By Alesha Capone
PEOPLE power was victorious in the battle for Brimbank’s parks last week.
Numerous protests from outraged residents did not fall on deaf ears, with Brimbank City Council taking 12 of 14 planned open space sales off the table.
The council recently called for public submissions to their planned sell-off of 14 parcels of land – including parks – located in Deer Park, Kealba, Keilor Lodge, Keilor Park, St Albans, Sydenham, Taylors Lakes and Sunshine West.
At last week’s council meeting, the municipality’s three administrators said they would not continue with plans to sell 12 of the areas.
Ms Sussex said “this has been a very difficult decision for us” after receiving more than 700 submissions about the proposal.
“We have heard what the community was telling us,” she said.
She warned the council’s decision not to sell 12 of the 14 sites “will have consequences” and would reduce their capacity to deliver the Creating Better Parks Policy and Plan.
Chief administrator Peter Lewinsky said the council would still consider the sale of 21-29 Trickey Ave in Sydenham and 31 Driscolls Rd, Kealba.
“While 12 of the parcels of land have been identified as being of high value to the community, we believe that the Trickey Ave and Driscolls Rd properties should be treated differently and our intention is to continue with the process,” he said.
While the Sydenham location is surrounded by private properties and is not accessible to the general public, the Kealba property includes the vacant former Kealba Preschool.
After the council announced its decision, chairwoman of the community group Our Parks Not For Sale, Virginia Tachos, said the verdict was “fantastic”.
“I’m grateful because the community submissions and beliefs have been met with a resounding response by the administrators,” she said.
“I think the ones that were retained were the ones we fought hardest for, that’s not to take away from the people in those areas who may feel strongly about retaining them in their area.”
Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins congratulated the residents who contacted the council about the issue.
“I’m really glad the administrators have listened to the wants of the community and I’m absolutely confident they’ve made the right decision to leave the parks in public hands,” she said.
