Once was - magnificent Hospital heritage buildings in a parkland setting.

Soon to be  - "The Parkville Gardens" (ie Games Village)

 

Royal Park Protection Group

News Bulletin – July 2004

ROYAL PARK HOSPITAL HERITAGE LISTING

 

The Royal Park Protection Group (RPPG) applauded the decision of 18 June 2004 by the Heritage Council to include the Royal Park Hospital on the State Heritage Register.  This recognised its unique scientific, medical, architectural, historic and social significance.  This decision affirms the rightful place of importance of the Royal Park Hospital in the history of Victoria.  The Heritage Council’s determination read: “The (Registration) Committee was persuaded that the case made for its inclusion on the Heritage Register emphasising the medical and scientific significance as well as the more usual architectural, social and historical grounds for state significance was sufficient to warrant its registration.” This justifies RPPG’s battle over the past five years to save the Royal Park Hospital and our action over the past year to have the Heritage Precinct included on the Victorian Heritage Register. See more our website on www.royalparkprotect.org.au 

 

 As many members will be aware, however, even before the final hearing of the Heritage Council and with the Minister's approval, the developer proceeded with construction of a "Display Village" (seven display houses, a real estate "sales facility" office and a visitor's carpark) all bang up against the heritage buildings, thus removing the open park setting of the complex.  The developer and Government have also signalled that a road is to be constructed encircling the heritage buildings thus further reducing the open space round the buildings to a mere 15 metres, if that.    

 

With the help of our team of experts, RPPG is now scrutinising the Heritage Council’s determination to see what the implications are for the future protection of the heritage buildings.  We will be liaising with the Minister and Heritage Victoria about future proposals for works, over uses of the buildings and over the developer’s Heritage Precinct Plan, as yet not submitted to the Minister for approval. For example, as far as the uses of the buildings are concerned we would like to see the Pathology/Laboratory/Mortuary building, which the Heritage Council says “is of special interest as it retains features demonstrating its former function”, be used as an historical interpretive centre not a child care centre for the post-Games private real estate development.

 

RPPG would like to thank members who have contributed generously to the Royal Park Protection Group Fighting Fund, which enabled us to brief a barrister to lead our team at the final hearing of the Heritage Council. Our legal experts are continuing to advise us over Royal Park Hospital heritage and Games Village issues.

 

Many members will not be aware that RPPG is represented on the Commonwealth Games Community Liaison Committee (Games Village), which meets every month or so.  This is a misnomer as there are only 5 (yes five) community members on the Committee.  The remainder of the 23 members are drawn from private enterprise, including the developer (the Village Park Consortium), and Government Departments.  The Chair constantly exhorts we poor, outnumbered community groups to disseminate information to the wider community on the progress of the development but then refuses to provide us with information presented at meetings.  At the July meeting we were refused copies of the plans for the new access road (100 to 120 metres long) to be built from the Games Village site to Brunswick Road at the reported cost of $1.8 million. 

 

“Royal Park  - Perfect One Day  - Concrete The Next” (RPPG campaign banner)


RECENT EVENTS

Royal Park: Action to Stop the Chop

We reported in our May newsletter that, thanks to the eternal vigilance of our community groups, we discovered inscribed on a plan for a community planting on the west side of the McPherson Field on Poplar Road the words "remove 25 sugar gums". Although the Lord Mayor and Councillors sent a message via the CEO that the proposed axing of this line of sugar gums was to be put on hold, the very next morning contractors turned up with their axes sharpened. Apparently the Parks and Recreation staff had not bothered to pass on the order to desist.  Only because RPPG members turned up to blockade the removal of the trees, together with the media, did contractors pack up and go home.  In the end, as Council argued that most of the trees were “unsafe”, we could only save five. But the remaining sugar gums are a mute testament to RPPG’s persistence in looking after Royal Park’s trees. In a recent survey published in the mainstream print media on Melburnians satisfaction with their parks, the chief complaint made by the public about Royal Park was “tree removal” together with “traffic noise”.

Environmental Improvements at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Royal Park

The RPPG is represented on the SNHC Advisory Committee and, over a year ago, raised the need for water catchment from the huge roof area and water recycling, given the enormous daily water use on the synthetic, “wet” hockey pitches.  We even arranged a visit by the State Opposition Spokesperson on environmental sustainability.  Thanks to the initiative of SNHC management, a substantial grant has now been obtained to implement water catchment and recycling systems. The project is now out to tender. Pity we can’t get the hockey lights baffled!

We also wish to report a second improvement possibly soon to be implemented at the SNHC.  Following a suggestion by RPPG that the planting of the entire SNHC precinct should be reviewed, representatives from RPPG and other community groups did a tour of the SNHC.  Melbourne Council staff advisors - arborists and landscapists accompanied us on the tour. A planting regime of indigenous vegetation was recommended that would complement the recent planting in Royal Park on the south and southwestern perimeter of the SNHC.  Planting needs to be undertaken in spring in order that the vegetation is flourishing by the time of the 2006 Games.

WHAT’S ON

More on the Royal Park “Games Village”

 

What was called “The Village Park” is now been re-badged “Parkville Gardens”.  (This is of course the private property development, which is the Games Village in disguise.)  Three, four and even five bedroom houses are soon to come on the market reportedly at between $1 million and $700,000.  The Display Village (mentioned above) will shortly be open for inspection and a launch is promised in springtime. Log onto www.parkvillegardens.com.au or ring 133838 to obtain an invitation to the launch. 

 

Calling all Brunswick Residents to Support the Brunswick-Moreland Progress Association

Brunswick is the suburb now taking the brunt of the “Games Village” development and apparently has more development applications than any suburb in Australia. Attend the next meeting on at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday 21 July 2004 at Senior Citizens’ Hall, Albert Street, East Brunswick, next to Fleming Park.

Membership Renewals

It’s time again to renew memberships; some have not done this for years or have only just paid their 03-04 dues! The $10 fee is the equivalent of a couple of café lattes or a chardonnay or two.  RPPG simply cannot continue to act as watchdog and monitor of the Park without better financial backing. We are needed to keep on saying, in the words of the legendary Edmund Fitzgibbon (First Town Clerk of Melbourne) to Melbourne City Council and the State Government “Hands Off our Parks”.   

Protectors of Public Lands Victoria (PPL VIC) – Quarterly Meeting Saturday 7 August 2004

RPPG is a member of PPL VIC (in fact initiated the foundation of the organisation).  RPPG members are invited to attend at 10:30 am on Saturday 7 August 2004.  See www.protectorsofpubliclandsvic.com The chief item to be discussed is Melbourne 2030 - a term on everyone’s lips these days! 

 

Original printed and distributed with the support of a community grant awarded by the City of Melbourne