Cade Lucas
Maribyrnong council has appointed community and stakeholder representatives to the Footscray Park Advisory Committee, with a motion supporting the appointments receiving unanimous support at a meeting on September 10.
The advisory committee was established following feedback from the local community that they wanted more of a say in decisions relating to Footscray Park.
Eighteen committee members were appointed at Tuesday night’s council meeting, including five community representatives, Jonathan Baker, Lloyd O’Hanlon, Marika Fengler, Joyce Watts, and Anna Matasic.
Thirteen stakeholder representatives nominated by organisations including Parkside Football Club, Footscray Boat Club, Bike West, Victoria University and Friends of Footscray Park, were also appointed.
The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation will also be invited to participate at its discretion, while a councillor representative will be appointed to chair the committee following the upcoming elections.
Maribyrnong mayor Cuc Lam said the Footscray Park Advisory Committee would play an important role in representing the community in shaping park’s the future.
“By bringing together a diverse group of community representatives, stakeholder organisations, and experts, the committee will provide invaluable input into the planning and decision-making processes,” Cr Lam said.
“Their advice will help ensure Footscray Park continues to meet the needs of its users and remains a vibrant, inclusive space for our community.”
In moving the motion to appoint the representatives, Cr Simon Crawford said he had no doubt the advisory committee would do a good job in planning the park’s future.
“ It’s (Footscray Park) a massively important part of our municipality so we’ve gotta make sure we do it well and communicate it well because we know there are a lot of people who are passionate about this park,” he said.
The formation of the advisory committee follows Maribyrnong council’s resolution to update the 2011 Footscray Park Master Plan, addressing various community interest areas including accessibility, heritage protection, and recreational facilities.
Committee members will now go through a formal induction process, including an overview of their roles and responsibilities, as well as an introduction to council policies and strategies.
