THE Brooklyn Resident’s Action Group has urged the Hobsons Bay City Council (HBCC) to honour its decision to create a link that would unite its north and south communities after three decades of separation.
The demand comes after HBCC went back on a decision made in 2011 to allocate $550,000 in council’s 2012/13 budget, to develop 31 Cypress Avenue as a large open space area linking the two Brooklyn communities.
Secretary of the group Bert Boere said as far back as 1980 the community had asked for road and pedestrian easements to be developed midway along a Melbourne Water easement to overcome the issue to no avail.
“The intention was to create a landscaped standard housing blocks width access from near the Brooklyn Hall in Cypress Ave across the Federation to Duane Reserve in Primula Avenue.”
Mr Boere said the property purchased by council is ideally suited and affords the opportunity to achieve the goal of bringing the two communities together.
“It’s centrally located, good, safe and clear access which would give both sections of the Brooklyn community the opportunity to utilise all facilities north and south of Federation Trail.”
According to council’s agenda from its meeting on 12 February, the proposed sale of the land would be subdivided, leaving a four-metre easement for the community.
The remaining land would be sold for development.
“This is totally unsatisfactory outcome for the Brooklyn community and is not what we envisaged nor is it what the funding was originally allocated for.”
Mr Boere said the four-metre path is too small an access to attract residents from the south to gain entry to the north.
“We just want the two sections of Brooklyn to be united not divided,” Mr Boere said.
The Brooklyn residential area is bounded by the main Princess Freeway/Geelong Rd Millers Rd, Westgate Freeway and Grieve Parade.
It is also bisected by the Federation trail.
Mr Boere said the two communities had needed to travel via a major highway and freeway to gain access to the other side of the services that exists exclusively to the separated parts of Brooklyn.
The issue was referred to a subcommittee to develop a recommendation to then again be referred back to council for a final decision.
Mr Boere said BRAG was assured by former Councillor Michael Raffoul following the council meeting that the allocation of $550,000 was made to buy and use a full house block in Cypress Avenue to create a large open space.
council failed to comment to Star’s questions before deadline.
