By Tanya Faulkner
Things are escalating in the Knox community, as locals are standing their ground against the proposed social housing development designated for Knoxfield.
Development Victoria will now have to face the Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on their proposed plans for the space, and take on the pressure from the community not to go ahead.
Ray Pearce, a historian with the Knox Historical Association, said there’s a lot more history to the Knoxfield site than most locals realise, with parts of the lake itself dating back to the 1870s.
“The original lake area is still there and goes back 150 years, which remains part of ‘Lake Knox’ as we know it today,” he said.
He said the lake, as it now stands, was excavated at a slightly different level to the original part that still remains from the late 1800s.
Mr Pearce said the lake and surrounding land has a rich history in the Knox community, and should be left as it is.
“I had a friend who worked on the horticultural station in the 1970s and 80s, who said they dumped nasty chemicals in the lake,” he said.
In the past half-century, the area surrounding Knoxfield has seen increased developments erected, with locals now wanting to hold onto this piece of history and greenery.
Mr Pearce said they have had a lot of information that has arisen in the previous months about the Knoxfield site, including the revival of documents and development plans from over the years, detailing the lifeline of the lake.
He said that developing that site is not only destroying a piece of valuable wetland, it’s also destroying a piece of rich local history.
“We need housing, there’s no doubt about that, but we also need open space and trees.
“You can’t have both, only one without the other,” he said,
He said the Knox municipality has lost significant amounts of its original arboreal coverage, and the community desperately needs to keep all of the greenery it can.
His comments were mimicked by Knox Environmental Society’s (KES) Anthony Bigelow who said the lake holds many qualities for the community alongside its rich history.
“The lake is home to a number of endangered birds, plants and wildlife, and is known as an “animal refuge”.
“We have the blue-billed duck, and black swans, to name a couple of species who reside at the lake and need our help,” he said.
Due to the land currently being fenced off and clear from development, several species reside in Knoxfield lake as a safe-haven away from animals, people and potential threats.
At the time of visiting the lake, Mr Bigelow said there were black swans currently nesting in the lake, and hoped to see cygnets in the near future.
“Currently there is no access to the lake, making it safer for birds to find peace and make a home in the lake.
“The site is also a well-known flood plain, so when it rains the land is subject to flooding, and not ideal for housing developments.
“If the site were to be developed on, it may take years for wildlife to return to the area, and it’s hard to say where they can go,” he said.
The water of the lake, which Mr Bigelow described as “clean” from toxins and chemicals that come with developments, is home to around 90 different animal species, and 60 bird species.
“What people don’t always see is the ecosystem working to support the wildlife in that area.
“The lake is home to micro vertebrates and invertebrates, and other plants and wildlife that support the overall environment of the area,” he said.
The proposed development for Knoxfield by Development Victoria is being argued it will create a ‘vibrant new neighbourhood in Knoxfield’ with ‘diverse housing and open recreational spaces for the community to enjoy, as well as thriving new wetlands’.
However, City of Knox mayor Cr Marcia Timmers-Leitch said in December last year, Council refused to grant permits for their proposed 105-lot residential subdivision and construction of wetlands at the corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road.
This included the removal of a dam, often referred to as Lake Knox, after the new wetlands were established.
Council received more than 1170 objections in total to the proposals.
“Council’s grounds for refusal included the impact of the proposal on a site of biological significance, including impacts on the vulnerable Blue-billed Duck.
“Other grounds included the proposed extensive removal of native vegetation, failing to provide an appropriate interface to Scoresby Road and the extent of the residential subdivision encroaching into a designated Mixed Use area,” said Cr Timmers-Leitch.
Development Victoria is now appealing Council’s refusal to grant two planning permits for their proposed development in Knoxfield, which is scheduled to be heard by the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) later next month.
Mr Bigelow said KES desperately needs the help of the community to protect the land from development, as they go up against Development Victoria and the Victorian Premier, David Andrews, at VCAT.
A report by Professor Paul Boon, a wetland ecologist brought in to investigate the values of Knoxfield lake, shared his concerns with the site becoming a development, and the risk of livelihood for species like the endangered Blue-billed Duck.
“I have serious concerns with the likelihood with which suitable high-quality replacement habitat can be replicated in the new lake/wetland complex,” he said.
Mr Bigelow said this report, among others, will be presented at VCAT.
“Government just hasn’t been listening to our concerns, and we need to stand against the development together,” he said.
KES has seen over 27,000 signatures on their petition “Save Lake Knox” and have also started fundraising to pay for legal fees as they approach the start of the VCAT hearing.
“We need to raise $120,000 by September to cover legal fees, expert reports, and other documents to help our case in keeping Lake Knox.
“It’s a big fight that needs to be fought, because no one else is fighting it,” he said.
Development Victoria were approached for comment on the matter, however were unable to make comments at the time of contact, while the case is with VCAT.
The hearing at VCAT will begin on Monday 28, August, and is expected to run for 11 days.
Locals wishing to get behind the cause can sign the petition on change.org or make a donation on chuffed.org/project/helpsavelakeknox
