Adjournment by Christine Campbell in Parliament
Local MP Christine Campbell delivered an adjournment in State Parliament today.
Ms CAMPBELL (Pascoe Vale) — I thank all those who are working in a cooperative spirit of partnership on the Edgars Creek-Merri Creek parklands task force. The Minister for Planning recently appointed a task force that aims to ensure planning for public open space. Pedestrian and bike path facilities are considered in the context of increasing urban development within the Edgars Creek-Merri Creek area. The task force membership includes representatives from the Merri and Edgars Creek Parklands Group, Friends of Edgars Creek and the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD); the mayor and chief executive officer of Moreland City Council; the chief executive officer of VicRoads; and me as the chair.
Our November meeting included an overview of the roles of the members of the task force, including the roles of Friends of Edgars Creek and the Merri and Edgars Creek Parklands Group. DPCD representatives made presentations on issues such as Melbourne@5 Million, gave a general overview of the role of the DPCD and advised of the status of some of the major development sites in the nearby vicinity. They also provided a background of the general urban design principles relating to parklands. Preliminary information was provided regarding the impact of the Kodak plant site on the Edgars Creek-Merri Creek confluence, and a fact sheet prepared by the developer was provided to the task force members. Representatives of the Friends of Edgars Creek presented a summary of the role they play and the work they do, which includes enhancing the creek. The group also advised that its work extends the full length of the creek up to Epping and that it has numerous long-term projects under way. They presented copies of newsletters to the task force and advised in detail of the work they have carried out to date. I advised the task force that at the last election the state government committed to the retention of the Edgars Creek parkland.