2024 was a year of two halves for the Heathmont senior men’s side With lofty expectations after a near-successful 2023 campaign winning only two games in the first half of the year Their best footy turned out to be finals-worthy demonstrated by a mere two-point loss to the eventual premiers Boronia as they ended up two wins and percentage away from a spot in the top five Senior men’s coach Scott Hamill is now in his third year at the club and reflects that his squad are not as far off another tilt at the flag as a seventh-placed finish would suggest “It was disappointing the way we started the year and we were realistic and know exactly where we’re at at the start of the year I was very proud of the group the way we finished the year our best football is definitely good enough," Hamill said A large factor in Heathmont’s slow start last year was the health of the list as injuries ravaged the side during the early rounds While some were able to get back onto the park multiple players missed all or most of the 2024 season and Hamill is anticipating successful returns for each of them “We had a few guys who missed all of last year through injury who are now back and Bailey Stevens only played a couple of games last year he’d done his ACL in the early stages of the year We’ll get him back in round four or five as well It has been a busy off season at HE Parker with a variety recruits and returnees bolstering the stocks at Heathmont’s disposal including two prolific goal kickers from seasons past “We’ve gone out and recruited some experienced players It’s also a key factor for us to get players back to the club They’ve slotted back in really nicely," "Ayhan left to play in the NFNL’s top division and was one of Montmorency’s leading goal kickers They’ve both come back very fit and healthy I can see they’re eager to get into it sending themselves back to Heathmont.” These two inclusions provide extra routes to goal for Heathmont Bajramov’s foray into Northern footy produced a successful year kicking 26 goals from 19 games for the North’s top division runners-up The departure of Liam Malone leaves a hole to be filled but Hamill is confident that a revolutionalised forward line will be more than enough to compensate for the loss of Heathmont’s leading goal kicker of 2024 but we’ve also picked up Declan Reilly from Blackburn who’s a full forward-centre half forward from the under 19s," he’s got a lot of great footy ahead of him we have got players who can absolutely cover his exit So as much as we’d love to have him in our side “There definitely will be a difference this year compared to last year is that we’ve actually got lot more forwards now and a wider range of options to score goals We were a little bit one-dimensional last year You can see by our results that we defend games really well and our ball use is up there with the best of them.” One of the positives of Heathmont’s 2024 season was the successful integration of several players from Norwood Bringing Premier Division experience to HE Parker and Josh Buceto all made a significant impact in the successes that Heathmont did have last year You have a look at the way they’re travelling this year They’re more advanced with another year in the system and they’ve got to know what we’re about at Heathmont One of the biggest recruits in Division Two this year will be James Appleby A former Doncaster East captain in Premier Division Appleby has played a total of 95 senior games for the Lions and an additional 60 for Warrandyte earlier in his career His experience and ability would be a significant contributing factor if Heathmont were to make it deep in season 2025 he was obviously a Premier Division captain so he’s brought a great deal of leadership and professionalism from the top The thing is when you get guys down from Premier Division Hamill is excited about having a plethora of players to choose from given how the whole squad has trained in the preseason “To be honest we’ve probably had the list as a whole step up There’s guys who were fringe last year who will find themselves playing regular senior football And there were guys amongst our recruits from last year who I thought were going to be fringe players this year but have changed my perception on them from the way they’ve trained throughout the course of the preseason.” With Boronia ascending to Division One after a dominant year the logjam of teams fighting for spots in the 2024 finals now becomes a question of who will become the Hawks’ successor to the Division Two flag “I think across the board it’s going to be tight We’re under no illusion about how good up-and-coming sides and sides that are well established in the division are going to be Entering his third year as coach of Heathmont Hamill has already proven his chops as a coach by taking the Jets to a Grand Final in 2023 He reflects on what has helped him ply his trade at HE Parker