Wednesday, 5 June 2019

 Ms HUTCHINS (Sydenham) (09:48): Last Sunday I joined many local residents to celebrate World Environment Day by planting local native trees and grasses in Sydenham Park. Over the last five years the community has planted almost 10 000 trees and many pods of native grass. Incredibly, over that time we have had 12 different species of birds return to the area. It is heartwarming to look upon the trees we planted in earlier years, see their progress and know the true benefit that will come for our children.

Sydenham Park is a hidden gem just up Kings Road over the Calder Freeway and features significant flora and fauna, Aboriginal cultural heritage and European cultural heritage. Most significantly it is the junction of Deep Creek and Jacksons Creek and the beginning of the Maribyrnong River. In 2004 Brimbank City Council released a Sydenham Park strategy plan to develop these significant opportunities, including extensive space for sporting facilities. Brimbank’s own research on projected population growth shows we are going to need an extra 10 football fields—that includes both soccer and football—and four netball courts by 2027. Sadly, that 2004 plan has been shelved and left waiting. Last year Brimbank council established a committee to master plan the site. While the committee was initially chaired by a Taylors Ward councillor, the mayor has since taken over the chair. Community groups have informed me that they believe that council is in discussions to sell parts of the park to the Melbourne Cemetery Trust for the establishment of a cemetery there.