Unbelievable performance by ‘old’ Greg Norman

It seems to be the month for Aussies to shine. Not only is Cadel Evans leading the Tour de France cycling event for the 5th consecutive day, now 53 year old Greg Norman leads the British Open Golf Championship after three rounds and takes a two shot lead into tonight’s final round at Royal Birkdale.

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“To the many, many tourists who objected with us and supported our efforts, please take special thanks; we only hope and pray you will continue to visit Bright and its pristine surrounds even though we were unable to convince not only VCAT but our own Alpine Council, that this town is worth saving.”

(Save Bright member & Coles objector Ros Pelley in a letter sent to the Border Mail)

Objectors in denial as Save Bright goes to ground

VCAT’s decision on the Coles supermarket development seems to have left the Save Bright group lost for words. There’s still no official response. Spokespersons Wayne Phillips & Lee Rosser, who both had no hesitation in taking every opportunity to speak to the media before the decision was handed down, are conspicuous by their absence. At least their fellow member and separate objector, Ros Pelley, has said something, even though it’s in the form of a (not yet published) letter to the Border Mail and directed, rather oddly, at tourists.

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Coles will benefit Bright, says VCAT     

* Positive impact on community

* Flow-on benefits to smaller retailers

It’s been a long wait but after a prolonged campaign and an extra-long appeal process, the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has finally handed down its decision on the Coles supermarket development in Gavan Street, Bright.

The council’s decision to approve the supermarket nearly 12 months ago has been upheld with only minor variations to design aspects.

The Alpine council and objectors were notified of the decision today and, courtesy of the council, I have been provided with a full copy of the 43 page document.

In its decision VCAT has dismissed - in no uncertain manner - ALL of the grounds on which the combined objectors Save Bright Action Group, Bright IGA, Bernece Delaney, Ros Pelley & Bev Gore had sought to have the decision overturned.

The full VCAT decision can be downloaded HERE , but I’ve highlighted some of the key clauses below. My further comments appear at the foot:
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Any shoes over the power lines here?

According to ABC Online Victoria Police say they have smashed a large drug syndicate operating in Melbourne’s northern suburbs when they raided this tacky, tasteless & over-the-top  luxury home in Greenvale today:

A luxury Mercedes Benz car, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, cash and firearms were seized from the McMansion.

Apparently the syndicate is linked to a seizure of the drug ice in Wodonga earlier this year.
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Obviously they’re not interested in becoming a Cittaslow !

According to a report in today’s Border Mail  the not-too-far-away Murray River town of Corowa is set to get a $5 million McDonald’s family restaurant by Christmas creating 20 full-time jobs and about 100 casual positions.

Corowa shire councillors unanimously approved planning consent yesterday after only two objections were received. The town has a permanent population of approx 5,500 people.
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Cadel takes the lead

If you are not staying up to follow the incredible performance of Australia’s Cadel Evans in this year’s event then you are missing out on what might be one of the greatest sporting achievments in our history.

After 10 days of the 23-day, 3,500 km event Cadel Evans has taken the overall lead and is now the proud wearer of the ‘yellow jacket’, albeit by just one second. This photo of my TV shows him on the dias in what was truly an emotional presentation considering what had transpired in the past two days.

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Slow ‘Alice’ wants to ‘Save Bright’ with Cittaslow

Oh here we go, it’s started. This comment below from someone calling herself (or himself as the case may be) ‘Alice’ and claiming to be a “visitor to Bright” was made earlier today under the post “Should Bright become a Cittaslow?”

How surprising is it that ‘Alice’, who claims not to live here, is all in favour of Bright becoming a Cittaslow?

I was going to delete the comment but, instead, I’ve decided to highlight it to get you prepared for the type of anonymous propaganda, crap and deceit you’re likely to see over the coming months as this small pressure group led by none other than that wonderful community-minded group Save Bright attempts to create the illusion that there is widespread support for this retrograde idea.

My response appears below the comment:

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Why are Carlton crucifying their (2nd) best player?

Brendan Fevola is, err, a different sort of player. He can be a brilliant match-winner or he can be very ordinary, as he was on Friday night when St Kilda’s under-rated Max Hudghton clearly outplayed him.

Unfortunately for Fevola, when he’s ordinary he looks real ordinary and sometimes even uninterested. But I think Carlton has over-reacted to his performance on Friday night against St Kilda (who, in case you didn’t know, won, and are ‘back in town’).

