Kingston is pleased that another 83 hectares of land has been purchased by the Victorian Government for the long-awaited Chain of Parks.
The Victorian Government has announced it has acquired the land in Heatherton and Clayton South to create a linked series of parks, trails and green open space running from Karkarook Park to Braeside Park.
Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said he happy to see that key Chain of Parks sites had now been purchased and this generational project was progressing.
"Council has worked alongside our community for decades towards this goal, and it is extremely rewarding to see it finally becoming a reality," Cr Staikos said.
"We are finally seeing former landfills transform into green open spaces, here right on our doorstep. I would like to pay tribute to the many community groups that have worked tirelessly for years to bring the Chain of Parks – Sandbelt Open Space Project to life."
Kingston Council has also played a key role investing many millions of ratepayer funds to deliver parts of the Chain of Parks on council owned land, including the new Elder Street South Reserve in Clarinda opened in 2022 and Spring Road Reserve in Dingley Village which opened in 2016. Work also is now well underway in partnership with Cleanaway on a massive new 30-hectare park on Victory Road in Clayton South, which is expected to open in early 2023.
Karkarook Ward Councillor Hadi Saab said the Chain of Parks has begun to transform the Kingston Green Wedge and is having an incredibly positive impact on the community.
"While we welcome this significant step forward, we are disappointed that the Delta site has not been included in the recent land acquisitions by the government despite it being identified for public open space for almost 30 years and earmarked for a regional sporting facility," Cr Saab said.
In the lead-up to the Victorian election both major parties have made commitments regarding a regional sporting facility for Kingston:
- This week the Labor Party promised if re-elected it would commit $1 million towards identifying and planning for a new site for a regional sporting facility known as Kingston Fields located in the Green Wedge area of Dingley Village.
- Last month the Liberal/Nationals promised if elected they would scrap the SRL project/stabling yards and commit $20 million towards a new active recreation reserve at the site.
If the stabling yard does proceed at the Delta site, the Suburban Rail Loop East Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) report required replacement open space be delivered for the regional sporting facility.
In August this year, Kingston Council called for any replacement site to meet the following standards:
- Equivalent or greater in size and not fragmented
- Located nearby and well-serviced by public transport
- Able to accommodate required sporting fields and buildings
- Promptly acquired and early offset opportunities actioned
- Located so as not to displace key Green Wedge activities, such as agriculture.
Mayor Staikos said sport was booming in both Kingston and the region and that significant new sporting facilities were urgently needed to keep up with growing population.
"We need a large-scale centre to address growing sporting needs, including football, cricket, soccer, hockey, baseball, cycling and more, and growth in participation for women and girls," Cr Staikos said.
"Kingston's Green Wedge offers a unique opportunity to create a large-scale facility to serve the region and following the election we look forward to working with the government of the day to ensure much-needed regional sporting facilities are delivered for our community."
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We are calling on all parties and candidates to support a range of key local projects ahead of the Victorian election through our Put Kingston First campaign.
Along with the delivery of the long-awaited Chain of Parks and new regional sporting precinct, these include the new Aquatic and Leisure Centre, the redevelopment of Kingston City Hall, the Westall Road Extension, the level crossing removal projects, recycled water scheme, and improvements to Mordialloc Creek and Patterson River.
