Tara Murray
The reopening of Sydenham Park is a step closer with $300,000 allocated to Brimbank council for a new walking trail network at the park.
The park is one of two Brimbank reserves to receive funding as part of the state government’s Revitalisation Grants, announced late last month.
The state government and the council will work together to implement the upgrades.
The council-owned park is currently closed to the public, though a couple of walking tours have been run through the site this year.
A master plan for the park was approved last year by the council, which said the main attractions of the park would be landscape-based, nature-tourism opportunities, as well as cycling, walking, jogging and bird watching.
The council also allocated $100,000 in its recent draft budget to implement the master plan.
Friends of Sydenham Park’s Neil Hunichen said the group welcomed the funding.
The group previously made a submission to the council, calling for the park to include a sports and wellness centre, a viewing platform for aircraft, an early settler museum and full size ovals.
“It is great news,” he said. “There’s a lot of things that need to be done at the park.
“We believe that the funding should be used to get the existing paths into better condition.
“Some of the original paths, I would say, are 100 years old. They really need to be asphalted to allow pedestrians and cyclists, like myself to use them.
“A lot of the asphalt on those paths has broken away.”
Mr Hunichen said there was also a need for toilets and rubbish bins at the park to make it more user friendly.
He said the area could be something special.
“To get $300,000 is great news,” he said.
“It’s the jewel in the crown. It’s 20 to 25 kilometres from Melbourne and close to the Melbourne Airport.
“Tourists can spend time there with the airport less than 30 minutes away.“
As part of the funding announcement, Keilor Park Recreation Reserve will receive $300,000 funding as a recipient of the Parks Revitalisation grants.
The council has allocated money to upgrade the reserve in its draft budget.
Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins said the funding would greatly benefit the community of Brimbank and encourage people to make the most of Keilor Park Recreation Reserve and Sydenham Park.
