Dear Members and Friends of Save the Dandenongs League Inc.
It has now been more than two years since we had our last Annual General Meeting, and unfortunately due to ongoing Covid restrictions we're still not sure if we'll be able to meet any time soon.
Despite the lockdowns, your committee has continued working and planning. So this is an update of what has been keeping us busy over the past 12 months or so. A lot has been happening, but I have tried to summarise as much as possible.
My wife and I live in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges at the gateway to the beautiful Lysterfield Valley, in the home that we created 60 years ago and where we still live. I first became involved with the save the Dandenongs League when a group of local residents opposed the development of yet another basalt-rock quarry in that valley. There was already a plethora of quarries in the area – one at Upper Ferntree Gully and another in Lysterfield. With help from the Save the Dandenongs League we managed to overcome the proposed new quarry, some councillors lost their seats, and Sherbrooke Council became more environmentally friendly.
We have been involved in a number of issues throughout the year 2008. However, the small number of committee members has at times limited our activities. The first two items below are wins and the second two are losses.
SHIRE OF YARRA RANGES HOUSING STRATEGY
BACK PACKERS HOSTEL PROPOSAL, MONBULK
HISTORIC STAIRCASE, LILYDALE
MONBULK COMMUNITY HUB
