Beyond rescue: The old Essendon North fire station is likely to be sold to developers after the MFB declared it too unsafe to be handed over for community use. Picture: Lucy Aulich
Elderly Strathmore residents have been eyeing off the former North Essendon fire station for a possible Men's Shed.
Other community groups also see it as a suitable meeting place.
The Metropolitan Fire Brigade is planning to sell the property next year.
The station, built in 1930, closed 16 years ago and the YMCA last year floated the concept of using it as a halfway house for teenagers.
People power killed off that idea.
The MFB says the building is not fit for use in its current state and there would be a substantial cost to enable people to occupy the premises legally and safely.
Makes you wonder how much work the YMCA did on its halfway house idea before trying to sell the concept. You can bet your house that a developer will buy this prime piece of real estate on the corner of Woodlands Street and Bulla Road and build more multi-storey apartments.
Closing door on driver hazard
The all-powerful cycling lobby has won its gold medal.
VicRoads has lifted on-the-spot fines by a huge 150 per cent if motorists create a hazard with a vehicle door. It's a $423 penalty, and $1408 if you go to court and lose, and it reflects the risks to cyclists from what the roads authority calls "dooring".
Wouldn't have thought it was a significant issue in Moonee Valley. Rarely, if ever, do we see doors opened carelessly by drivers.
Locally, the bike chiefs continue their campaign to create bike lanes on our busiest thoroughfares.
If they win the controversial battle for a dedicated lane on Mt Alexander Road in Moonee Ponds it will be the tip of the iceberg.
Meanwhile, an enthusiastic police officer braved Melbourne's wild weather last Thursday, positioning himself on Mt Alexander Road, at Leake Street, North Essendon, trying to catch mobile phone chatterers.
He did well, too, waving offenders into Leake Street to a waiting police unit to issue fines.
Park problems flushed out
Lincoln Park North Essendon will finally get its new public toilet.
It has certainly taken a long time given that council's Valley View newsletter told us in March the toilets would be ready "soon".
Elsewhere in the same edition we were told the toilets were already installed.
But we can't blame the council for the six-month delay. It had to resolve issues with City West Water over sewer branch design and connection.
The park is starting to look great. Not quite a community hub, but getting there.
The final word ...
Growing old is nothing more than mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.