By JESSE GRAHAM
HEALESVILLE residents are pushing for a return of recognition for community groups, in a new sign welcoming visitors to Healesville and the council is helping to finalise plans.
The Healesville Action Group (HAG) expressed concern at the 10 September Yarra Ranges Council meeting that community group logos that featured on the old welcome sign to Healesville were not reinstated.
The old sign was replaced in April this year by a large sign designed by members of the community, along with landscape architect, designer and Healesville resident Jon Co and voted for by over 1000 people.
The action group has been pushing for a small sign to be constructed in the same area, bearing the logos of community groups that featured on the old entry sign.
Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister said that council was backing the construction of the new sign.
“We fully support a sign going back – there’s no question about that,” she said.
“What we’re looking at is what the sign should look like.”
She said council was liaising with community groups about what logos should appear on the new sign.
Director of Environment and Engineering with Yarra Ranges Council Mark Varmalis proposed last month that Healesville CFA, Guides, Lions, Probus, Rotary, Scouts and SES should all feature on the sign.
He said that a sign could be constructed in a similar fashion to one erected on Monbulk Road by Rotary, which features large logos of community groups.
Cr McAllister said it was important to make sure that service clubs had their logos represented.
“It’s not about advertising, it’s about celebrating and recognising the incredible work they do for the community,” she said.
“We absolutely have to have recognition of that coming into our town.”
No timeline has been set for the sign project and Cr McAllister said she would be continuing conversation with service clubs about obtaining logos for use on the sign.
