By Brendan Rees
A Cranbourne resident has put plans for a free shuttle bus to run to the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens in motion with a Pick My Project application.
Sharon Start’s proposal is one of 2000 project ideas vying for a slice of the State Government’s $30 million Pick My Project initiative.
Victorians can help make their favourite project ideas a reality by voting for the top three eligible projects in their local community.
Minister for Suburban Development Lily D’Ambrosio said: “We’ve been inundated with great community project ideas and now it’s time for Victorians to vote.”
“Pick My Project is giving every community the chance to submit ideas, vote for them and then watch them happen,” she said.
Ms Start said there was currently no public transport available to the Cranbourne Gardens.
“When I heard about Pick My Project, a bus service immediately came to mind and seemed to fit the brief very well,” she said.
“It’s going to bring in some tourist dollars which will also help our community.”
She said a shuttle bus that connected to the Cranbourne train station, Lyall Street bus exchange and the Casey Complex would be perfect.
“It would be a win-win all around,” she said.
Ms Sharp said for more people to enjoy the “beautiful space” of the gardens “would be wonderful.”
“I’m hoping it will go through, it would be fabulous.”
Schools, kindergartens and other community groups will also be able to access this free service, she said.
Ms Sharp also has aspirations to revitalise the outdoor space at Balla Balla Community Centre in Cranbourne East.She says a shelter could be used for festivals, markets or performances, making it “more user friendly, more attractive.”
“We’re hoping with the community input to redesign that whole outdoor space,” she said.
Voters can visit the Pick My Project website to register and select their local community by searching for their street address or suburb.
Voting closes on 17 September.
