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THREATENED PARKLAND IN RESERVOIR
& BUNDOORA

There is an extreme amount of pressure on open space all over Darebin because of the continuing influx of people into the municipality. Council needs to ensure that precious public open space is protected for the environment and for generations to come. It also needs to consider the impact of development upon private spaces like backyards, which are being swallowed up at an alarming rate.

 

These are just a few areas of parkland in my local area which are or have been at risk of being lost:

CLEMENTS RESERVE

There is still an opportunity to save Clements Reserve. Council originally failed to purchase the land for a song when it had a chance in 2016, and now appears to be at an impasse with the State Government over price after deciding to proceed with the purchase in 2018. In the midst of this negotiation unsafe levels of lead were found in the park, complicating the negotiation process. As of December 2024 the land has still not been purchased.

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DUMBARTON GRASSLANDS

Darebin Council failed to buy the Dumbarton grassland in 2016 even though the area was classified as being of National Natural Heritage Significance in one of its own reports. There is less than 1% of Volcanic Plains Grassland left in Victoria. Subsequently the State Government has decided to use the land for an inclusionary housing pilot project. The relatively small size of the Dumbarton Grasslands means that it just falls outside of mandated protection. The site will now be developed by Newland Developments and concept plans are being considered by the Department of Transport and Planning. ​​

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STRATHALLAN OPEN SPACE

Strathallan Golf Course is 18ha of environmentally and historically significant land which is at risk because La Trobe University wants to sell it off for development. It is part of a wildlife corridor which is connected to the Greswell Forest Nature Reserve. Council needs to work with Save Strathallan Open Space -Community Coalition and Hon Colin Brooks, MP to protect this area in perpetuity. 

WAT GANBO PARK & LAKESIDE

Council was forced into buying public open space at the former Ruthven Primary School and the former Lakeside Secondary College in 2016 after years of unproductive and expensive dithering. The Master Plan for the site is being slowly (too slowly) implemented by Darebin Council. The site has been renamed Wat Ganbo Park in the Woiwurrung language.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION​

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  • A link to the Reimagining Ruthven Master Plan (29 June 2020) is here

  • My diary notes on the Ruthven Primary School (Wat Ganbo Park) campaign (2016 - 2023) can be read here​

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ARTICLES IN THE LEADER NEWSPAPER

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LAKESIDE​

 

Land which adjoins the Merri Creek which was owned by the the former Lakeside Secondary College was saved in the same campaign. This land needs work to encourage the return of Matted Flax Lily (Dionella Amoena) which is habitat for the Blue-Banded Bee.​

SOLAR FARM

La Trobe University has cleared 3.5ha of trees on a prominent block of land on the corner of Kingsbury Drive and Plenty Road to install a solar farm. Both the University and the Darebin City Council claimed that no objections were received to the plan, yet this article states that the Darebin Creek Management Committee did send an objection letter. The committee said the site provided "critical habitat for wildlife and invertebrates including butterflies, bees, dragonflies and lizards".

This action by the university has caused significant distress to members of the community who demanded an explanation from Darebin Council and the State Government. The solar farm could have been placed on land that was already cleared or even over the car parks or university buildings. It raises the broader issue of how habitat protection will be balanced with solar installations across the State when planning regulations are so weak.
 

Read about how this travesty unfolded here.

 

 

(Page updated 1 December 2024)​

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