By Natalie Gallenti
KEILOR residents are calling on Brimbank City Council to retain the former Calder Rise Primary School site and offer it as public space.
Community members are fearful the land may use be used to develop residential properties and are seeking a commitment that instead it will be used to fulfil what they believe are the needs of the Keilor community.
Susan Jennison, Keilor Residents and Ratepayers Association president, said the site, which was vacated at the end of last year, should be offered to public groups as a meeting place.
“Why not give it to the groups that need it?” Ms Jennison questioned.
“It’s the perfect place for meetings and the parkland could remain.”
Ms Jennison said there were countless organisations that were searching for a suitable meeting place and this could be the ideal opportunity for them.
Concerned resident Duane Bell said he had contacted the Department of Education and was informed that the site was “superfluous” to the government’s needs and would be offered to Brimbank Council.
Mr Bell, who lives across from the old school site, said there was a great need for sporting facilities in Keilor. With only one football oval in the area, he said the grounds at the former school site should be offered to sporting groups.
“They could potentially retain one building and the oval for football or cricket facilities,” he said.
“We need more community space for local meetings, groups and toy libraries.”
However, Paul Younis, Brimbank City Council’s general manager of infrastructure and environment, said the council had written to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, indicating the council was not in a position to purchase the former school site.
He said the Keilor district “already offers some excellent recreational opportunities at Green Gully Reserve, Brimbank Park and other surrounding open space”.
“As part of our strategy to deliver the best outcomes for residents in the Keilor District we are now seeking to purchase a large area along Taylors Creek (about 800m from the former Calder Rise Primary School site), as this will allow us to create a continuous trail link along this waterway corridor for the community to enjoy,” he said.
