Bayside Council strikes deal to unlock CSIRO Highett land
A deal has been struck to secure a large chunk of an old CSIRO site in Highett for community use, with the council also set to buy an extra parcel. Here’s what they have in mind.
Inner South
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A huge chunk of land in Highett is one step closer to being unlocked for the community.
The CSIRO-owned 9.3 hectare site on Graham Rd is expected to be listed for sale this month, with Bayside Council securing a deal that preserves some of the land for community use.
The bipartisan agreement, signed late last month, ensures 1ha of open space is set aside for recreation while 3ha — which encompasses the Highett Grassy Woodland — will be saved for conservation.
REVITALISATION OF HIGHETT GRASSY WOODLAND TO BEGIN
The council will also be able to buy another 3500sq m to build new community facilities, including a library.
Mayor Michael Heffernan said the council was committed to making sure the community’s interests were represented at the time of sale.
“As our population continues to grow we will continue to experience unprecedented demand for open space and community facilities,” he said.
“Our community stands to benefit from more open space, increased housing opportunities and the community facilities that will be needed by this growing suburb into the future.”
The council set aside $9 million in the 2018/2019 budget to go towards the community facilities and library, but construction is still years away.
The CSIRO is currently demolishing and clearing all old buildings as it prepares for the sale.
Friends of the Highett Grassy Woodland spokesman Michael Norris started a lone campaign 20 years ago to save the Woodlands, home to several heritage listed trees — some more than 300 years old.
Mr Norris said it was great the documents were signed, but the hard work was still ahead.
He envisions the Woodlands flush with trees, bushes, grasses and flowering plants, finished off with an indigenous garden interweaved with footpaths and bike tracks.
“The hard work is rejuvenating the site and that’ll be jolly hard,” he said.
“It’ll be a lovely place before long though and we’re delighted and relieved it’s happening for future generations to enjoy.”
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