By Taylah Eastwell
Lilydale commuters are enjoying a new bus shelter on Main St, after a local community group advocated for the previously run-down shelter to be replaced during lockdown last year.
Lilydale Main Street Beautification is a group of volunteers that devote their time to cleaning up and improving the community feel of Lilydale’s Main Street strip.
Sharyn Manning, member of Lilydale Main Street Beautification, said the group was walking up and down the street pre-covid when they all agreed the bus stop on the corner of Castella St and Main St was in need of a revamp.
“We were going up and down the street trying to hit the things that were worst looking, and that bus shelter was by far the worst looking,” Mrs Manning said.
“Everybody said yeah yeah, it’ll never happen.
But Mrs Manning, on behalf of the group, advocated to the Department of Transport for the shelter to be replaced, describing it as an “eyesore”.
“It has always been the most heavily used bus interchange in Lilydale outside of the interchange at the station. It was no longer fit for purpose, didn’t hold the amount of people that use it at peak times after school or work, and it didn’t suit disabled people or mum’s with prams,” Mrs Manning explained.
“The bottom was rusting, it just wasn’t pleasant to look at and not consistent with the look we want for our town,” she said.
“I sent them a bit of a spiel and some photos and they came back straight away and said yes.
While the DoT originally said the replacement would require the removal of car parks due to the need for a ramp for pram and wheelchair access, it consulted with the group and came back with an option that did not involve removing any carparks.
The modern new shelter is much larger, is easily accessible and offers much more room to escape the weather during winter months.
“It is a great concept they’ve put in there. I think it looks fantastic and commuters love it too. It has always been a busy bus stop and it was just a shame to see people out there in horrible conditions. Everyone is happy for it,” Mrs Manning said.
The Star Mail believes the new shelter was implemented in July 2020 at a cost of around $120,000.
