Happy anniversary?
Three years ago, Moreland Council was faced with a tough decision. VicRoads had placed a deadline for the sale of the parkland as of Feb 28th 2007 - either the Council would agree to purchase the land at full market value or it would be offered to private developers. The last Council meeting prior to the sale deadline was Feb 14th 2007. An immediate campaign was raised by residents furious with the proposed land sale, with the Council supporting our position that the land should be gifted to the people of Moreland as open space in perpetuity. A vibrant public rally was also held on the steps of State Parliament. The VicRoads sale deadline was subsequently amended - first to mid 2007, then removed as a fixed date as the campaign continued against the proposed sale.
It is thus with mixed feelings we mark the passage of three years since that Council meeting.
We celebrate that this land is still available for the public to recreate in. An activity count during a recent 1-hour visit to the park during a weekday morning found 28 people cycling, golfing, walking with dogs and/or children, doing Tai Chi, and enjoying nature. None of this would be possible if the land had been sold to private developers.
On the other hand, it’s somewhat disheartening to note that despite residents, Councillor and Council employees, Christine Campbell MP, Carlo Carli MP, Colleen Hartland MP, and Federal MP Kelvin Thompson all expressing their significant concerns about the loss of this parkland as open space for the community, this matter has not yet been resolved.
The Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, has the power to stop this issue draining local energies and ensure the parkland is managed as an open space recreation haven for current and future residents.
Come on Mr Madden! Gifting this land to the local council for ongoing stewardship as parkland is a win-win-win situation!