Thursday, 10 September 2026

 Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (22:14): (2812) I seek the intervention of the Minister for Environment. Minister, you may well be aware that there is a beautiful park in my constituency, in Ringwood, called Bronhill Road reserve. Very sadly for my local constituents and my local community, it is proposed for sale. You heard me correctly: the local council are proposing to sell it to a developer. Notwithstanding that many developers have many, perhaps good, reasons – and perhaps they are even not-for-profit – my community have spoken very clearly. It is critical that we retain this public park in public hands. There is no benefit to be brought to the broader community in selling it for a development. It would reduce the park by an order of at least 30 per cent, and that is not to imply that it would remain public and open to the public. It is a negative outcome, to say nothing of the environmental consequences. We are struggling in our community, as you would appreciate already, with a very significantly reduced tree canopy as a result of the North East Link project. Some 5000 mostly native trees have been bulldozed, as many people in Victoria would know, right up and down the Eastern Freeway.

David Davis interjected.

Nick McGOWAN: Clear-felled, that is right – an unbelievable operation, including wetlands, I must add. Our area is already suffering greatly from loss of tree canopy, and that impacts directly our native flora and fauna. The privatisation and the development of this park would exacerbate that further, to say nothing of the recreational pleasure mums, dads and their children and grandparents currently derive from being able to go to that parkland, play with their children, kick the footy, throw a frisbee and, frankly, just sit there.

I had the good fortune of being there only a number of months ago for the first time. It is one of those little pocket parks that perhaps you would not come across normally. I was doorknocking that day. I sat there, and I kid you not, I shot a video saying, ‘What a beautiful little park,’ not knowing that just a few doors later I would be the recipient of the news that the council intended to sell it. It was devastating news for that community at that point that this plan has now progressed to the point of an actual sale. Minister, I would seek your urgent intervention as the Minister for Environment. That is right, Minister, as the Minister for Environment.

Jaclyn Symes interjected.

Nick McGOWAN: You have many powers, Minister. I am very familiar with some of your powers, at least, if not your power of persuasion. Do not underestimate your powers of persuasion. By virtue of the fact that you remain in that position, this says to me that you have powers of persuasion, and you need not choose the Premier to have those powers – those powers remain. I am asking you to use those same good powers for the good, positive impact of my community in Ringwood.