TOOLERN: MELBOURNE’S BIGGEST SUBURB GETS THE NOD

Features of the suburb include:

• A range of housing options for families, couples, sole occupants and empty-nesters;
• At least eight government schools (six primary and two secondary schools) along with kindergartens and community care facilities;
• Four neighbourhood shopping centres featuring supermarkets and local services to ensure the daily needs of locals are met, as well as a number of smaller shopping centres to be located within residential areas;
• A major activity centre combining a future train station and bus interchange with a range of retail, civic, employment, residential and educational uses to provide Toolern with a commercial and civic heart;
• Pit and pipe to each residence in anticipation of the National Broadband Network;
• An extensive network of landscaped parks and recreation areas, shared paths, sporting facilities and playgrounds; and
• A new regional park to establish a green heart for the Shire of Melton and provide large recreation and parkland area.

comment:  Food for thought... some expansion has its rewards.

Open garden at Coldstream

Christine Wallace will open her garden, 

at 7 Maddens Lane, Coldstream, for five days, 

from October 29 to November 2. 

It will be open from 8am to 6pm daily, 

with entry costing $5.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

State Election

In the past two weeks the Liberal-National Coalition has promised: 
$9.2 million for Pembroke Secondary College upgrades; 
$500,000 for a netball centre at Pinks Reserve; 
$450,000 to save Yarra Valley Practitioners Project; 
$340,000 to upgrade sporting grounds; 
$100,000 for a feasibility study into a Lilydale tourism centre; and funds for a Yellingbo CFA ultra-light tanker.

In one of Labor’s first Yarra Ranges-targeted election promises, Planning Minister Justin Madden visited Chirnside Park last Thursday to announce $100,000 for improvements to Chirnside Park’s green spine.
Seymour state Labor MP Ben Hardman announced that the Robyn Jane Childcare Centre would get a $1 million grant.


Comment:  I hope Labor has a bit more to give or promise!

Road Safety Experience Centre

Premier John Brumby said the Government will invest $50 million over four years to create a world-first Road Safety Experience Centre.

The Centre will provide an insight into living with the physical and emotional consequences of road trauma. It will also provide an experience with innovative interactive technology targeted directly at our riskiest drivers.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Comment: Must have got the Idea from Coldstream CFA. 

RAP Road Awareness Program

Tragic Loss Of Life (Peter Pettinella)

Peter Pettinella (a Yarra Ranges council worker) has been killed when his tractor rolled at Mooroolbark yesterday afternoon.

Initial police investigations into the death of Peter Pettinella, 58, indicated that he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

The council worker was driving south along Belfast Rd in a tractor at around 12pm when he lost control of the vehicle, which is used for slashing parks and reserves.

Mooroolbark Police Sen-Constable David Lee said the vehicle mounted an embankment and rolled forward.

WorkSafe and Yarra Ranges Council attended at the scene.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above from the Leader.

We have all been shocked by this news and our thoughts are with his family. 

Be Heard

The LEADER wants to talk to someone about C97 in relation to the 30% coverage and its implications.

Please e mail me so I can pass your name onto Alex at the Leader. coldstream@eftel.net.au

hit the nail on the head

Hi Mario,

Finally we have somebody who can see the light.

Mr. Anonymous (October 16) has hit the nail on the head about the future of Coldstream.

I have lived in Coldstream for almost 40 years now and have seen the town rise and then begin withering away.

In the last 10 years we have seen the following businesses come and go in our town:

                MEDICAL CENTRE

                CHEMIST

                PRODUCE STORE & PET SHOP

                BUTCHER

                BAKERY

                PIZZA PARLOUR

                EQUINE HERBAL REMEDIES STORE

                FRUIT & VEG

                CHINESE RESTAURANT

                COFFEE SHOP - CAFE

                LIGHTING SHOP

                SERVICE STATION

                HAIRDRESSER

                CLOTHES SHOP

                SADDLER

                TOY STORE

Now, mainly due to a lack of a population using these services, they have simply drifted away.

The town needs a boost to remain viable, be it by moving the UGB or Dual Occupancies.

There is plenty of room to expand the town and remaining an individual entity as per the 2020 proposal .

Keep up the good work Mario.

Robert

Comment: Thanks Robert but thank are due to Brett, Peter & Barry as well.

The Good Oil

Local Olive Oil producer wins Gold!

Well done to La Grue Olives.

C97 in Coldstream

Anonymous said...

Hi Mario, if the proposed Housing Policy gets through, it will have far bigger implications to everyone in Coldstream. As I believe it, not only will blocks have to be a minimum or 1000m2, but you will only be allowed to build on 30% of the block. This will have implications on all the existing blocks in Coldstream, as if you want to build a shed/garage in your backyard and it will push you over the 30% land coverage, you won't be allowed to! We must stop this happening and everyone possible should lodge a submission against the proposal.

October 18, 2010 9:29 PM

..

Yes, there is that too. There is also a ruling on the size of a tree that can be chopped down without a permit. If a tree measures more than 80 cm in CIRCUMFERENCE at 1 metre above the ground you may also need a permit! I would like to know how the 30% was arrived at and how many existing blocks are not complying with this new scheme. Thanks for your comment and I hope you and a few others bring this to the attention of the Shire before it is too late.

