MP slams park ‘neglect’

By Dion Teasdale
MCEWEN MP Fran Bailey has accused the Bracks Government of being “anti-small business” and of neglecting an environmental and tourism asset in the Yarra Valley.
Last week Ms Bailey attacked Parks Victoria and state Environment Minister John Thwaites over the state of the Maroondah Reservoir Park in Healesville.
Ms Bailey claimed Mr Thwaites had failed to ensure the park was properly maintained, and criticised Parks Victoria for its handling of lease arrangements for the park’s kiosk.
“The Victorian Labor Government has stalled, blocked and drowned with red tape a Yarra Valley business operator who simply wants to take out a lease on a kiosk at the Maroondah Reservoir Park, run by Parks Victoria,” Ms Bailey said.
She said the business operator wanted to take out a lease on the kiosk, fit it out, and sell food and drink to locals and tourists.
“In March he was advised a lease would be made available shortly. Now it is almost Christmas and no lease has been signed,” Ms Bailey said.
“Labor is no friend of business and no friend of the Yarra Valley.”
Ms Bailey said that despite personal representations to Mr Thwaites, nothing had been done.
“Thwaites has the power to intervene and order Parks Victoria to smarten up, but he has failed to do so,” she said.
Ms Bailey said Mr Thwaites and Parks Victoria had also failed to ensure the Maroondah Reservoir Park was well maintained.
“The sceptic system is decades old and long overdue for upgrade. It was not designed to keep pace with the hundreds of students and visitors to the park each week,” she said.
“Mr Thwaites needs to face up to his responsibilities and ensure the wonderful tourism assets of the Yarra Valley are well maintained and local businesses have the opportunity to advance.”
But Parks Victoria ranger in charge Ian Roche defended the State Government’s handling of the kiosk lease and the park’s maintenance.
He said Parks Victoria was working to finalise the signing of a head lease for its management of the park with Melbourne Water, and that a sub-lease for the kiosk would be approved in the near future.
“We appreciate the value of Maroondah Reservoir Park to the community and will endeavour to continue supporting local business opportunities and maintain the highest standards of facilities within the park as possible,” he said.
Mr Roche said he was confident that the park was able to offer fantastic picnicking facilities for the thousands of visitors each year.
“Our ongoing review and maintenance of facilities, including the toilets, makes us entirely confident that all visitors and community members can expect a safe and enjoyable experience to Maroondah Reservoir Park,” he said.