KEILOR residents are urging Parks Victoria to consult with the community about the fate of historic Horseshoe Bend Farm, and they want the agency to commit to building an access bridge from the farm to Brimbank Park.
Parks Victoria last week announced a decision on the future use of the farm would be made by the end of May.
Last November, the Weekly reported that Parks Victoria planned to lease the property for commercial redevelopment.
Tenders closed late last year.
The 26-hectare farm adjoins Brimbank Park on the Maribyrnong River. It was run by youth disability group WestNet as a children’s farm until 2011.
Keilor Historic Society president Susan Jennison claimed a “blanket of silence” had been thrown over the development, with residents being kept in the dark about proposals.
“This isn’t a five-year development; the lease will run for two decades and residents should have the right to know what it’s going to be used for,” she said. “We want to know that whoever has the lease will be bound by contract to address the long-standing access issues and that they are going to go through with what they promised.”
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Ms Jennison said residents had been fighting for an access bridge linking Brimbank Park and Horseshoe Bend for 18 years.
In a 1995 letter seen by the Weekly, Melbourne Parks and Waterways had written to Ms Jennison indicating it proposed to construct the access bridge.
“A bridge linking Brimbank Park and Horseshoe Bend Farm will provide visitors with an opportunity to experience recreational activities in both areas with relative ease,” it states.
Ownership of the park and farm was transferred to Melbourne Parks and Waterways in 1994 following its separation from Melbourne Water.
Ms Jennison said there had still had not been a proper archaeological survey of the farm, which is identified as a site of one of the oldest indigenous settlements in the Melbourne area and having significant remnant flora and fauna.
Parks Victoria tender information suggested a range of potential uses, including as a leisure and recreation facility, interpretation and education centre, for hospitality and tourism ventures, as an animal farm-cum-zoo, and an artists’ colony.
Parks Victoria has been meeting with interested parties, but it remains tightlipped on any developments. Spokesman David Richardson said the authority was conducting appropriate checks on submissions. He said the lease on offer was for 21 years.
