Skate mates

By Kath Gannaway
Predictably, transport and mains gas to Warburton were also headliners, but tourism, the elderly, health, housing, road safety, bushfire issues, law and order and recreation were among the topics which were canvassed.
More than 70 people attended the forum on Wednesday, 7 March, organised by Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Ltd which runs the Warburton and Yarra Junction community banks.
UYCEL president Rodney Wood said the company had returned $1.3 million dollars back into the community since the Warburton Community Bank opened 10 years ago and the company wanted to identify what the Upper Yarra Community sees as its needs.
He told the meeting to think outside the square of their own interests and look at projects or issues which would make a difference in the broader community.
The Warburton-Millgrove Sports Complex was buzzing with ideas and at one point there seemed a real danger the brainstorming was going to outpace the supply of butchers’ paper.
Carl Melkonian and Joey Davidson spoke on behalf of the skaters saying they represented a large number of skateboard enthusiasts who had no-where to skate other than on the footpaths and roadways around Warburton.
“You would have seen us around the town, in front of the post office,” Carl said.
He said the closest skateboard park was at Ringwood and dispelled the common-held belief that the Yarra Junction skate park was just a bus trip away.
Carl said while people were relatively tolerant, they were always eventually moved on from the footpath or forced off the roads by cars.
Kailem Bowman said the Yarra Junction facility was designed for BMX bikes and scooters, not for skateboards and was dangerous.
He said the group had been talking with Yarra Ranges Council’s youth services and had identified one or two places that might make a good site.
“We just want a safe place to skate,” Carl said.
There was overall a strong emphasis on youth issues – youth clubs are needed in both towns – and the inadequacies of public transport tied into that area.
Suggestions included extending the night rider bus to Warburton (it currently finishes at Woori Yallock), a bus connection between Yarra Junction and Healesville, bike carrying facilities on the buses … “and bus drivers who are happy to use it”.
There was concern that the lack of transport led young people to get a lift with people they should not be driving with or walking home.
The elderly would also benefit from better transport, but there was also a call for a hydrotherapy pool at Yarra Junction, local hospital and emergency medical services, a home for Upper Yarra U3A and access to a defibrillator.
Ideas to boost tourism included streetscape improvements and dog poo bags, a chairlift to Mt Donna Buang, bicycle parking areas and stands, a broader mix of shops and the return of the caravan park to the community.
There was a call too for Dammans Road to be extended to Millgrove as an alternative fire escape route, the return of the fire alarm and more refuges.
Bill Den Hartog, Melbourne area manager for Bendigo Bank said he was impressed with the level and depth of community involvement and said there were clearly some projects or needs that were “big ticket stuff” and could take some doing.
He said the community bank would put $280,000 back into the Upper Yarra communities this year.
“Dollars can leverage more dollars,” he said.
“You are very fortunate that your community can do business cash in hand, rather than cap in hand.”