The Victorian Greens have thrown their full support behind the model of a community-managed Kyneton Town Square.
A Kyneton and District Town Square Co-Op has been formed with the aim of securing the former Kyneton Primary School site for the project and has welcomed the support of the Greens candidate for Northern Victoria Nicole Rowan and Greens candidate for Macedon Ralf Thesing.
“The community has clearly placed their trust in the Kyneton and District Town Square Co-Op and it is appropriate for the state government and the Macedon Ranges Shire Council to respect the capacity of the community to manage the future of this space,” Mr Thesing said.
Ms Rowan, a lawyer who has worked in management roles in the not-for-profit sector, said she believed there was a clear legal pathway that would ensure the certainty of community control.
“The first step is for the Minister of Education to surrender the land to the Crown and then for DELWP to reserve the land for public purposes,” she said.
“Beyond that, the community can be trusted with its management under the existing Constitution of the Kyneton and District Town Square Co-Op Ltd.
“We know that under the Constitution, the existing buildings and grounds will be offered for use by not-for-profit groups and other community-based services.”
Co-op board member Peter Henderson said it was fantastic news that the Greens had come out in unequivocal support of the co-op in managing the old school site.
“We’re hoping the other major political parties will also come on board to support co-op management,” Mr Henderson said.
“We have over 200 individual members already signed up and many community organisations signed including the Kyneton Community and Learning Centre, U3A, Lions Club, Rotary, Kyneton Horticultural Society, Friends of the Botanical Gardens and Highlands FM.
“We see Highlands FM in particular as a great incubator for young people so to have a studio at the Kyneton site will be a great way to involve young people in our town square.”
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is currently collating feedback gathered from the local community, businesses and education providers to determine the future use of the site.
