Disregard for our parklands

One of the most blatant examples of the Victorian Government's disregard for valuable parkland and open spaces seems to remain Melbourne's best-kept secret, outside the local area, with the recent low-key Government announcement of a high-density office and shopping development on land adjacent to the Burnley Horticultural Gardens and the Burnley Public Golf Course.

The site has been rezoned to facilitate, without community consultation, the proposed AMRAD Corporation and General Electric headquarters and call centre - a development that will, I am informed, involve seven new commercial buildings up to six storeys in height, housing some 4500 people, serviced by a retailing shopping village with highly inappropriate car parking facilities.

My inquiries reveal that it is proposed to sell Crown land to the developer with a resultant transformation of parkland into a business and retail zone that will have a dramatic adverse impact on access to local sports grounds, the scenic Yarra Boulevard, the heritage-nominated Burnley Gardens, as well as constitute a potential threat to the unique public golf course at Burnley. Furthermore, the proposed development will create a major visual intrusion for nearby residences in Hawthorn and Burnley.

I appeal to the Government and planning authorities to reconsider their proposals before permanent damage is done to a most important community asset.
Walter Jona,
Toorak

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/04/1075853936793.html