Park is no picnic

By Melissa Donchi
A FAMILY wanting to picnic at Coronation Park in Healesville a few weeks ago would have had to clear away the broken glass, discarded syringes and bloody swabs first. And that’s after they swept away the beer cans and cigarette butts.
It’s not the first time the park has suffered the effects of late night parties but local resident Valma Owen said she’s seen enough.
“If it’s not syringes in the bushes it’s broken glass on the walking track,” Ms Owen said.
“It’s just disgusting and inappropriate for all the families, elderly people and children who should be able to use the park safely.”
Ms Owen said the Shire of Yarra Ranges is responsible for the upkeep of the park councillors voted to retain the place as a drinking area.
Shire spokesman James Martin said the decision to retain drinking in public places was made because the Yarra Valley was a tourist destination.
“Lots of tourists and other people enjoy a glass of wine with their lunch,” Mr Martin said.
“The park is a popular picnic destination and we had to factor that in.
“Obviously we don’t condone people sitting around and getting drunk but we do realise that some areas are appropriate for drinking.”
But Ms Owen said that in approving the park as a drinking destination the shire should have realised that the decision would not just attract families and picnics but youth and drugs.
“It’s certainly ideal that the park would just be used by responsible adults but the fact is the drinking laws attract young people who tend to leave the evidence behind.”
Senior Constable Jason Van Veen from Healesville Police said he was aware that people regularly drink there but wouldn’t consider it a problem at this stage.
“There is no evidence of regular drug use and we would consider these to be isolated incidents.”