By Shelby Brooks and Eleanor Wilson
Cardinia Shire councillors have slammed the Department of Environment Land Water Planning (DELWP) for not committing funding for a 600ha parkland linking Beaconsfield to Clyde.
Located on the traditional Country of the Bunurong land, the Cardinia Creek Regional Parklands will link much loved existing parks including Cardinia Creek Regional Park and Grasmere Wetlands, Akoonah Park, Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve, Beaconsfield Recreation Reserve, Beaconsfield Park, Manna Gum Park, Mick Morland and Bob Burgess Reserve.
The parklands have been gradually established over the past 20 years, with hopes to acquire additional land by 2040 to link the parks that weave along Cardinia Creek in both Cardinia and Casey municipalities.
It would see the parklands stretch along more than 18km on both sides of the Cardinia Creek and provide a continuous chain of parks and reserves with ecological, cultural and community benefits for the region
In a Cardinia Shire meeting on Monday 26 September, councillors endorsed the future directions plan for the parkland but expressed their disappointment the plan did not include a funding commitment from project lead, DELWP.
Councillor Collin Ross was among those who noted the absence of funding from DELWP.
“This isn’t cheap if you do things properly,” he said.
“[DELWP] have pointed out everything we need to do, and we would love to do them and we’ve been in partnership with them in forming this plan, but it appears without the funding commitment written into the final plan we could get left holding the booty on this.
“This is quite embarrassing for them in some ways because [DELWP] drop out right at the last minute but you want to be partners? Well, [Cardinia Shire] wants to be equal partners that put in equal share for it and we want to see their commitment.”
Councillor Stephanie Davies agreed.
“It is a very important environmental and recreational space and it’s exciting for our shire,” she said.
“It is really disappointing that no funding is allocated, unfortunately this has happened before with projects and investments that look great on paper but aren’t realised.”
Cardinia Shire will write a letter to DELWP expressing its concern and asking that funding is allocated to ensure the outcomes of the plan can be delivered.
The future of the Parklands involves a collaborative plan by stakeholders including Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) in partnership with Parklands Partners Casey City Council, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Cardinia Shire Council, Melbourne Water and Parks Victoria.
In a council meeting on 20 September, City of Casey administrators endorsed the plan and announced they would also advocate to the State Government for funding allocation.
“It remains a significant priority… to ensure we do achieve the requirements and the activities listed in the plan and that we do continue to advocate to the State Government for funding allocation to see that the plans realisation actually does occur,” City of Casey administrator Cameron Boardman said.
