New group in talks on park future
Andre Awadalla, Moreland Leader, 11th November 2009
The fight to keep the Edgars Creek parkland in Coburg North as public open space is still on the agenda.
As previously reported in the Leader, the Merri and Edgars Creek Parkland Group and Moreland Council have repeatedly lobbied for VicRoads to gift the land to the council.
On Friday, Planning Minister Justin Madden established a “taskforce” to investigate the impact residential developments would have on the area.
Mr Madden invited interested parties to be part of the taskforce and “have a say on the future of the area”.
“This taskforce will ensure that public open space, pedestrian and bike path facilities are considered in the context of the increasing urban development occurring within the area,” he said.
Pascoe Vale state Labor MP Christine Campbell will chair the taskforce, which will include representatives from the Department of Planning and Community Development, Moreland Council, VicRoads, the Merri and Edgars Creek Parkland Group and the Friends of Edgars Creek.
Ms Campbell said she welcomed the initiative, which has its first meeting on November 5, and said it would be “of great benefit” to the community.
“Present and future locals will be able to have their say on the future of this land, to ensure the residential amenity of Vicoria and Moreland in particular is enhanced,” she said.
Council city infrastructure director Nerina Dilorenzo said the council was still negotiating with VicRoads on the future of the parklands.
She said the council would “continue to advocate on behalf of the Moreland community” and that it was the council’s “strong belief that (the) area should remain as open space”.