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Policies and initiatives
> Direction 5. A great place to be
> Policy 5.7
Policy 5.7 – Rectify gaps in the network of
metropolitan open space by creating new parks and ensure major open
space corridors are protected and enhanced
The metropolitan open space network consists of:
- major urban parks, such as those in Central Melbourne managed
by Melbourne City Council
- National and State parks
- major (regional) parks managed by Parks Victoria
- the Metropolitan Trail Network
- linear open space corridors including waterways
- areas of cultural and environmental significance
- the coastal foreshores and waters of Port Phillip Bay and Western
Port.
While metropolitan Melbourne and the surrounding
region is noted for the quality of its parks, there are gaps in
the network of parkland and it is unequally distributed.
Parks Victoria’s management responsibilities
include major (regional) parks and strategic planning responsibility
for the linear open space network. It gives funding assistance to
local government for priority projects.
Linking People and Spaces focuses on ensuring equitable access in
the development of major parks and trails, and on protecting and
enhancing conservation values and sites of significance. Melbourne
2030 supports this work.
Since 1988, some $34.6 million has been spent acquiring
2,477 hectares of land for parks. The Government continues to acquire
land designated for future parkland across Melbourne. Metropolitan
ratepayers cover the operating costs for metropolitan parks in the
urban parks levy. A further 969 hectares of land is currently zoned
for additions to existing and developing parks.
Melbourne 2030 gives priority to developing
open space networks in growth areas where existing open space is
limited and demand is growing, and in non-metropolitan parts of
the region. This includes Melbourne’s west, north and south-east
(see, ‘Western coastal parklands’ and ‘The Werribee
precinct’).
Urban waterways, including the Yarra River and
Maribyrnong River corridors, are highly significant assets in terms
of their open space, recreation, aesthetic, conservation and tourism
values. Development on adjoining private land will not compromise
these values. Earlier plans and planning controls along these corridors
will be reviewed in the light of increasing development pressures
as Melbourne becomes a more compact city to ensure their continued
protection.
The lower Yarra River will be further developed
as the centrepiece of Melbourne’s sporting, entertainment and
leisure activities in a major effort before the 2006 Commonwealth
Games.
Figure 39. Regional public open space - click for
more detail
Initiatives
| 5.7.1 |
Reserve land for six new metropolitan parks to redress the
current imbalance and provide for future growth areas:
- Werribee River Regional Park
- Werribee Township Regional Park
- Kororoit Creek Regional Park
- Merri Creek Regional Park
- Melton Township Regional Park
- Cranbourne Regional Park
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| 5.7.2 |
Extend the ‘chain of parks’ concept by creating
four continuous open space links and trails:
- Western Coastal Parklands (linking Point Gellibrand, Point
Cook and Werribee)
- Merri Creek Parklands (extending to Craigieburn)
- Maribyrnong River Parklands
- Frankston Parklands (linking existing parks from Carrum
to Mornington)
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| 5.7.3 |
Provide long-term planning protection to meet demand for
future open space, until land can be acquired and developed
for public use in key areas that include:
- Plenty Gorge Parklands
- Yarra Valley Parklands
- Cardinia Creek Parklands
- Heatherton/Dingley ‘Sandbelt’ Parklands
- Dandenong Valley Parklands
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| 5.7.4 |
Strengthen current policies and review the adequacy
of planning controls relating to the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers
to ensure the long-term protection of open space, conservation
values – with the first priority being the Yarra River
corridor between Punt Road and Burke Road |
| 5.7.5 |
Continue adding to the recreational and tourism potential
of the Yarra River and Maribyrnong River corridors by:
- completing high-priority infrastructure and landscaping
for riverbank and water-based activities along the lower
Yarra River before the 2006 Commonwealth Games
- identifying and completing high priority infrastructure,
landscaping works and enhancement of pedestrian and bicycle
trail links along the lower Maribyrnong River
- completing links between the Main Yarra trail and Darebin
and Plenty trails, the Maribyrnong trail and Bay trail at
Williamstown, and connecting the Yarra trail to the Bay
at Port Melbourne
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Western
Coastal Parklands
The Western Coastal Parklands will form a continuous parkland
and trail connection from Point Gellibrand in Williamstown
to the Werribee River.
Williamstown is an important
maritime heritage precinct framed by Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip
and the Yarra River. The Government will add to Williamstown’s
reputation as a key recreational boating and tourism destination
by:
- improving public access to the waterfront and foreshore
- improving environmental management and promoting the protection
of natural habitats
- protecting areas of maritime heritage
- reusing historical buildings.
Key projects in the precinct
include:
- development of new parks at the rehabilitated former Altona
tip and Truganina Explosives Reserve
- creation of a regional coastal heritage park at Point
Gellibrand that respects and conserves the site’s cultural
heritage values and the coast
- redevelopment of the former Port of Melbourne Authority
Workshops site into a working maritime heritage precinct
as a major new tourism attraction for Victoria
- reconstruction of Ferguson Street Pier, reopening the
pier for public access
- upgrade of boating and visitor facilities at Gem Pier,
providing a focus for commercial ferry operators
- completion of gaps in the Bay trail between Williamstown
and the Werribee River.
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The Werribee precinct
The Werribee precinct in metropolitan Melbourne’s western
suburbs aims to create a tourist destination of regional,
national and international importance, offering experiences
that include:
- broadening the visitor appeal of the historic house and
garden, Werribee Park, particularly through more cultural
events and exhibitions based around wine and food, art and
sculpture, music and popular entertainment
- creating a new 300-hectare regional park along the Werribee
River and along the coast to Point Cook that will protect
and enhance the high environmental and Indigenous cultural
values of the precinct
- enhancing the precinct by meeting the needs of one of
Australia’s fastest-growing residential areas for access
to regional open space
- providing pedestrian and cycling trails to connect Werribee
township to Werribee Park, and to fill a nine-kilometre
gap in the bay trail between Werribee South and Point Cook
- protecting important Indigenous cultural sites along the
Werribee River
- testing the potential for ecological tourism in the area
of the Western Treatment Plant which is already world famous
for birdwatching and home to myriad local and visiting bird
species.
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