By Jed Lanyon
Maroondah Dam’s park is set to be upgraded as the state government announced a $52.4 million investment for Victorian parks in the budget, but Eildon MP Cindy McLeish has called on the government to reveal just how much will be spent on Maroondah Reservoir Park.
Planned works to Maroondah Reservoir Park will include a refurbished toilet block, new barbeques, new picnic tables and improved pathways with those works expected to be complete by November 2022.
“We’re investing $52.4 million to maintain and upgrade visitor facilities in parks and open spaces right across Victoria, including at Maroondah Reservoir Park,” a government spokesperson told Star Mail.
Ms McLeish, who has advocated for upgrades to the park, said she hopes to see the park returned to its former glory and wanted transparency for local residents to understand the extent of the works taking place.
“Are they just going to fix the paths or are we going to see a significant upgrade?” she said.
“Maroondah Dam has been in an appalling state for years. It is run-down, buildings covered in graffiti, fallen branches, cracked pathways, barbeques that don’t work, and shingles are falling off the shade areas.”
Ms McLeish wants to see the park reach its “full potential”.
“Maroondah Dam is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. It really does have the potential to be a really beautiful destination.”
A series of working bees by community-minded locals are taking place to help clean up the park.
Friends of Maroondah Reservoir Park held their first working bee last month and plan to continue to restore the area through gardening, pressure washing surfaces and more.
