By Mikayla van Loon
The land at 150 Cambridge Road is one step closer to being formally purchased by Yarra Ranges Council, leaving the community overjoyed and relieved by its decision.
Mount Evelyn’s ward Councillor Tim Heenan supported the motion put forward by his fellow councillor Len Cox to approve the purchase of the land.
Cr Heenan said the decision the council made was not about the days and weeks to come but rather the years.
“If we didn’t do this, it would be an injustice to those people around that area that can’t get out with their families to take a walk or with their fur babies or have a picnic or just be together in these beautiful surroundings between Cambridge Road and and Durham road,” he said.
The meeting held on Tuesday 8 February aimed to decide whether council funding from the Walling Ward reserve and from the sale of some land in the Kilsyth area could be used to purchase the State government owned property.
With a unanimous decision, the councillors agreed to the offer from the government to purchase the old school site for $6.44 million, a 50 per cent reduction on the value of the land.
The approved recommendation also alluded to the need to consult the community before accepting the offer formally, to ensure the funding arrangement doesn’t receive any objection.
Key advocates and campaigners John Phillips and Shelley Large both said it was a relief to be one stage closer to putting up ‘sold’ signs.
“I do feel a sense of relief, absolutely. I mean, it’s progress to me and it’s five metres to go, I just can’t wait for the last five to be done so to speak and to get that final ‘sold’,” Mr Phillips said.
“I was very hopeful but to get a unanimous decision was just amazing. From speaking to Councillor Cox, it looked very promising but you never know until the night what’s going to happen. So I’m very, very pleased with the result,” Ms Large said.
While Mr Phillips was relieved with the outcome of the meeting, he said the final decision had not yet been made with opportunities for people to still object.
“There’s a slight chance it might go the other way if they get too much outcry against the plan to purchase and the possibility is there,” he said.
For the community, however, the reassurance of a unanimous decision from the councillors has given them the confidence that the land will remain as open space.
“The Facebook page and my emails and phone have been going insane this morning (9 February),” Ms Large said.
“There were over 7000 signatures on a petition. We’re not going to get that many objections to the council purchasing it, so it’s just a formality in my books.”
Cr Len Lox said at the meeting that the petition put together by Mr Phillips and the community was one of the largest the council has received.
“To my memory that’s the biggest petition we’ve had for many, many years and normally, as most councillors would realise, they get 50 or 100 signatures on a petition and they reckon that’s a big petition, over 7000 is just out of this world,” he said.
Cr Cox commented on the medium density housing that has not only begun appearing in Kilsyth but also Mooroolbark, Chirnside Park and Lilydale, highlighting the need for open space more than ever.
“What that has resulted in is there just isn’t the available recreational space for people living in that area that there used to be.
“Consequently, Elizabeth Bridge Reserve has become extremely busy and getting busier all the time because of this need for public open space.”
The former Pembroke High school site is 3.6 hectares and is attached to Elizabeth Bridge Reserve, a space that is frequently used by the community for walks, picnics and as passive open space.
“When you look at the public open space in Kilsyth, it’s way down on what it should be and I’m talking about passive public open space, not the sporting stuff,” Cr Cox said.
“It’s not very often the council gets a chance to do something, which is obviously what the public want.
“We’ve got a chance to actually do something tonight, which will be remembered for years to come in this community and we’ll be creating something which will be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Ms Large said the pandemic showed the community how much a reserve of its kind is needed in Kilsyth.
“Our community loves the reserve and it was and still is for many residents their chance to get out, a walk in a natural, peaceful setting close to home,” she said.
Councillors Sophie Todorov, Fiona McAllister, Richard Higgins and David Eastham each spoke of their own challenges with the motion to purchase the site at the beginning because of the financial burden but said the overwhelming need expressed from the community outweighed the cost.
Mr Phillips, Ms Large and the councillors each thanked the community for their passion, engagement and willingness to ask for what they needed in Kilsyth.
“I’m really, really proud of my community and the effort that we’ve put into this to get the result that we have, it’s a real plus for people power,” Ms Large said.
