Today, the Coldstream 2020 group met with shire officers and presented them with the survey results as well as agruments for the expansion of the UGB around Coldstream. Below is what was presented at the meeting.
A report from the meeting will be posted here soon.
In the meantime look out for survey from Jeanette McRae.
Coldstream 2020
Shire Meeting 16/2/2011
Committee Members:
Mario Galteri. Local business and part land owner.
Brett Spurling. Resident and business owner.
Peter Wal. Resident and Real Estate Agent.
Barry Kennedy. Business owner Lilydale resident.
Kevin Smith. Local Resident and President of Coldstream Sporting Club.
Lyle Godden. Local Resident and Coldstream Primary Committee member.
Shire Members
Cr Jeanette McRae, (Ward Councillor)
Glenn Patterson (CEO),
Andrew Paxton (Dir, Planning Building & Health)
Damian Closs (Manager, Strategic Planning)
Page 1
................................................................
Coldstream 2020
Committee:
Mario Galteri. Local business and part land owner.
Brett Spurling. Resident and business owner.
Peter Wal. Resident and Real Estate Agent.
Barry Kennedy. Business owner Lilydale resident.
Kevin Smith. Local Resident and President of Coldstream Sporting Club. Lyle Godden. Local Resident and Coldstream Primary School Committee member.
As members of the local community we are concerned about the future of the Coldstream Township. The lack of development and an aging community is creating a number of concerns as was evident from the large number of responses to our survey and comments posted on the COLDSTREAM 3770 BLOG (www.coldstreamau.blogspot.com).
· Family dynamics: Without new housing options the young adults from Coldstream are being forced to move away from the area to live. This causes families to live farther apart increasing the number of older people left in the township. Another consequence of this is that our workforce is moving out to growth areas. Caring for the aged will be a greater problem for the Shire as the area ages.
·
· School and Pre-school: Over recent years a decline in new student enrolments both at the Coldstream Primary School and the Pre School is of concern for the future of the township.
Students attending Coldstream Primary School receive a high level of quality education delivered by a dedicated Principal and staff and the Curriculum follows the requirements set down by the Department of Education and Early Childhood. Parent participation is encouraged and their participation is most welcome.
An increase in the population of Coldstream will without doubt benefit the School and the Pre School and enable both of these education facilities to continue to provide the standards of education required by parents who choose to enrol their children.
·
· Sporting Clubs: There are a number of sporting groups in Coldstream including football, cricket, tennis and netball, these operate over a range of both junior and senior age groups. These clubs are finding it increasingly difficult to operate due to falling member numbers.
·
· Lack of services: At one stage Coldstream had a chemist, doctor, bakery, pizza shop and a petrol station, all are gone, we need a larger population to support and maintain these businesses and services. We are not saying that this happen but there is a better chance of it happening with a great population base.
·
· Sustainable business: Without increasing the population it will become increasing difficult for the businesses in Coldstream to remain sustainable. A number of business in Coldstream are just surviving. An increase in population would definitely help these to survive. Many are running at 50% capacity.
·
· Affordable housing: Housing prices in Coldstream continue to rise, adding to the difficulties the young adults of Coldstream have purchasing or renting a property in Coldstream. Lower cost housing options need to be created.
·
· Beautification of Coldstream: We want to put Coldstream on the map, a place to admire and want to live in not a place that is just driven through to get to Yarra Glen, Lilydale or Healesville. Coldstream has the potential to turn from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan and a township we can be proud of . We don’t want to hear, “where the heck is Coldstream?” anymore.
With these concerns in mind we have approached the community to find out if our concerns are reflected across the general population of Coldstream.
This was done by distributing a survey to the community with our suggested changes to the UGB to enable Coldstream to approximately double in size.
The survey was distributed via the post office and promoted via articles in both the Leader and Mail newspapers.
The survey results were as follows:
See attachment 1 for a copy of the survey.
Completed surveys 108
Incorrectly completed 3, (2.78%)
Against any expansion 14, (12.96%)
Supporting expansion as suggested 79, (73.15%)
Supporting expansion but with qualifications 12, (11.11%)
Of the correctly completed surveys there was over 86% support of expansion of Coldstream and less than 14% against it.
In addition to our survey an independent survey was conducted by Christine Fyffe, we believe this was done in order for her to form her own opinion.
Her results were as follows:
Completed Surveys 244
Supporting Expansion 151, (61.88%)
Against Expansion 88, (36.06%)
Both surveys show overwhelming support for the expansion of Coldstream, The Coldstream 2020 committee would like to ask the council to support our proposal and work with the state government to implement our suggested changes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A copy of the survey was attached as well.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Attachment1
Coldstream 2020
In recent times there has been heated discussion around Coldstream in relation to Dual Occupancy housing blocks. These discussions have divided the community in regards to Dual Occupancy but from these discussions there seemed to be general support for increasing the size and population of Coldstream provided it did not change the character of the existing township.
From this and other factors, the “Coldstream 2020” group has been formed.
The aims of this group are:
Firstly: see if the community of Coldstream want Coldstream to expand, and
Secondly: with community support, this group will lobby the Shire of Yarra Ranges, councilors and the State Government to try and make it happen.
This group believes what Coldstream needs is more housing and an increase in population. This can be done by moving the Green Wedge boundary and rezoning of farming land.
By increasing the population, the whole of Coldstream will benefit. Increased population creates stronger schools, sporting clubs, community groups and community services. Business will also benefit and may attract more business and services to the area.
As the average age of the population of Coldstream gets higher many young people will be forced to leave the area, breaking the family dynamics. Increasing the number of housing sites will create housing options for the young adults of Coldstream as well as the elderly wishing to downsize.
This group proposes that the Post Office becomes the new centre of Coldstream as this area (around the Post Office) has room for further retail expansion and contains small shops as well as a supermarket.
Attached is a map of the suggested changes which shows the land that we would be suggesting be rezoned. The zoning of this land would enable Coldstream to double in size.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
In order to go to the next step we need to get the community viewpoint. Whatever your opinion please have your say.
Please complete the following page.
