The Lara community will soon step into a transformed Serendip Sanctuary full of colour and accessibility, with works on the Sensory Garden nearly done.
The new garden is set to be open to the community in spring, following a $11 million investment into Serendip Sanctuary and the You Yangs in 2022.
Parks Victoria district manager David Petty said each section of the Sensory Garden targeted the five senses of sight, taste, smell, touch and hearing, and would be fully accessible for the public.
“The ongoing investment into this means that it remains an accessible place for people to enjoy and come to understand more about nature and the national park system across Victoria,” he said.
“I remember coming to Serendip as a kid and probably spent 10 minutes walking around and then leaving, while this is a really great stay and savour with lots of new areas that people can explore.
“Our intention is that this can be a place where there can be insurance populations of specific species… so in the event of bushfires and other emergencies, Serendip has the potential to play a critical role.”
Member for Lara Ella George said she was glad to see the garden nearly completed, which also benefited through a $45000 sponsorship with CDC Victoria, CMV Truck and Bus and Volvo Bus Australia.
“It’s really important that we show the community that we’re committed to keeping Serendip here to ensure it’s the best possible place that it can be,” she said.
“The $11 million investment across Serendip and the You Yangs is going a long way to improve the overall look and feel of these places, while attracting more people.
“We know that Lara residents feel great pride and ownership about Serendip Sanctuary, as they love visiting here with their friends and family, and lots of school kids love coming here.
“I’m really excited to see these projects come to life and I know the community has really been following along the progress of Serendip very closely and wanting to see the improvements and upgrades here.”
