A bold new plan to create a living network of parks, open spaces, wetlands and waterways to revitalise Melbourne’s south-east region was launched today in Moorabbin.
Living Links is a large-scale program being developed by the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) and a number of councils, government agencies and local communities.
‘Imagine being able to ride your bike or walk down continuous paths from the Dandenong Ranges all the way to the Bay, all while experiencing a serene urban ecosystem on Melbourne’s doorstep,’ PPWCMA Chief Executive Officer, David Buntine said.
Living Links aims to create a series of habitat and recreational corridors linking open spaces, conservation reserves and fragments of native vegetation across the 855 square kilometres, from the Dandenong Ranges National Park, through Melbourne’s south-eastern industrial and urban areas around Dandenong, finishing up at Port Phillip Bay.
While a master plan will be developed as a long-term vision, an immediate short-term works program will start to rehabilitate and restore vegetation and improve links between some of the existing fragments of native vegetation.
The short term works program will see on-ground works undertaken in the Cities of Kingston, Monash, Knox, Greater Dandenong, Casey, Maroondah and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
Living Links is a partnership between all levels of government, the community and business and industry to develop a unique urban ecosystem in a heavily populated and developed area.
The City of Kingston, Melbourne Water, South East Water and Bushwalking Victoria are formally committed to support Living Links. Landcare Australia Limited, Bicycle Victoria, Parks Victoria, the Gould Group, The First Friends of Dandenong Creek, the cities of Greater Dandenong, Knox, Casey, Monash, Whitehorse, Maroondah and the Shire of Yarra Ranges are all involved in the program.
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Living Links Coordinator, Wade Bland said the program would connect everyone with an interest in enhancing the environmental values of the region.
‘The future for the catchment is one of a picturesque network of parks, open areas, beach tracks, tree-lined roadsides and waterways, Mr Bland said.
‘It will become an urban eco-system to compete with the best in the world to live, work and invest in. An important component will be developing the existing Bay to Ranges bike trail into the backbone of a continuous green, north-south corridor, he said.
Industry will also be invited to contribute, either in cash or via ‘in kind’ services to demonstrate a commitment to improving the health of the local environment by enhancing the intrinsic and economic value of land in the area.
The region is home to almost half of Victoria’s businesses, about a third of Melbourne’s population and Australia’s largest road construction project, Eastlink.
‘We have to make sure we match our investment in the environment to support all of this highly valuable commercial expansion,’ Mr Buntine said.
‘Fortunately, many of the building blocks are there, like Jells Park, Shepherd’s Bush and the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. There’s also Braeside Park, Lysterfield Park and the Seaford-Edithvale wetlands,’ he said.
‘At the moment they’re relatively isolated from each other. Living Links will connect them up and significantly increase the environmental, social and economic attractiveness of the region,’ Mr Buntine said. |