the past two years and you develop as you go with the players you’ve got on hand The good thing I’ve got at Heathmont is a lot of support Probably the biggest thing I’ve got is the buy-in of the players – we all trust each other Hamill is hoping to get Heathmont back to the finals race explaining that the Jets’ best footy allows him to have lofty expectations for them in 2025 “Our pass-mark and expectation for us is to get back to playing finals but also be able to kick our scores at the other end You see the best games of footy that we’ve played we’ve actually nullified the opposition fairly well and been able to hurt them on the rebound and attack the other way.” Heathmont will open their 2025 campaign with a home match against Templestowe followed up by a fascinating clash between the last two years’ runners-up against the Blues at Croydon the Jets Senior Women have found their footing in Division Three A deep run last year announces the Heathmont women’s side as having found their level and as being a major threat to their opponents in 2025 Adam Sullivan’s expectations of his squad grew with each passing week last year “We started of with the goal of just winning the game after having two pretty poor seasons Then as the season went on the goalposts started changing and by the end of it we found ourselves deep in finals and as everyone knows you’ve got to be in it to win it and unfortunately in the Prelim we fell one point short That loss in the Preliminary Final came at the hands of Coldstream Heathmont’s finals berth came after a strong season and a finals victory against the formidable South Croydon development team The morale of the team was noticeably higher leading to sustained engagement throughout the year “Division Three was the right choice for us in the end and more of an exciting thing for the girls numbers didn’t really dwindle throughout the year So that was pretty good for those individuals that had been around for the two seasons prior The increased involvement has had a dramatic effect on the number of players Heathmont can muster leading to the creation of a development team which will play in the newly-established Division 5 “(The increased engagement) obviously playing a big factor We do have a pretty strong on- and off-field culture and that’s played a big part in friends of players coming down whether they’re players that have played before or just wanted to give it a go because they’ve heard good things It’s definitely played a big factor in expanding into the development side It’s only going to get bigger and better from here.” Heathmont as a club has embraced the women’s side and taken pride in the successes of the team in 2024 there’s been a really big buy-in for the women’s programme there’s been full support throughout the process of wanting to get up that second side Once we knew we had numbers that were close enough they put their full backing behind us," "Even from the senior men’s playing group – the Thursday night before our Prelim as we were walking off the training track they all got together and Jordan Haynes (senior captain of Heathmont men’s) said a few words about how proud they were of the group I know based on conversations with the girls how much that meant Heathmont is a really good place to be at the moment.” this preseason is an important one for the women’s side at HE Parker as it requires the new faces to be briefed on the gameplan One of the hallmarks of Heathmont in 2024 was their ability to run out games and this fitness has been improved upon thought the preseason making sure the girls are all on board with that "Preseason’s been pretty straight forward in that sense With the fitness side of things we’re really trying to ramp it up again we pride ourselves on being a fit side that’s able to run out four quarters of footy Heathmont have scored a few big name recruits for season 2025 which come with some well earned accolades from previous years in the competition “Loz (Lauren Demarte) speaks for herself – back-to-back runner-up league best and fairest down at Nunawading but unfortunately weren’t able to do so." "But even Caitlin Sharpcoming across from Croydon North MLOC that’s going to fill a bit of a void down back and give a bit more physicality around the footy On top of that we’ve also managed to get Vanessa Nolan down from Croydon North she’s really impressed me so far this preseason She can give Emily Eversteyn a chop out in ruck Heathmont girls have been finding success in lower age groups and Sullivan is looking to capitalise on that The integration of the younger age groups with the senior squad has been an important aspect of ensuring Heathmont’s future success really trying to bridge the gap between that transition from under 18s to senior footy I think next year we’re expecting ten to fourteen girls aging out and coming up If we can keep that bridging in place it’ll go a long