Planning amendment gets green light

Victorian Planning Minister Justin Madden has approved the final part of the Ararat Rural City Council's C14 planning amendment.

The amendment will allow for some land in Ararat, Pomonal, Moyston, Willaura and Lake Bolac to be rezoned as residential.

The first part of the amendment was approved in December and allowed for a 76-lot subdivision on Ararat's north-western edge.

The council's general manager of development services, Mark Hogan, says the municipality's growing population needs more residential land.

"The main reason was to unlock additional land," he said.

"Over time you'll find that there's areas or pockets of land that are ripe for development but are just the wrong zoning or you might find that you've got a piece of farm zone that's wedged between two bits of residential land that have been developed, so what it does is it cleans up a lot of those anomalies."

Comment: It can be done!

 To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Anonymous said..

Heaven help me for progress....I am so tired of the negativity surrounding all proposed potential development of Coldstream...expanding the Urban Growth Boundary and even the Dual Occupancy Development applications......Where are you people coming from?????..

Comments like..."what has Mario got to gain"...more business because of increase.....So cynical...why can't he just be working for the good of the community..in this case its Coldstream...So what...that he doesn't live in Coldstream...he works there, so in affect he spends more time in Coldstream than you guys who live there. Why do you all think there always has to be an ulterior motive????....Clearly a case of "TALL POPPY SYNDROME"...as we Aussies are so often accused of...Why does it always come down to people thinking that there always has to be a benefit for someone to do some good? It's the Mario's of this world that make things happen!!!!

Get real people....Your Township has been stagnant for more than 10years...decreased values, problems with services, no growth....FOR GOD SAKE!!!!..What Mario is doing is trying to improve YOUR TOWN and so are the Developers who are trying to increase populations.....It's a postive steps to ensure the ongoing survial of Coldstream...clearly something is better than nothing...which is what you people have been accepting for way too long now......Get real people...stop living in the cacoons of the past.....Stop bagging someone who is working for YOUR CAUSE....Do you realise that more development (Dual Occupancy & expanding the Urban Growth Boundary) will increase the value of YOUR LAND....it will increase the value of YOUR LAND if you have a site that is able to be subdivided (not in the single dwelling covenant area)...this will be worth more in the future...For those of you who don't want to do it (you want to save your land for family cricket in the back yard)....Guess what...YOU DON'T HAVE TOO, but don't deny those who DO......Afterall.....we All complain about how the Council, who won't let us do this and won't let us do that...you are being just as dictitorial as they are.

So let me leave you with this thought......Do you really want to see Coldstream die????....Do you really want to see COLDSTREAM as a second rate Township???? OR, Do you want to see COLDSTREAM as a THRIVING COMMMUNITY/TOWNSHIP like Helaesville. Yarra Glen etc.???? The choice is your's...but let me remind you.....By opposing this expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary and even the Dual Occupancies...you will only keep the value of YOUR LAND down, when other Towmships are thriving because of development. In the long term...this means a benefit to you as land holders, a benefit to the communicty of more shops, upgrading services and securing the schools, faciltieis you have at this stage,only been able to just sustain....So I give my support to Mario for his efforts to assist a dying community...Goodd luck Mario in your endeavours and hope that the community of Coldstream wake up to themselves and realsie the benefits of supporting your cause amd Mario I would just like to add....if all fails...it won't be on your head..it will result in the ignorance of those who oppose you.

Anonymous

Comment:  Thanks, I and our group needed that.  Please keeping filling out the sheets................

Remember When

$750,000 TO HELP DEVELOP NEW WINDOWS FOR FLAME ZONES

Planning Minister Justin Madden today announced $750,000 in grants for research and development of windows specifically suited to houses in the highest category of Bushfire Attack Level – the Flame Zone.
Speaking at an industry Roundtable to encourage ongoing rebuilding efforts in bushfire affected communities Mr Madden said it was important to support the building industry while it developed new products to meet national building standards introduced after the February 2009 fires.

“We are committed to ensuring that Victorians impacted by the Black Saturday and Gippsland bushfires can rebuild with the appropriate level of bushfire protection,” Mr Madden said.

“While there are many ways to increase the ability to defend a house in case of a bushfire, windows are a key area of vulnerability for any house.

“Yet many houses in the highest level of potential bushfire risk are in some of the most picturesque parts of Victoria and homeowners want to be able to take advantage of the view.

“Although there are already two window products available for BAL-FZ, the Victorian Government wants to drive the development of further choice and availability of windows in the market.”

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

ATO warns: be aware of cheque scam

Taxation Commissioner Michael D'Ascenzo has warned the community to be

aware of counterfeit ATO cheques supposedly issued by the ATO and drawn on Reserve Bank of Australia.

Road Safety Night

Maroondah Hwy claims eight lives in three years - Local News - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

Maroondah Hwy claims eight lives in three years - Local News - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

Michelle Adds Her Comments

I am a relatively new resident to Coldstream but I fully support Emma's comments about the awfull looking shops. 

