FRESH off a parliamentary petition bringing a significant step forward, an alliance of local Mitchell Shire groups is now asking the State Government to commit to building a 3000-hectare regional park which is surrounded by the waterways of the upper Merri Creek catchment.
A launch event for the wallan wallan Regional Parklands Alliance, made up of members from the Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC), Wallan Environment Group, Friends of Merri Creek, BEAM Mitchell Environment Group, Mitchell Shire Council, City of Whittlesea and local groups, was joined by Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence on Friday morning to bring together a motion to commit to helping the community thrive through a regional park.
The region from Craigieburn and Kalkallo through to Wallan will eventually be developed, aiming to provide housing for an extra 200,000 people and jobs for many thousands. It is also slated to be a focus for freight with a new Outer Metropolitan Ring Road and rail system slicing across the landscape. It will include some of Victoria’s biggest infrastructure projects like the Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal.
For local campaigner and former Mitchell Shire Councillor Rob Eldridge, who has been advocating for the establishment of a Regional Parkland here for decades, it’s a place that is full of possibility.
“There’s nothing like it in Victoria, or even across Australia really,” he said.
“You’ve got the volcanic cones, the wetlands, the creeks – all very close to a metropolitan area. It’s incredibly significant environmentally. But it’s not just about that. It’s about creating a place that’s for everyone: whether you want to watch birds, get active, or just enjoy some space to breathe.”
“The parkland would protect wetlands, grasslands, waterways and volcanic features in the upper Merri catchment, an area under increasing pressure from urban development. As new suburbs continue to expand northwards, the alliance is calling for the natural landscape to be planned and protected alongside that growth, not as an afterthought,” says MCMC Environmental Planning Lead Yasmin Kelsall.
With climate change bringing more intensive rainfall, the parkland will mitigate the impacts of flooding, providing space for water containment and treatment. Without this, disastrous flooding will not only affect the Wallan region, but also Melbourne’s inner suburbs such as Northcote, Brunswick and Clifton Hill downstream.
“There’s a big job ahead in making people aware of what’s possible here,” Ms Kelsall said.
The newly launched parliamentary petition, sponsored by Ms Spence, marks a significant step forward for the campaign, helping to bring the issue into the public and political spotlight.
“We’re very grateful for her support,” Ms Kelsall said.
“Having that sponsorship gives the campaign a much broader reach and helps elevate the importance of what we’re asking for.”
For Mr Eldridge, the growing alliance is a sign that the vision is no longer carried by just a few voices but shared across a broader movement.
“It’s been a long journey,” he says.
“But now there are so many people involved, all bringing different strengths. It really feels like something is building.”
At its heart, he said, the parkland is about creating opportunities for people to experience the unique landscape firsthand.
