By Tate Papworth
The Keilor Park townhouse development looks set to undergo an official review.
The proposal, which includes 72 townhouses on the site of the former Keilor Park Primary School, has drawn the local community’s ire.
The Keilor Park Community Group was formed to fight the development and wants the site to be kept for community use.
James Gevergizian, of the Keilor Park Community Group, said the community would continue to push for a resolution.
“There’s 870 families living in Keilor Park,” he said.
“We need facilities for the community and believe this site should be retained for community use.”
Member for Niddrie Ben Carroll last month wrote to the Minister for Major Projects Jacinta Allan requesting the project be reviewed.
“I have had many conversations with locals about the proposal and given their concern I strongly recommend that the proposal be reviewed, mindful that 72 townhouses is not acceptable,” Mr Carroll wrote.
“I want to see Development Victoria work with locals for a development of which the Keilor Park community can be proud.”
The project will likely go ahead in a reduced capacity, which is a long way off the Keilor Park Community Group’s desire to have the site retained for community use.
Mr Carroll said the process to manage former school sites needed an overhaul.
“I think the state government needs to get better with how we deal with former school sites,” he said.
“This one lay empty for 10 years and the community got used to it being a park.”
Mr Carroll wants the number of dwellings planned for the development to be cut and that it be a mix of both single and double storey dwellings.
Further consideration to barbecue areas and children’s facilities will also be given.
