Melbourne council buys road for park
A small park in Melbourne’s inner east will be extended after the local council bought a chunk of a neighbouring road from state government arm VicTrack.
The 1524 square metre parcel – the corner of Wangaratta and Stewart streets, Richmond – cost the City of Yarra $3.4 million.
It will see the Stewart Street Reserve (pictured, top), home to a Molly Meldrum statue, expanded to be exposed to the Corner Hotel, facing Swan St, and rail tracks immediately east of Richmond train station.
Settlement is scheduled after VicTrack subdivides it.
About 12.4 per cent of Richmond is allocated parkland.
Prime corner beside high profile pub
The Richmond deal follows the City of Yarra last year agreeing to buy Collingwood’s Salvation Army and Young People’s Hall & Youth Centre, once including a community garden, on 294 sqm at the corner of Wellington and Mater streets, for a public space.
That outlay was $1.5m.
The seller was the Salvation Army.
Council is also negotiating to buy a piece of road beside Alphington’s historic Bokhara, at 1 View St, again for the Open Space Strategy 2020 (continues below).
Another council buys park land
The City of Yarra isn’t the only council buying sites for community space – usually with proceeds paid by developers on approval for other projects.
Nearly two years ago the City of Stonnington acquired a home on 3934 sqm in Glen Iris for a park – spending $12m.
The year earlier, Merri-bek City Council paid $17.7m for a Bell St, Pascoe Vale South, block previously earmarked for a major apartment complex.
A portion will be repurposed for a garden.
The balance will be sold for retail, commercial and essential services product.
Merri-bek also recently agreed to buy a tract facing Sydney Road in Brunswick for a park.
In 2022 meanwhile the Yarra Ranges Shire outlaid $6.44m for Kilsyth’s former Pembroke Secondary College Cambridge campus, to extend Elizabeth Bridge Reserve.
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