Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Rewilding Stonnington

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (13:46): Rewilding Stonnington are a group of dedicated volunteers that work to reintroduce indigenous and endemic plants, raise public awareness of the benefits of local greening and connect with the precolonial heritage of the local area. One of their current inspiring projects is the Green Links alliance proposal for the Sandringham railway corridor: a linear park following the route of the rail line from Birrarung to Gardenvale station, going across the Stonnington, Port Phillip and Glen Eira council areas. The green line vision is to use existing open space and walking paths and expand these by linking existing open space and rehabilitating underutilised spaces. The green line will improve accessibility for walkers and cyclists as well as increase habitat for biodiversity and tree canopy cover. It is so important that we link the ability for people to easily walk to and between existing public open spaces, and the project will also deliver improved pedestrian access to public transport. Community safety will be enhanced through improved lighting and accessibility, and separated bike lanes mean that there is easier community access to local business precincts, transport links, schools and of course green spaces. I encourage more local community members to get involved, and I also call on the state government to provide funding for this practical, necessary and inspiring local project.