By Mikayla van Loon
The final decision to save the land at 150 Cambridge Road has been handed down to the community after two years of petitioning and campaigning.
Yarra Ranges Council made the unanimous decision at its meeting on Tuesday 8 March, gaining support from all nine councillors.
Before getting the final approval, a community consultation process occurred, receiving overwhelming support from 95 per cent of people who responded.
Key petitioner John Phillips said it was a historical moment for the council and the community.
“I think the unanimous vote at the council’s last meeting combined with the community consultation outcome brings about a rare and historical occasion for council but primarily for Kilsyth and Walling Ward history,” he said.
Mr Phillips said aerial shots of Kilsyth show the lack of passive open space in the suburb and was pleased the council had the foresight to prevent this land from becoming another housing development for future generations.
“This will be fantastic and will last a lifetime now for many generations,” he said.
Councillor Len Cox said not only did people approve of the purchasing of the land but approved of the method in which the funds would be available to the council with the selling of vacant blocks in surrounding areas.
“I was much heartened by that result from the public,” he said.
“If we can pass this tonight to buy this land it will become a focal point in the area of Kilsyth… With more and more backyards disappearing into housing the open space is just so badly needed and will be needed more and more as the years go by.”
Councillor Tim Heenan supported the motion to approve the purchase and said it was one of the best forward planning decisions for open space to be made by the council.
Although the design of what to do with the space is possibly still a little way off, Mr Phillips said the community is quite passionate about keeping the old staircase as a historical memento and having a say in the naming process of the reserve.
For Mr Phillips he sees the best design outcome being something similar to that of Elizabeth Bridge Reserve (EBR) with walking paths and gardens.
“Somewhere family orientated, somewhere people of all ages can go to, somewhere for the elderly, this can be great for a lot of the elderly where the EBR is too far to walk and they can’t drive,” he said.
Having been through the pandemic and lockdowns, 150 Cambridge Road became a well used natural open space for exercise and somewhere to improve mental health.
Mr Phillips said he hopes that can continue and people use the space to escape the four walls of their home into the future.
“It’s good for mental health and wellbeing and it’d be another area where families create memories.
“It’s almost impossible for an area like that to make people feel negative, especially with the wildlife, as well as the fresh air and the outlook and being out of the home.
“And from that what happens generally, you study better, people work better, which creates better production, with less health costs overall. So it’s just a plus plus, plus.”
A deposit will be paid by the council to the State government to move forward with the purchase.