way," "Even things we’ve implemented like an under 18s mentor programme – we give the option to all the senior players if they want to opt in and be a mentor to those girls and then vice-versa the under 18s get the choice if they’re looking for a mentor they can also opt in to it We try to get them around the ranks pretty early” and we really wanted to get that in place and make it a place that the girls want to stick around in the future.” The outlook on the short term is looking bright and Sullivan is hoping that will translate into future successes for the Jets’ women’s team and to be there on the last day of the year would be a massive achievement But I think long term it’s all about ensuring that we’re able to keep these two sides on the park and keep this women’s programme growing into what we hope it can be.” Heathmont will open their season playing against Mitcham in a home game at HE Parker Match Footage EFNL Board Staff Junior Committee Senior Clubs Junior Clubs Safeguarding Children & Young People Annual Reports (VIEW MAP) Email: enquiries@efnl.org.au Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time It was the desire for more green space that prompted our move back to postcode 3135 was inadvertently a dumping ground for the city’s cigarette butts The allure of trendy pubs and chic wine bars was replaced by a longing for a grassy green backyard and roomy cafes that could accommodate my pram Postcode 3135 encapsulates two significant chapters of my life: Heathmont to which I’ve returned to raise my own family Ringwood East doesn’t share the same postcode as Ringwood is rooted in practicality; when Australia introduced the current postcode system in 1967 the numbers were assigned based on operational efficiency Ringwood and Ringwood East should be suburb siblings Ringwood has evolved into an activity centre designated as one by the Victorian Planning Authority This classification confirms impending urbanisation and other facilities that I frequently use it’s Heathmont and Ringwood East which are the siblings Heathmontarians and Ringwood Easters are tight-knit communities with similar-looking suburbs bustling strip shops and comparable populations (about 10,000 and 11,000 Children from both neighbourhoods intermingle across their Scouts and sports clubs without a second thought There was certainly nobody from Ringwood East questioning why my son didn’t play for our “own” team when he joined the Heathmont Jets I used to say we were in the middle of Rough Ringwood and Bogan Bayswater I also revelled in the obscurity of Heathmont – no one had a clue where it was I find it easier to say “on the way to the Yarra Valley” I experienced quintessential suburban life and would cross Canterbury Road with the local kids to buy Slurpees the 7-Eleven has gone and I mourn for today’s youth who will miss burning the soles of their feet on the quest to cool their mouths hardware store and milk bar have made way for health clinics Ringwood East lags in terms of gentrified shops but has an active traders group you can even buy a “3135” tote bag from the Coffee Apple Many 3135 parents spend more time on Saturdays than is ideal on Heathmont Road the heartbeat of our community’s sporting life Cars carrying a parade of families in team colours snake down the hill to netball the congestion shifts from vehicular to canine with the top footy oval becoming a social hub for pooches and their two-legged pals Many of our green spaces also serve as communal hubs and a recent report in The Age noted that Maroondah Council boasts of significant public open space maintained by volunteers from both suburbs play with a curated collection of children’s toys our joint Ringwood East/Heathmont Buy Nothing group on Facebook fosters a vibrant digital community spirit Postcode 3135 has quietly played host to its share of celebrities over the years too Among the famous locals were runner Ron Clarke who lit the cauldron at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics Even the Hemsworth brothers, though often associated with the surfy shores of Phillip Island, spent time at Heathmont College. My only claim to fame is that I was Luke’s sports captain. Toady from Neighbours is also a college alumnus and adding to the area’s cultural fabric is Hegarty House in Ringwood East which was the last design completed by renowned architect Robin Boyd attended school in Heathmont.Credit: Lionel Hahn/AbacaUsa.com Heathmont owes its name to its higher altitude compared to surrounding areas Ringwood was named after a town near the New Forest in England the landscape was dominated by fruit orchards and farmed predominantly by German migrants before it was transformed into quarter-acre subdivisions in the 1920s there’s often a trade-off between growth and character In the place of spacious quarter-acre blocks now stand signs announcing large developments Perhaps there is an invisible