By Mikayla van Loon
As Kilsyth grows with housing developments, parks and leisure spaces are becoming more and more of a luxury.
Kilsyth Community Action Group member Mieke Alexander is hoping to give children a playspace on Forest Way along the aqueduct trail to help cater for this need.
“Around me all these families are having children and apart from behind Hawthory Road which is the Shire of Yarra Ranges the Maroondah Council has not got one skerrick of free land for people to use for leisure,” she said.
“Not one block, between Dorset Road, Hull Road and Mount Dandenong Road and as a consequence, anyone who has a child here either has to go for quite a long walk or there’s absolutely nothing except the Melbourne Water Trail.”
Ms Alexander has now set up a petition to gauge the communities desire for a play and leisure space to be established on the corner of Forest Way and Churchill Way.
Having called Melbourne Water, Ms Alexander said the proposal to use the land would have to come from the council.
Not only wanting a space for children to play, the proposed space would be used as a resting spot for the elderly as they go on daily walks or walk to get their shopping.
“I don’t know if they’ll do it but I think Maroondah Council owes the people in this triangle some leisure because we’re all in support of the environment, we’re all in support of building communities,” Ms Alexander said.
“If everyone has to go in their car to go to the playground, that’s step one against the environment. And also the kids don’t play outside anymore because there’s a lot of development here.”
Although not against the housing developments and the growth of the area, Ms Alexander said without public areas for activities in this housing estate, exercise and recreation will become less convenient.
As someone who has always believed in doing things for the community, Ms Alexander helped get the Kilsyth Centenary Pool covered when she first moved to the area.
“I think I got 5000 signatures and they covered Kilsyth pool. I can’t say that was me. I’m not even claiming that was me but what I’m saying is it makes people sit up and take a bit of notice.
“And it also gives other people an idea that yes, someone cares about what’s happening around here.
“So there’s nothing ventured, nothing gained, according to my philosophy but I’m huge in believing in communities.”
Even though Ms Alexander is not expecting the same response as that of the Kilsyth Pool, a petition will show Maroondah Council the interest of the local residents.
Seeing how much her grandchildren use local parks and playgrounds, Ms Alexander can see the value in having small areas for children to play and that’s why she has also been working towards getting a playspace at the Kilsyth Recreation Reserve.
This part of Kilsyth, Ms Alexander said is feeling slightly forgotten as it is on the border of the Yarra Ranges and Maroondah shires.
“It’s kind of the sad bit of Maroondah but the council is doing amazing things in Croydon, no complaints, but it’s just this area’s a bit, ‘Hello, there. We’re still here.’”
To sign the petition, go to:
https://www.petitions.net/signatures/children_need_place_to_play-petition_to_council_to_build_a_playground_on_forest_way_kilsyt/
