By Mikayla van Loon
Yarra Ranges Council is advocating for new and upgraded Parks Victoria car parks at Sherbrooke Forest at Belgrave-Ferny Creek Rd and opposite Kalorama CFA on Range Rd in Olinda as ahead of the state election on 25 November.
An advocacy plan was put forward at the council’s Tuesday 13 September meeting, outlining the major projects for the shire.
Among the projects is a plan to build Cultural burning capability and a 12-month pilot program to trial an On-Demand or FlexiRide bus services to serve the Belgrave, Tecoma, Upwey and Belgrave South communities and $19 million in storm recovery initiatives.
Councillor Fiona McAllister said often council’s work closely with aspiring candidates to inform possible policy and funding allocations, making advocacy an important part of any election process.
“Advocacy, both as individual councillors, as a collective and certainly as an entity like Yarra Ranges Council is a really critical part of the work that we do,” she said.
“It informs the ask that we make on behalf of our community in many of the forums, none probably more significant than the build up to State and Federal elections.”
Cr McAllister said much of what the council has asked for in the advocacy document relates to money because although 70 per cent of the council’s income is financed through rates, there is a shortfall for the completion of projects.
State election candidates from the Evelyn, Monbulk and Eildon districts will be made aware of Yarra Ranges Council’s priorities under its strategic plans.
“This list makes it very clear the things that are most important to our community at this time,” Cr McAllister said.
Broken down into categories, projects range from development of trails, activity centres and major structure projects, to investment in mental health services.
Seconded by Cr Andrew Fullagar, he said this advocacy plan outlines exactly what the council’s objectives are.
“We want to secure partnerships that work for us between council and government and influence their decisions on where we’d like to go and having identified the community’s needs, we’d like to push on and do exactly that,” he said.
The motion was carried unanimously.