thread woven through postcode 3135 that keeps me here My 90-year-old grandfather first moved to Ringwood East as a 17-year-old The kids and I walk past his old house in Knaith Road every morning on our way to school and they settled in Heathmont to raise a family as history repeats itself with my own return only to come back to the familiar embrace of 3135 Kellie Floyd is a freelance writer and marketing and communications consultant The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here was inadvertently a dumping ground for the city\\u2019s cigarette butts to which I\\u2019ve returned to raise my own family Ringwood East doesn\\u2019t share the same postcode as Ringwood but they\\u2019re more just loosely related it\\u2019s always comforting to return home it\\u2019s Heathmont and Ringwood East which are the siblings There was certainly nobody from Ringwood East questioning why my son didn\\u2019t play for our \\u201Cown\\u201D team when he joined the Heathmont Jets I also revelled in the obscurity of Heathmont \\u2013 no one had a clue where it was I find it easier to say \\u201Con the way to the Yarra Valley\\u201D the 7-Eleven has gone and I mourn for today\\u2019s youth you can even buy a \\u201C3135\\u201D tote bag from the Coffee Apple the heartbeat of our community\\u2019s sporting life Many of our green spaces also serve as communal hubs and a noted that Maroondah Council boasts of significant public open space play with a curated collection of children\\u2019s toys though often associated with the surfy shores of Phillip Island My only claim to fame is that I was Luke\\u2019s sports captain Toady from Neighbours is also a college alumnus and adding to the area\\u2019s cultural fabric is in Ringwood East there\\u2019s often a trade-off between growth and character The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge The owners of a café have made a desperate plea to customers for donations in a last-ditch bid to keep the doors open after being denied government support Samantha Hitt and Beth Hancock opened Milk and Wine Co., at Heathmont in Melbourne's east as the Covid pandemic was ramping up in March 2020 The family-run business quickly became an important part of the local community by offering discounts to essential workers and 'pay it forward' menu items Ms Hitt told Daily Mail Australia she and Ms Hancock have now had to make the difficult decision to ask the public to donate $100,000 to keep the café's doors open opened on the first day of lockdowns in Melbourne where residents endured a total of 262 days under stay-at-home orders The café was considered a 'new business' and therefore did not qualify for any Covid-19 government assistance programs the pair accumulated a $100,000 debt as they continued to pay staff and kept the business running during the 24 months of the pandemic 'This is a huge black cloud that has hung over us for four years and we just can't shake it off,' Ms Hitt said the difference we feel we can make would be so much greater We don't want to be another hospitality statistic.' Ms Hitt said she and Ms Hancock had done everything they could to tighten their belts including selling cars and working more hours away from their family She said they reluctantly cut casual staff hours on weekends with Ms Hitt now working seven days and Ms Hancock working six days to cover the shortfall However, they have reached breaking point and on Sunday shared a heartbreaking video detailing their 'plea for help' and a GoFundMe page asking for support we find ourselves here asking for your financial assistance 'We understand that times are hard for everyone but this place has become more than just a business it's become a huge part of this community and huge part of our lives 'This is the hardest thing we have had to do We have delayed this plea as long as we can - perhaps If this business means as much to you as it does to us The GoFundMe page has so far received 239 donations totalling $21,987 towards the goal of raising $100,000 'I personally think it's a bit rich a lot of business and households are in the same position yet not asking for handouts,' one Aussie said many others flooded the business' Facebook post with messages of support 'You both are truly amazing young women who bring such warmth to our community Myself personally have benefited from the immense kindness and generosity you both exude never shying away from helping our cause,' one wrote 'I came to have breakfast while my husband was having open heart surgery and you wouldn't let me pay It will definitely never be forgotten,' another person commented Ms Hitt told Daily Mail Australia she and Ms Hancock felt humiliated and were reluctant to ask for help but after receiving such an overwhelming response realised Milk and Wine Co was just as important to the community as it was to the owners 'We've been quite shocked by the response thus far We weren't even sure whether it was going to work,' Ms Hitt said 'I think what we created during the last four years is why we're getting the response that we've gotten '[Milk and Wine Co.] is too important to us important to the people around us as well.' 