Work will soon commence on a $480,000 improvement to Brice Avenue in Mooroolbark.  The project will enhance the appearance and functionality of the shopping strip precinct.

The work will be carried out in eight stages to reduce the impact on traders, motorists and pedestrians.

Problem areas of the footpath will be fixed so that it becomes safer and easier for pedestrian use.

Safety and pedestrian access will be improved and street furniture refurnished as part of the project.

The work follows on from huge improvements to the Mooroolbark train station and surrounding roads.

Children’s storybook characters  including Paddington Bear, Minnie Mouse and Alice in Wonderland are expected to make appearances during next week’s Celebrate Mooroolbark festival.

Storytelling will be a central part of the two-day festival, with sessions scheduled at the community centre auditorium and a visit by well known author-narrator Stig Wemyss.

The festival kicks off with a talent quest at 7.30pm on March 20 at the Mooroolbark community centre, followed by a street parade down Brice Ave on March 21.

A marketplace of more than 80 stalls, delicious food, rides, an art project and live entertainment will make for a fun day for the whole ­family.

Tweet or share a photo on Facebook using #celebratemooroolbark andhelp spread the good cheer. Find out more at http://celebratemooroolbark.com/

This year’s Maroondah Festival celebrates 25 years of bringing fun and frivolity to the local area. The event has become one of the most popular events in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Each year more than 20,000 people join in the range of free and low cost activities that are on offer throughout the day including community displays, tasty food vendors, market stalls, roving entertainment and amusement rides.

The event takes place on Sunday 9 November from 10am – 4pm at Town Park, Norton Road, Croydon.

More information can be found at www.maroondahfestival.com

Manchester Primary School in Mooroolbark and Barngeong Reserve Kindergarten will merge in October to provide an extended education program for children’s learning and development from kindergarten to school.

The kindergarten will retain its base on the corner of Bambra St and Lee Ann Cres in Croydon North, but the school, based in Monomeith St Mooroolbark, will take control of the running of its programs.

Manchester Primary principal Peter Jenkins said there would be major benefits to come out of the merger and the education model that the school had developed would be one the Education Department could now use to support other schools that also run kindergartens.

Leading teacher and parent Julia O’Callaghan, who designed the education model, said merging a kindergarten with a primary school recognised the importance of seamless transition as children progress into school.

The kinder caters for 100 children, from toddlers to four-year-olds, and 350 children attend Manchester Primary School.

Mooroolbark Station will soon be transformed into a safer, more accessible and vibrant precinct with work starting on the $2.4 million Mooroolbark Community Hub project.

The station will be transformed into a safe and inviting community hub with a new cafe, improved landscaping and extra shelter over the station entrance.

Safer and more accessible

A new station entrance will lead directly to the Brice Avenue pedestrian crossing, integrating the station with the local street and shopping area.

The upgrades would help create a community-friendly and accessible station precinct.

The upgrade has been designed to improve the way Mooroolbark Station connects with the local area, making sure people can get to where they want to go more easily.

Easier to access station

New accessible car parks will be provided in the station car park and ramps and footpaths will be upgraded, making it easier for all customers to access the station.

The Mooroolbark Community Hub project will deliver:

• additional CCTV cameras and improved lighting
• upgrades to ramps, footpaths, signage and the car park (including new disabled parking spots and temporary drop off facilities)
• construction of a new cafe and extra shelter over the station entrance
• upgrading and improving landscaping in the station forecourt area.

Construction will be completed in early 2015.

These works follow on from the $1.4 million Mooroolbark Station car park upgrade completed in 2013. The northern side station car park was resurfaced with asphalt and 64 new car parking spaces added, taking the total number of parking spaces to 440.

For more information about the project visit ptv.vic.gov.au/mooroolbarkstation

The Victorian Government Cabinet is hitting the roads in April to hear and discuss local issues from residents in the Yarra Ranges.

Premier Denis Napthine and his new Cabinet will meet in the area on April 14 for a community forum.

This will be an opportunity for locals to share their thoughts on what is working well and what could be improved in the area.

The Yarra Ranges Shire Council will brief the Cabinet on key local issues prior to a full cabinet meeting.

Following the cabinet meeting, the Premier and ministers will attend a number of community events throughout the day in the Yarra Ranges area.

“This visit will be the first for the government’s new Cabinet and will be a valuable opportunity for members of the community to discuss local matters with ministers and share their views on the future of their community,” Dr Napthine said.

“I encourage residents to come along and participate in this important event.”

Mr Napthine said his government is addressing the growth and infrastructure needs of the eastern region, including the Yarra Ranges, through projects such as the $1.4 million Mooroolbark Station car park upgrade.

“The Mooroolbark car park upgrade has significantly improved access to train services for local residents to and from the city.”

In addition, 134 new train services per week have been added to the Lilydale line.

If you are interested in attending the community forum register online at www.premier.vic.gov.au/cabinetvisits or call 03 9651 5640 if you have general questions.

Mooroolbark train station is one of only three on the Melbourne rail network that has platform humps that provide easy access for passengers with disabilities or mobility issues.

The humps mean Mooroolbark station is an easy station for people with mobility issues to maintain their independence and travel with confidence.

The raised humps are located at the ends of each platform and make it easy for people with disabilities to get on and off the train without assistance from the driver.

There have been reports that passengers with disabilities are being left stranded on Melbourne’s trains and trams because drivers ”forget” to help them off at their requested stop or station.

Drivers at Metro and Yarra Trams use a ”post-it notes system” to remind themselves of which stop a passenger in a wheelchair needs to get off the train or tram, but sometimes fail to do this because the sticky note falls to the floor or the vehicle has a change of driver.

Flinders Street and Box Hill are the other stations with platform humps.

Mooroolbark residents travelling by train in the evening will be even safer following the news that Protective Service Officers are now patrolling Mooroolbark station from 6pm until the last train every day of the week.

The added security will mean travellers can feel extra confident around Mooroolbark train station and Brice Avenue.

Protective Services Officers are being located at all train stations across the Melbourne rail network as part of a Victorian Government safety initiative.

Senior Constable Linda Hancock said PSOs had been a good addition to the local community and made people feel a lot safer getting off trains at night.

The new PSOs, along with the recently refurbished Mooroolbark police station, mean locals are being well looked after by Victoria Police and can feel safe as they go about their business.

The Mooroolbark police station and train stop are only a short walk from our next development Paperbark Place on Cambridge Road.

Miniature railway enthusiasts and the young at heart are sure to enjoy the fun and frivolity of a visit to Mooroolbark’s Miniature Railway at Kiloran Reserve.

You can take a ride on these puffing little beauties on the last Sunday of each month (except December) for only $2.

The number and type of locomotives that run vary, so it pays to visit more than once to make sure you get a ride behind the full complement of locos.

The railway track has a rich history and was officially opened for public passenger carriage in April 1983.

This is a great destination for young, old and in between, and is only a short stroll from our next development site along Cambridge Road. Terrific fun for all the family.

You can find out more about the railway at http://mmr.org.au

Residents of Mooroolbark can look forward to a greater police presence following the re-opening of the refurbished police station.

The upgraded 24-hour police station on the corner of Hull Road and Cambridge Road in Mooroolbark will bring added safety to the area.

The works involved the removal of asbestos, an upgrade to the holding cells and custody suites, the creation of a secure entry facility, staff amenity upgrades including a new change room and an upgraded firearms and equipment storage facility.

The station is less than 200 metres from our next development Paperbark Place.