Maroondah council is seeking the community’s opinion on a bid to sell Bronhill Road Reserve – a 2,216 square-metre park in Ringwood East – to neighbouring aged care provider Donwood.
The council says the sale could support expansion of neighbouring aged-care facilities while retaining public access to the site, while a group of locals is opposing the sale, arguing impacts on vegetation and land.
What’s happening? Bronhill Road Reserve consists of a block of council-owned land currently used as a local reserve and playground.
It sits on the border of a residential aged care home, community centre and six independent living units operated by Donwood Community Aged Care Services at various sites on Diana Road.
At its meeting on July 20, Maroondah council voted to commence consultation on the proposed sale of Bronhill Reserve, which includes notifying the public and community engagement.
According to the council’s Have Your Say page, the move could create a partnership which may “support better connections through the area, play opportunities, ongoing community use and improved integration with surrounding services”.
1️⃣ The first step: Maroondah mayor Linda Hancock said if the land was sold to Donwood, it would “support [the] expansion of its facility”.
“Donwood has committed that with any future development they would ensure the site remains publicly accessible with paths, playspace and other amenities,” she told the Eastern Melburnian. “Any future development application from Donwood would require council approval and provide a further opportunity for community consultation.”
So what? Community consultation doesn’t give residents the power to block a proposed decision.
Instead, council officers often collate feedback under themes, including reasons for support or opposition. Officers then provide councillors with a report summarising the level of support or opposition and the reasons given by respondents.
Councillors must consider the community feedback, but they are not required to give it more or less weight than other factors when making their decision.
🪧 Local protest: Nearby Maroondah residents have voiced their opposition to the sale and any connected development on the land, including Suzy Stojanovic, who has been a local since early 2009.
“It’s our only green space that we can access without getting in a car or trying to cross Maroondah Highway,” she said. “With more and more built environments surrounding this particular space … this is invaluable to us.”
Shea Vaughan, a member of the Croydon Conservation Society, is opposing the sale on the basis that public land should be retained as much as possible.
“I don’t feel that public open space should be sold into private ownership,” she told the Eastern Melburnian. “There is good space here that can be shared with everybody, but it doesn't need to leave public hands.”
⏭️ What’s next? Maroondah council is welcoming all community feedback on the proposed sale until Friday August 28.