When does Public Open Space not belong to the public?

A lovely treed green space at Bronhill reserve, was the meeting place for more than 50 residents and supporters yesterday afternoon, as the topic became a HOT topic when Council proposed the sale of this land into private ownership to Donwood, an adjacent care facility that shares a fenceline.

IT was clear that this hit a raw nerve in the community, by the turn out and listening to two speakers, Shea and Suzie, both asking why Council would even consider selling of PUBLIC open space.

The denser the housing the more precious these spaces are in our municipality, as mature canopy trees on blocks that used to accommodate one house are removed to increase building density.We are losing old trees faster than is acceptable regardless of replanting new ones.

This means our mature habitat goes AWOL while birds and other creatures loose their homes and may never return as competition for current nesting hollows will most probably cause a decline in local numbers.

This is NOT an acceptable option as was seen by the attendance of people yesterday. If you have not yet done so, log onto Maroondah website find “your say” and express your own opinion. It is Bronhill Reserve.