Ready for battle

By Melissa Grant
A BETTER railway pedestrian crossing and a new government secondary college are the major projects Allan Shillam has vowed to fight for on behalf of Heritage Springs’ residents.
Mr Shillam, who was last month elected as president of the Heritage Springs Residents’ Group, has also promised to lobby for an off-leash dog park to be established in the Pakenham estate.
Mr Shillam, who moved from Berwick to the estate in February, was catapulted into the role after attending the group’s AGM.
“I was fresh blood so they jumped on me,” he said with a laugh.
Mr Shillam said the group aimed to give residents a voice when it came to council and government issues.
He said the need for a safer pedestrian crossing at the railway line was the biggest issue the group was tackling.
Some residents are concerned that many schoolchildren aren’t using the existing crossing because they have to cross the road to access it.
Mr Shillam said a new government high school for the area was also high on the group’s agenda.
“We’re really just a lobby group for the residents to get some action and get a voice into the council,” he said.
Mr Shillam, a father of five, said he was enjoying his involvement with the group and urged other residents to get involved.
“I’d encourage some of the younger families in a similar situation with children to get involved in their community and know what’s going on around them,” he said.
The Heritage Springs Residents Group meets on the first Monday of each month at Pakenham Springs Primary School.
Mr Shillam said all residents are welcome to attend.