By Mikayla van Loon
Yarra Ranges Council has endorsed four projects to put forward for the next round of the State government’s growing suburbs fund scheme.
The projects include updating three playspaces and the restoration of the former Lilydale Train Station building.
Seeking a total of $2.4 million, the growing suburbs funds work on a ratio of one to one, with the council contributing half of the amount required.
The proposed playspaces requiring upgrades include those at Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve, Kemp Reserve and Bimbadeen Reserve totalling $850,000 combined.
“All in my opinion are reasonably justified,” Councillor Sophie Todorov said.
“I’m really pleased to see [the Lilydale heritage station] included in the application, as it is the most fantastic opportunity to actually leverage funding for a project which does come at a cost of approximately $2.4 million.”
As a council owned building, funding from VicTrack and the Level Crossing Removal Project from renting the land will contribute to the council’s payment of $1.2 million, as well as funding from the Lilydale Revitalisation Board, leaving a sum of $16,000 to be paid from rates.
Cr Todorov said should the council’s application be successful, it opens up the ability for better use of the heritage site in the future.
“It’s more than what we would normally ask for but this we’ll see immense benefit to the community, opening the future potential long term use of a Lilydale community house,” she said.
“It’s something we’ve never had as a standalone facility; they’re currently operating out of the senior citizens centre with limited capacity and space.
“[It could] also open up to allowing the historical and well known Victorian Railway Institute to potentially exist there in addition to all our other important community stakeholders.”
Cr Tim Heenan said he was glad the “time has come to be part of an opportunity for being put forward for the growing suburbs fund” but was equally excited to see the station included.
“When you look at the stories that have gone through there, and certainly I know the historical society has a wealth of information, detail and photos,” he said.
“Because of course it wasn’t just about Lilydale railway station, it was the gateway to the Warburton rail line and to the Healesville railway line as well before both of those had closed in the mid ‘60s and the mid ‘80s.”
Cr Heenan said he was hopeful that by putting the station forward for funding “we might be able to pick up the substantial money needed so that we can start to plan about the future of having a community space in Lilydale.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
