By JESSE GRAHAM
THE future of Yarra Glen was discussed and planned last week as the Yarra Glen Chamber of Commerce got together to talk about local issues.
On the agenda for the 14 June meeting were concerns about signage leading up to the town from Lilydale and tourism exposure, the railway connecting Yarra Glen to Healesville and mapping the history of the town.
Brett Whelan held a presentation about the progress of the Yarra Valley Railway and the plan to have trains running between Yarra Glen and Healesville by December 2016.
He said that the group has grown exponentially in recent years, with 5000 volunteer hours logged in 2005, 40,000 volunteer hours in 2010 and 60,000 hours in 2012.
The Yarra Valley Railway Group has also recently undertaken a refurbishment of Yarra Glen Station House to accommodate the future of the railway.
A presentation was then held on the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum’s Pop-Up Museum, which will be in Yarra Glen on Wednesday 26 June and in Warburton on Friday 28 June.
The museum will be held from 2-4pm in Yarra Glen and from 11am-1pm in Warburton and welcomes townspeople to come and share their stories, items and photographs from the town’s history.
The issue of tourism signs was also brought up by President Alex Lagerwey, who discussed the possibility of redeveloping brown tourist road signs on the approach to the town to enhance tourism.
Mr Lagerwey said the idea of redeveloping the sign would help to draw attention to attractions in Yarra Glen and that he would contact Yarra Ranges Council about the possibilities.
In depth discussion was had by the members of the chamber in discussing how to best utilise signage around the town.
The idea was also brought up of linking the township to the Yarra Glen Racecourse via pathways in the area surrounding the IGA supermarket.
Mr Lagerwey said he would contact IGA, which maintains ownership over the land, but that the idea for a pathway for tourists and residents could increase walking traffic throughout the town.
The next Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held on Monday 15 July.
For more information on the Yarra Glen Chamber of Commerce, visit www.facebook.com/YarraGlenChamberofCommerce.
