MP CALLS FOR EDGARS CREEK PARKLANDS TO REMAIN PUBLIC OPEN SPACE
Christine Campbell, Member for Pascoe Vale has called on Justin Madden, the Minister for Planning, to establish a task force to investigate the impact of residential developments around the Edgars Creek and Merri Creek confluence and to identify opportunities to improve community amenity.
“The aim of the task force should be to ensure that public open space and bike path facilities are considered in the context of urban development, particularly increased urban development. This task force needs to be established in a timely fashion, and I suggest its first meeting be held in the first week of November and that ideally it be held in my electorate office”, Ms Campbell said in Parliament last night.
“For over three years I have met and worked with an amazing group of people, including community-minded individuals, the vibrant Friends of Edgars Creek, an array of dedicated Moreland council staff and, of course, the ever-focused Moreland council who collectively are driven by our need to retain in perpetuity the current open space affectionately known locally as Edgars Creek parklands”, Ms Campbell said.
“While Melbourne's population increases, the residential intensity around these parklands has increased through housing on the Pentridge site and projected residential increases around the Coburg 2020 precinct on the corner of Bell Street and Sydney Road, the old Coburg High School site and the old Kodak site”, Ms Campbell said
Ms Campbell thanked Minister Madden and his staff for taking the time to personally inspect the land in question with her and to learn of the need for this parcel of land to remain as public open space.
“Present and future locals who live around this valuable open space need the land for recreation, they need it for personal space and they need it to ensure that the residential amenity of Victoria and Moreland in particular is enhanced” Ms Campbell said.
“In my view it is important that the minister sets up this task force in a timely fashion and that it be representative of interested parties” Ms Campbell said.