Knox residents will soon be able to enjoy a rejuvenated Blind Creek after $2.5 million of funding from the Victorian Government was announced for the reserve on Wednesday 15 May.
The Green Heart of Knox project, located between Scoresby Road and Lewis Park, will see the activation of 33 hectares of open space for community use, over six kilometres of new walking paths integrated into the broader network and nearly 700,000 new native plants.
“It’s hard to overstate just how big this project is and what it’ll mean long term – for the environment, for open space and for the whole of Knox and the outer east,” Member for Bayswater Jackson Taylor said.
Knox City Council has also contributed $3.5 million to the project with Melbourne Water injecting $11.1 million to the un-piping of 1.65km of waterways, creating a naturalised green spine, linking Fairpark to the east with Lewis Park to the west.
“Lewis Park is one of the largest open spaces in Knox. It is in a critical location with a surrounding population expected to grow to 61,284 by 2041. This project will improve its connection with some of our busiest community hubs,” Knox Mayor Cr Susan Laukens said.
The Blind Creek corridor forms an environmental link through the City of Knox, providing vital amenities for the community, connecting green spaces and providing active transport options.
“In 2020, a section of Blind Creek was daylighted from Manuka Drive to Scoresby Road. When you walk along that section of creek now it is bursting with wildlife and people enjoying the area for exercise and recreation,” Mayor Laukens said.
“We have an ambitious plan for Lewis Park that includes sporting upgrades, recreational facilities, restoring habitat, a civic precinct and cultural trail featuring public art. I look forward to working with the Victorian Government to deliver our plan.”
The project is one of 11 metropolitan and 17 regional projects receiving a funding boost under the first round of the Victorian Government’s $14.1 million Integrated Water Management Program, which is also set to fund stormwater harvesting in Monbulk, irrigate local sporting fields and keep waterways clean.
“This is going to give our waterways back to the community where they belong and unlock green open space for locals to enjoy, all while making our local waterways healthier and cleaner,” Jackson Taylor MP said.
