Thank you to all those people who contacted us directly and on our Facebook page about revitalising the Village following the Point of View article in our February edition.

The most popular responses so far include cleaning up and repainting the façade of village shops, bringing back a butcher, regular events in the Village Court with music and local produce, and making the most of the level crossing removal.

Events have been held in the Village Court in the past, with face painting, food trucks, and live music. One suggestion was a mini beer festival, with tables for various local brewers, such as Little Brew, Hard Road, Dainton, Killer Sprocket and The Project.

The Level Crossing Removal Project aims to remove 110 level crossings across Melbourne by 2030, with the Belgrave line free of them from the city to Ferntree Gully by 2025. Jackson Taylor MP, State Member for Bayswater, reports the project is on track, with work going full steam ahead.

The question is: will the level crossing in Alpine St, Ferntree Gully be one of those removed before 2030? It seems there are no current plans. The Level Crossing Removal Project has a prioritisation framework, which provides information about how level crossings are chosen for removal.

‘We would love to be able to remove every level crossingin Melbourne, however it is unfeasible to remove them all at once,’ wrote the project contact centre. Projects are prioritised ‘based on safety, congestion and a range of other factors.’ We could be waiting a while before our boom gates are a priority.

In the meantime, let’s keep the conversation going about revitalising the village. Please continue to send comments and ideas to gullynews@gmail.com or our ‘Friends of Ferntree Gully News’ Facebook page.

Martin Whiteley