Wow!  We had a great show of community interest in keeping this parkland for the people.  Approximately 250 people (and about 40 dogs!) attended the meeting and walk in the park.  The meeting heard from federal and state members of parliament Kelvin Thompson, Carlo Carli, Christine Campbell and Colleen Hartland.  Local councillors Mark O’Brien, Daniel De Lorenzis and Mark Higginbotham were also present, showing their support.

Mr Carli and Ms Campbell told the meeting they are actively campaigning within the Brumby Government to bring about the transfer of the land to the City of Moreland. Ms Hartland will be addressing a series of questions to the Government this week to ascertain why the transfer has remained unresolved since 2006.  MECPG chairperson Greg Carden also addressed the meeting, speaking to concerns of residents.

“Residential development in this flood-prone parkland will be an environmental disaster. Development of the land will also drastically reduce Coburg’s public open space at a time when thousands of new residents are moving in to the Kodak and Pentridge developments. This park should be the centrepiece of a revitalised Coburg” said Mr Carden. 

MECPG will continue to campaign for the retention of the single largest piece of public open space in Moreland. “The fact 250 people turned out on a Sunday morning really demonstrates how much the people of Coburg value this space. We will continue to fight until the state government ensures this urban jewel is protected for this and future generations of Coburg residents” said Mr Carden. 

Those that know this beautiful parkland know the decision to gift the parkland to the City of Moreland for the continued use of the community should be a simple one - as easy as a “walk in the park”.

To highlight the crisis facing the parkland, we’ve invited local and state politicians to attend an on-site information session on Sunday 7th September, 9:30am - 10:30am.  We’ll meet at the bridge near the basketball stadium on Outlook Rd, where the Merri and Edgars creeks join.

Come and join us to…

• See this wonderful parkland with your own eyes to fully appreciate how and why the local community has invested significant time to improve the quality of this public open space.
• Hear more about the working relationships the community (through the Friends of Edgars Creek) has built with relevant stakeholders, such as Greening Australia, Melbourne Water and the City of Moreland, to manage and improve this community asset.
• Experience the natural beauty of this parkland and discover how the loss of this community asset will contradict Melbourne 2030 Policy 5.7 –’to ensure major open space corridors are protected and enhanced’.

Remember - there’s no reason people should have to pay for a park twice!

Greg represented the MECPG at a meeting with Council, Local MP Christine Campbell, VicRoads and Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas. Regrettably, no pledges to guarantee the parkland remains as open space for all to enjoy as a result but the issue is far from going away!

Yet another successful public awareness event at the Sydney Rd Street Festival yesterday. More than 350 members of the public supported our efforts and signed letters destined for the Ministers for Roads and Ports, Environment and Planning. Such strong opposition to the sale of the land cannot be ignored!

The rally in the city was well attended today and we provided a loud and energetic display of our desire to retain this parkland as community open space.

It’s great community support like this which has already managed to get us a couple of wins. Firstly, the deadline to sell the parkland was amended so the Feb 28th deadline is no more. Secondly, we were advised by Andrea Sharam that tomorrow night’s Moreland council meeting will no longer be held ‘in camera’, that is, excluding residents from discussion on this very important issue!