras, Olinda and Mt Dandenong, this way we can work to
maximize the benefit of this funding in our area.

5) A meeting with Mark Challis, CEO of Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Regional Marketing was held
on the 5th July, he was interested to see what we have achieved so far, we have already isolated projects where we can work together to achieve maximum marketing and exposure to our area.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Our first Monthly Events Press Ad



Look out for first monthly events press ad running in the Trader Mail 27th July edition. This has been generously sponsored by Bendigo Bank as part of their Community Grants Programme for 2010 and gives us 13 months of 36 x 2 press ads to communicate to the local community events and specials on the Mountain.

More than ever it is worth your while getting your events and specials into us each month so you can be included. Remember that this is a local press ad, so things that locals will be interested in will always get priority. Things to do, discounts and specials at shops and restaurants, you get the idea.

Deadline for all submissions is 20th of each month for the following month.