A new report outlining Cardinia Shire Council’s maintenance of parks and reserves reveal current standards are “successful”, despite locals feeling their playgrounds have been neglected.
The report will serve as a consultation tool for councillors when deciding where money will be spent in the shire.
In the council meeting on Monday 18 October, councillors voted in favour of maintaining the status quo in regards to the current maintenance standards of open spaces in the shire, as identified in the report.
“Current servicing levels have proven successful throughout our parks and reserves for several years,” the meeting item read.
“These standards meet Council’s responsibilities and provide a balance between the community’s needs and expectations and Council’s ability to fund the maintenance programs.”
Councillor Tammy Radford said it was important maintenance was being met to community’s needs and to budget expectations.
“We need to make sure we’re not overspending somewhere and underspending somewhere else,” she said.
“It’s really good that this report showed that council were on track and no changes need to be made.
“It is important these reviews are done on a regular basis so we are doing things are as they should be.”
But neighbours of Ebony Drive Linear Reserve in Pakenham believe the park is in desperate need of an upgrade and has not been maintained well in recent years.
Long grass, tree litter, flooded tanbark and old play equipment are among their concerns.
“It’s never maintained properly,” local Kelly Price said.
“What we’re upset about is that all these other parks and getting redone and all the new estates get playgrounds.
“There isn’t another park in this area.”
The current play equipment hasn’t been upgraded since 2006.
A Cardinia Shire spokesperson said the play space receives regular maintenance which includes replacing play elements or parts as required.
“The council’s most recent condition assessments indicated that Ebony Drive Linear Reserve play space has at least five years before it needs to be upgraded,” they said.
“There is a plan to upgrade the park within the next five to seven years, in line with the council’s capital works budget process.
“Ebony Drive is maintained on a parkland schedule by Cardinia Shire Council. Mowing takes place approximately 18 times a year and the garden beds are maintained about 15 times a year.”
Steve Beetham, who has lived backing onto Ebony Drive Linear Reserve for over 20 years said he was fed up with the lack of care the park received.
“You go everywhere else and you see what they are doing to places and you think wow. They’re doing nothing down here,” he said.
“You’d think we never existed.”
