• Mountain Views Mail
• Upper Yarra Mail

By Kath Gannaway

9th March 2010 02:00:38 AM

Healesville resident Barb Hegarty was among the first to return her feasibility survey, earning a tick of approval from steering committee chairman Gary Slater. 43985

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THE campaign to establish a Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank in Healesville is hurtling along as it moves into the feasibility survey stage.

Healesville Community Bank steering committee chairman Gary Slater said survey forms had been sent to residents and businesses in the 3777 postcode area over the past two weeks and that they were steadily filtering back.

Mr Slater said the campaign was breaking records in terms of the pace at which the community had raised the $750,000 pledge support, earmarking a building in the main street as a future home for the bank, and moving into the critical feasibility survey stage. “This is the make or break stage and we need continued community support now,” he said.

“Even if people are not intending to bank with the community bank, we need them to return the completed survey and help make Healesville Community Bank branch a reality,” he said.

Mr Slater said the survey was confidential, with only the consultant having access to the banking information provided. “From the aggregate data presented to the steering committee by the consultant, we will develop a business plan and it is that business plan which will determine whether we proceed with a prospectus and the establishment of our own Healesville Community Bank branch,” he said.

Mr. Slater said pledges were still being accepted, with the total pledged now over $800,000. Pledgees will automatically receive a prospectus. Pledge forms and information on the Healesville Community Bank campaign is available at Healesville Walk on Saturdays and at the EACH Garden Centre Shop, 205 Maroondah Highway, Healesville every day.

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