By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Negotiations to preserve Chandler Road Reserve have stalled between Greater Dandenong Council and the State Government.
A proposed lease of the Keysborough reserve’s state-owned majority portion to the council had yet to be signed, Greater Dandenong city planning director Jody Bosman told a council meeting on 24 January.
“There’s a bit of information still required and some confirmations from the State Government.
“We’re pushing as hard as we can to get that lease finalised.
“And once done so, we’ll be able to then at least have the confidence that the open space there would be public open space for the long-term use of our residents.”
The lease was revealed at an early 2021 planning hearing on the rezoning of the adjoining ex-Maralinga Primary School site for housing.
At the hearing, the Government had initially proposed zero public open space on the school site in exchange for leasing its portion of Chandler Road Reserve to the council.
According to the Government, the council suggested a further two-metre-wide reserve on the western side of the school site – as part of a 5 per cent open space requirement.
The Government later dropped its push for no public open space, in the face of opposition from the council and residents.
In late 2021, Planning Minister Richard Wynne advised the council that he approved the school’s rezoning.
Details on the rezoning and the public open space requirement are yet to be released.
