Oliver Lees
Rockbank residents have voiced their confusion and frustration over Melton council’s use of the geographic title Rockbank North in its draft budget paper, as the allocation of resources will go toward a project in Aintree.
Last month Melton council delivered its draft budget which detailed $220.7 million in capital works.
Among the many proposed projects within the draft document was a $3.7 million contribution toward the Rockbank North Sports Reserve.
This reserve, however, is not planned for Rockbank but for Aintree, which is located north of Rockbank.
Aintree falls within the now completed Rockbank North Precinct Structure Plan, but there is no suburb that carries that name.
Rockbank falls in the Rockbank Precinct Structure Plan.
Generally, community facilities and open space reserves use the name they were given in the Precinct Structure Plan, prepared by the Victorian Planning Authority.
In 2021, Kaitlyn Williams moved to Rockbank with her family as one of many populating the newly built Bridgefield and Hillgrove estates.
Ms Williams said council’s use of Rockbank North to describe a project in Aintree was confusing to residents, who are also awaiting a similar project in the area.
“There are so many who are frustrated and thinking that Rockbank will never get any funding,” she said.
“It’s giving false visibility as to what Rockbank is actually getting.”
Council has indicated its intention to commence master planning for the Rockbank East Active Open Space and Rockbank East Community Centre in the next financial year, which is in close proximity to the two densely populated residential estates.
Ms Williams said young families such as hers are currently without conveniently accessible public spaces.
She said there are such spaces north of the train line, but this requires a long walk or car journey because there is no overpass or walkway.
Council’s city futures director Sam Romaszko said community infrastructure delivery within the Rockbank area is a priority for council and planning for the community centre and open space precinct is expected to begin next financial year.
