Box Hill Brickworks: Residents Battle Against Development Plans to Save Green Space

The Box Hill Brickworks site, situated near the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) train station, has been a contentious issue for residents and local authorities. Viewed from above, the site appears as a lush oasis surrounded by towers and suburban sprawl. However, from the ground, tall wire fencing and anti-trespass signs dominate the view.

The site, which spans the equivalent of about 3.5 Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCGs) in size, has been at a standstill for three decades, but under SRL plans, it could be home to development up to 10 storeys tall.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has yet to decide the site's fate, but residents and Whitehorse Council are railing against the proposal and fighting for it to be designated parkland. "It's almost like giving a child an ice cream cake and saying it's there, but you can't have it," said Vincent Menilli, the Box Hill Brickworks Parkland Association secretary.

Menilli is adamant that the area is in desperate need of more community spaces, with the suburb's population expected to double in size within the next 15 to 20 years. "It's what saves Box Hill," he said.

Surrey Park, which neighbours the Brickworks, already accommodates multiple sporting clubs and a swimming pool, but the limited space gets overcrowded, with residents arguing that more passive space is needed.

Whitehorse Mayor Kirstin Langford has echoed the concerns, stating, "If we don't save this space now, it will be gone. And once it's gone, it's gone forever." Langford believes the Brickworks site is an opportunity to have a Central Park or a Hyde Park.

Monash University Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and design Liz Walker has highlighted the shift in economics over the past decade, as remediation lands have become more beneficial for housing development due to increased demand.

While Phileo Australia, the private landowner, has argued that raising floor area ratios would make development more financially viable, the exact cost of the site and remediation works remains unknown.

Residents, led by the Box Hill Brickworks Parkland Association, continue to push for the site to be preserved as parkland, but a final decision on its fate remains with Minister Kilkenny.

The development plans have been met with mixed reactions, with some residents supporting the idea of more housing, while others argue that preserving green space is crucial for the community's well-being.

"While greater development on the Brickworks site would be a trade-off against open space, there was a great social benefit in building more housing," said Jonathan O'Brien, YIMBY Melbourne organiser.

However, not everyone is convinced. "You're within walking distance from Box Hill railway station. They're going to get the SRL there; there's going to be a great number of people able to benefit if they're allowed to live there," O'Brien added.

As the debate continues, residents remain adamant that preserving the green space is essential for the community's future.