By Mikayla van Loon
With the State election a little over two months away, Yarra Ranges Council put forward an advocacy plan at the Tuesday 13 September meeting, outlining the major projects for the shire.
Having released the Lilydale Structure Plan just weeks ago, many of the priorities for the Lilydale area referred to major infrastructure projects identified to support the growth of the town.
The two main ones being the duplication of the Lilydale railway line to accommodate a train station at the Kinley estate, as well as a Lilydale bypass.
These projects have been called for from the community for many years, with the bypass first being noted as needed in the 1950s.
Yarra Ranges Council has also identified the need to financially support the Lilydale Youth Hub to ensure its service for young people remains operational, as well as advocating for a mental health outreach service on behalf of Anchor to help prevent homelessness and early school leaving.
Among the remainder of the projects, upgrades to the Brushy Creek Trail, Morrison Reserve, the old Lilydale Railway Station building and CCTV equipment have been noted.
Councillor Fiona McAllister said often council’s work closely with aspiring candidates to inform possible policy and funding allocations, making advocacy an important part of any election process.
“Advocacy, both as individual councillors, as a collective and certainly as an entity like Yarra Ranges Council is a really critical part of the work that we do,” she said.
“It informs the ask that we make on behalf of our community in many of the forums, none probably more significant than the build up to State and Federal elections.”
Cr McAllister said much of what the council has asked for in the advocacy document relates to money because although 70 per cent of the council’s income is financed through rates, there is a shortfall for the completion of projects.
State election candidates from the Evelyn, Monbulk and Eildon districts will be made aware of Yarra Ranges Council’s priorities under its strategic plans.
“This list makes it very clear the things that are most important to our community at this time,” Cr McAllister said.
Broken down into categories, projects range from development of trails, activity centres and energy transition infrastructure, to investment in maternal and child health services.
Seconded by Cr Andrew Fullagar, he said this advocacy plan outlines exactly what the council’s objectives are.
“We want to secure partnerships that work for us between council and government and influence their decisions on where we’d like to go and having identified the community’s needs, we’d like to push on and do exactly that,” he said.
The motion was carried unanimously.
In the lead up to the election, Star Mail will be looking more closely at the council’s election priorities and would invite anyone with thoughts or comments on any of the above projects to contact Mikayla van Loon by emailing mikayla.vanloon@starnewsgroup.com.au or calling the office on 5957 3700.
