By Callum Ludwig
Wandin North is right in the middle of so much that the Yarra Ranges has to offer, a short distance to Lilydale and access to suburban townships, right on the Warburton Highway with a route out to the Warburton Valley and with the Dandenongs and Maroondah Highway a quick shortcut away on either side.
It’s about time however for the township to be revamped as a visitor destination and active community hub, with Yarra Ranges Council now tapping into feedback from residents for the Wandin North Town Centre Masterplan.
Manager of Design and Place at Yarra Ranges Council Nathan Islip said every township in the Yarra Ranges needs to be looked at for its own character and benefit and he hopes to access opportunities for Wandin North.
“We want to widen the footpath so traders and businesses can spill out onto the street. When people drive on the highway, they’ll see the light and activity, especially at nighttime, and be encouraged to come in and use those businesses rather than just driving through,” he said.
“We’re also proposing some high-character tree planting, so there’s a really strong sense of arrival into Wandin North, a pop of colour in autumn and a beautiful shady canopy in summer and to make the town centre more connected to the Warburton Rail Trail and encourage people to pop into the town as well.”
The PJ Mould Community Park and the Greenglades Court Playground are also set for a revamp and refresh under the plan.
Yarra Ranges Chandler Ward Councillor Dave Eastham said the community input has been vital to understanding what needs to feature in future upgrades to the town centre.
“In March and April, we asked the Wandin North community what they wanted to see improved in their town centre as part of the development of a draft Wandin North Town Centre Masterplan,” he said.
“Through this process, the views and aspirations of business operators and the wider community were captured and it was clear that the community wanted to see long-term improvements that provide reinvigorated public spaces in the Wandin North Shopping Precinct, P J Mould and Greenglades Court Reserves and lift the profile of Wandin North for tourists and users of the Warburton Rail Trail.”
The draft Wandin North Masterplan is available on the Yarra Ranges Council’s website at www.shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/wandin-north-town-centre-master-plan for the community to review and comment on.
A final drop-in community consultation session is also set to be held at the Wandin North Recreation Reserve on Monday 28 November open from 11am to 7pm.
Cr Eastham said Council is delighted that so many ideas have been provided and these have been included in the proposed solutions presented in the draft Masterplan.
“It provides a shared vision for improving the sense of arrival, enhancing the character and value of spaces and increasing accessibility to create a lively, welcoming space for the community to thrive in and a place where people want to visit too,” he said.
“I encourage everyone who loves Wandin North to have a look at the draft masterplan and provide their feedback, to ensure that whatever projects that are delivered in the future align with community aspirations.”
