By PETER DOUGLAS
THE fiercely debated future of the Emerald Bus Shelter may have reached its conclusion, with Cardinia Shire Council and Emerald Community House (ECH) reaching an agreement.
The existing bus shelter on Belgrave-Gembrook Road is set to be replaced with a heritage-style bus shelter, with the shire announcing the decision on Wednesday, 27 July.
Cardinia Shire has maintained its stance the shelter needs to be updated to meet community safety and disability compliance standards, but has taken onboard feedback from ECH.
At the request of ECH, the replacement bus shelter will be painted in a heritage cream colour to match the colour scheme of the church hall that is located behind the bus stops.
In the lead-up to the decision, ECH members met with council officers and Cr Leticia Wilmot on Thursday, 21 July, to discuss a proposal.
General Manager Community Well-being at Cardinia Shire, Jenny Scicluna, told the ‘Mail’ she believed the best outcome had been achieved for the community.
“We understand there are many views on this issue, but it’s great to have a resolution,” she said.
“We have heard feedback from the community they are grateful a decision has been made.
“The process has been quite fractious but, moving forward, we are confident we can continue to have a positive relationship with ECH.”
Numerous concerns surrounded the much-loved shelter between the two parties, many of which have gained widespread media exposure.
Most prominently, these included whether it was the Shire or ECH that was responsible for the shelter’s maintenance; as well as whether posters, flyers and artwork displayed in the shelter were breaching laws.
However, the agreement now states the shelter will not be used as a community noticeboard, with the mosaic to be removed but moved to a prominent location in the area.
Importantly, the agreement is that council will own and maintain the new shelter, while the ECH will maintain the artwork.
Ms Scicluna said there were still a few matters to be sorted, but believed the parties had made good progress.
“We’re still undecided where a community noticeboard will be placed,” she said.
“The mosaic (in the shelter) will be treated with great care … (but) there is no location decided on just yet.”
Cardinia Council and ECH have also agreed to work together to install additional bench seating at the site.
The shelter has been a prominent fixture in the community over the past 20 years and has grown to become an unofficial noticeboard.
But council identified the shelter as one needing to be replaced, in order to meet safety standards.
ECH argued the shelter is owned by the community and sought to gain support for its survival.
Protests and sleep-outs followed, with some protesters braving near-zero temperatures during a night-time vigil.
The dispute between council and ECH reached one of its highest points when protesters refused to allow shire officers to erect safety signs on Friday, 15 July.
Council officers had been ordered to put up five signs, which warned people not to climb on the shelter’s roof.
Though, now a decision has been made, Ms Scicluna is confident the rift can be healed.
“The ECH does some great work in the community and council will continue to support them with funds and services,” she said.
“ECH has been critical of council decisions in the past, but we’re confident we can move forward and maintain a positive relationship.”
The new shelter will be installed as soon as scheduling of works can be finalised.
