Open-space campaigners will take their objections about the tender process for the former Sunvale Primary School site to the state Ombudsman, following claims that the state government misled them over its future use.
The government has denied the allegations.
A 0.9-hectare parcel of land on the eastern side of the site has been for sale since April 30.
Earlier this year, Brimbank council paid $3.02 million for the 1.1-hectare western section, which it intends to use for public space.
The Save Sunvale group, which wants the entire site used for public parkland, has called on Premier Denis Napthine to intervene and terminate a “seriously flawed” tender process.
Save Sunvale member Sean Spencer said he was told at a meeting on August 8 last year – attended by Education Minister Martin Dixon and other government officials – that no buildings would be permitted on the site.
Tenders for the eastern parcel, which is zoned residential, close May 28.
“When the issue of site testing was discussed, the fact that old underground [fuel] tanks had been removed and testing done was raised, the [government] official clearly stated that no structure could be built due to gases released on the site,” Mr Spencer said.
“We were so surprised, we had a conversation afterwards with a number of people about what the source of contamination was likely to be.”
Fellow campaigner John Hedditch said the government’s environmental testing of the eastern half “defies common sense’’ and was ‘‘grossly inadequate”.
The Star Weekly was denied a copy of the environmental report on the grounds it was “commercial in confidence”.
An independent consultant who advised the Save Sunvale group on the report claimed two groundwater test bores should have been conducted at each end of the eastern section, and there should have been similar tests for asbestos and other soil contamination before release of the tender. “Neither has happened or is planned to happen,” Mr Hedditch said. “Only one groundwater test was undertaken, on the western [side of the] site.
Mr Dixon’s spokesman said the department had expert reports completed whenever it sold school sites. “These reports are made available to prospective purchasers but are not released to the public,’’ he said. ‘‘There is no truth to the allegation that nothing can be built on this site.”
