FEBRUARY 6, 2018 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
(Dennis Manktelow)
Champion of the garden Greenthumb Lina Schiafone runs a free garden club for children in Sunbury. The grandmother teaches children how to tend a vegetable garden and how to make fresh lemonade, among other types of garden-craft. The Sunbury resident invites any child to attend the club, which runs on the last Saturday of every month from 10am at Sunbury Community Garden. Mrs Schiafone was inspired to start the self-funded club because she believes that teaching children to grow and use their own produce “creates a brighter future for everyone”. The volunteer was able to get the club up and running through Hume council’s free Enviro Champions Training program. This year, Hume mayor Geoff Porter is encouraging more residents to take up the opportunity to get their idea for an environmental project off the ground. “The Enviro Champions Program not only provides a free training opportunity, it also allows you to design and deliver an environmental project that can make a real and lasting impact,” Cr Porter said. “By participating in the program, you become part of a great social network of community members who advocate and take action for the environment.” Find out more about getting involved at hume.vic.gov.au/envirochampions. Registrations close on February 16. LINA SCHIAFONE AND TYLER, 3
Serena Seyfort
Mickleham gets connected By Laura Michell Mickleham residents could be waiting years for public transport services, prompting the developer of the Merrifield estate to start up its own commuter bus. More than 3100 people live in Mickleham – up from 1185 in 2011– with Merrifield set to grow to 25,000 residents in the coming years. According to the 2016 Census, 79.5 per cent of Mickleham residents rely on cars to get to work. Four per cent catch trains.
In a bid to make it easier for residents to use public transport, developer MAB and Gibson Property Corporation have launched the Merrifield Connect bus service. It is believed to be the first time a developer in Victoria has launched its own bus service. The bus, which began last week, travels between the estate and Craigieburn train station, with stops at Mickleham Primary School and Craigieburn Central shopping centre. Residents are being asked to pay $20 a year to use the bus.
Services depart Mickleham on weekdays at 7am, 8am and 9am, and again at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. The bus leaves from Craigieburn station at 7.30am, 8.30am and 9.30am, as well as 4.30pm, 5.30pm and 6.30pm. Estate community development manager Tennille Bradley-Ow said the service would provide a much-needed interim solution. She said she hoped the bus would offer a platform for future public transport services. “This is a really important service,” she said. “We already know of families who will be using
it to get their children to local schools and amenities.” Resident Mandy Glassey has been driving to work in South Melbourne, but said she would now use the bus to get to the train station. “I spent two to three hours in the car every day, instead I could be using the Merrifield Connect service, giving me back precious time,” she said. Transport For Victoria has not revealed when public transport will be extended to Mickleham.
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