A little of new, a lot of old

By Russell Bennett
YARRA Ranges Council has adopted a plan to stop future development ruining the identity of downtown Belgrave.
A revamped New Belgrave Motors Site and a community hub are on the cards, but a proposed main street bypass received a thumbs down.
Councillors last Tuesday adopted the Belgrave Town Centre Study, which will serve as a blueprint for the town’s future.
The study involved consultation with the community, local groups, key landowners and agencies, including Puffing Billy and VicRoads. It provided advice to the shire about a range of issues relating to the town’s appearance and operation.
The New Belgrave Motors site, on the intersection of Belgrave-Gembrook Road and Monbulk Road, was pencilled in for redevelopment.
Eyebrows were raised during the study’s community consultation process when the possibility of establishing a ‘convenience store restaurant’ on the site was discussed.
Belgrave had previously defeated a proposal to build a McDonald’s restaurant on the corner opposite the garage and service station. “There was a huge community backlash over that one,” Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said.
“Belgrave is actually one of the only communities successful in knocking Maccas back.”
Cr Dunn, who strongly opposed the McDonald’s plan prior to her election to council, said it led to the shire making sure it had final say over future zoning proposals.
The town centre study also recommended establishing a local ‘community hub’. “It identified possible locations on which to build a multi-purpose community building with a focus on health and early years,” Cr Dunn said.
“Council would strongly support a building like that.”
The often spoken about, “perennial election favourite” topic of the Belgrave bypass was also covered in the study.
It examined local traffic issues and came to the conclusion a bypass of the main street was clearly the wrong answer.
“It was the wrong answer for three main reasons,” Cr Dunn said.
“Firstly, the traffic volumes simply didn’t justify a need for it.
“Secondly, the costs involved would have been sky-high. And thirdly, it would have a negative impact on the traders. They’d lose business from the decrease in traffic.”
The council will now implement the plan including rezoning the New Belgrave Motors site to allow both commercial and residential uses, addressing the town’s traffic management issues and pitching for the funding required for the community hub.