Soil dumping site should be used for community projects, residents say

A vacant block of land in Melbourne’s leafy inner east used for dumping soil has been labelled an eyesore by residents, who are demanding the council hand it over for community use.

Residents are calling for a vacant block of land in Hawthorn East to be handed over for community use. Picture: Josie Hayden

Locals are lobbying for a former soil dumping site to be handed over to the community, with neighbours labelling it unsafe and an eyesore.

The vacant block on Rose St in Hawthorn East is owned by Boroondara Council, and is currently contracted to Yarra Valley Water for them to dump excavated soil from a nearby dig.

The block is sandwiched between a skatepark, Orthodox church, community garden and Rylands retirement home and is 200 metres away from Fritsch Holzer Park.

REAL ESTATE: BE THE STAR OF ELWOOD'S FIRST CINEMA

OUTRAGE OVER EXPLETIVE-FILLED KANYE SONG BLARED INTO STREET

CYCLISTS LINE UP TO USE BONBEACH 'PEE TREE'

Rylands resident Jim Paterson said the block should be given to the community for use.

He said the recent use as a soil dumping site for Yarra Valley Water provided “an atmosphere of noise, dust and disruption to the peaceful enjoyment of our property and neighbourhood”.

Mr Paterson said locals had been asking the council about the site for at least five years.

“Each time we have been advised that the council has not made a decision about the future of the block,” he said.

“Over this time the use of the Rose St block has moved from a neglected and derelict eyesore to what is to all intents and purposes an ongoing industrial site.”

Hawthorn East residents are calling for a vacant block near Fritsch Holzer Park to be handed over for community use. Picture: Josie Hayden

He said any number of uses for the site would be better than it sitting vacant and abandoned.

Yarra Valley Water general manager of Growth Futures Chris Brace said they wouldn’t need the site after the project finished in early June and would hand it back to Boroondara Council.

“Yarra Valley Water has been using the site as a place to store soil during the Kew/Balwyn water main upgrade project,” Mr Brace said.

“This project is replacing a 100-year-old water main with a new main that will provide reliable service to the area for many years to come.”

Boroondara environment and infrastructure director Carolyn Terry said the site existed as a works depot for the City of Hawthorn “long before decisions were taken by neighbours to build and occupy the abutting properties”.

“(The) council has no current plans to redevelop the site. It will continue to be used for temporary storage, as required,” Ms Terry said.

“(The) council will however take any additional action required to ensure dust emissions from the site are controlled and its presentation is reasonable having regard to the use of the site for temporary storage.”

[e-mail]