'Staff have offered to work extra hours to help and we've had regular customers offering to share the word and do their own videos to help us out.'   nurses and ambulance paramedics were regulars at Milk and Wine Co and enjoy a 50 per cent discount provided for essential services workers She said giving back to the community and helping those in need had become the business' 'ethos' and they would rather close than stop offering the discounts and 'pay it forward' meals The café's 'pay it forward' program allows customers to buy a meal for a family in need and have it delivered to them We wouldn't be ourselves if we weren't doing those things,' Ms Hitt said 'Beth and I don't want to compromise on who we are and we could start charging through the roof and not doing these programs not give discounts and we could get rid of our loyalty cards.' It comes as a popular burger and brunch café in Adelaide closed its doors for good after 'feeling the pinch' from the hospitality industry cost crunch The team behind the popular café, which started as a pop-up truck before opening its bricks-and-mortar store in 2019, announced the closure on Facebook last month.  Owners Morgen and Nina Wynn-Hadinata explained it was a 'hard decision' but they needed to make the right move for the business after being hit with a large rent increase.  Many other prominent breweries, cafés and restaurants across Australia have shut their doors after succumbing to the hospitality industry's cost crunch.  In the past three months, venues in Melbourne and Sydney collapsed into administration.  In Melbourne, the closures included Carringbush Hotel in Abbotsford, Deeds Brewery, Hawkers Brewery, Rosetta, La Luna, Gingerboy and Izakaya Den, Gauge Bistro, Que Club and Italian restaurant The Olive Jar, which closed after 40 years of business. Prominent Sydney venue closures include Raja, Izakaya Tempura Kuon, Tetsuya's, Tequila Daisy, Redbird Chinese, Khanaa, Cornersmith, Sushi Bay, Elements Bar and Grill and three stores from the Bondi Pizza franchise.  In May, hospitality group BCN Events Group's seven businesses, including its cooking school Lumiere Culinary Studio, went bust, ceasing trade immediately and affecting its 90 staff.  The Botswana Butchery chain, which had high-end steak restaurants across three cities, went into liquidation with more than $23million in debt and sacked its 200 staff. Financial services and software company CreditorWatch predicted in a report published on May 21 that one in 13 hospitality businesses would fail in the next 12 months. The report claimed businesses were at the discretion of spending customers - a demographic that had 'dried up as cost-of-living pressures mount'.  It outlined the food and beverage industry ranked first for external administrations and tax office debts of over $100,000, and also came in third for invoice payments more than 60 days overdue. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after... 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Aussie cafe owners forced to make a 'humiliating' request to customersCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} The Victorian Government has announced it will complete the Heathmont Rail Trail through to Ringwood as part of the Bedford Road level crossing removal The 440m section of new trail along the rail track means riders will no longer be forced on to the road at Lena Grove The 3m-wide trail extension will connect the 19.2-kilometre Heathmont Rail Trail to Bedford Park alongside the Belgrave Line A new signalised crossing on Bedford Road will connect path users to Bedford Park via Rosewarne Lane improving safety for both bike riders and pedestrians including the hundreds of children and seniors who use the facilities at Bedford Park each week The shared use path will be open to the community in 2025 Bicycle Network pointed out the opportunity for the trail connection when the project was first announced and the Level Crossings project has reported that there has been overwhelming local feedback in support of the plan the route has already been mapped as a Strategic Cycling Corridor a fact that should have been accounted for in the Level Crossing project plans from the beginning has already undertaken considerable planning and preliminary design work on bike connections in this precinct and for the Strategic Cycling Corridor along the adjacent Lilydale rail line work that LX surely should have been aware of The state government should not have to be stampeded into making these bike connections; they should be rolled out as a matter of course in accordance with the requirements for transport integration in LX and other