Demons’ Yarra Park plan may sway Richmond and Melbourne voters
Melbourne’s contentious Yarra Park training ground plan could sway voters in two key inner-city seats, with a powerful residents group claiming Labor is the only party refusing to rule out the Demons’ bid.
Victoria State Election
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Melbourne’s contentious Yarra Park training ground plan could sway voters in two key inner-city seats.
The powerful East Melbourne Group — backed by some of the state’s wealthiest and most influential families — claims the ALP is the only party refusing to rule out the Demons’ bid to secure a prized parcel of land in the MCG precinct near Jolimont Station.
The residents group is letterboxing 4000 homes in the two seats affected by the proposal — Richmond and Melbourne — with “How to use your vote to save Yarra Park” flyers.
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Polling in Richmond, held by Planning Minister Richard Wynne, is on a knife-edge, with Greens candidate Kathleen Maltzahn a $1.72 favourite to win the seat from Mr Wynne ($2.05).
The Liberals have chosen not to run a candidate in Richmond.
The Dees proposal includes a six-storey building with offices, a gym and medical facilities, built on top of rail tracks in the northeastern corner of the park.
The East Melbourne Group said the Greens and Melbourne Liberal Party candidate Darin Schade had expressed clear opposition to the Yarra Park plan, but claimed Mr Wynne and Melbourne ALP candidate Jennifer Kanis had “instead taken refuge in process issues”.
“It would have been very easy to clearly rule it out, but they didn’t,” group secretary Stuart Hamilton said.
“We need to be assured that a deal has not been stitched up behind the scenes to let it happen.”
But Ms Kanis on Monday said it was wrong to suggest she supported any proposal for Yarra Park.
“If elected I look forward to working with East Melbourne residents and being a strong and effective voice for our community,” she said.
Asked in an election survey sent out by the residents group if they supported the Demons proposal, both Mr Wynne and Ms Kanis said: “The media has reported that this concept is one of several options being considered by the club. We believe the club should think some more about the alternatives and come up with an option that has broad community support.”
They added: “If the club decided to progress the proposal, approval of a planning permit would rest with the City of Melbourne. As Yarra Park is on the Victorian Heritage Register it would also need approval from Heritage Victoria — which is independent of government.
“Any proposal would need to address the impacts of a development above the Jolimont rail line and the competing public uses for the area proposed for an oval.”
They said the use of a Planning Panels Victoria inquiry “would seem appropriate
for such a major proposal”.
The Andrews Government confirmed in June it was in talks with the Demons about the potential development of Yarra Park and VicTrack land to accommodate a dedicated new headquarters for the AFL’s oldest club.
Locals fear it will block historic views, plunge parts of the precinct into darkness, lead to the removal of heritage protected trees and see cars parked on parkland throughout the week.
Melbourne says the training oval will only feature goal and point posts, with no fencing or railing, and will be used for just six to eight hours a week, leaving it open for community use at other times.
“It’s our responsibility to let people in Melbourne and Richmond know how they can use
their vote on Saturday to send a message that this proposal is totally unacceptable,” Hamilton said.
“At the moment, the ALP representatives are the only candidates from the major parties that are not unambiguously opposed.”
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