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Kew's Willsmere Park path agreed on - with ifs
James Dowling
22Jul08
BOROONDARA Council will back a path and bridge plan at Kew's Willsmere Park only if Parks Victoria meets 38 conditions.
The "conditional support" at last week's council meeting is sure to prolong the saga, which has dragged on for the past 10 years.
The council has given Parks Victoria until July 30 to respond.
Yet the final decision on the path rests with a higher power the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
The tribunal has often played disciplinarian when it comes to Boroondara Council. For the past four years Boroondara has had the most planning decisions appealed at VCAT (172 in 2006-07).
Parks Victoria parks and marine general manager Neil McCarthy would not comment on the council conditions or if Parks Victoria would consider them.
In a written statement he said the application was still to be heard at VCAT and the $2 million link would connect 600km of off-road paths around Melbourne.
But not all councillors were happy with the decision and the public gallery voiced objection.
Studley Ward councillor Phillip Healey said Parks Victoria had treated the council with contempt and there was no way it would agree to the council's conditions.
Cr Healey put up a rescission motion, but it failed six to four.
He had pinned his hopes on flying fox fruit bats discovered at the park this month. But council officers did not believe the path would affect the bats.
"It was the best I could have hoped for," Cr Healey said. "I was dealing with people who just wanted to please the bike riders and the State Government."
The controversial bridge and path alignment has had both ferocious support and opposition.
Opponents are concerned the path will destroy the ecologically significant Kew billabong but supporters believe the path and bridge are vital to link Melbourne's bicycle and off-road networks.
The tribunal has still not set a date to hear the application.
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