One of our MECPG members has discovered a great aerial photo of the threatened parkland. Take a moment to admire the beauty! It’s a spectacular site and to be under threat from development is a travesty!
To underscore even more the potential damage of development - this image only shows two of the four VicRoads land parcels under threat. This parkland has survived for decades and is the largest open space in Coburg. We cannot afford to lose it!
Aerial image of parkland
Ever wondered what the parkland looked like in the past, before the trees were planted by the Coburg Council, Moreland Council and residents? We’ve sourced a number of historical images of the area and made them available for download [5.5MB, DOC] if you’re interested in seeing the change across the past several decades.
One of the parcels of VicRoads land we’re trying to save falls within a Land Subject To Inundation building overlay according to the Moreland Planning Scheme. In other words, this land is flood prone. If ever there was a good reason to not offer this land for development, this would surely be it… However, it’s not just when the two creeks back up in heavy rains and flood across the parkland - it does not take too much rain to cause the parkland to become sodden. A reasonable rainfall event spread over an entire day is sufficient to keep the waterfowl happy - as seen from the ducks and ibises enjoying this instant lagoon.
Soaked parkland
Soaked parkland
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.
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”.
