ABOUT
LORNE PARADE RESERVE
This beautiful green sanctuary for both humans and wildife has been stolen from the Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Community for a Train Station.
114 years of
Open Space
As the last significant piece of open space bounded by Elgar, Whitehorse, Union and Canterbury Roads, the Lorne Parade Reserve has continually been threatened by State Government Development. Only community activism that has prevented the loss of the Reserve. Now the reserve is the site of a proposed railway station - and under threat of being stolen from the community yet again!
Owned by the Education Department, it was the originally the proposed site for the Surrey Hills Primary School. However the site was too small and the school was built on its current site in Beatrice Avenue. The school regularly uses this open space for childrens sports, classsroom actitivties and as an emergency evacuation location.
Lorne Parade Reserve gifted to the local community by government for use as Public Open Space
Responsibility for management and maintenance of Lorne Parade Reserve handed to City of Box Hill to be used for recreational purposes
Acknowledged as the "Last Open Space" in the precinct as it comes under threat of development. The local community start fighting for the Reserve and establish Lorne Parade Protection Group now the Friends of Lorne Parade Reserve
Loss of land in the rear of the Reserve to accomodate
the 3rd train line from Camberwell to Box Hill
Premier Rupert Hamer saves Lorne Parade Reserve from re-development by the Education Department
New playground installed - this remains in place to 2010
State government moves to subdivide and divest the Reserve. Premier John Cain personally prevents sale of the Reserve
Minister for Education the Hon Caroline Hogg personally suspends divestment of the Reserve and pledges transfer of title to the City of Box Hill to ensure the Reserve is retained for the community as Public Open Space
Premier Joan Kirner removes Lorne Parade Reserve from a controversial State Government Asset Sales List
Commerative Tree planted by Councillor Richard Anderson and local residents to commemorate the City of Box Hills past and symbol of confidence in the future of the community (see below)
New upgraded playground installed by the City of Whitehorse
October 2018 - Premier Dan Andrews announces Level Crossings at Union Road and Mont Albert Road will be removed by under road grade separation. The two stations at Surrey Hills and Mont Albert are pledged to be retained by Premier Andrews and Member Elect Paul Hamer
"Level Crossings to be removed with 2 current train station to be retained"
30th January, 2020 - State Government passes Planning Legislation amendment allowing previously prohibited developments such as railway stations in Public Open Space. Public Parks such as Lorne Parade Reserve are no longer safe from State Government development projects.
December 2nd, 2020 - Premier Dan Andrews, Minister for Transport Infrastructure Hon Jacinta Allan and local MP Mr Paul Hamer announce that 2 stations will be become one "super station" with the entrances located in the Reserve and abutting Residential Streets
Plans for the removal of the Level Crosssings are fast tracked.
Community consultation is restricted to only the one station solution and takes the form of tighly controlled Information Desimination
November 2021 - the Reserve fenced and clear felled.
Supporting Groups
