By Matthew Sims
Maribyrnong council’s vote on whether or not to approve a master plan on Yarraville’s McIvor Reserve ended in heated scenes and a number of interjections from the public gallery, with the council approving the plan with a split vote, with one councillor consequently submitting a notice of rescission.
During a special council meeting on Wednesday, March 29, with three votes apiece for and against the motion and with councillor Simon Crawford absent, council passed a motion with the use of chair Cr Sarah Carter’s casting vote to adopt the McIvor Reserve Master Plan 2023.
As part of the motion, the council was authorised to start schematic design, necessary site planning and due diligence, as well as to advocate for state and federal funding to support the plan implementation.
However, Cr Jorge Jorquera has confirmed with Star Weekly he has submitted a notice of rescission with support from two of his fellow councillors.
As outlined in the plan, the indoor sports facility would cover about 6500 square metres or four percent of the 18.5 hectare reserve.
The approved master plan included a number of changes from the original draft plan, including the number of trees to be removed being reduced from 163 to 114, with each tree removed replaced by two new trees, an additional 6000 square metres of open space to be redesignated as an off lead dog area and a new signalised intersection and pedestrian crossing to be established at the interextion of Francis Street and Roberts Street and the new McIvor Road.
Speaking in support of the motion, Cr Anthony Tran said the plan would allow for necessary upgrades to the reserve to be implemented as soon as possible, while it would take at least two years until any work could start on the construction of a stadium.
“This doesn’t mean the end of us wanting to talk to residents,” he said.
“The conversation does not stop.”
Maribyrnong deputy mayor Cuc Lam spoke in support of the motion.
“Our city is growing and our young people need our support,” she said.
The decision followed on from comprehensive engagement with the community to understand the views of neighbours, residents and users.
Friends of McIvor Reserve spokesperson Miles Parnell-Gilbert said he was “disappointed” that the plan was endorsed.
“We will continue to track the development at McIvor Reserve and represent the interests of the residents that value greenspace and liveability in our group and across our city,” he said.
“We certainly don’t view this as the end of the discussion.
“The project is a long way from complete and there are still significant hurdles Council needs to negotiate.”
Speaking against the motion, Maribyrnong councillor Bernadette Thomas foreshadowed an alternate motion if the original motion was lost calling for a smaller stadium to be placed on the southern side of the reserve.
“The case for the indoor stadium to be placed on the northern site, in my view, has not been made by the project plan,” she said.
“Consideration should be given to a smaller stadium that has the potential to be accommodated in the space available on the southern site.”
Speaking against the motion, Cr Jorquera said while he would continue to vouch for more support for the Westgate Basketball Association, he could not support the construction of the facility on the northern side of McIvor Reserve.
“I just hope that all the passion that both sides of this debate have put into this debate will translate and carry on to solidarity with others in our community,” he said.
Speaking in support of the motion, Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said council does not own any brownfield sites and no brownfield sites were deemed to be suitable for development of this nature.
“The bottom line is, McIvor Reserve is the only place we can put an indoor sports facility in Maribyrnong,” she said.
“While there are 20 local authorities in Victoria with a lower percentage of open space than Maribyrnong, this does not mean we take what we have for granted, but at the end of the day this is a decision that balances the needs of an evolving and diverse community – and one that continues to grow.
“I am here to make the right decisions – prudent, logical, and strategic decisions that serve the interests and wellbeing of the community I have had the honour of serving for 15 years.”
Details: www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/mcivor
