Tuesday, 4 March, 2025
Council puts forward pre-budget priorities
Rotary thanks community for generosity
‘Capturing the Yarra Ranges’ continues: police and crime
See Real Estate liftout inside
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Building community connection The warm weather on Wednesday 26 February was the perfect setting to bring the community together in Mooroolbark for Coffee with a Cop. Networking, connections and conversations were the basis of the event, aiming to build a stronger and more intertwined community. With members of Victoria Police, Yarra Ranges Council, the newly formed Mooroolbark Community House and the Australia Chin Community all in attendance, the many groups were able to formalise friendships and establish new ideas to better the outcomes for Mooroolbarkians. To read more, turn to page 14 Sergeant Neal Crossan, Monkami participant Libby and Leading Senior Constable Luke Egginton at the Coffee with a Cop event in Mooroolbark. (Chelsea Szabo: 462855)
Reserve talks on McDermott Avenue Reserve has re-entered the public discourse after Yarra Ranges Council released initial community consultation data from 2020 and an election pledge was made late last month. The former site of the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Netball Association competition was once a
thriving hub of activity until the regional netball centre was relocated to Pinks Reserve in Kilsyth in 2015. This left the Mooroolbark reserve untouched and a target for unsavoury behaviour. Local resident Cam Hunter said going from seeing “broken bottles, the glass, the rubbish, the graffiti...and people doing burnouts at three in the morning” to a park of any kind would be a
great improvement and very needed for the growing family occupied area. The council indicated a master plan was in the works, to approve by the end of 2025. Casey MP Aaron Violi also announced on Monday 24 February that an elected Liberal Government would put more than $300,000 towards the council’s master plan. “The message from young families has been
that they would like to see the reserve revitalised and turned into a thriving local space for all residents to enjoy,” he said. Mr Hunter said if the space could be “geared towards children and families” with “space for informal sport and recreation” it would go a long way in providing another park or reserve in close proximity to a densely housed area. To read the full story, turn to page 3
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