Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Northern Metropolitan Region

Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (15:40): (461) My constituency question is to the Minister for Environment, and I wish to ask: when will the feasibility study for the Wallan Wallan regional park be released? I recently met with the Merri Creek Management Committee and the Friends of Merri Creek, who are working tirelessly to preserve and protect the precious creek that flows through my electorate. The creek is a treasured part of the local environment and home to rich biodiversity. The regional park was promised as part of the 2018 election campaign and is critical to the future livability of the Wallan community and the ecological health of the Merri Creek more broadly. It will be an important flood mitigation mechanism in the future and should be central to land use planning and urban development in the region. However, despite being promised as part of the government’s suburban parks program, the feasibility study has not been released, despite its completion, and the community is awaiting an update on what resources will be allocated to help establish the regional park. Despite multiple requests the community is still waiting on an adequate response, and I ask that you please provide one as soon as possible so that we can begin the restoration and conservation work needed to protect the health of the Merri Creek for generations to come.