Royal Park stakeholders caught off-guard by council’s carpark sale

Following the City of Melbourne’s recent sale of its Little Collins St car park to billionaire Justin Hemmes, Lord Mayor Nick Reece hinted that the money raised would be used to fund capital works initiatives at Royal Park.

Cr Reece was reported in The Age as saying that "we are selling one asset so that we can invest in other assets … things like new sports and aquatic centres, which are urgently needed; new sports facilities around Royal Park.”

Key stakeholders and community activists who have campaigned heavily against the City of Melbourne’s proposal to build new sporting fields at Royal Park were alarmed by the comments.

However, North West City News understands that Cr Reece has conceded he “misspoke” and was “misquoted” and that his comments referred to investments the city had already made or had committed to making.

A City of Melbourne spokesperson confirmed that the funds from the sale of 34-60 Little Collins St would be reinvested to deliver important community infrastructure for Melbourne, but specific capital works and infrastructure projects will be determined through the normal budget process.

The community consultation period for the draft Royal Park Master Plan closed on February 23, with the council expected to finalise and adopt the new master plan by mid-year.

Under the proposal, Lawn 7 would include an oval, up to three rectangular fields, and amenities required to support participation in community sport. There is also another tennis court proposed for North Park Tennis Club.

In a submission made to the council at the February 4 Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting, Friends of Royal Park president Kaye Oddie said Royal Park’s “environmental values” should be protected and enhanced and that the park must not become a sports park.

The justification for the increase in fields is said to be due to a shortfall of around 16 ovals in the municipality. However, Ms Oddie believes that making up for a lack of sporting fields by taking away already sparse parkland is counterproductive.

“Royal Park is an iconic bushland park in the inner city,” she said. “It is a place for nature and recreation, where active sports recreation is balanced with informal passive recreation.”

Ashley Wallace from the Royal Park Protection Group said, “If council proceeds with this plan without revising the vision and considering alternative solutions, it will risk undermining decades of work.”

“The inability to plan for an expanding population without compromising one of Melbourne’s most treasured green spaces is concerning.” •