Yarra Glen wishes revealed in survey

By Dion Teasdale
A POOL, a library, better public transport, walking and cycling tracks, development of the railway precinct and construction of a traffic bypass are some of the priorities for Yarra Glen and district residents.
The wish list was revealed in the Values and Visions community survey, which involved a mail-out to all households in the 3775 postcode last month.
The survey featured around 30 questions. Results were released this week.
Maintaining Yarra Glen’s small country town atmosphere and developing the town’s billabongs, parklands and the Yarra River as open space were also priorities.
More than 460 residents in Yarra Glen, Dixons Creek, Steels Creek, Christmas Hills and Tarrawarra completed the survey.
Yarra Glen interim township steering committee chair Malcolm Calder said the results sent a clear message about the town’s values and preferred actions.
“The community of Yarra Glen and District value our rural atmosphere and strong sense of community,” he said.
“We recognise the significance of the natural environment. It is most important that we maintain and improve existing community assets, encourage tourism that benefits our community, develop local businesses that provide local employment and training, and ensure transport options meet community needs.”
The most contentious questions related to the proposed supermarket development on Bell Street, but failed to deliver a clear direction for the future of the development.
Fifty-sex per cent of respondents preferred a supermarket larger than McBride’s IGA, but there was no unanimous support for, or opposition to, the proposed supermarket and parkland development.
“Yarra Glen residents were evenly divided in their support for the proposed supermarket, while residents outside the town showed interesting differences,” Mr Calder said.
“Thirty-five per cent of the population prefer to retain the current supermarket, while 30 per cent opt for a significantly larger one, and 26 per cent see the need for a slightly larger supermarket.”
Mr Calder said a higher proportion of people in the 25 to 34 age bracket think the larger supermarket proposal would be beneficial than in any other age group.
“People who have lived here for less than five years have the highest level of agreement that the supermarket proposal would be beneficial, whilst those who have been here for more than 15 years have the highest level of disagreement,” Mr Calder said.
Mr Calder said the survey was a great resource for the people of the Yarra Glen district.
“A newsletter presenting a selected summary of the results of the survey has been posted to households in the 3775 postcode to give residents a feel for the information that the survey has revealed,” he said.
“Full details are available on the website, www.yarraglen.com, or can be viewed at the Yarra Glen post office, newsagent or at the primary school.”
Mr Calder said another newsletter would be mailed out at the end of this month outlining the establishment of a fully representative district committee to represent the town and district.
The newsletter will call for nominations for all committee positions.
These will be voted on at a community gathering and celebration on Sunday, 30 April.