Vasa Place is among spaces being considered for sale by the council. Picture: MITCH BEAR
ALMOST 700 residents have made submissions to the Brimbank Council on its proposal to put up 14 pieces of land for sale.
At a meeting on May 17 a report was tabled identifying the land proposed for sale.
Submissions closed yesterday for the first seven - in Sydenham, Keilor, Taylors Lakes and West Sunshine - to go under the microscope.
The properties were identified as areas with open spaces nearby with the council saying sale proceeds would go into improving other parks.
But the move outraged some residents.
Former Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said it was an insult to the former elected councillors that the blocks of land, previously protected by the council, were now under scrutiny by unelected administrators.
Ms Giudice said many of the land parcels had been given to the community as part of developer contributions.
“It’s not just the threat of losing open space, it’s the worry for the residents of what might be built in its place,” Ms Giudice said.
Our Parks Not For Sale committee chairwoman Virginia Tachos expected more than 100 submissions from members.
“It’s going to impact thousands of residents, so the council need to come and see how much we use and enjoy these parks.”
“People have already said if the land is sold they will move.”
Ms Tachos said residents wanted guarantees their submissions had been received.
A public question time at a council meeting last month turned rowdy after residents said questions they had submitted to the council had not been answered due to a server issue with the council’s website.
“There has been very limited interaction, and limited format.
“It hasn’t been the same open process we would’ve had if we had councillors,” Ms Tachos, the wife of former councillor Stuart Miller, said.
Infrastructure and Environment general manager Paul Younis said the council intended to meet “with those who request the opportunity to make a personal submission. “
Correspondence received so far included detailed submissions on individual sites, pro-forma letters and petitions, covering all sites.
Protectors of Public Lands Victoria convener Julianne Bell said parks were “absolutely essential” to people’s health.
“Healthy parks mean healthy people,” she said. “Kids that are healthy have access to back yards and nearby open space.”
According to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council total public open space in Brimbank is 1872ha, a ratio of 9.7ha of parks per 1000 people compared with a metropolitan average of 5.8ha.
The 14 properties being considered are worth about $3 million combined and could go on the market within three years.
Mr Younis said the council had invested more than $10 million transforming almost 50 parks in the past four years.
Source Link: Brimbank Land on Chopping Block
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