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September 7, 2026 \u2014 11:50am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n At the end of a suburban street in Melbourne\u2019s east is a bit of green space that even those who love it concede is no \u201cdestination park\u201d.<\/p>\n Bronhill Road Reserve in Ringwood East has a small, basic playground, paint chipping from the wings of a parrot pictured on the equipment\u2019s steel side.<\/p>\n At the far end of its 2200 square metres, towering pine trees form a shaded corridor where birds and possums nest. Peeking through the pines, though, is a looming threat \u2013 an aged care provider trying to acquire the park.<\/p>\n Locals want to keep the park in public hands and are gearing up for a fight against what they say would set a disturbing precedent for broader Melbourne.<\/p>\n The not-for-profit Donwood Community Aged Care Services is trying to buy the park from Maroondah City Council as part of a broader plan to create a \u201cwalkable village\u201d for residents.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Neighbours argue such a sale would further privatise their community as Donwood buys up homes in the area, at a time when rapidly increasing urban density in Melbourne is making public parkland more sparse.<\/p>\n Nearby resident Shea Vaughan\u2019s primary school-aged children affectionately call Bronhill Road Reserve \u201cthe lemon park\u201d for its yellow playground equipment.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a really precious community asset,\u201d says Vaughan, a geographer. \u201cThere is lots of opportunity to share the space, but it really doesn\u2019t need to leave public hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Families in this little pocket of Ringwood East are not alone in airing concerns about reduction in public spaces, particularly green spaces.<\/p>\n Editor’s pick Weeks ago, exclusive all-boys school Brighton Grammar sparked concerns <\/a>with its proposal to lease public parkland in exchange for upgrading facilities. Earlier this year, a plan to scrap permits and install permanent infrastructure on the parkland surrounding the MCG prompted a similar row with local residents.<\/p>\n And, contrary to the proposal in Maroondah, councils in other parts of Melbourne are pouring millions of dollars<\/a> into retrofitting more public pocket parks.<\/p>\n Maroondah City Council is considering Donwood\u2019s proposal after community consultation closed on August 28, and says that while it hasn\u2019t made a decision yet the aged care provider has promised any future development would keep the park publicly accessible.<\/p>\n If a council and Donwood \u201cpartnership\u201d went ahead, the council would look at legal requirements protecting community interests, Maroondah Mayor Linda Hancock says.<\/p>\n \u201cAny future development application from Donwood would require council approval and provide a further opportunity for community consultation,\u201d Hancock says.<\/p>\n Donwood has floated new play and exercise equipment at the park as part of any deal.<\/p>\n Residents are bewildered by the notion of such a partnership and say the same could be achieved if the aged care home simply chipped in money to pay for upgrades.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I sold my house, I\u2019m not partners with the person who purchased my house,\u201d says Suzy Stojanovic, a Bronhill Road resident and former local councillor.<\/p>\n In a letter to neighbours this year, Donwood president John Habgood said the aged care provider would create pathways through the park for better access beyond and to Diana Street, which borders its facility.<\/p>\n Donwood also owns a number of properties along Mount Dandenong Road, ending at the western edge of the park, Habgood said.<\/p>\n Neighbours say the aged care provider has encouraged them to sell their homes to it.<\/p>\n \u201cOur vision is to provide a \u2018walkable village\u2019 to enable not only Donwood\u2019s residents and families but also the community to be able to traverse through our facility,\u201d Habgood wrote in the letter to residents.<\/p>\n \u201cEnabling access through the park for residents of Bronhill Road will enhance local amenity through the facilities Donwood intend to develop, including a community centre, small cinema, cafe\/restaurant, gymnasium, allied health providers, hairdresser and function rooms.\u201d<\/p>\n Contacted by The Age, Donwood chief executive Natasha Wilkinson says: \u201cWe have no commentary; this is a discussion with council and their ratepayers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In the letter, Habgood said the park was \u201cseldom used due to its uninviting nature, the condition and age of the play equipment and the difficulty required to traverse it due to the significant level drop-off at the eastern boundary\u201d.<\/p>\n Local parents say the park is one of few close by that their children can visit unsupervised, given it isn\u2019t near major roads.<\/p>\n Marc Dietrich moved in with his wife down the street almost 20 years ago. The couple have a 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they want to go anywhere outside of our block, it does mean crossing a major arterial like Maroondah Highway or Mount Dandenong Road,\u201d Dietrich says. \u201cTo have this little sanctuary in the middle of all of that is vital moving into the future.\u201d <\/p>\n Standing among the pines, Dietrich says these mature trees are also a big part of what makes this park special. In Habgood\u2019s letter, the president flagged the old pine trees would be removed to \u201cprovide light and safety\u201d.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Ringwood](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/67d70821f0e645755d8e915453d595788ee7395e.jpeg\")
Ringwood East locals are fighting to keep Bronhill Road Reserve in public hands. Luis Enrique Ascui <\/p>\n![\"Carol](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/fe1db3d93aaa2d756535986ec7ba82fef29410de.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Locals](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0f76469d57370acf69eeb2705c2e7ea01bba5260.jpeg\")
Locals protest to keep the park in public hands.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n