RESIDENTS striving to save a parcel of land along Kororoit Creek in Sunshine from development have taken their fight to State Parliament.
A group campaigning to keep the Fraser Street site as open space have met with Planning Minister Matthew Guy, hoping he will intervene and convince Melbourne Water to back down from plans to have the site rezoned.
Sarah Liversidge, of the Albion and Ardeer Community Club, said the meeting was a chance to talk about the significance of the space to residents, including young families.
“We also talked about the economics of Melbourne Water going through this expensive process to rezone what is possibly contaminated land and made the point it is far more valuable to us as open space.”
The 3000-square-metre parcel is in a public park and recreation zone, but Melbourne Water applied last February to rezone the land to residential.
Ms Liversidge said this would breach the government’s own planning code for development along waterways, and break an election promise to preserve open spaces.
Greens MP Colleen Hartland said it was still unknown whether the land was stable enough for housing or was contaminated.
“There are costs associated with remediation and planning difficult sites for housing, whereas it is perfectly safe and stable to continue to use the land as a park.” Brimbank Council is seeking further information from Melbourne Water before examining the rezoning proposal.
Melbourne Water said it was attempting to recoup the cost of the land to help fund other services.
Mr Guy did not respond to requests for comment.
