New park opening excites

By Tas Mavridis

The opening of NewQuay Central Park has been met with excitement from both Docklands locals as well as the City of Melbourne.

Speaking at the park’s opening on November 15, Lord Mayor Sally Capp said projects like NewQuay Central Park were important to the development of growth areas like Docklands.

“Without a doubt it (Docklands) is a significant part of Melbourne and the way we work and live in Melbourne with areas such as this becoming such a central place for us both now and into the future,” Cr Capp said.

“Docklands is such a central part of Melbourne and in an urban renewable precinct project of this scale, making a community gel is hugely challenging.”

“These spaces (parks) have become a central part to the local neighbourhoods and making the places more accessible for whatever people want.”

The NewQuay Central Park is one of several park projects supported by the City of Melbourne according to Cr Capp.

“The City of Melbourne has taken a lead in greening our city, particularly through our urban forest strategy and more recently our city strategic plan.”

With the population of Docklands expected to increase by 50 per cent over the next 15 years, Cr Capp said that giving residents, workers and visitors a range of parklands was a prioritised objective for the council.

“Over the next 15 years the City of Melbourne has the ambition to increase green spaces by 240,000 sqm … it is ambitious as we haven’t planned for this many park spaces since the 1860s.”