Yarra (car) Park deal sparks anger

CONTROL of Yarra Park will be taken from the City of Melbourne and handed to the Melbourne Cricket Club, in a move that will ensure thousands of cars can still park on the site.

By InvestSMART · 4 Sep 2009

By InvestSMART ·
4 Sep 2009

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CONTROL of Yarra Park will be taken from the City of Melbourne and handed to the Melbourne Cricket Club, in a move that will ensure thousands of cars can still park on the site.

It is part of a deal struck between the State Government, the MCG Trust, the AFL and the club. It will also lock in the grand final at the MCG until 2037, refurbish the Great Southern Stand and give AFL clubs playing home games at the MCG an extra $100,000 a game for the next decade.

Premier John Brumby has hailed the deal as a "huge step forward for sport in the state".

But the decision to hand the 22 hectares of parkland to the MCG Trust which will delegate control to the club has infuriated community groups and councillors. They say the park should be controlled by a public body for public use.

Up to 5000 cars park there on match days, and the council had hoped to phase that out.

The Melbourne Cricket Club says on-site parking is essential to the MCG's operation. It has already prepared a master plan for the land, which includes a new gravel car park for 150 cars.

The trust will spend $16 million, with an extra $6 million from the State Government, adding new trees, upgrading lawns and installing an underground water recycling plant.

Yarra Park Association member Steven Vaughan said the decision was a disaster.

"There are masses of areas that are just dirt, the trees are under threat and we know . . . recreation areas in the inner-city are very limited," he said.

His group would campaign to make the park an election issue in the marginal state seats of Melbourne and Richmond.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the decision was a matter for the Government. He denied he was giving up the park. "It's never been ours," he said.

Cr Doyle said he would be happy to work with the Government on providing underground parking. But MCC chief executive Stephen Gough said that was too expensive.

A Government spokesman said legislation would be introduced by the end of the year to seal the deal.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What change to control of Yarra Park was announced and who will manage the land?

Control of Yarra Park will be taken from the City of Melbourne and handed to the MCG Trust, which will delegate control to the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC). The article says this affects about 22 hectares of parkland.

How will the Yarra Park deal affect parking on match days at the MCG?

The deal is expected to ensure thousands of cars can still park on the site. The article notes up to 5,000 cars park there on match days, and the MCC says on-site parking is essential. The MCC’s master plan includes a new gravel car park for about 150 cars.

What refurbishment and upgrades are planned for Yarra Park and who is funding them?

The trust will spend $16 million and the State Government will contribute an extra $6 million to add new trees, upgrade lawns and install an underground water recycling plant, according to the article.

Does the deal affect the AFL Grand Final and AFL clubs that play at the MCG?

Yes. The deal locks in the AFL Grand Final at the MCG until 2037 and provides AFL clubs that play home games at the MCG an extra $100,000 a game for the next decade, per the article.

What objections have community groups and councillors raised about the Yarra Park deal?

Community groups and some councillors are angry that control of public parkland will be handed to the MCC rather than a public body. The Yarra Park Association warned trees and recreation areas are under threat and said the decision is a 'disaster' for inner-city open space.

Will there be any legal steps to finalize the Yarra Park transfer?

According to a government spokesman cited in the article, legislation to seal the deal will be introduced by the end of the year.

What did Melbourne’s Lord Mayor and the MCC say about alternatives like underground parking?

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said he would be happy to work with the government on providing underground parking but denied the council was giving up the park. MCC chief executive Stephen Gough said underground parking was too expensive.

Does the article mention direct investment opportunities related to the Yarra Park and MCG deal?

No direct private investment opportunities are mentioned. The article focuses on control of the park, funding commitments from the trust and State Government, planned refurbishments and the legal steps to formalize the arrangement.