CAROLINE Chisholm Reserve in Keilor is a “haven” for drug users, car thieves and illegal motorbike riders, according to several nearby residents.
Residents living near the park have listed these problems in their written objections to two proposed Brimbank Planning Scheme Amendments.
One of the proposed amendments, the C146 Maribyrnong River Environmental Significance Overlay, would apply a 30 metre corridor along the riverbank for the length to protect vegetation and provide guidelines for future development.
The other amendment would rezone publicly-owned land including Caroline Chisholm Reserve to public conservation, park and recreation areas.
Last week, Brimbank City Council’s administrators voted to recommend the Minister for Planning appoint an independent panel to review unresolved issues relating to the proposed amendments.
Among 14 objections to the amendments received by the council, one Keilor resident said Caroline Chisholm Reserve was a “haven” for drug addicts, car thieves and bashings.
“We risk great personal injury and property damage due to the high volume of the public that access the park,” the resident wrote.
Another objector said a fence and bollards needed to be erected in the area stop illegal motorbike activities at the park.
“All of us here have continually rang Triple – 0 to deal with this problem as the riders are unlicensed without helmets and have no regard or concern for the general public,” the resident wrote.
“It is very dangerous to go in the park when they are there.”
A fellow resident said hoons, drug dealers, drunks and rubbish dumpers were a common sight at the reserve.
“The worst is the harassment of the women and the elderly on this property by these people partying,” the resident wrote.
Last week’s council planning meeting agenda said: “The management of the river including safety and rubbish removal is an important issue for council, the police and property owners.”
The agenda also said police were responsible for illegal activities.
Brimbank Police Acting Inspector Tim O’Connor said police were cracking down on illegal trail bike riders and drug activities across the municipality.
