- Rokeby and Crossover Friends Group Inc. - 
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- Rokeby and Crossover Friends Group Inc. -
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PRESENT: David Dawson, Bernard Doherty, David Mapleson, Ken Lyons, Paul Pearson, Brian Kilmer, Mary Hughes, Rick Clough, Keith Cook, Raymond Cook.
APOLOGIES: Ruth McGowan, Carolyn Ferguson, Kerry Irwin, Bridgette McCallum, Mel Neil, Eugene Dimitriadis, Chris Bennie, Craig Jeffs. Minutes of previous meeting taken as read.(Mary and David.) Treasurer reported $632.00 in bank with one cheque for $20.00 issued to Neerim District Development Association (annual membership).(moved mary and ken) Summary of general business. 1) Crossover bridge project: David.D gave a report of what has developed over the last six weeks in regards to the track and bridge surrounds. David.M. summarised progress on the actual bridge restoration project. (See update and full report on latest project link.). Mary.H. is going to chase up on ecological studies done in the past by Monash uni.(necessary information for gaining funding). 2) Our guest Rick Clough spoke on the available funding from Government sources for both the bridge restoration and walking track. We will be following up a number of financial avenues raised by Rick plus exploring the possibility of private enterprise contributions. 3) Hawthorn bridge update: All the necessary surveys, reports and surveyors work has been completed and forwarded onto John Thwaites office to arrange necessary funding. We believe the DSE. have come up with three options for the bridge design, all requiring a different level of funding. After speaking to Garry Blackwood he is going to bring the bridge up in parliament again and will be having further discussions with John Thwaites office to keep the project alive and on top of the pile. David. M. asked that water level markers be installed on the ford crossing after having to rescue a suburban driver who assumed his family sedan was capable of crossing the river after the recent torrential rains. Paul will look into getting the markers installed. 4) Trail-bike unloading area: The selected area on La Trobe river rd. (3.2 km from the end of the bitumen) has been surveyed and all the necessary reports have been completed. There will be a meeting on June 2nd at DSE offices in Powelltown to look at various designs for the unloading areas across Victoria and we are sure our area will fit the necessary criteria. The "motorbike initiative" has the funding available for an immediate start on our area providing it fits in with their design layouts. Paul is pushing hard to get it up and running. Signage for these areas has been formalised and will be standard to all areas as they become established across Victoria. 5) Burn off's: (controlled) Burns have occurred in the area of McDougal rd, Patrol rd, and Latrobe river rd. Paul reported that the area on the corner of Gunns Rd. and Bloomfield rd. is scheduled to be burnt off next autumn and that David Vaskass is looking into the Rokeby/Crossover park area to be done at the same time. 6) Owl population: The DSE. has been doing surveys on the owl population recently and the programme will continue next year. If you are interested in helping out on this intriguing programme please contact Paul or let us know and we will put you on the list. 7) Heritage and history: Keith Cook will be our guest speaker at the next meeting and brings with him a life-time of experiences and information that he has gathered. He will focus on the railways and bridge but if you want to know any thing about the history of the area just come along and ask the question. Meeting closed at 9.20 p.m. For more information on meetings click on this link. |
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