FEDERAL Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten has thrown his weight behind a community push to save the former Sunvale Primary School site from private development.
“I’m a long-time supporter of the plan to secure Sunvale Primary as public open space,” Mr Shorten told the Weekly.
“The current [state] government should keep its promise to the people of Sunshine.”
The Save Sunvale group will meet state Planning Minister Matthew Guy and Education Minister Martin Dixon on August 8 to discuss plans for the two-hectare site, one of 22 former schools on an Education Department list of surplus land to be considered for rezoning and sold off for infrastructure funding.
Save Sunvale’s John Hedditch said Mr Shorten’s support was a positive development.
“The extra land is needed for a civic park to host big-ticket events and functions in Sunshine,” he said. “We need more than just a neighbourhood or community park.”
Mr Guy’s spokesman said the government was working towards a community park for a “good portion” of the site.
