By Parker McKenzie
Knox City Council has released the draft future directions plan for Koolunga Native Reserve, and local residents have the chance to have a say on it until Sunday 28 May.
Koolunga Native Reserve is located at Forest Road on the border of Boronia and Ferntree Gully and the 14-acre reserve is a popular location for dog walkers. AfterPlanned works to build a wetland area at the reserve faced opposition from local residents when it was announced, who expressed frustration about a lack of consultation regarding the potential changes to Koolunga.
“Council’s proposed plans to introduce a wetlands to improve stormwater in 2018 were not supported by some community members and Council has taken this feedback on board and committed to considering the future directions of the Reserve more broadly, including improved outcomes for the environment and community health and wellbeing,” the draft plan said.
The plan states that the reserve is critical habitat for more than 50 bird species and other animals including two frog species, galaxias fish, short-finned eels, echidnas, sugar gliders among others.
In the draft plan, Knox City Council acknowledges it “could have delivered a better community engagement experience at each stage.”
“To ensure we learn from this, we are completing a review of the community engagement program for Koolunga Native Reserve across the life of this particular project,” the plan said.
“We will share the findings of this review with you and take the findings into consideration when reviewing our community engagement policy and practices.”
The council said it will compile a review of feedback from consultation activities and update the future directions to plan to reflect what it has heard.
Consultation sessions will be held at the open space at the north of the reserve (36 Daffodil Road, Koolunga Native Reserve) on:
Tuesday 9 May 4pm to 6pm
Thursday 11 May 4pm to 6pm
Saturday 13 May 11am to 1pm
Wednesday 17 May 5pm to 7pm
