Council Again Rejects FofEV Initiative For Local Parks Improvement

The sorry saga of Banyule Council stewardship of Banksia Reserve continues.

Friends of Eaglemont Village have for 5 years highlighted the dearth of local parks in our area - well below Banyule Council's own standard of one park capable of offering 15 minutes recreation or play within a 5 minutes/400 metres of 90% of residents.

Three local parks ought exist between Eaglemont Village and Ivanhoe Station on the south side of the rail line.

Residents on the north side of the rail line are short at least two local parks!

Furthermore, the existing local parks are sadly underdone in terms of play equipment, shade structures, public toilets, bbqs etc that are commonly made available in other Banyule local parks.

Banksia Reserve is a modest parcel of land tucked away off the curved Sherwood Lane, making it almost invisible to traffic along Studley Road and Banksia Street.

It is a modest parcel of land because your Council sold the front half of it facing Banksia Street to a housing developer over resident objections.

The fact the original block was compensation to the community for land carved out of Remembrance Park for the Bell/Banksia Deviation did not deter the Council.

The fact the whole of the nearby Remembrance Park was a 1921 donation to the community by the local Hannah family as a memorial to the fallen of WW1 - land placed in Council trust - did not deter the Council from selling off half of the "land swap" compensation block.

The Hannah family never intended to make a donation to Council coffers!

The remnant Banksia Reserve has sat idle and unloved by Council while housing blocks around it have been subdivided, creating more rate-able properties for Council, less yard space for canopy trees and more residents looking wistfully for services and facilities.

This year FofEV lodged an application for environmental grant funds from Council to enable FofEV to organise local community volunteers to themselves begin planting native vegetation in Banksia Reserve.

This would be the start of bringing the Banksia Reserve up to standard as a local park through local community volunteers efforts.

Considerable efforts were made by several FofEV volunteers to interact with Council staff on site and per emails over the design of the plantings, the selection of species, the scope of works, the use of landscaping materials etc.

Despite satisfying Council officers at operational level on all points they raised - as a Council dictate prior to us lodging an application in a competitive grants process - we were ruled out of contention by more senior officers:

Hi John,

I hope you had a great weekend. I am writing to advise you of the outcome of the two Friends of Eaglemont Village applications to the Banyule Environment Grants program. Unfortunately both of these applications were not supported by Council. I have provided some information about the assessment process against each application below, and the rationale for each not being awarded.

I understand this would be very disappointing news, and I would like to offer my support in helping you identify and overcome any eligibility barriers for future grant applications. I would welcome a phone call on 9422 6137 to discuss.

Kind regards,

Damien Harrison

Below is the "rationale" proffered by Council for not supporting community volunteers working to bring to the local residents what Council itself chooses not to provide despite the rates paid by us locals:

1. Application 252ES_ Banksia Reserve - Neighboorhood Pocket Park (Horticultural Component)

Unfortunately, the project ‘Banksia Reserve - Neighboorhood Pocket Park (Horticultural Component)’ has not been awarded funding for the 2023/24 Environment Grant. Internal Council departments do not support this grant application as it does not align with current Council priorities for Banksia Reserve. Senior Council Officers from the City Futures and Parks & Natural Environment departments confirmed that Council’s resources are not sufficient to oversee works and the ongoing maintenance that this project would require.

The Environment Grant Guidelines states that Council approval (including necessary permits) must be gained for any projects being undertaken on Council owned or managed land prior to application. While we appreciate that FOEV endeavoured to secure Council consent, ultimately the identified challenges with the project precluded its consideration this year.

We really appreciate Friends of Eaglemont Village’s application and welcome a conversation around how this proposal could be modified to Council’s satisfaction in the future."

FofEV will take up the offer for further discussions with Council about how to bring equitable services and facilities to residents in our area.

We will form up a deputation of residents to put the case to Council representatives.