Chelsea • Mordialloc • Mentone
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Wednesday 5 October 2022
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Cricket comeback MPCA cricket returned with a bang last weekend. Seaford Tigers (pictured left) started their season with a win over Mornington. Carrum bounced back from a rough start to pick up a victory against Rosebud. See sports page 22. Picture: Alan Dillon
Pleas for parkland promise to be fulfilled Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au IN the leadup to its 2018 re-election the state government committed $25 million towards creating the “Sandbelt Parklands”, a 355 hectare chain of parks running from Dingley Village to Moorabbin. With the next election looming the project remains incomplete, and Kingston Council is pleading for the state government to
fulfill its promise. Kingston Council is keen to see the chain of parks project completed. The project has taken a few hits in the last four years, none more damaging than the state government announcing that land previously earmarked for the project in Heatherton would instead be used for suburban rail loop stabling. Kingston mayor Steve Staikos says that council needs continued state government support for the project
to come to fruition. “Four years have passed, and we are yet to see what was promised to our community,” he said. “Council has done its part to make the plan a reality by investing millions at council-owned parks such as Spring Road Reserve in Dingley Village, Heatherton Park in Clayton South, Elder Street South Reserve in Clarinda and the soon to be opened Victory Road Reserve in Clayton South – now we need the state government to do their bit.”
Environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio was asked for an update on the progress of the project. She said “we’re delivering every promised hectare of the Chain of Parks 355 hectares of protected community parkland running from Moorabbin to Dingley Village for local families to enjoy.” The state government has begun the process of acquiring the remaining land for the project within the public acquisition overlay. The Department
of Land, Water, and Planning website reads that the state government is “working with key partners, stakeholders, Traditional Owners and the community to develop the vision for Sandbelt Parklands”, and that community consultation will take place late this year. Kingston Council wants to see both the Delta landfill site and land on Henry Street in Heatherton purchased for the chain of parks. Continued page 3