Please read our letter to the Chair of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority and Whitehorse Mayor
Thank you again for your support as the community seeks to save the last remaining green expanse in Box Hill for parkland.
We have written to the Chair of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority, James Merlino and Whitehorse Mayor, Cr Denise Massoud.
You can read the letter below.
Please continue to share the petition to help inform the community of the urgent need to secure this site for parkland in the heart of Box Hill.
https://www.change.org/bhbwparkland
Hon James Merlino
Chair
Suburban Rail Loop Authority
Cr Denise Massoud
Mayor
Whitehorse City Council
26 March 2024
BOX HILL BRICKWORKS SITE - 14 FEDERATION STREET, BOX HILL
We refer to consultation being undertaken by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) and Whitehorse City Council regarding temporary open space for the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), with submissions due by 27 March 2024.
We acknowledge the government’s housing policy and plans for the SRL which aim to transform Box Hill with more housing and jobs, a new commercial centre and better access to health, education, and other community services. We note the SRL Vision that anticipates Box Hill, in the longer term, will accommodate 77,500 residents and 48,500 jobs.
Our comments here wish to highlight the need for new parkland that is permanent, especially passive open space and the opportunity presented by the Box Hill Brickworks site.
We note up to a quarter of Box Hill Gardens will be occupied by the project for nearly a decade and likely for much longer if the rail loop continues as planned to Doncaster, Heidelberg and further on.
Significant canopy trees will also be lost from Box Hill Gardens on top of the green space and tree removal that has already occurred within the Whitehorse Road median.
While these incursions into existing open space may be necessary to build the SRL station the ongoing densification of Box Hill reinforces the need for new passive open space and canopy trees.
Accordingly, we continue to advocate for a partnership between the state government and council to deliver passive open space at the Brickworks site – for everyone today and tomorrow.
As the last remaining green expanse in Box Hill, this site represents an intergenerational opportunity that must not be missed and must be integral to the vision for Box Hill and the surrounding area.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Mennilli JP
bhbwparkland@gmail.com
https://www.change.org/bhbwparkland