Hobsons Bay is rich in cultural heritage with more than 25 state-listed heritage buildings and many fascinating stories to tell. The Heritage Hobsons Bay Festival, from April 18 to May 2, invites residents and visitors to discover Hobsons Bay’s historical, Indigenous, cultural and natural heritage. For details and to book, visit linktr.ee/HeritageHobsonsBay
In addition to celebrating our heritage, we also need to safeguard and protect significant heritage sites. Heritage buildings such as the Newport Railway Workshops are irreplaceable and precious, providing a window to the past and the very origins of our communities. As part of my Mayoral Program, I am working closely with community groups to advocate for increased heritage protection for the former Newport Railway Workshops, including the retention of the heritage rail groups on the site. At the recent open day on site, which I attended, the Newport Railway Workshops Preservation Group secured 6,000 signatures to a petition supporting the rail groups remaining in Newport.
Another initiative that I was happy to witness last week was the opening of the Kraft Heinz community store. This store at its Altona Distribution Centre in Westlink Court is open to welfare organisations and Hobsons Bay residents to access Kraft Heinz products at a discounted rate. I was especially pleased to hear that the project will create great community partnerships and will result in less food being sent to landfill. Kraft Heinz is a great corporate citizen and it will be working closely with Laverton Community Integrated Services, Latitude: Directions for Young People and other local social enterprises to provide food to those most in need in our community. It’s a win-win for everyone and I commend Kraft Heinz for their initiative. The store will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm. Proof of Hobsons Bay residency will be required. Check out the colourful mural on the side of the distribution centre.
Lastly, as the clean-up continues following pollution at Cherry Creek and Lake, I would like to remind people to avoid contact with water and any fish or eels caught there. If you see dead fish or other signs of the effects of pollution in the area, call 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or contact@epa.vic.gov.au.
