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More people than ever are using our open spaces for sport and recreation.
There is now greater participation in football and soccer by women and girls. While that is positive for our community, the additional change facilities and playing fields required are placing pressure on our assets.
It is vital we retain open land that can be used in the future to meet these demands.
Koonung Creek Reserve
Koonung Creek Reserve will be impacted by the North East Link (NEL), losing approximately 20 to 25% of land for widening of the Eastern Freeway. Around 65% of the reserve is currently being used for construction, workers accommodation, parking and access roads into the reserve from the freeway. The Koonung Creek Trail has been diverted around the construction compound.
A master plan for Koonung Creek Reserve has been developed to guide the reinstatement of the reserve once NEL works are completed. We engaged and consulted with the community about the design in September/October 2023. In February 2024, Council adopted and endorsed the design that reflected the community feedback.
Leonis Avenue Reserve
A portion of Leonis Avenue Reserve is being used by North East Link Project (NELP) as a construction and laydown site. The Koonung Trail is still open through the reserve for cyclist and pedestrian use.
Boroondara Tennis Centre
During the early planning and approval stages of NELP, we advocated to save the Boroondara Tennis Centre (BTC) and an 18-hole Freeway Golf Course (FGC).
This was our position at the Inquiry and Advisory Committee panel hearing in 2019. It was not supported by the panel or NELP .
We were left with a difficult decision and sought to keep the open space that the FGC provides, although in a reduced footprint as an impact of the NEL. At no stage did we support NELP’s proposal to relocate the BTC to the golf course.
We know that Boroondara does not have any tracts of land equivalent in area to the 3.68 hectares occupied by the BTC, let alone the 6 to 7 hectares being acquired for the NEL in Koonung Creek Reserve.
Closure of Boroondara Tennis Centre
The BTC permanently closed on 22 December 2022 due to its acquisition by the Victorian Government for the North East Link.
The BTC has provided a regional competition and coaching venue for many in the east of Melbourne. The Victorian Government announced on 16 December 2020 that it will develop a replacement 18-court tennis facility in Glen Waverley. The new facility is now open and operational. Visit the Glen Waverly Sports Hub website for more information.