PLAYGROUND PLANS: OlindaMt Dandenong Traders Association president Moss Siddle, right, and association member Rob Higgs point out a possible location for playground equipment.By TANIA MARTIN
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has agreed to work with the OlindaMt Dandenong Traders Association on its $300,000 development project.
The traders association approached the council more than four months ago with a number of ideas to help improve the northern end of Olinda.
Association president Moss Siddle said improving the streetscape of the OlindaMt Dandenong village was one of the many plans for the northern end of the town.
He said improving safety was also a high priority of the association and called for the council to introduce a 50km/h speed zone around the Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and Ridge Road intersection.
Mr Siddle said improved pedestrian and road user safety adjacent to this intersection was also needed.
“There are some major safety issues with a lack of visibility and the speed that cars negotiate this intersection and a lack of any recognised crossing point is a concern” Mr Siddle said.
The traders’ association has suggested that the council introduce a pedestrian crossing from the bus stop in front of the Mt Dandenong Hotel to the Olinda Post Office as a crossing point on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road.
Mr Siddle said the Howard Norman reserve on the Mt Dandenong Tourist Road would also be the perfect spot for the construction of a playground.
“We (the traders’ association) intend to approach a local service club such as the Lions, Rotary or Apex to fund and construct the playground equipment if this project is approved by the council,” Mr Siddle said.
To celebrate the history of the town the traders association has also suggested the erection of ornaments or sculptures around the village depicting some of the famous people who have lived and worked in the Dandenong Ranges over the years.
Mr Siddle said some of those famous people would include William Ricketts, Arthur Streeton, Mary Card, and Tom Roberts.
He said this would give the village a unique attraction for tourists and would spur local interest.
“Funding for these sculptures has been sought through the Federal Government and the historical society has agreed to provide accurate information regarding various past but famous residents,” Mr Siddle said.
The shire’s manager of communications, James Martin, said the council was looking at working along side the traders association for the benefit of the town.
Mr Martin said that the council would be looking at ways to identify different projects and work with the traders association on specific short, long and mediumterm projects.
Mr Siddle said the group was also looking at introducing an annual festival to celebrate the village and the life style enjoyed in the Dandenong Ranges.
He said the association was looking forward to working with the council and that it was currently looking into a number of different funding options for the project.
