McLeish calls for start date for Maroondah Dam upgrades

18 March 2022

Maroondah Dam facilities and grounds continue to fall into disrepair while the Andrews Labor Government dawdles approval for new design plans and actioning maintenance.

Speaking in parliament, State Liberal Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish again raised concern about the deplorable condition of the park and for maintenance commencement dates to be released.

Ms McLeish said, “I continue to advocate for maintenance and repairs to be made at Maroondah Dam sooner rather than later to restore it to its former glory.”

“I recently visited Maroondah Dam and was saddened to see little had been improved.”

“It is bursting with the potential to be a stunning tourist destination, but it seems the urgency for repairs has been put on the backburner.”

The Maroondah Dam gardens are overrun with weeds, entangling what garden plants are left. Tree branches have crushed fencing which has not been repaired, graffiti covers the kiosk, there are countless potholes and cracks on the driveway in and out of the park and the children’s playground that was removed due to it being too dangerous, has not been replaced.

Ms McLeish said the surrounding community, as well as visitors, are fed up with the declining condition of Maroondah Dam and want to see improvements made.

“Although improvements to facilities are supposedly in the pipeline, community members constantly send me photos and updates of the rundown park.”

The State Labor Government have remained coy about revealing exactly how much is to be spent on the repairs but confirms plans are to refurbish the toilet block, install new barbecues, picnic tables and improve pedestrian pathways, with works set to commence next year.

Ms McLeish continues, “Another year of waiting, of mess, graffiti, potholes, outdated facilities and no children’s playground. It is not good enough.”

“I would like to acknowledge and praise the working bees conducted by volunteer group, Friends of Maroondah Reservoir. They are making a positive difference. It shows how much the community really cares for this park,” Ms McLeish concludes.