By REBECCA BILLS
MOUNT Evelyn residents attended the Mount Evelyn Community Meeting last Wednesday to discuss the future of the town.
Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA) president Tim Heenan said there was a multitude of ideas discussed and he was pleased that 46 people turned out to the event.
“We had all those questions answered that were needed to be answered and there is now an understanding of what’s going on with the empty buildings along Wray Crescent,” he said.
Mr Heenan said one of the resounding messages from the night was to utilise the community link building like it was used five years ago.
“To help promote tourism in the area we would like to see it filled with brochures and information about where you can go in the area – there was even suggestions in making the area RV (recreational vehicle) friendly,” he said.
Despite initial reports that Yarra Ranges Council CEO Glenn Patterson and Billanook Ward councillor Maria McCarthy would be there, neither attended on the night.
Cr McCarthy said that, given the operational nature of the content of the meeting, it was appropriate for officers to represent the council.
“I look forward to working with the community and focus on how we will implement the actions out of the Mount Evelyn Community Plan that is coming before Council Forum in June,” she said.
The Director of Social and Economic Development and executive officer of Property Maintenance Services Ali Wastie represented the council at the meeting.
Ms Wastie said there was great energy and ideas from the community about the types of programs and services that could be provided by the Community Houses Association of the Outer Easter Suburbs and other community groups.
She said it was fantastic to see a range of people attending the meeting, including representatives from U3A, METIC, the Chamber of Commerce and people with an interest in promoting tourism in Mount Evelyn.
The meeting also introduced the Mount Evelyn Community House which is currently in the set-up phase.
Cr McCarthy said two neighbourhood houses for the Mount Evelyn community can only be a positive thing.
“We have 11 neighbourhood houses in the Yarra Ranges and many have a presence in more than one area,” she said.
“All neighbourhood houses are supported through the Neighbourhood House Network that council supports and the houses have a strong history in working together to complement one another.
“Upper Yarra Community House are looking forward to seeing a permanent neighbourhood house established in Mount Evelyn.”
