By Casey Neill
Keysborough’s Chandler Reserve is safe from development, thanks to a community campaign.
Keysborough MP Martin Pakula met locals at the Maralinga Avenue site on Tuesday 21 November to announce the good news.
Phil Brown led a community plea to retain the space after learning it was part of the disused Maralinga Primary School block, but the council had maintained it for community use for more than 40 years.
“This wasn’t even a particularly long or bitter campaign,” Mr Pakula said.
“This was Phil Brown and a bunch of local community members making it clear to government via myself as the local member that this park was important to people and you wanted it saved.
“This wasn’t one of those situations where a minister had to have his arm twisted.
“I raised this issue with (Education Minister) James (Merlino) only a couple of weeks ago and he agreed almost immediately that this was a reserve worth saving.”
He said there would now be discussions between the department and Greater Dandenong Council about managing the site.
“That’s still to be worked through,” he said.
“What we wanted to do today was put the community’s mind at ease.”
When the Maralinga campus closed, students moved to Chandler Park Primary School.
The Education Department declared the schoolgrounds surplus to requirements and announced it would be sold, and the classrooms were demolished earlier this year.
“The future needs of the precinct will be discussed and considered as part of the consultation with the council and community,” Mr Pakula said.
Mr Brown said it was “good to see that the community’s been listened to” and he looked forward to the park’s future being secured in writing.
He said hundreds of people used it each day for health, wellbeing and recreation.
Mr Brown started a Facebook group to rally residents and asked the council to intervene, and received support from Councillor Roz Blades.
Yasar Berk has walked laps of the park’s walking track twice a day for nearly 20 years.
He said he was happy with Mr Pakula’s announcement.
Grant Johnston said the news was fantastic, and he’d regularly kicked a footy around the park.
“It’s really good to have this space for everyone to interact,” he said.
“I think it’s a really good win for the community.”
