WALLAN residents have called on Mitchell Shire councillors to preserve public open space in the town.

The call came after councillors gave Melbourne Water the green light to progress with designs for a stormwater treatment wetland in Wallan Community Park.

The proposal includes a sediment and a vegetated open water pond and will take up 3000 square metres of public space in the park.

Wallan Environment Group secretary Claudia James said that she was concerned the site was chosen for financial rather than environmental reasons.

“A wetland has habitat values so environmentally there is a no argument against it,” Ms James said.

“My main concern is this wetland is going to reduce public open space. Government authorities seem to like to have land for nothing, so they take council owned land.”

The wetland proposal was initiated as a result of Mitchell Shire Council Stormwater Management Plan in 2002 which indicated that Wallan Creek required treatment to combat poor water quality.

The wetland would intercept and treat stormwater to reduce nitrogen, phosphorous and solids before water continued downstream.

Wallan environment Group vice-president Rob Eldridge also said wetlands were a good thing in the right area but the community park was not the right location.

“Building the wetland right on the road isn’t the best option, it’s the cheapest,” Mr Eldridge said.

“It’s the line of least resistance for Melbourne Water and Council. The community has put a lot of work into the park over the years. Many groups have put hours of work into the area and given it is a community park the community has earned the right to have a say.”

Mr Eldridge said the Wallan Environment group had also secured $10,000 in grants for improvements to the park.

He said the best place for the Wetland is on the site of Wallara Waters, an area that was once Hearns Swamp.

“That site would do the job for many years to come without the loss of public open space but it would Melbourne Water would have to buy some land, which would be more costly for them,” he said.

Melbourne Water Manager of Catchments David Ryan said after considering several options it was decided that a wetland in the park would have the greatest impact on improving water quality.

“We understand that open space is important to the Wallan community, and the wetland will take up less than 10 per cent of the parkland and extend walking tracks for pedestrians and cyclists,” Mr Ryan said.

“We will continue to work closely with the council and community to progress this great project which will also boost the appearance and amenity of Wallan Community Park.”

Mr Ryan said Hearns Swamp was not suitable for a wetland because it would not improve water quality in Wallan Creek to the same degree as the Community Park.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Bill Melbourne said he had already scheduled time for the Wallan Environment Group to address councillors about their concerns. Cr Melbourne said councillors would take community concerns into consideration before making a final decision.