Council launches community engagement for renewal of Royal Park

The City of Melbourne is inviting the community to have its say on the Royal Park Master Plan as it enters the first stage of engagement, with the two-year process beginning in November.

The council is collaborating with various stakeholders such as Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Sports Centre Parkville to review future priorities, actions and management of Royal Park over the next 20 years.

“The last Master Plans for Royal Park were endorsed in 1984 and 1997 and they have served the city well,” the City of Melbourne’s environment portfolio lead, Cr Rohan Leppert said.

We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to consider everything that Melburnians love about Royal Park so that the legacy of this extraordinary place continues.

The initial engagement stage will begin with a discussion paper shared via Participate Melbourne, seeking feedback on high level ideas that will inform the draft of the plan.

The City of Melbourne will also run in-person, pop-up community events between November 15 to December 2 for local residents to voice their recommendations and any potential concerns they may have.

Residents will additionally be able to respond to the draft Master Plan in an online survey and through mapping activities once the draft is completed.

“We want to think deeply about what ongoing custodianship of the park by Traditional Owners, the council and community means, so please get involved and help shape the next Royal Park Master Plan,” Cr Leppert said.

The first stage of the review will include an assessment of various specialist areas to effectively understand the need for improvement in sectors such as transport and parking, heritage conservation management, ecological studies, and sport and recreation.

“Royal Park is one of Melbourne’s largest and most popular green, open spaces – a beloved spot for people to come together and enjoy nature close to the city,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.

“We’re refreshing the Royal Park Master Plan to help us guide the way we manage this expansive 169-hectare urban parkland over the next 20 years.”

The draft of the Master Plan will be available in early 2024 for an additional period of community consultation. •

participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/royal-park-master-plan-review

Caption: Cr Rohan Leppert at Royal Park: Photo: Ajay Viswanath.