By NATALIE GALLENTI
SUNSHINE residents were celebrating the power of the people last week after Melbourne Water announced it would halt plans to sell off Fraser St Park.
The win comes after years of campaigning by dedicated residents who opposed Melbourne Water’s proposal to re-zone the land from public space to residential.
Since the stoush began in 2009, an environmental assessment has revealed there are traces of asbestos, which are below concentration levels that can affect health.
Resident Beverley Aird has lived on Fraser St for 35 years and said the news showed that a tight-knit community can overcome big corporations.
She named community groups like Albion and Ardeer Community Club, Friends of Kororoit Creek and Sunshine and District Historical Society as vital to the campaign’s success.
Ms Aird said it was imperative spaces like Fraser St remained accessible to the public and said the community’s next battle was to see the area maintained, improved and hopefully gifted to Brimbank Council.
“I’m absolutely thrilled, ecstatic actually,” she said.
“I was extremely surprised, but it shows how important it is for communities to stand up for themselves. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
Greens MLC Colleen Hartland described the win as “fabulous” and said the community should celebrate after years of tireless lobbying.
“It has been such a joy to work with the residents to save their park. It is a classic community campaign, they had the courage and energy to knock on their neighbours’ doors, leaflet and even come with me to Parliament, and they did it with grace and good humour,” Ms Hartland said.
“The next step is to have the land formally declared a public reserve, so the residents can rest assured their kids will have somewhere outdoors to play, a safe area where we can walk and cycle and a place where we can connect with our community.”
There will be a celebratory gathering held at the park later this month.
