The town has a primary school, pre-school, two churches and a soccer club. A new community centre was recently constructed on the grounds of the school, in partnership with River Valley Church, and is used by the church and community groups, as well as the school. Pallotti College sits above Millgrove and can be hired for conferences and other group activities. A new CFA Station / Community Fire Refuge will be finished and opened by the end of 2015. There is a public bus that runs at least hourly on weekdays between 6am and 8.30pm, to Lilydale Railway Station and Chirnside Park Shopping Centre. One service in the morning and one in the afternoon divert through the town on school days and are open for public use. On Saturdays and Sundays, the service runs hourly and starts at 7.30am and 9am respectively. Taxi services are limited. Assets At the first workshop in August 2014, attendees “mapped” their assets and showed the connections between them. Listed below are other assets that attendees at the two workshops in 2014 value about Millgrove: Men’s working group Friendly Different charm Community Hall Weekly bible study Affordable housing Neighbours Healthy lifestyle Picnic area at reserve Clean air Business opportunity Kids Football and Netball Club Sharing and caring Beautiful environment Rail Swimming in river Safe place Maureen (MRAG) Community spirit Mountain views Friendly people Birdlife Space Open people, easy to get on with Authentic people, chatty, not judgmental Our skills (what we as individuals are good at) Teaching – disability, aged, mental, counselling Building & fixing Listener Motor mechanic Networking Metal construction Research Bricklayer
Groups involved in this day included the River Valley Church, Millgrove Environment Restoration Group, Warburton/Millgrove Football Club, Millwarra Primary School, Millgrove CFA, Wesburn Junior Football Club, and Victoria Police, as well as local and state government representatives. The table below summarises the key outcomes from this planning day: Issues Plan Outcome Children and Youth Establish a Youth Advisory Committee at Upper Yarra Secondary College Established Infrastructure and Services Lobby to seal shoulders on Warburton Highway Ongoing Request that Millgrove be included in a study to look at how bus services could be improved Insufficient support received Lobby for a pedestrian crossing where the Rail Trail crosses Warburton Highway, and trimming of trees in sightlines Constructed for Wonga Road to be included in Council’s dust suppressant program Implemented Lobby for repair of River Road and McKenzie King Drive McKenzie King Dr implemented Expand mail delivery to all of Millgrove Wonga Rd delivery established Lobby for new signage and rolled crushed rock on Rail Trail Implemented Erect an interpretation gateway with map, information, and business promotion at Millgrove train station site Included in 2015 plan Sport and Recreation Lobby for Master Plan for Millgrove Recreation Reserve Plan completed in 2007 Lobby for a playground for McKenzie King Reserve Constructed Lobby for public toilets for Warburton Highway and at the Recreation Reserve Constructed Community Learning Establish Millgrove Residents Action Inc. which would act for the best interests of residents, and could apply for funding for festivals and events Established MRAG to distribute a regular Millgrove community newsletter Newsletter replaced by social media (Facebook + Blog) Apply to the Community Facilities Fund for a multifunction facility which will provide a range of learning initiatives for the Millwarra school and Upper Yarra communities. Millwarra Community Centre built Women Raise concerns about the prevalence of Domestic Violence in Victoria. Letter from Lobato to the Minister for Women’s Affairs and the Women’s Caucus. Environment Request funding for weed control along Yarra River Funding provided to Millgrove Environmental Restoration Group.
2007 Affordable Housing Campaign Railway/PO Centenary Celebrations 3rd Bridge Project (Not forthcoming) 2008 Solar Power Project 2009 The inauguration of the Millgrove Anzac Day Dawn Service Carols By Candlelight at Pallotti College 2010 Graffiti Up Day & Community BBQ 2011 Inauguration Remembrance Day Service 2012 Shire of Yarra Ranges Community Group of the Year Certificate of Recognition, Tidy Towns 2012 MRAG donates annually to various local community groups, schools and churches Millgrove Environmental Restoration Group (MERG) MERG was established in 2007 and has been a very successful working group in creating paths along the Yarra River. Working bees with the community and many tree planting days with Millwarra Primary School have been held. MERG has also been involved with Ben’s Shed, a men’s working group, to build picnic tables on the banks of the Yarra. In 2012 MERG (under the MRAG umbrella) won the Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards for Protection of the Environment. Millgrove Preschool The program at the school uses Millgrove to make the children aware of the beauty of our township, by using the oval for runs, going to the river for lunch (on hot days paddle their feet in the river) and go for
Encourage local CWA and U3A groups to be more active in Millgrove Establish group of interested volunteers Organise information nights at Community Centre Upper Yarra U3A and Upper Yarra CWA Encourage residents to join existing groups Invite existing groups to run activities in Millgrove 2016-2017 MRAG Committed volunteers Upper Yarra U3A Yarra CWA Promote Millgrove’s Community Buildings, including Pallotti, Baptist Church, Soccer Club rooms, Community Centre. Identify available buildings and outdoor spaces Promote to community as a small directory in the shape of a pamphlet 2016-2017 MRAG Set up a Township Facebook page and/or website. Create a Millgrove township Facebook page Upload events, news, and information about what is happening in Millgrove etc. 2015-2016 Any committed computer / social media skilled volunteer Set up a New Residents Welcome Group Establish group of interested volunteers Create a Welcome Bag/Folder Identify new residents 2016 Committed volunteers MRAG Project/Action Next Steps When Who Lobby for better public and/or community transport Lobby for a Telebus from Warburton/ Millgrove/ Yarra Junction visiting Millgrove estate every hour for a reasonable fare. Research previous attempts to provide bus service (River Valley Church) Contact Martyrs Draw up plan Survey / petition Lobby 2017 Yarra Ranges Council Martyrs
Safety Police station/more patrols/less drug dealing and “Rats” at park 6 4 10 Streetlights 1 4 5 4: ABS 2011 Name Number % Yarra Ranges Council area % Population Summary Total Population 1,649 100.0 100.0 Males 831 50.4 49.5 Females 818 49.6 50.5 Australian citizens 1,424 86.4 90.1 Eligible voters (citizens 18+) 1,079 65.4 67.4 Indigenous population 13 0.8 0.7 Australian-born 1,296 78.6 79.5 Speaks language other than English at home 76 4.6 6.0 Overseas-born 224 13.6 16.3 Needs assistance due to age or disability 109 6.6 3.8 Age Structure Babies and (0 to 4) 131 8.0 6.5 Primary schoolers (5 to 11) 139 8.4 9.2 Secondary schoolers (12 to 17) 114 6.9 8.6 Tertiary education/independence (18 to 24) 153 9.3 9.3 workforce (25 to 34) 176 10.7 11.2