Ext User(David Clayton)
31-10-2005, 09:13 AM
From
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/state-set-to-hand-over-public-parkland/2005/10/30/1130607151957.html
State set to hand over public parkland
By Royce Millar
October 31, 2005
JOGGERS and dog-walkers will have to make way for Collingwood footballers
and airline advertising after the State Government took control of an
inner-city park last week.
In a sweeping planning amendment, the Government has sought to ease the
way for Collingwood and possibly Melbourne football clubs to use Gosch's
Paddock, near Olympic Park, for training and to promote sponsors.
The move comes as inner-city parks face pressure on a number of fronts,
including the Government's likely approval of a new Royal Children's
Hospital at the existing Parkville site at the edge of Royal Park.
Melbourne City Council has warned that Melburnians will lose more parkland
if they do not fight to defend it. "It seems to me that Melbourne is
losing its passion for its valuable parkland," planning committee
chairwoman Catherine Ng said.
Collingwood currently trains at Edwin Flack oval next to Gosch's Paddock,
the site identified for a 25,000-seat rugby and soccer stadium.
The announcement of the new rectangular stadium by Premier Steve Bracks in
April has triggered a messy musical chairs in Melbourne's sports precinct
as AFL, rugby, soccer and athletics clubs negotiate over temporary and
permanent relocation.
At the same time, the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, which manages
much of the precinct, is trying to complete a master plan for the area.
Last week the Government fast-tracked planning for the rugby and soccer
stadium, declaring it a project of state significance; assumed planning
control of Gosch's Paddock to build two training grounds; and lifted the
prohibition on commercial advertising, despite council protests. The Age
revealed the Government's plan last month.
The council says the Government has gradually encroached on land set aside
by past governments for public parks, including the site now earmarked for
the rugby stadium. Cr Ng said that the Government should at least
compensate the community with parkland elsewhere.
Olympic Parks Trust interim chief executive Sue Nattrass played down the
council's concerns and said the Gosch's Paddock scheme had won public
approval through extensive consultation.
On the Children's Hospital redevelopment, cabinet is formally considering
four options: three at Parkville and one at Docklands. However, Mr Bracks
has all but ruled out Docklands. A report to the city council next month
will recommend it back the Docklands alternative.
Like the council, residents' coalition Protectors of Public Parkland sees
the redevelopment as an ideal opportunity to relocate the hospital and
free up parkland.
Group president and former lord mayor Kevin Chamberlin said the hospital
could be moved to Docklands, the CUB site in Swanston Street or other
sites in the middle and outer suburbs "more convenient for patients". "But
they want to build the hospital on Royal Park again because they get it
for nothing."
Ben Hart, a spokesman for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, stressed there
would be no net loss of parkland under any of the redevelopment options.
He said it was important to keep the hospital close to other health
facilities in Parkville.
Meanwhile, Yarra Trams has confirmed that it has proposed the construction
of an electricity substation in Royal Park just off Flemington Road.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/state-set-to-hand-over-public-parkland/2005/10/30/1130607151957.html
State set to hand over public parkland
By Royce Millar
October 31, 2005
JOGGERS and dog-walkers will have to make way for Collingwood footballers
and airline advertising after the State Government took control of an
inner-city park last week.
In a sweeping planning amendment, the Government has sought to ease the
way for Collingwood and possibly Melbourne football clubs to use Gosch's
Paddock, near Olympic Park, for training and to promote sponsors.
The move comes as inner-city parks face pressure on a number of fronts,
including the Government's likely approval of a new Royal Children's
Hospital at the existing Parkville site at the edge of Royal Park.
Melbourne City Council has warned that Melburnians will lose more parkland
if they do not fight to defend it. "It seems to me that Melbourne is
losing its passion for its valuable parkland," planning committee
chairwoman Catherine Ng said.
Collingwood currently trains at Edwin Flack oval next to Gosch's Paddock,
the site identified for a 25,000-seat rugby and soccer stadium.
The announcement of the new rectangular stadium by Premier Steve Bracks in
April has triggered a messy musical chairs in Melbourne's sports precinct
as AFL, rugby, soccer and athletics clubs negotiate over temporary and
permanent relocation.
At the same time, the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, which manages
much of the precinct, is trying to complete a master plan for the area.
Last week the Government fast-tracked planning for the rugby and soccer
stadium, declaring it a project of state significance; assumed planning
control of Gosch's Paddock to build two training grounds; and lifted the
prohibition on commercial advertising, despite council protests. The Age
revealed the Government's plan last month.
The council says the Government has gradually encroached on land set aside
by past governments for public parks, including the site now earmarked for
the rugby stadium. Cr Ng said that the Government should at least
compensate the community with parkland elsewhere.
Olympic Parks Trust interim chief executive Sue Nattrass played down the
council's concerns and said the Gosch's Paddock scheme had won public
approval through extensive consultation.
On the Children's Hospital redevelopment, cabinet is formally considering
four options: three at Parkville and one at Docklands. However, Mr Bracks
has all but ruled out Docklands. A report to the city council next month
will recommend it back the Docklands alternative.
Like the council, residents' coalition Protectors of Public Parkland sees
the redevelopment as an ideal opportunity to relocate the hospital and
free up parkland.
Group president and former lord mayor Kevin Chamberlin said the hospital
could be moved to Docklands, the CUB site in Swanston Street or other
sites in the middle and outer suburbs "more convenient for patients". "But
they want to build the hospital on Royal Park again because they get it
for nothing."
Ben Hart, a spokesman for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, stressed there
would be no net loss of parkland under any of the redevelopment options.
He said it was important to keep the hospital close to other health
facilities in Parkville.
Meanwhile, Yarra Trams has confirmed that it has proposed the construction
of an electricity substation in Royal Park just off Flemington Road.