The Victorian Ombudsman will investigate the “flawed” tender process for the proposed sale of the former Sunvale Primary School site.
With tenders for the site’s eastern section closing on May 28, Star Weekly understands the Ombudsman will investigate Save Sunvale claims that the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development did not make environmental reports publicly available.
Star Weekly was told it could not access the documents due to “commercial in confidence”.
The Ombudsman will also investigate a lack of community and expert confidence in environmental tests completed on the site, including a lack of proper testing for groundwater, asbestos and other contaminants.
The eastern section is zoned residential and could be purchased by private developers.
Meanwhile, Save Sunvale (SS) supporters have named the entire site Sunvale Community Park following a number of community events at the site. “We were promised a park on the site so we decided to accept that promise and took ownership as a community,” SS campaigner Sean Spencer said.
“The naming was a community process. Hundreds of local residents agreed on the name Sunvale Community Park to be used until formal ownership of the two hectares is resolved and council goes though its naming processes.”
In a June 3 speech in the Federation Chamber, a secondary debating chamber attached to the House of Representatives, MP for Gellibrand Tim Watts backed Save Sunvale and the Trades Hall’s calls for the Premier to intervene and halt the tender process.
Friends of Sunvale Community Park will hold a community barbecue and working bee this Saturday at the site from midday.
