Boom or bust

By Kath Gannaway

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 MOUNTAIN NEWS MAIL     21st September 2010 07:10:55 AM

Brett Spurling and Mario Galteri envisage the post office as the centre of Coldstream under a proposal for expansion.
  

A proposal which would double the number of houses in Coldstream is being tested by a group of local business¬men behind a new pro-expansion group, Coldstream 2020.

Members Mario Galteri from Cold¬stream Timber and Brett Spurling from Gateway Estate told the Mail Coldstream needs an increase in population to not only thrive, but to survive.

Recent opposition to dual occupancy approvals by a majority of property own¬ers in the existing housing estate, left little doubt people valued their existing family-sized blocks.

However, Mr Galteri said there also seemed to be general support for increas¬ing the size and population of Coldstream – provided it did not change the character of the existing township.

The group did a mail-out to around 400 Coldstream residents earlier this month, putting forward changes to the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), which would involve changes to the Green Wedge boundary and rezoning farmland.

Under the proposal, the post office would become the centre of town with the UGB expanded to include three undevel¬oped parcels of land which are presently off-limits to development.

Mr Galteri and Mr Spurling told the Mail Coldstream has both facilities and potential to become a sustainable, thriving community.

“The school which has had up to 300 students, now has around 100,” Mr Spurl¬ing said.

“We have a community centre, a school, kindergarten and a shopping cen¬tre, which has plenty of space to expand.

“But we can’t sustain the shops that are here now, we can’t sustain a petrol station, we could not sustain a doctor … we are unsustainable as we are because we don’t have the population,” he said.

It is not out of the question either that the train line could be re-instated between Lilydale and Coldstream, which would become a transport park and ride, taking pressure off Lilydale station and promot¬ing public transport.

Mr Galteri said as the population ages, many young people will be forced out of the area. “Increasing the number of hous¬ing sites will create housing options for young adults of Coldstream, as well as the elderly wishing to downsize,” he said.

The men say they are aware they may be seen to have a vested interest because of their business or land interests, but say what they are putting out to the communi¬ty is something that has been talked about for many years.

The survey is the first step to gauging community views.

Mr Galteri said they are encouraged by the response to date, which showed a five to one in favour. “We want to get the com¬munity viewpoint, whether it’s for, or against,” he said.

Information, a map of the proposed changes and a survey form can be found at www.coldstreamau.blogspot.com under Coldstream 2020.