By JESSE GRAHAM
A DRAFT Structure Plan for Coldstream is now out for review, with residents asked to voice their thoughts and feedback at a meeting next week.
On Tuesday 10 November, Yarra Ranges councillors endorsed the Draft Coldstream Structure Plan and released it for public consultation.
The 49-page document follows the Issues and Opportunities paper released earlier in the year, which assessed potential growth areas and issues to be addressed in the town.
The Draft Structure Plan has five aims – to enhance Coldstream’s presence and regional connectivity, maximise tourism opportunities, define the role and function of Coldstream’s activity nodes (The Lodge Shopping Centre, The Gateway and Margaret Lewis Reserve), facilitate a ‘true village lifestyle’ in Coldstream, and to improve the town’s hidden gems.
Assessing each of the town’s precincts, the plan lists objectives for the town, as well as plans to improve the landscape and accessibility of the town in the coming 10-15 years.
One of the larger proposals includes potentially re-aligning Killara Road with Station Street, to create a four-way intersection and address traffic and pedestrian issues.
The document also lists potential development of the vacant Mixed Use Zone around the Lodge Shopping Centre, to accommodate extra housing, which could bring a population growth of 10 per cent.
Improving pedestrian links around the town and public spaces are also plans identified in the draft plan, as well as accommodating for a potential future duplication of Maroondah Highway.
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister said the plan was a “clear strategic document”, which came out of an “inspiring” consultation process.
“Coldstream is not a big community – compared to many of our other towns and settlements, we consider it one of our smaller towns,” she said.
“(But) one of our first or second meetings, we had a room overflowing at the Primary School – we had an excess of 50 people turn out for one of these facilitated sessions.
“There’s been input from children, from sports clubs, from businesses, all aspects of that community, and I’ve been really pleased that we’ve been able to do this piece of work.”
A public drop-in session will be held from 7pm-9pm at the Lodge on Wednesday 2 December, where residents will be able to ask questions and get more information about the plan, as well as provide feedback.
Consultation on the plan will be open until 31 January 2016.
For more information, visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/coldstream or call Ben Champion on 9294 6147 or at b.champion@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.