I don't know that adding more housing is necessarily the only way to get services on track here. One of the main reason that shops and services don't survive here is that the town is designed in a way that all of the shops are only really accesible by locals. 

If we had a 'main st' that took full advantage of the massive amount of passing traffic, we could sustain and grow local businesses. 

Comments: 

Please keep the comments coming and remember to send back the Christine Fyfffe survey to her and the COLDSTREAM  2020 survey at the local post office.

Emma Writes:

I am a resident in Coldstream I think the shops as you drive in from the roundabout(south & north gateway)are an awfull sight. I really feel that it should all be demolished and rebuilt with a new building complex which is more appealing to the eye when driving by hense bringing more business to the area aswell.

I have lived in coldstream for 7 years now & not alot has been done to improve the town. I am all for exspanding, this town needs a better kinder, school,doctor's,chemsit,petrol station,kindergarten,also a childcare, family's need to work these days & there is no childcare here, Kilara rd needs to be re-done, & we need traffic lights at kilara rd & Marroondah hwy. 

I feel coldstream could be more sustainable with all these requirments.. I love the Yarra Valley & Coldstream is right in the middle of it we just need a makeover thanks Emma.

COLDSTREAM 2020

the COLDSTREAM  2020

responses now have reached 89 returns

Please keep them coming.  Please spread the word.

Please send the other survey back

to

Christine Fyffe.

'Sheer stupidity' | Upper Yarra Mail | Star News Group Local community news

'Sheer stupidity' | Upper Yarra Mail | Star News Group Local community news

Police Major Collision Investigation Unit Acting Sergeant Shane Miles was making no bones about the frustration of having to “yet again” count the cost of carnage on Victoria's highways.

The death at Coldstream brought the Victorian road toll to 224 compared with 207 last year.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

 

Comment:

Last week the CFA were called to 3 horrific accidents in a short space of time and not to mention a house fire in Coldstream.

Working on Maroodah Highway (Coldstream) we often hear the sirens going past to yet another accident.  The CFA, police, paramedics, ambulance and sometimes the air ambulance all rushing to save a life.

What can be done about this carnage?

John Fenton (CFA Captain Coldstream) has asked me to see if you would like a ROAD TRAUMA INFORMATION NIGHT held at Coldstream for 16 to 24 year olds.  The night would be held at the local CFA and would have speakers and graphic films.

John is prepared to organize a night if there are enough young people interested.

please e mail coldstream@eftel.net.au to indicate you may be willing to come to such a night

or See John at the CFA on Sunday mornings.

I urge all readers to pass this message onto the youth of the Shire and beyond.

Regards

Mario Galteri

Victorians to trial electric cars

Victoria's groundbreaking $5 million trial of electric vehicles is now underway.

An RACV online ballot for community participation is now open for applications.

The trial is seeking 180 households to try out an electric vehicle for three months. To apply, you'll need a valid Victorian driver licence.

Those taking part in the trial will report back on their experience.

It will look at drivers' experiences in Victoria's diverse network, and help the government plan the types of charging infrastructure that will be needed and in which locations

The trial will provide the vehicle charging point and pay for insurance; the household will pay the cost of electricity, which will be less than they would pay for petrol.

Around 60 vehicles, provided by Blade Electric Vehicles, EDay Life, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota, will be used in the trial. Most of the vehicles will be small passenger cars.

Some electric light commercial vehicles will be used in freight fleets. Electric two-wheelers that are currently being used in fleets will also be tested.

More than 50 companies, organisations and universities will participate in the trial.

This trial will help establish Victoria as an electric vehicle-friendly place.

Visit the Department of Transport website to find out more this and other projects that are part of the State Government's $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan.

Fire Action Week 2010

Fire Action Week 2010 calls on all Victorians to prepare for the upcoming fire season.

CFA urges everyone, no matter where they live, to learn more about fire and make use of the many products and services available to help plan for their individual fire risk.

Running from Sunday 10 to Sunday 17 October 2010, the week centres around community events that focus on the importance of writing and practising a fire plan, as well as clearing up and preparing your property.

Fire Action Week 2010 is part of the whole-of-government Summer Fire Campaign, and fire agencies will promote the activities they are taking to prepare Victoria for the event of bushfires.

To read the full story click on the TITLE above.

Traffic lights are needed (Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader, 05 Oct 2010, Page 42)

---

Traffic lights are needed

Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader
05 Oct 2010

REGARDING â€�â€�Push for more people in Coldstream’’, I live in Coldstream estate and none of my friends or I have received any information about this. So who did they send (the survey) to? We need traffic lights into the estate first. It’s a group of...read more...

Tech Tags: Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader newspaper OPINION

Email from Gerda

I just want to express my support for the expansion of Coldstream.

I feel Coldstream has become a little satelite town with a population too small to warrant decent shops and public transport.

The forgotten town.

As a fairly young retiree I am already thinking about moving because of the lack of public transport etc.

Gerda 

Comment: Thanks for that and I remind you all to fill out the SURVEY posted to every resident in Coldstream by Christine Fyffe. We need facts and figures and community opinion.  I believe there is a stamped addressed envelope back to Christine Fyffe.

COLDSTREAM  2020