Wednesday, 27 November 2024

 Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:41): (1288) My constituency question is for the Minister for Water, Minister Shing. My constituent is a resident of Rowville who is dismayed at the closure of a local trail near the Police Road water detention basin. Rowville locals regularly use the trail as an access route to schools and healthcare services. It is the only nearby passage connecting the neighbouring suburbs to the east and the west. Without it, pedestrians must travel kilometres along busy arterial roads with no footpaths. My constituent prepared a petition and collected almost 100 signatures from similarly frustrated locals. Melbourne Water has stated that the track closure is due to safety concerns. However, they did not provide transparent information to residents or engage in community consultation before closing this essential path. So my constituent asked: will the member advocate for a prompt restoration of this trail?