Calls for former Broadmeadows Primary School site to be kept for park and future school

KEEPING the former Broadmeadows Primary School site for open space has a groundswell of community support.

Residents are calling for the former Broadmeadows Primary School site to remain as open space. Picture: Ellen Smith

KEEPING the former Broadmeadows Primary School site for open space has a groundswell of community support.

The 2.16ha site at 2-16 Nicholas St, which has been deemed surplus land by the Education Department, is set to be sold for private and social housing.

The land is part of the State Government’s Inclusionary Housing Pilot to build up to 100 social housing properties across six sites in Melbourne.

About 100 people have signed a petition lobbying for a park and new school and for the site to be withdrawn from the pilot scheme.

Save Our School Site spokeswoman Sonja Rutherford said there had been a rapid growth in high density dwellings in the area.

The development of the nearby former Hard Yakka site, would also dramatically add to the liveability problems, she said.

The Leader revealed last week that Hume Council had received a proposal to build 187 townhouses, speciality stores and a supermarket at the site.

Ms Rutherford said the Broadmeadows Primary land would compensate for the limitations of unit living.

“The school site is presently used as a place for walking dogs, playing games, bird watching and meeting friends,” she said.

“There is no other open space available within walking distance. There is nowhere for kids to play and they can’t play in the street.

“This land is not surplus to needs to all.”

The Leader reported in February that the council wanted a 0.75ha park, which would take up a third of the space. Developers are only required to make a 5 per cent open space contribution.

Ms Rutherford said with many young families moving into the area this site was the only space available for a future school.

“The demographic is changing and there will be a need for a school in a few years’ time,” she said.

Broadmeadows state Labor MP Frank McGuire said he had met with the association and other residents and sought feedback from the Planning Minister.

“This is an exciting opportunity to modernise the precinct adjacent to the Meadowlink parkland corridor,” he said.

“Hume Council did not take up the opportunity to buy the former Broadmeadows Primary School site for open space but the development will deliver a small local park.”

Mr McGuire said an independent panel would shortly report on the submissions made by the public.

To sign the petition visit change.org