Concern over land

By Tania Martin
ANGRY residents are calling for Trust for Nature to honour the memory of former Emerald man, Robert James by not selling his land.
Mr James left his land at 12 Charman Avenue to Trust for Nature in 1979 to be preserved for the people of Emerald but the environmental organisation is now looking at options for subdividing and selling the land.
Nearby residents say selling the land was a betrayal of Mr James’s memory.
Leni Foster of Emerald said Mr James would be turning in his grave if he knew what Trust for Nature was doing.
“He left the land to them because he wanted it to be used by the people of Emerald as parkland or an arboretum,” she said.
“He loved his land and wanted it to be kept intact and didn’t want it broken up like this – he would be devastated that he was being betrayed in this way.”
Chris Britton, a close family friend of Mr James, said that the land was left to Trust for Nature so that it wouldn’t be sold.
“The sole reason he gave the land to Trust for Nature was for protection against this,” she said.
“It would be a great tragedy for this land to sold against the donor’s wishes.”
But Trust for Nature said it was only calling for community comment at this stage to help determine the best outcome for the long-term future of the land.
Trust for Nature executive director Mike Gooey said until recently the property was leased to Melbourne University but the lease had expired.
He said the end of the lease had led Trust for Nature to assess the long-term future of the land.
Mr Gooey said Trust for Nature wanted to find the best outcome for the property – for Robert James’s legacy, and for the community.
“We have embarked on this consultation process to ensure the community is kept informed about the long-term future of the property,” he said.
Mr Gooey said although the deadline for submissions on the sale closed on Monday, 20 August, submission would still be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Nearby residents are calling for Emerald people to make submissions to Trust for Nature on the proposed sale of the land.
Anyone who wants to find out more about the campaign to fight against the sale of the land should contact Elizabeth McNeeley on 5968 4559.