A Wyndham resident is furious with a council proposal to switch funding priority for a new sport reserve in Tarneit to another estate.
Daniel Dietrich, who has owned a parcel of land in the area for the past 30 years, said he had been blindsided by the council’s proposal to prioritise construction of the Riverdale South Active Open Space site.
That site, located between The Grove and Newgate estates in Tarneit, is now favoured over that of the Riverdale North Active Open Space site, which is located between Grand Central estate and Riverdale Village.
The council says that because of rapid growth in the area, it wants to fast track construction of the south reserve so that the project is completed within the next four years, rather than according to the original 10-year-plus timeline.
Construction of the north reserve has been slated for development within the next five to 10 years.
Mr Dietrich branded the move illogical, saying that 930 housing lots had already been sold in the area surrounding the north site, while less than 50 lots have been sold near the south site.
“We’ve got a concern from a landowner point of view, and believe residents in the area will have a similar concern, that a reserve that was meant to be next in line is now being delivered after the southern reserve, which is in the middle of nowhere,” he said.
Wyndham economy, innovation and liveability acting director Peter McKinnon said the council had received minimal feedback from residents regarding the proposed change, with only three emails having been received to date.
“Council has not made a final decision in relation to which Riverdale Active Open Space sites will first be constructed,” he said.
“All submissions received will be reviewed before a final decision is made.
“A total of 525 lots have been sold – or will settle within the next month – in the area around the southern site.”
