Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood to scrap Greenline and create more parks if elected

Arron Wood has unveiled his plan to make “every corner of the City of Melbourne” green, by scrapping Sally Capp’s beloved Greenline and redirecting its funds to new projects.

Candidate for Lord Mayor of Melbourne Arron Wood AM and Deputy Lord Mayoral candidate Erin Deering in Birrarung Marr announce new gardens policy. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Lord Mayoral candidate Arron Wood has vowed to scrap Sally Capp’s pet venture the Greenline project and reallocate funds across 21 new and existing parks and “green” spaces, if he is elected for the city’s top job.

Mr Wood, who is running against Lord Mayor Nick Reece in the October council election, revealed he would invest $230m to boost park spaces in “every corner of the City of Melbourne” over a four-year term.

Of this figure, $19m would be redirected from the Greenline project, with the rest of the funds sourced from a mix of council funding and open space developer contributions.

Greenline has been former lord mayor Sally Capp’s pet project since she was elected in 2018, with the goal of creating 4km of connected walkways and parks along Yarra River’s north bank.

According to the Greenline Project Quarterly Report for quarter four – which will be presented to the City of Melbourne council meeting on Tuesday – the project has cost $23.1m since commencing in 2021.

Lord Mayoral candidate Arron Wood has vowed to start 21 new park and streetscape greening projects across Melbourne, using Greenline project funds if he is elected. Picture: Supplied

Overall, the project was forecasted to cost $316m, with the federal government pledging $20m while the state government is yet to come to the table.

If elected, Mr Wood said he would honour already awarded project contracts, including the Birrarung Marr upgrade which commenced earlier this year and the completion of Seafarers Rest Park, while reducing the Council’s forecast debt by $10m.

“To date, nearly $22.5m has been spent just to get us to this point. Imagine what $22.5m could have done for tackling homelessness, supporting small business or easing the cost of living pressures,” he said.

“What we’ll do is we’ll return $10m of this redirected funding to Council’s bottom line that will ensure sound and prudent fiscal management, allowing us to invest in the services and facilities that our residents and businesses need.”

Locations that would benefit under Mr Wood’s proposal include Pelham St in Carlton, Buncle St Reserve in North Melbourne and City Rd in Southbank, with these areas to receive funding from the Greenline project under Wood’s proposal.

Other new projects would include a new park on Errol St north of Queensberry St in North Melbourne and a “masterplan refresh” of Fawkner Park.

Mr Wood has proposed to expand some parklands while other areas would undergo streetscape greening.

“What we’re doing is investing in parks, gardens and open space where people need it right now,” he said.

“They actually needed it yesterday, but we’ll deliver it over the four year Council term.”

When questioned about Mr Wood’s announcement, Lord Mayor Nick Reece said Greenline was a project that would “unlock the north bank of the Yarra River in the same way Southbank Promenade did 30 years ago”.

“It’s budgeted for, it can be delivered,” he said, before acknowledging the four-year project has now become a 10-year project.

“Of course we have private partners coming in there as well … delivering an amazing new waterfront for Melburnians to enjoy.”

Meanwhile a spokesman for the Nick Reece campaign said The City of Melbourne has started construction and is “committed to building almost every single park” that was outlined in Mr Wood’s announcement.

“Perhaps if he hadn’t left Melbourne a few years ago to live in the countryside he would know this,” he said.

What the result of the Greenline project is expected to be. Picture: Supplied

In addition to revitalising, creating and expanding 21 new and existing green spaces across Melbourne, Mr Wood, alongside deputy lord mayor candidate Erin Deering announced their second tranche of cost of living announcements.

“We will partner with leading financial counselling services to deliver that much needed guidance and relief for our residents, ratepayers and businesses,” he said.

“In addition, $500,000 will go to the Salvo street teams, which are expert in working with people experiencing homelessness … and a further $500,000 will go to the Big Issue to provide employment pathways for those experiencing homelessness.”

Mr Wood and Ms Deering also previously pledged to clean up and control illegal graffiti, transform Melbourne into the “Christmas capital”, freeze rates, reduce residential parking permits and review the waste management charge, if they’re elected.