Facelift grand plan

By Casey Neill
A BELGRAVE facelift is a step closer after councillors approved a town plan for public comment at their meeting last week.
The Belgrave Town Centre Study gave the long-mooted Belgrave bypass the thumbs down and suggested ways to spruce up the township.
The New Belgrave Motors site on the corner of Monbulk Road and Belgrave Gembrook Road, the Safeway supermarket site, Blacksmiths Way and Hayes Car Park were identified as key sites for development opportunities.
The report also highlighted links between the Puffing Billy railway station, Main Street shops and Belgrave Railway Station, the streetscape and Alexanders Car Park parkland as areas to improve.
Consultants completing the report for the council found Belgrave experienced traffic congestion but concluded a new roundabout at the Bayview Road-Belgrave Gembrook Road intersection, to be constructed in September, would improve conditions.
It also found the Main Street-Belgrave Gembrook Road roundabout had long queues but few delays and was operating well.
The study evaluated whether there was a need for the council to advocate for a ‘Belgrave bypass’, behind Main Street, and found it was not warranted.
It instead suggested traffic conditions be monitored to assess the impact of the new roundabout and traffic lights be considered at the Main Street-Reynolds Lane intersection.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn welcomed a formal shire position on “the election perennial”, which had been proposed by various State Government candidates in recent years.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff said it was important the hills’ tourist centres were “smartened up”.
“Belgrave is an introduction to the Dandenongs when people come in and it’s important it keeps its charm,” he said.
The public consultation period will run from Wednesday 9 June to Friday 23 July. The plan is available at the shire’s community links and www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au