PARKS Victoria has been slammed by Keilor residents and community groups over plans to lease the historic Horseshoe Bend farm for commercial redevelopment.
Keilor Historical Society president Susan Jennison said locals were being “kept in the dark” about future plans for the farm.
“There has been no community group consultation, particularly for residents directly affected by the farm’s sole access road,” Ms Jennison said.
“Horseshoe Bend Road was sealed via a private road scheme paid for by residents. It was never paid for by either council or Parks Victoria.”
Ms Jennison said she found it “staggering” that Parks Victoria was offering new operators a 21-year lease.
The historic 26-hectare farm adjoins Brimbank Park on the Maribyrnong River. It was run by youth disability group WestNet as a children’s farm until early last year.
Parks Victoria tender information suggests a range of potential uses, including as a leisure and recreation facility, interpretation and education centre, for hospitality and tourism ventures, an animal farm cum zoo, even an artists’ colony.
“Appropriate development proposals will also be considered,” tender documents state.
Ms Jennison was concerned there had not been a proper archaeological survey of the farm, identified as having one of the oldest settlements of first Australians in the Melbourne area and significant remnant flora and fauna.
There are four registered Aboriginal heritage places at Horseshoe Bend, including a scarred tree, a quarry and extensive artefact scatters along the Maribyrnong River corridor, and elevated ridges in the centre.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury, who recently toured the site with Parks Victoria representatives, said it was important its future use was in keeping with its Crown land status.
“This is a great community asset that is not being utilised,” he said.
“We need to work out how to reactivate it, to get security back on the farm site to prevent the risk of vandalism and other distasteful activities and allow the community back in.”
Tenders close November 21. For more details, go to tenders.vic.gov.au
