By Sahar Foladi
A former City of Greater Dandenong councillor fears a proposal for a major sports hub to be built near Keysborough Golf Club could be used to spread the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) into Green Wedge sites.
Spokesperson for Defenders of South-East Green Wedge, Matthew Kirwan made the claim after Matilda’s vice-captain Steph Catley ‘officially endorsed’ the proposed South-East Sports Hub (SESH).
“Community sports clubs and stars are being used as pawns to move the Urban Growth Boundary. This is no simple rezoning of one piece of land from one type of land to another which councils do all the time.
“It’s about the State Government making the massive decision about moving where the edge of development in Melbourne can take place.”
Meanwhile, Ms Catley, a ‘local product’ of Seaford, was unveiled as the SESH ambassador who said the plans “look amazing” and it can have a “huge impact” on the community.
The SESH is a 71 ha, modern multi-sports hub built adjacent to the proposed Keysborough Golf Club facility, which will be managed by the City of Greater Dandenong Council.
As reported previously by Star Journal, Intrapac and Keysborough Golf Club have proposed rezoning the Hutton Road course, which is on Green Wedge land just outside the UGB.
Under the plan, the golf club would relocate to Pillars Road alongside a proposed South East Sports Hub. The existing site would be developed into an estate of up to 1100 dwellings.
“The sports hub is a sweetener for this deal: Intrapac will fund its development only if the state government moves the Urban Growth Boundary of Melbourne, a boundary designed to prevent urban sprawl. A goal of the Urban Growth Boundary is also preserving the green wedges, ‘the lungs of Melbourne’,” Mr Kirwan said.
The ex-councillor for City of Greater Dandenong fears this may become the “standard trade” offer if Intrapac succeeds, saying there will be “no end to urban sprawl in Melbourne.”
“Moving the Urban Growth Boundary for one purpose in one part of Melbourne will lead to countless other bids around the whole edge of Melbourne.”
Stage one of the design, at $30 million, is ready once approved by the state government.
According to the SESH site, stage one will include two cricket grounds, six football, one AFL, eight netball, two pavilions, four cricket nets, playgrounds and sports hub carpark.
Stage two is said to have a cricket field, five football fields, two AFL, three pavilions, terrain bike track, family reserve and recreational facilities and much more.
Captain Darrell Swindells from Keysborough Golf Club had previously told Star Journal that “like the government, we accept there’s a Green Wedge but we think our site is an anomaly”.
“It’s an infill site in a middle-ring suburb, surrounded by existing housing and major roads.
“Listening to what the government wants, the best way to solve our housing shortage is infill.”
