Lily pond lament

Rubbish in the water. 280607_11

By Shelby Brooks

Locals have expressed their sadness that a picturesque Pakenham pond has become a “litter infected wasteland“ after years of apparent neglect.

Duncan Drive’s lily pond was a jewel in Pakenham’s crown when it opened over 30 years ago.

But now, according to passionate local advocate Cheryl Billing Smith, the pond is an “eyesore“.

“Once upon a time, the Henty family, one of Victoria’s first families came to Pakenham and in their wisdom they developed this lily pond,“ Ms Billing Smith said.

“In its hay day it was magnificent, however, as is the usual modus operandum of Cardinia Shire Council it is now a neglected, overgrown, weed and litter infected wasteland.“

Ms Billing Smith told Star News she was saddened to visit the pond recently and see the mud, rubbish and weeds.

“It could have been a jewel in our crown, it could have been a destination for garden lovers, it could have been a fitting tribute and fitting memorial to Victoria’s first family, the Henty’s that gave so much,“ she said.

“And what do we do to repay their gift? We neglect it, we mismanage it and we ignore it.

“Perhaps in neglecting it and mismanaging it council staff and councillors hope that we won’t notice that they leave it to rot and then fill it in and develop the site with more houses, units and shops.“

A Cardinia Shire spokesperson said the lily pond was maintained by the shire.

“The council maintains the front nature strip mowing and the vegetated swale that runs parallel along Duncan Drive,“ they said.

“The council has plans to complete some tree works and replanting along the banks in the new financial year.

“The council is currently working on a project with Pakenham Secondary College to beautify the north eastern corner of the lily pond which is the area under their management. The school has scheduled future works and students will be interacting with the lily pond as part of their curriculum studies.“

Previously, the shire had described the pond as being of “continuing historical significance“.

In 2010, the council’s biodiversity officer Karen Muscat said major attractions of the pond are the lilies that were planted in the early 1900s for commercial harvesting.

The same year, Cardinia Shire Council released the Draft Henty Lily Pond Management Plan.

Ms Billing Smith is hoping other locals will jump onto the cause to save the lily pond.

In a Facebook post she made on the Pakenham Noticeboard, Ms Billing Smith said she was “annoyed, frustrated and angry at the inaction“ to save it.

“We have a major historical landmark, a beautiful draw card, it could be so beautiful, the environment and the community house has been ignored, neglected and mismanaged,“ she said.

Others agreed.

“This was such a beautiful area, play groups and functions at lily pond house, a lovely place for a walk. It’s a shame the families living in the area and beyond cannot see how lovely it once was,“ Ange Reid said.

Ranee Maree Gibbs said: “I remember I used to live just a minute walk away from this once beautiful pond. So sad at how the upkeep has been neglected.“

“Oh how horrible,“ Allison Braden said.

“I remember celebrating special events there when it was so beautiful.“