BROKEN promises by Brimbank City Council that Sunshine’s Buckingham Reserve would be upgraded in the next financial year have sparked outrage.
Draft council budget documents leaked to Star show that a proposed $1million redevelopment of the reserve, which was earmarked as one of five major parks for Brimbank, has been scrapped in the 2008-09 budget.
Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association president Darlene Reilly said the group was outraged that the reserve, which is in the most disadvantaged area of Brimbank, had missed out again.
She said that of the five district parks the council had earmarked in the draft Brimbank Open Space and Playground Policy Plan, all but Buckingham Reserve were already well established.
Ms Reilly said she was also disappointed to hear that the JR Parsons Reserve was going to miss out on more than $100,000 for a new playground – something that had been in the pipeline for about five years.
Sunshine West’s Ralph St Reserve will receive $700,000, Sunshine Tennis Club will get $100,000 and Castley Reserve in Simmie St, Sunshine West, $105,000, according to the proposed budget documents.
“The political factions are hijacking the budget process,” Ms Reilly said.
“It’s a disgrace. It’s a sell-out. Sam David (Brimbank Harvester Ward councillor and current mayor) has sold out the Sunshine community.
“There is a feeling in the community that the Sunshine community is being punished … and there is a faction in the council that refuses to give Sunshine another cent.”
