Ned Kelly tower clear to open

WORKS on the $5.459 million Ned Kelly viewing tower in Glenrowan will be completed in time for its scheduled opening this month, after a Supreme Court judge rejected a bid by a relative of the infamous bushranger to cease works on the project.

A newly built tower at Glenrowan's Lions Park, with the help of $3.5m in State Government funding, will provide an experience for visitors, allowing them to learn about the history connected to the capture of the Kelly Gang in 1880.

Joanne Griffiths, great granddaughter of Ned Kelly's sister, had applied to the Supreme Court of Victoria for an interlocutory injunction to restrain ongoing works on the visitor centre and replacement bridge in the Glenrowan Heritage Precinct.

Ms Griffiths, founding director of the Ned Kelly Centre Ltd, had alleged that works were contrary to Heritage Act 2017 (Vic) and Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic).

Defendants included the Australian Rail Track Corporation, Rural City of Wangaratta, and Heritage Victoria.

The Ned Kelly Centre submitted that council’s permit application incorrectly identified ARTC as the owner of the relevant land, when it is in fact owned by VicTrack.

However, Judge Melinda Richards's said, "I do not see an arguable case that the mistake was material, in either a legal or a practical sense".

Judge Richards found that the Ned Kelly Centre has not established a serious question to be tried that the tower and bridge permits were invalid, and the case was dismissed.

Council estimated its defence cost were in excess of $30,000 and it will look to recover the money.

Rural City of Wangaratta CEO Brendan McGrath said the Glenrowan Heritage Project is much anticipated by the community and will deliver an immersive and contemporary interpretation centre using cutting-edge technology.

Euroa to get new ambo station

A NEW ambulance station is set to be built on Weir Street in Euroa, located adjacent to Euroa Health.

The station will be built at the site of the Euroaville building and adjacent house on Weir Street, following Euroa Health’s sale of these buildings to the Victorian Health Building Authority.

Designed with a three-bay garage for ambulances, the purpose-built facility will be better equipped to meet the needs of the Euroa ambulance branch, which moved from single to dual paramedic crewing in October last year.

A State Government spokesperson said the station will feature training facilities, relievers’ quarters, a fully equipped kitchen, two rest and recline areas, and improved security and car parking.

A Euroa Health spokesperson said upon the opening of the GraniteHill aged care facility, Euroaville had been left vacant while the hospital continued to maintain the buildings physically and financially, with costs in excess of tens of thousands of dollars annually.

The spokesperson said Euroa Health will undertake further development of the remaining site to include car parking for staff, a goods delivery entrance and an environmentally friendly waste area.

Euroa Health CEO Melissa Seymour said the new ambulance station would help the hospital provide quality care.

The announcement comes while Euroa Health is in the process of considering alternative operating models to address the hospital’s declining revenue.

Hume Hwy fire

A TRUCK trailer set ablaze in Violet Town last week saw part of the Hume Freeway closed for several hours.

Eight CFA units from Violet Town, Boho, Benalla, Euroa, Wangaratta and Baddaginnie brigades attended the scene after reports of the fire at around 10.44am.

Boho CFA brigade captain Gary Washusen said on arriving, crews found the B-double truck trailer “well ablaze” and separated from the prime mover.

Crews put the fire out and the incident was deemed under control at 12.26pm, with no injuries recorded.

Mr Washusen said he believed the fire was caused by overheated bearings.

A Shepparton contractor was engaged to remove the debris and burnt vehicle, but according to Mr Washusen, the clean-up was significantly delayed after the contractor’s excavator blew a hydraulic hose, which then had to be repaired by a specialist.

The incident was deemed safe at 3.32pm.

School bus pulled over by police

A school bus pulled over by police in Shepparton cut an unusual sight around school drop-off time on Wednesday, August 2.

Police said the bus was pulled over on the Goulburn Valley Hwy in the city’s north after it was seen travelling at 15km/h over the speed limit.

The bus — with about 20 children on board — was being driven at 75km/h in a 60km/h zone just after 8.40am, police said.

The driver, a 60-year-old man, was fined for speeding.