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Well no, of course not, just look who’s behind this idea !

A push for Bright to become a ‘Cittaslow’ town has come out of left field and is being led by three groups, being the dysfunctional and leaderless Bright Chamber of Commerce, the discredited anti-progress group Save Bright and the very small and almost secret committee called the Bright Citizens Association.

Cittaslow (pronounced Chitta-slow, not ‘cheetaslow’ as the Chamber of Commerce suggests in their ad) is the financial offshoot of the European ‘Slow Food Movement’ and sells licenses to towns who want to identify or brand themselves as a ‘Slow City’, which is what the term means.

However, there are strong links between the groups behind this push with many Save Bright supporters (the few they have) also being members of the BCA. And of course, until recently the Chamber of Commerce was led by Wayne Phillips, who is the principal officer and spokesperson for Save Bright. All told there are not many people behind this Cittaslow idea.

Unfortunately though, they’ve managed to give the Alpine council the false impression that a ground swell exists favouring Bright going this way - even though there has been no consultation whatsoever with the broader community, no public forums and no information provided. 

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Let’s negotiate please, Mr Bellette

Audax has responded to John Robinson’s letter in last week’s Bright Observer, which I published HERE. John had suggested that from 2010 the Audax Alpine Classic cycling event be moved from the Australia Day ‘long weekend’ in January to the following weekend in February. The event director, Phil Bellette, has responded to the same paper. It’s a long letter and doesn’t really get down to the key issues in my opinion. My comments appear below the letter: 

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… and maybe it should stay there ! 

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The Bright Chamber of Commerce is in denial & disarray - and seems all but defunct - over the fallout from dumped President Wayne Phillips’ doom & gloom comments in last week’s Herald Sun.

Remaining committee members have refused to comment on the circumstances leading to Mr Phillips’ removal as President last Friday, and have even failed to directly address the article, which claimed Bright was “one step from economic disaster”. 

The Chamber appears to have its head buried well and truly in the sand, as this Border Mail article in today’s paper clearly suggests:
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Go Cadel !

The world’s premier cycling event (and arguably the world’s premier sporting event) Le Tour de France is underway and Australia’s Cadel Evans, who is one of the race favourites, is well placed. After the first 4 days he is in 4th position only 21 seconds behind the leader, with the mountain rides (which are one of his strengths) to come.

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Has Hall played his last game?

Well probably not, but Saturday’s loss to Collingwood should have been Barry ‘thug’ Hall’s last ever game of AFL footy after he ‘did it again’ by throwing yet another wild punch at an opposition player’s head - Shane Wakelin.

The fact that it didn’t make full connection shouldn’t make much difference in my opinion. Hall’s only been back for 3 or 4 games after serving a 7 match suspension for knocking West Coast’s Brent Staker literally off his face and the intent of the Wakelin punch was exactly the same, which just proves he hasn’t learnt.

Hall should be rubbed out for the rest of the season, a penalty that, at his age, would effectively end his career - good riddance. But unfortunately the AFL Tribunal will probably go easy on him - I wonder why? Could it be his importance to TV ratings?

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I’m sure they’re made by ‘Bastards Incorporated’

We’re working on the final stage of the Grevillea Gardens project - doing up the house. We figure that if the guests can stay in relative luxury then the least we can have is a house that doesn’t look like it was shipped in on the back of a truck (unfortunately it came with the package when we bought the whole property). We’ve spent a lot of money and of course we’re over budget, but I reckon we might’ve been much closer to the target if I hadn’t gone through so many caulking guns.

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Phillips forced to step down over ‘gloom & doom’ article 

Wayne Phillips has ’stepped down’ as President of the Bright & District Chamber of Commerce following an angry backlash from Bright businesses, the Alpine council and the community in general over his controversial comments in the Herald Sun that portrayed Bright as “one step from economic disaster” (see post ‘Wayne’s world of woes’)

The charge against Mr Phillips was led by Alpine council’s CEO Ian Nicholls, who in a strongly worded letter dated Thursday 3 July, addressed to the Chamber Executive, raised his “serious concern with the article”.

Mr Nicholls queried the validity of Mr Phillips’ comments and asked for a meeting to “discuss how we can resolve (these) clearly conflicting views”.

I have seen a copy of the letter and I agree with the position Mr Nicholls has put forward:
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