Stewards of the Park – Council’s Open Space Policy
Council’s Open Space Policy defines Koolunga Reserve as a neighbourhood open space, a large park which can accommodate multiple users and types of activities. This it can certainly do at the moment, but if the large open grassed area is turned into a wetland, this will significantly restrict the types of activities possible, so it is difficult to see how the proposal meets this aspect of their policy.
This same policy states that Council will empower the community to become stewards of open space, by engaging with the community and listening and working with the community in improving local neighbourhood and municipal spaces. This is exactly what we are asking Council to do in this case.
Off-lead dog park
Importantly Council has rightly recognised the need to maintain public off-lead areas for people and their dogs. We all know the important social networks that are created by people meeting to talk and exercise their dogs.
Proposing to remove the large grassed area appears to be out of step with the Council management plan.
Is the park off-lead?
Local urban myth is that years ago local residents lobbied Council to clean-up the park and make the grassed area useable for dogs to exercise. It’s been that way for a long time.
There was some confusion why Council staff claimed the park was not an off-lead park in recent meetings with residents. We’d like to explain:
The Knox City Council Domestic Animal Management Plan (2017 – 2021) recognised the grassed areas of Koolunga reserve as off lead areas. The very last page of the Plan shows the Koolunga lawn areas as off-lead.
The RSPCA explains
What are the benefits of off-leash dog parks?
Off-leash dog parks have many benefits for dogs and their owners. They provide the opportunity for dogs to exercise, socialise with other dogs, enjoy the fresh air, practice training techniques, play games and generally race around and burn off energy. These activities are important for physical health because they prevent problems such as obesity. They also provide essential mental stimulation and prevent the development of problem behaviours such as destructiveness or excessive barking. For us, it’s fun to meet other owners, swap tips and even make new friends.
Off-leash parks are being established by many local councils and are an important component of urban animal management due to increasing housing densities, resulting in more people living with their dogs in apartments or other homes without yards. Some off-leash areas include canals, lakes or beach areas where dogs can swim.
Courtesy https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-should-i-know-before-taking-my-dog-to-an-off-leash-park/
Boronia’s population is growing and we need our off-lead areas more than ever. There are no other open off-lead areas in this area.
Funding
The proposed project has had funding allocated by Council from its own coffers, but also from a substantial grant received from Melbourne Water from its Living Rivers programme.
Some of the key objectives of this programme include creating green open space, and enhancing urban landscapes, and the project advanced by Council would seem to be difficult to reconcile with those objectives.
What the residents have done so far
National newspapers have recognised that the residents’ struggle with getting Council to consult with them and look at alternative proposals has merit and is a story worth bringing to the ear of a wider audience. We have had our story published in two newspapers – follow these links:
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/koolunga-native-reserve-ferntree-gully-dog-owners-furious-over-wetland-plan/news-story/453346416a5dd3110a9d90d834cde552
But what we really need is for people to contact Knox City Council, via any of the methods shown on this website, and ask them to stop the rush to the wetland, consult with the residents and park users, consider their views and look at alternatives. We would really like to see the Council work with us to develop a new management plan for the reserve. This community has skills and expertise in many areas, including civil, water and environmental engineering.
The Chandler family’s opinion
The Chandler family who operated the Boronia daffodil farm sold Koolunga to the Council all those years ago, at a nominal fee, for community use.
After the last Council meeting with residents in the Reserve, some people may think that the Chandler family agree with this concept of a wetland in Koolunga Reserve, as the Chandlers were present at that meeting.
Shirley Chandler (the daughter-in-law of former government minister sir Gilbert Chandler, who sold Koolunga to the Council) has already commented in the Herald Sun of 26th March 2021 that the former daffodil farm should be left alone and that parkland is very important to people.
We asked Kerrie Chandler about her family’s thoughts on the wetland. Kerrie wishes to make clear the Chandler family’s position on Council’s proposed wetland. She says:
“It has been drawn to my attention that some people may unfortunately think that the intended Knox Council plan for Koolunga Native Reserve has been embraced by my family. Nothing could be further from the TRUTH! We think it would be a HUGE LOSS to see this rare gem taken away from the community in exchange for a Wickes Reserve or Suffern Reserve lookalike.
Kerrie Chandler.”
So there you are. The Chandlers are absolutely against this wetland. We hope Council are listening to them as well.
Why a website
We tried setting up two Facebook pages. Unfortunately, our control of both Facebook pages was disabled within days of being created.
This means that, since then, we have been unable to operate a Facebook page , which obviously limits our encouraging of public discussion about Council’s proposed artificial wetland.
This website will take over the role of the Facebook pages.