Councillor tributes: Members of the Bendigo community have paid tribute to councillor Donna Nicholas who died this month. Cr Nicholas, a retired catering business owner, was elected at April's Lockwood ward by-election. Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards says she's deeply saddened by the news and had been struck by the councillor's warmth, kindness and commitment to her community. The Victorian Electoral Commission has confirmed a postal by-election will be held to fill the Bendigo council position.
Photo: Donna Nicholas was elected to Greater Bendigo City Council in this year's Lockwood by-election. Picture supplied.
Crash appeal: The driver who killed a 24-year-old woman in a car crash in central Victoria has successfully wiped a year off his jail sentence. Justine Cabral was driving on the Northern Highway when a car failed to give way and crashed into her at Toolleen in November 2022. She died at the scene. Sarkis Nakoul was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and last year sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in jail, with a 2-year non parole period. This month the Court of Appeal found the sentence was manifestly excessive and the offending was at the lower end of the spectrum. Nakoul was re-sentenced to 2 years and 9 months jail, with a non-parole period of 16 months.
Cemetery theft: Castlemaine Cemetery manager Deborah Tranter says a family has been left heartbroken after locating a statue taken from the grave of their 11-year-old daughter. Ms Tranter says she recovered the smashed angel statue that was stolen and dumped over a fence behind the cemetery. Thieves also targeted the Buninyong Cemetery near Ballarat earlier, stealing flowers and memorabilia from recent graves.
Market stalled: Carisbrook Town Hall Market operator Michael Turton says he's been ordered by Central Goldfields Shire Council to immediately stop trading and vacate after 30 years. The market runs every second Sunday at the town hall, paying rent and storage fees to the historical society. Mr Turton says he's been left with no way to shift about $50,000 to $75,000. A council spokesperson says the operation of a retail business from the community hall is not appropriate.
Mining approved: The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has overturned Loddon Shire Council's refusal to permit low-impact gold mining on farming zoned land. Loddon council had rejected the planning application to mine less than 5 hectares at Llanelly due to the land's use as productive farmland. It was also opposed by the property owner and land lessee. The proposed mining involves progressive excavation of soil to no deeper than 15 metres while using a metal detector to find gold. The applicant, who has a prospecting licence, had the permit approved with conditions at VCAT last month. The tribunal found only a modest area of the farm would be affected before being rehabilitated for future agricultural use.
