Locals, heritage groups rally against Wattle Park upgrades

A Parks Victoria proposal hopes to upgrade Burwood’s Wattle Park but some locals and heritage groups fear the plans will damage the area.

N10wh807 Great wattles this year at Wattle Park Burwood. Howard Hodgens member of Friends of Wattle Park.

A $5.1m plan to upgrade a popular suburban park with a new “playscape” and running track has upset some locals and heritage groups.

Boasting some 12,000 wattle trees, Wattle Park in Burwood is among only three metro parks with significant natural bushland.

Its chalet has been used as a function centre since the 1920s, and the park was renowned for regular performances by the Melbourne Tramways Band.

Under a Parks Victoria proposal, the existing playground will be replaced by a “nature-based playscape” including water play, a sensory garden and a double-storey “tram fort”.

Also planned is more lighting, picnic area upgrades, and a 3.25 km running and walking track with a granite sand surface.

“The upgrades at Wattle Park will provide opportunities for people of all ages, fitness levels and abilities to get active and connect with nature in the park,” said a Parks Victoria information sheet.

“The designs for the playscape and running track have been designed in consultation with the community, and have taken the community’s ideas and preferences into consideration with the final designs.”

But some submissions to Heritage Victoria (HV), which must approve the changes, have strongly opposed the plan.

Director of heritage group Walk in St Kilda Rd & Environs, Bea McNicholas, criticised the consultation process, and said the proposals would damage the park.

“Paving the natural paths and walkways is contrary to the listed heritage values and attributes of Wattle Park, and would damage the place,” said her submission to HV.

“The focus of conserving the highly significant place needs to be retaining the natural bush setting and its unique heritage features.”

“Instead, these plans harm them.”

Planning Democracy convener Kelvin Thomson said: “Wattle Park is a tranquil, beautiful, natural, park, where people of all ages can find peace and serenity far from the madding crowd.”

“It is heritage listed for good reason. The Parks Victoria proposal is an overdevelopment which will spoil Wattle Park’s ambience, and undermine its heritage significance.”

Exercise scientist Eamon Wright said in his submission that he used the park regularly for running training.

“On some of my longer runs I like to look to dirt tracks as they are much more forgiving on my joints/bones than a paved track, making Wattle Park a prime candidate,” he said.

“I would hope they do not pave the running and walking track.”

Pending approvals, work is scheduled to start in autumn and be completed in late 2022.

Originally published as Locals, heritage groups rally against Wattle Park upgrades