My adjournment matter is for the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, and the action that I seek is the immediate commissioning of a report that quantifies how much existing open and green space will be lost as a direct result of the Suburban Rail Loop development and how much open and green space will be replaced, and where.
I am deeply committed to providing this generation and the next with the open space, the recreational space and the multi-use sporting fields that they need and deserve.
That is why I have previously committed to the preservation of the vast majority of the Gas and Fuel land on Nepean Highway, Highett, and that is why I have committed to the development of a regional sporting precinct within the Kingston green wedge.
I want young people to access sporting grounds so that they can play sport with their mates, live active and healthy lives and know what it is to be part of a team working together with the same goal in sight, learning those critical skills that sports participation offers a young person so that they can fully participate and give back to their community.
To my great disappointment and to the disappointment of the community, the same cannot be said for Victorian Labor.
At the 11th hour, just before Christmas last year, Victorian Labor announced plans to acquire land in Heatherton for the Suburban Rail Loop stabling yards.
The train stabling will take up 35 hectares of land currently zoned as green wedge.
That is right—stabling yards in the green wedge, in land intended to function as the lungs of Melbourne.
So let us just be clear about this: Labor’s vision for this 35 hectares of green wedge is train stabling yards.
But my vision, the Liberals’ vision, is open space, both active and passive recreation areas and multi-use sporting facilities to cater for this generation and the next.
No wonder Kingston council recently voted unanimously to absolutely reject the Victorian government’s preferred location for stabling yards.
I do not suppose Mordialloc branch meetings will be as convivial as they have historically been, because of this peanut-brained decision.
Aspirations like progress and development are empty slogans if they come at the expense of resident amenity and environmental conservation.
Victorian Labor at the very least owe us honesty and owe us transparency when it comes to their planned use for green and open spaces.
