Tuesday, 28 May 2024

North-Eastern Metropolitan Region

Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:55): (885) My question is directed to the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop. Last week I was fortunate enough to meet with Josie, Greg and Vincent and the team of the Box Hill brickworks parkland association. One of their biggest concerns is what the landscape and skyscape of Box will look like in five, 10 and 15 years time after the construction of the Labor government’s property speculation project, bizarrely named the Suburban Rail Loop. Greg and the team at the Box Hill brickworks parkland association share my view that a balcony on a 40-storey building is not open space and not sustainable. The old brickworks has laid unused for many, many years and in the eyes of the community is an incredible missed opportunity for open space for this and the next generation. The government need to step in and leave a legacy for Box Hill that is not shoeboxes and tunnels and turn this site into green space that will otherwise be eliminated by the Suburban Rail Loop and property development. Will the minister guarantee that the government and SRL will work in earnest to ensure the Box Hill brickworks is turned into parkland?