major projects The Bedford Road Level Crossing Removal Project will take trains underneath the road via a 380-metre rail trench Site investigations and community engagement will continue throughout 2022 with major construction to start in 2023 and the boom gates gone by 2025 This article was made possible by the support of Bicycle Network's members who enable us to make bike riding better in Australia Find out more about Bicycle Network and support us in making it easier for people to ride bikes The Great Victorian Bike Ride is set to return in 2025 on 24–28 November offering an exciting new format while keeping the spirit of this beloved event alive Bicycle Network Memberships offer benefits to all kinds of riders The Peaks Challenge Ride2School fundraiser is on again for this year's epic event on Sunday 9 March The City of Adelaide will undertake a speed limit review to understand the need for reducing speeds to support business and residents and create a safer city environment Work on the much-anticipated $38.9 million Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp upgrade has begun the bike lane will link the country's most famous bridge to the bike network in Milsons Point we launched our Affiliate Membership program specially designed for cycling groups and clubs Orange in New South Wales is in line for a nice new stretch of bike path one that will expand the off-road network and improve access to schools Work has kicked off on a key Canberra bike route setting the wheels in motion for safer and more pleasant journeys through the city’s northern suburbs In a submission to the federal government’s draft National Urban Policy Bicycle Network and seven other Australian bicycle organisations have called for active transport infrastructure funding to be increased to 10% of federal transport investment Many of our best bike journeys are along coastlines or up and down the creeks and rivers that meet the sea But with rising sea levels some of this vital infrastructure is at threat of inundation erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry A HEATHMONT house heritage listed as the “home and study” of late legendary cartoonist William Ellis Green is yet to change hands after passing in at auction yesterday The four-bedroom home at 1 Aringa Court passed in at $1.65 million with “one live bidder” and negotiations were continuing with two groups late on Saturday afternoon in 1963 and he lived there until his death in 2008 CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WEEK’S SALES RESULTS RELATED: WEG’s old pad with fresh look set for auction Cartoonist WEG’s longtime Heathmont house for sale again ‘Bill’ William Ellis Green (WEG) surrounded by his famous premiership posters Exposed brickwork is a style feature throughout The expansive 2651sq m property has had several owners since including the vendors who restored it to its former glory and had price hopes of $1.6-$1.76 million before auction director Louise Carrigg expected a sale in the next couple of days the land size and the landscaping have been the main drawcards,” she said prior to auction “The land size is above average for our area there’s beautiful landscaping fence to fence which has been a big drawcard — and the way it’s been lifted by the current owners “When they bought it was very run down and dark and dreary They’ve kept the architectural features but brightened everything up.” A Victorian Heritage Database document describes the house as historically and socially significant as “the place where (WEG) lived for half his career and where he produced his iconic annual AFL Grand Final posters from 1987” It’s also considered architecturally important for its design by Chancellor & Patrick a well-known Melbourne firm in the 1950s and ‘60s Protection was obtained at a local level after its previous owner She said “modernist enthusiasts” had come to check out the architecture and renovation at open for inspections CoreLogic records show the property was last sold for $710,000 in 2013 abundant natural light and an open floorplan are highlights of the statement property’s classic design WEG created a poster every year from 1954 for The Herald and later Herald Sun with more than $2 million worth of proceeds going to the Royal Children’s Hospital He was the newspaper’s cartoonist for 40 years until his retirement in 1986 and also illustrated several of Max Walker’s cricket books with the heritage statement describing his work as “a defining part of Victorian life and culture” scott.carbines@news.com.au third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. is for sale with a $1.25m-$1.35m price guide The family who has owned this Heathmont home for four decades has spent years crafting it into the “chalet”-like charmer that stands today The house has come a long way since it last sold in 1982 – for $36,000 And now 5 Edith St is on the market three-bathroom house