THE Croydon Conservation Society is backing the Ringwood RSL's campaign to save the Ringwood Clocktower Memorial Park.
As part of plans to revitalise the Ringwood Town Centre, the Department of Transport has proposed a bus access road through the southern section of the park.
Society president Liz Sanzaro said the society was appalled at the proposal.
"This space is revered by descendants, relatives, friends and comrades in arms of local Australians who fought or sacrificed their lives defending Australia's interests abroad.
"Our local community is accustomed to this space being a meeting place for remembrance, and we have an expectation that it will be kept as such."
Ms Sanzaro said the society was concerned with the loss of a bank of mature Cyprus trees if the plans went ahead.
"This has the effect of creating a dislocated, ugly island, totally surrounded by traffic on all sides.
"We are supporting our local RSL because we are equally offended at the lack of respect given to this location and by default to those who remember the commitment and sacrifice of local men and women from our past."
Ringwood RSL secretary Stan Exon said the plans included a park being constructed on a site east of the clocktower, which is now used as a car park.
He said the plans had been put on hold, apparently because of a tender problem.
"It's fantastic for us because it's given us extra time to get [the council] to change their mind."
Mr Exon criticised the department for only being concerned with making the buses "more efficient".
"It is a dedicated war memorial, sacred ground," he said.
"It's there to commemorate the lives of every veteran that's served, that's given their life to the Ringwood community.
"It seems ridiculous to me that the council and the transport authority would want to cut it in half."
Mr Exon said the RSL and concerned residents last week met with the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce, local MPs and the opposition spokesman for veterans' affairs, Hugh Delahunty, to discuss the plans.
"We're waiting for a combined letter to be sent to Parliament to see if we can generate some support until they get it right."
Warrandyte Liberal MP Ryan Smith called for the project to be considered in tandem with the redevelopment of the Ringwood railway station.
"We have a project no one wants, a project the community wasn't consulted on, a lengthy time frame to get it finished, two years since the announcement and the government can't even manage the tender process - what hope do we have of getting the actual station done under the Labor government?
"The relevant stakeholders should be consulted, including the RSL and the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce."
Maroondah director of city development Phil Turner said the Ringwood Town Centre South was a state government project in partnership with the council.
"Landscape plantings for Clocktower Park have not yet been finalised. The council will be responsible for undertaking a review of all of the design and landscaping of Clocktower Park, which will involve public consultation."
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