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The Victorian Government has today announced a new $30 million program it says will help to create and upgrade more green spaces in Melbourne’s growing suburbs - while allowing residents to have a say on where they should be located.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan joined Victorian Minister for Suburbs, Sonya Kilkenny and state member for Footscray, Katie Hall at Hansen Reserve in West Footscray to announce Pick My Park, which will see Victorians aged 16 and over able to propose ideas for new parks or park upgrades and then submit them to the public for their vote.

Premier Allan advised that when the votes are counted, the most popular ideas will get a grant to deliver the local project - whether it’s a new park, a green space, a ‘pocket park’, a park upgrade, a playground, a basketball court, a sporting field, a BBQ, fitness equipment, tree planting, accessibility upgrades, new landscaping, shade and seating, urban greening, the Premier explained.

Explaining that councils and organisations will also be permitted to submit ideas, Premier Allan stated “submit your idea, cast your vote, pick your park - it’s that simple, and it will mean new and upgraded green spaces for kids and families in growing suburbs across Victoria.

“One of the great benefits of ‘gentle density’ is suburban renewal - that’s why we’re creating and upgrading some wonderful, shared spaces that should be at the heart of every community.”

Grants for winning projects will range from $20,000 to $250,000 and will be available in two streams:

• Park Upgrades: focusing on improving existing parks and open spaces;
• New Urban Parks: focusing on transforming underutilised land in growing urban areas into new green, open spaces for the whole community to enjoy.

When Pick My Park starts next year, communities in Melbourne and in regional Victorian cities will vote for and fund their own ideas for parks, playgrounds and open spaces, said Minister Kilkenny.

Minister Kilkenny commented “it’s so important for kids to have a place to play and people of all ages to have a space to chat, walk the dog and enjoy the outdoors. We’ve heard that, we’re funding more of them, and you can tell us where they go.

“This isn’t just about existing parks. Our goal is to find and transform those small, under-utilised and forgotten urban spaces and give them a splash of greenery, life and energy so they can become a new community meeting place.”

The move builds on the Victorian Government’s plans announced last week for a simple and statewide system for property developers to contribute to funding for local infrastructure, parks and services - starting with 10 suburban activity centres.

The Victorian Government says Pick My Park will target areas that are building more homes, advising that as part of the eligibility criteria, ideas will only go to a vote if they are in established areas that are growing - particularly those that have less access to open space.

Geographical quotas will apply so all growing areas share in funding, and a set portion of the funding pool will be reserved for growing urban areas in regional Victoria.

There will also be guidelines to make sure ideas submitted to the public for their vote are sensible and able to be delivered.

Final program guidelines will be released ahead of submissions opening next year.

All projects will need the support of landowners, such as the local council, to proceed.

Image: Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan reveals the Pick My Park initiative at Hansen Reserve in West Footscray.

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