East Melbourne Group fights plans to develop Yarra Park into training ground

MELBOURNE’S grand plans for a Yarra Park training ground have been torpedoed by angry local residents. They don’t want the Demons to set up shop on their turf, here’s why.

Angry residents protesting against the development of the parklands next to the MCG. Picture: Alex Coppel

MELBOURNE’S grand plans for a Yarra Park training ground have been torpedoed by angry local residents.

The powerful East Melbourne Group — backed by some of the state’s wealthiest and most influential families — is fighting to kill off the Demons’ plans to secure a prized parcel of parkland in the northeastern corner of the MCG precinct.

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Angry residents protesting against the development of the parklands next to the MCG, Stuart Hamilton, Greg Bisinella and Ian Mitchell and Anita Steinbarth. Picture: Alex Coppel

Members of the group include Professor Geoffrey Blainey, businessman and philanthropist Rupert Myer and pollster Gary Morgan.

The bold proposal includes a six-storey building with offices, a gym and medical facilities, built on top of rail tracks next to Jolimont Station.

The state government last week confirmed it was in talks with the ­Demons about the ­potential development of Yarra Park and VicTrack land to ­accommodate a dedicated new headquarters for football’s oldest club.

But Morgan told the Herald Sun the proposal was “outrageous”.

“They won’t approve it — they are living in canary land,” Morgan said.

“It’s a nonsense. Melbourne Football Club should join Hawthorn and move to Dingley.”

Group president Ian Mitchell said residents were strongly opposed to the park’s privatisation for a football club.

“On a practical level the area … would not be at all suitable for the proposed use, because it slopes significantly from north to south and would require major and probably unmanageable alteration to the lie of the land to be useful,” Mitchell said.

“More importantly, it would convert to private use a large swath of one of inner Melbourne’s historic ring of parks and gardens which were planned by our forebears to ensure the growing city had places for its citizens to relax and enjoy the open air.

“Yarra Park is used by local residents and workers to relax and by people walking to and from the city as an attractive route to walk or cycle.

Angry residents protesting against the development of the parklands next to the MCG. Picture: Alex Coppel

“It also forms a magnificent approach and backdrop for sports fans walking to the MCG. There is a children’s playground in this part of the park, families picnic there and it is the site of many public events such as New Year’s Eve fireworks and various public sporting events such as the start of public fun runs.

“It has been listed as a heritage place by Heritage Victoria reflecting its historic importance in the design and early development of Melbourne, and to indigenous owners before white settlement — there are several scar trees still there as witness to this.

“It contains significant avenues of mature elm trees, a singular glory of Melbourne, which would be significantly disrupted by such a development.

“Yarra Park must remain as a place all Melburnians and visitors can enjoy, not have a large part of it reserved for the use of one sporting club.”