By JESSE GRAHAM
A MEETING between community members and Yarra Ranges Council representatives will try to answer a question sitting on the lips of many – what will Coldstream’s future look like?
The Coldstream Structure Plan community workshop will be held on Thursday 4 June at Coldstream Primary School from 7pm to 9pm.
The meeting will be based around the recently-released Issues and Opportunities paper, published by the council and Hansen Partnership which goes over Coldstream with a fine-toothcomb.
Assessing issues such as a disconnect between the residential part of Coldstream and the shopping precinct, the paper lists things that need improvement in the town and discusses in-depth how those improvements could be made.
Facilitating walking and cycling in the town, through high-quality footpaths and bike racks is one of the ‘opportunities’ listed in the paper, which notes the possibility of a walking/cycling path connecting Lilydale to Yarra Glen via Coldstream being established.
The issue of expanding Coldstream by re-drawing the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and green wedge zones, which has been raised many times in recent years, is also discussed, though it is noted that there are many arguments against the move.
One of the major points raised about the town’s growth is that an act of parliament would need to be passed to re-draw the UGB and amend the council’s Regional Strategy Plan, which is unlikely given that Labor promised before the election that it would not change green wedge zones.
However, many ideas are raised within the paper for improving the town’s spaces, improving amenities and attracting more visitors.
The community workshop will be a chance for residents to raise thoughts, ideas and issues with the council and to discuss the paper and its ideas for the future of the town.
All of the input raised will help to inform the Coldstream Structure Plan, which is expected to be released as a draft paper later in the year.
To read the Issues and Opportunities paper or to register for the meeting, visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.
