First look at Nick Reece’s proposed new green spaces in Melbourne’s CBD

Lord Mayor Nick Reece has promised to deliver 10 new parks across the CBD if he is re-elected as he reaffirms his commitment to delivering the controversial Greenline project.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece has promised to deliver 10 new parks across the City of Melbourne as he reaffirms his commitment to delivering the controversial Greenline project, if elected. Picture: Hassell Architects

Lord Mayor Nick Reece has promised to deliver 10 new parks across the City of Melbourne as he reaffirms his commitment to delivering the controversial Greenline project, if elected.

Mr Reece will on Sunday reveal his plan to make Melbourne the “Garden City” by not only building 10 new parks and fast-tracking 18 green spaces – but continuing with former lord mayor Sally Capp’s pet venture.

“I have made clear through this campaign that I am committed to getting the Greenline project done over the long-term using a combination of public and private funding,” he told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“Victoria was once known as the Garden State, I want Melbourne to be the Garden City.”

In 2022, Ms Capp said the council was seeking $100m commitments from both the state and federal governments to help fund the project, which aims to create 4km of connected walkways and parks along the north bank of the Yarra River.

A render of the proposed green space at Banana Alley. Picture: Hassell Architects

The “funding strategy” for the $316m project was released in May, revealing that the City of Melbourne will now shift to a “diversified funding model”.

“The private sector is delivering major parts of Greenline right now — like Riverlee’s new Seafarers Rest park and Lendlease’s transformation of North Wharf into a new residential hub and linear park,” Mr Reece said.

Last month, lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood vowed to scrap the “failed Greenline project” and reallocate funds to deliver 21 new and existing parks and green spaces, if he was elected in October.

He said he would honour awarded project contracts, including the Birrarung Marr upgrade and the completion of Seafarers Rest park, but return $10m of funding to council’s bottom line.

Sources previously told the Herald Sun in February that the cost of the Greenline was likely to be “closer to $500m” if delivered in full.

A render of the proposed green space at the Southbank undercroft. Picture: Hassell Architects

Under Mr Reece’s plan, the 10 new parks would be dotted across Melbourne’s CBD, Kensington, Southbank and North Melbourne. They include:

– A new linear park at the Banana Alley Vaults, connecting Queens Bridge St and Enterprize Park to the Yarra River and Sandridge Bridge;

– Five new or upgraded pocket parks, including one at Brown Alley square; and

– A new undercroft park in Southbank, under the West Gate Bridge.

“Transforming Banana Alley is part of Greenline, but I want it fast-tracked so we can open up this part of the Yarra River for more people to enjoy as soon as possible,” he said.

Mr Reece, who has sat on the council since 2016, also pledged to “fast-track and deliver every park and public open space committed to during the last term of council”. They include:

– A new 12,000sq m linear park on Normanby Rd in Southbank;

– The Hawke St linear park project in Kensington;

– The new 1.8-hectare Market Square park, next to Queen Victoria Market; and

– A new undercroft park in Southbank, underneath Kings Way.

It is understood that the funding will come from the City of Melbourne’s public open space fund and other existing development contribution schemes, which would enable more than “$40m of investment”.

Under the plan, Mr Reece would offer grants to owners of existing buildings to allow them to create publicly accessible rooftop gardens or to install wall gardens.

He has also pledged to reform the council’s permitting system so more homeowners and business owners can put more plants on footpaths and laneways in the central city.