By Tate Papworth
There’s a growing push to have Sydenham Park opened to the community.
A draft master plan aimed at opening up the area to the wider community was tabled at a council meeting in October last year.
The Friends of Sydenham Park (FOSP) has since made its own submission to the council and has thrown its support behind plans to provide sporting grounds at the southern end of the park.
The site is one of five shortlisted by Football Victoria to become the home of the women’s national soccer team, the Matildas.
FOSP spokesman Neil Hunichen said opening the park up to the public was paramount.
“It’s just sitting there, we talk about wanting more open space and here we have this hidden gem not being utilised,” Mr Hunichen said.
“Under our plan, we’d have a sports and wellness centre, a viewing platform for aircraft, an early settler museum and full size ovals.”
Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins agreed that the site needed to be opened up to the public.
“Plans have been done in past and sat dormant,” Ms Hutchins said.
“As a stage one, I’d like to see the park opened, maybe one day over the weekends to get the public in there.
“It’s a hugely wasted resource with the gates closed and I’d like to see the council support a masterplan.”
Ms Hutchins met with the council last week and discussed the future of the park.
“The big concern for the council is the need for public toilets and sealed tracks,” she said.
“I told them I’m happy to partner with them on that with potential grants … but they really do need to make a decision soon.”
She said she was not opposed to development on the land, but said consultation with Indigenous leaders would be required.
“It’s the most spectacular parkland. Lots of people will say we have Brimbank Park down the road, but the reality is, if Sydenham Park was opened up to the community, we’d see a huge influx of people from Brimbank and Melton flocking to it for picnics, walking and other activities.”
FOSP also supports restoration of Robertson’s Homestead at its present location, as outlined in the council’s draft plan, but did not support plans to relocate the golf course or commercial development within Sydenham Park.
It did however support ancillary developments that enhance existing uses within the park, such as an accommodation facility
