BalwynCalling

The part of Eltham we lived in was a newer development. Unfortunately that meant it was further away from shops, public transport, schools etc than is ideal. That is the reality of what a young family can afford. The access in and out of Eltham (and Eltham North, Research etc) needs serious upgrading, what is currently there does not cope with the increasing volumes of traffic.
There are a lot of young drivers using the hilly areas as their personal race tracks and the council seems unable (or unwilling) to work with residents to compbat this. The council needs to rethink its policy about tree removal, not just for safety but also so that young families wishing to stay in their homes can improve them through extensions and renovations that suit them (and not reject plans because it may mean rmeoving a tree, even when several more would be replanted in its place). Overall, we found Eltham not to be the quiet, idyllic place it used to be and have now moved out of the area.

We moved from Eltham to Balwyn a couple of years ago. Living in Balwyn allowed our kids to travel independently to good schools via easily accessible public transport. The thing that we have noticed the most though is how quiet and peaceful it is. When living in Eltham there were always parties in surrounding homes, and lots of young drivers 'hooning' in the streets. In five years in Balwyn I think we may have been woken once by party noise, and never by hoon drivers. We love it here, easy access to shops, good restaurants close by, parks, sporting facilities. We won't move!