that sprawls across two levels and 1250sq m of land RELATED: Research house blends Bali resort living with art gallery flair Rowville house features outdoor entertaining space named ‘The Resort’ Photography, styling permitted under Melbourne property road map The kitchen is packed with natural materials “The owners have kept creating it over the years,” Barry Plant Heathmont director Louise Carrigg said so the yard and decking have been done really well to fit in with the land.” which is cleverly zoned to allow versatility “The upper level really is its own wing – it could be used as an impressive master with an ensuite and a living zone where an alfresco area with a TV and a barbecue also await The house is on the market for the first time in four decades A glass-walled bathroom with a tub that looks out to lush grounds adds to the “holiday-at-home” vibe Ms Carrigg said the 1250sq m block was larger than most in the outer-eastern suburb and in “one of Heathmont’s prime positions” near the train station Auction details for the property will be forthcoming Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Craigieburn’s highest home soaring for house price record Sunbury’s Kingsfield estate to build sustainability fund from solar panel rebates Brighton Versace mansion with Rolls Royce office for sale samantha.landy@news.com.au There is a new shared use path to connect the community and improve safety as part of the Ringwood Level Crossing Removal Project Thousands of pedestrians and cyclists are set to benefit from a new shared use path (SUP) safely connecting schools and businesses in Ringwood as part of the Ringwood Level Crossing Removal Project at Bedford Road The 445m long and 3m wide path has been added to the project’s design following overwhelming community feedback about the need for safer walking and cycling connections in the area The new path will connect the 19.2km Heathmont Rail Trail to Bedford Park alongside the Belgrave rail line removing the need to travel on-road via Lena Grove improving safety for both cyclists and pedestrians We’re removing the dangerous and congested level crossings at Bedford Road Ringwood East by lowering the Belgrave and Lilydale lines into a trench and building a brand-new Ringwood East Station Keep up to date with the latest information about these projects by subscribing to our email updates Heathmont tops $6.7 million in bumper auctionHannah Scholte The auction for the Peppermint Park Heathmont estate’s 11 sites totalled at $6.76 million A HEATHMONT land subdivision has totalled more than $6.7 million as a marathon sale saw its sites auctioned off consecutively Dubbed Peppermint Park the estate’s 11 vacant blocks each sold under the hammer on Saturday According to Carter Real Estate director William Lyall sale prices for the sites ranged from $580,000 to $665,000 with one site smashing its reserve by $100,000 Mr Lyall said a crowd of close to 200 people gathered to witness the mega auction “The majority of the blocks were hotly contested,” Mr Lyall said “We achieved about 22 per cent above reserve across the estate.” the first site to go under the hammer was Lot 5 Swain Court and it sold for $100,000 more,” Mr Lyall said He said another site that sold “exceptionally well” was Lot 12 which topped its reserve of $500,000 to sell for $590,000 The total value of all 11 sites sold was $6.76 million “The owners were ecstatic — they received considerably over $6 million as the total price which was well beyond what they’ve hoped to achieve,” Mr Lyall said The estate comprised 11 sites in court locations the vast property had been in the same family since the 1940s they chose to subdivide the site into significant blocks of between 864sq m and 1170sq m “We had asked people to nominate first preference of block in lead up to the auction and decided to auction the one with most preferences first,” Mr Lyall said “We had a number of buyers bid on multiple blocks until they secured one.” the majority of the buyers were families with young children but families with older children and a couple looking to downsize also purchased sites Numbered helium balloons were given out to buyers as they purchased a site “It had that novelty factor but it also made it easier to find buyers when it came time to sign the contracts,” he said “I think the buyers will all have a bit of synergy a bit of an extra connection from the shared experience of the sale.” According to Mr Lyall while the sites were not sold for “bargain” prices “If only one block had been available in isolation it would have sold for much more because everyone would have been after the same block,” he said Mr Lyall noted such a sale was not likely to happen again any time soon “There’s a very good chance it is the last major land subdivision in the suburb because there’s just not that land around,” he said SEE SUBURB PROFILE: HEATHMONT hannah.scholte@news.com.au