By JESSE GRAHAM
Residents and businesses asked to share their vision…
How will Coldstream develop over the next 20 years?
That question will be the focus of a special meeting announced for early next month at which independent planners will answer community questions over land use.
The meeting, which will be held on 6 March, will be run by independent planning experts at the Yarra Ranges Council Chambers and residents are being encouraged to attend.
Coldstream Timber co-owner Mario Galteri, who has been a vocal advocate for expanding the town, through a re-zoning of the urban growth boundary, said he hopes the meeting will provide clarification on ways forward.
“I’m hoping that they’re going to say there is a way of expanding Coldstream and say ‘this is the way we suggest we do it’ to, basically, give us direction for the future,” he said.
He said that he and a few other community members have been pushing for an expansion of the town for years but that a solution could still be a long time down the track.
However, Mr Galteri said that his view is not accepted by all members of the community, some of whom don’t think an expansion is necessary.
He encouraged all Coldstream residents to attend the meeting, particularly if their view for Coldstream’s future is different to his, to have open and transparent discussion on the matter.
Yarra Ranges Mayor and Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister said the land use meeting would look at the major issues in the town, and encourage the conversation to continue in a more informed way, rather than finding an immediate solution.
She said the meeting would focus on the long term land use in the town – from the UBG to housing density – while meetings on how Coldstream could be revitalised in the short term would continue separately.
Cr McAllister said that it was important to note that there were many factors to consider when mapping out Coldstream’s future, and that an increased population was not a quick-fix solution.
“It’s a difficult argument… I think we need to take a step back and look at what the real issues are and what we’re trying to achieve,” she said.
“It’s not just about more people in the town, it’s about revitalisation.
“People have been extremely passionate about it, with strong views, but it’s a very diverse community with very diverse views on revitalisation.”
She said that the two topics – land use and short-term revitalisation – were equally as important as one another.
“I absolutely support both conversations, and I think that both pieces of work are pretty critical to the community,” Cr McAllister said.
She said that she wanted to see the Coldstream community lead in its revitalisation of its shopping precinct and public spaces with council support.
The Coldstream land-use meeting will be held on Thursday 6 March at the council chambers conference room at 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale, from 7-9pm.
The meeting is open to the public, and the council’s managers of strategic planning will also be attending.
A meeting to discuss short term revitalisation in the town will also be held in March, but a date has yet to be confirmed.
For more information, call 1300 368 333.
What do you see in the future of Coldstream? What would you like to have happen in the town? The Opinion pages of the Mail are open.
Send a letter to the editor with your name, suburb and a contact number, to 244 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, 3777, or email editor@yvnews.com.au.
