Melbourne City councillors push for Lord Mayor to dump Southbank park expansion

Nick Reece’s election promise to make Melbourne the “garden city” has hit the first stumbling block as councillors push for the Lord Mayor to ditch plans to expand a Southbank reserve.

Another election promise made by Lord Mayor Nick Reece appears to be in doubt, with Town Hall bureaucrats recommending a multimillion-dollar up park expansion in Southbank be dumped.

During last year’s council election, Mr Reece pledged to make Melbourne “the garden city”, which included delivering an expansion to the Miles and Dodds St reserve as part of plans for 28 new parks.

A media release sent out by the Nick for Melbourne Mayor campaign in September stated: “Nick will expand Miles and Dodds St reserve to create more green open space for residents and visitors to this part of Southbank.”

However, Town Hall bureaucrats have recommended the project be scrapped because of a low level of community engagement and support.

Nick Reece pledged to expand the Miles and Dodds street reserve as part of his election campaign. Picture: Jason Edwards

The $2.7m project would more than double the open space available to 1278sq m, while removing four car parks.

An only survey conducted by the City of Melbourne to get feedback from locals about the draft concept plan for the Miles and Dodds St reserve expansion only received 113 responses and 53 per cent of respondents said they didn’t support the draft concept plans.

“Given the low response rate and generally negative sentiment towards the proposal from community engagement participants, management recommends council not to proceed with the Miles and Dodds St reserve project at this time,” a council report states.

It comes just days after the Herald Sun revealed Mr Reece’s promise to deliver year-round $2 pool entry within the City of Melbourne was under threat after Town Hall bureaucrats recommended it should only be repeated in January next year and limited to concession card holders. The program’s future will be debated on Tuesday.

Southbank Residents Association president Tony Penna says it will be ‘disgraceful’ if the council fails to go ahead with the Miles and Dodds Street reserve expansion. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Southbank Residents Association president Tony Penna said it would be a “disgraceful” decision of the council to not go ahead with the Miles and Dodds Street reserve expansion.

“Before scrapping it they should at least talk about how it could be reimagined and provide whatever is needed for the community to ensure it is supported,” he said.

“It’s disgraceful that there is any consideration to take any public open space away from Southbank.

“It is very early days and these are not positive signs for a new council.”

Mr Penna said Southbank was in desperate need of new green spaces and the area had been neglected for decades by the City of Melbourne.

Mr Penna says Southbank is one of the largest revenue contributors to the City of Melbourne through rates but is always an afterthought.

“Southbank is one of the largest revenue contributors to the City of Melbourne through rates but we are always an afterthought – and we have been for decades,” he said.

Mr Reece refused to answer questions put to him by the Herald Sun about the Miles and Dodds Street reserve expansion.

“Providing green open space in Southbank remains a top priority for Council,” he said.

“I want to make Melbourne the Garden City – and we’re getting on with a range of new parks and open spaces across the municipality.”

Mr Penna said Mr Reece needed to be transparent with the Southbank community about his plans to deliver parks in the suburb.

“If there is any consideration to deviate from that promise (for more parks in Southbank) then dialogue needs to be had,” he said.

The future of the park upgrade will be debated on Tuesday.

Originally published as Melbourne City councillors push for Lord Mayor to dump Southbank park expansion