VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
THE old Olinda Golf Course is set to become a new sports oval and dog walking area.
Victorian Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville, and Deputy Premier, James Merlino, last week met at the Olinda Recreation Reserve to discuss future uses for the site.
Discussions are being held between the ministers, Parks Victoria, Yarra Ranges Shire and the community for part of the former course to become an area for community use.
The 29-hectare former golf course has been vacant for many years, after the former tenant defaulted on their lease.
The site has since been under the management of Parks Victoria.
Ms Neville said the initiative would be valuable for the community.
“Following interest by the local community to use part of the site for an off-lead dog walking area and new sports oval, Parks Victoria is proposing to annexe three hectares of the site for these uses,” Ms Neville said.
A commercial lease for the remainder of the site would be considered after a call for expressions of interest by Parks Victoria.
Mr Merlino said the residents had been taken into consideration.
“The local community is passionate about the place and their views have been considered in this latest proposal,” Mr Merlino said.
The expression of interest process stipulated that alternate uses of the site needed to provide the community with a valuable recreational or tourism facility.
Mr Merlino was enthusiastic about the plans to rejuvenate the area and give the community access to the site again.
“New recreational facilities will be a great thing for the local community, and securing a new commercial operator would be a good outcome rather than have this valuable facility lie vacant,” he said.
