Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation Discussion Paper - Victorian ...

9.7 Appropriate future uses
of land not committed to
a specifi c use relevant
to Melbourne’s liveability
and natural values
The provision of public open space and conservation of
biodiversity were two of the most common themes raised
during the community consultation for this investigation.
Public open space and land with natural values also
featured strongly in the literature review commissioned by
VEAC on the contribution of public land to Melbourne’s
liveability (see chapter 5). This section discusses the
opportunities provided by surplus public land sites
to contribute to public open space and biodiversity
conservation within the investigation area.
processes for the identifi cation and disposal of surplus
public land, rather than on the potential future uses for
individual surplus land sites.
Although this exercise reveals the limited opportunities
available at this time, it also indicates that these
opportunities may need to be taken when they arise. The
Edgars Creek land is an example of such an opportunity.
Open space
Chapter 6 identifi es public open space as a key
contributor to Melbourne’s liveability. It also notes that
public open space per capita is projected to decline for
almost all municipalities in the investigation area, and
particularly in established areas.
There is generally limited scope to create additional public
open space in established areas due to the low availability
of suitable land. Surplus public land could be seen as one
means of providing new open space in municipalities with
lower levels of open space per capita.
Surplus public land in fi fteen municipalities with less than
the median level of public open space per capita (current
or future) was investigated by VEAC for public open space
opportunities. Sites were assessed on the basis of location
and general accessibility only. Quality was not taken
into account.
VEAC found limited public open space opportunities
on surplus public land, particularly within established
municipalities. Six sites totalling 13.6 hectares (or 0.14
square kilometres) were initially identifi ed as having
some potential to provide public open space within fi ve
municipalities. One site, VicRoads land along Edgars
Creek, accounted for 10.5 hectares. The Victorian
Government recently announced that this site will become
Crown land and be permanently reserved as parkland (see
box 9.4).
The remaining fi ve sites were largely unbuilt, seminatural
areas located on public authority-owned land.
The sites ranged in size from 0.3 to 1.4 hectares. They
were generally located in residential areas adjacent or
near to existing areas of public open space. Given the
small number and size of these remaining sites, VEAC
has decided that it is better to focus its attention on the
Box 9.4
Case study: Edgars Creek Parkland
Edgars Creek Parkland is located in the City of
Moreland. Much of the site is currently VicRoads
freehold land. The land was purchased for construction
of a road, but is no longer required. It is part fl ood zone,
part residential zone and part industrial zone.
Within the investigation area, the City of Moreland
has the third lowest amount of public open space
per capita and a below average area of open space
as a proportion of the municipality. The VicRoads
land has been used by the community for recreation
for the past thirty years. It adjoins City of Moreland
freehold land and Melbourne Water freehold land
providing a contiguous area of open space.
The Victorian Government recently decided to
transfer the VicRoads land to the Crown and
assign it to the City of Moreland as a committee of
management. Transfer to the Crown and reservation
as parkland will secure the site as public open
space.
Above: VicRoads freehold land at Edgars Creek is to
be transferred to the Crown and become permanent
parkland.
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