Melton Residents Association (MRA) president Peter Rowan is passionate about improving the town

and called on residents to be the eyes and ears of the councillors.

"The more people involved the better. Come to the meetings, ring your councillors direct. If you have an issue in your street let us know."

Mr Rowan, a firefighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, has raised his family in Melton for the past 20 years. "It's a great town," he says. "We should raise its profile. Let's have a bit of pride in the place."

He believes Melton is often neglected because it's a safe Labor seat, while much of the focus is on developing Caroline Springs.

"Melton is booming north and south of the highway. Families are coming here in droves, but the infrastructure is lacking. We deserve better."

He plans to lobby all levels of government for more attention, and lists the major demands as being upgrades to the Bulmans Road interchange, Ferris Road intersection, and Melton railway station. Graffiti and rubbish in the area are also common concerns.

His first aim, though, is to get the Clocktower reinstalled.

"It was taken down a year ago for repairs. We voted we wanted it back three months ago. Are we going to have to wait another six months until it's returned?"

MRA vice-president Lyn Holdsworth, who moved to the town nine years ago, has been heavily involved with her environmental work with Friends of Toolern Creek.

"There is a negative attitude towards Melton; I would like to help change that image."

She believes the residents association can have a strong impact. "We will be looking at the big picture. We will cover Westlakes, Kurunjang, Brookfield, the whole community."

While Diggers Rest, Exford and Caroline Springs have residents groups, the Melton township - with a population of more than 40,000 - did not have a united front.

MRA was initiated late last year by Coburn ward councillor Broden Borg after the idea was floated by the Express Telegraph.

"The town needed a voice," Cr Borg said this week. "Other regions do a lot of lobbying and get things done, while a lot of people in Melton say they get nothing. Now it's up to them to put in the effort."

He urged more residents to embrace their civic responsibility.

Mayor Justin Mammarella said the council would work with the new group on local matters, and he encouraged the association to apply for council grants to help in the set-up stages.

The next meeting is at Melton Community Hall at 7pm on September 15. Meetings will be held monthly.