Yarra Open Space Strategy Prepared for the City of Yarra by: Thompson Berrill Landscape Design Pty Ltd in association with Environment & Land Management Pty Ltd DECEMBER 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABBREVIATIONS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Overview 1 1.1.1 Yarra's open space network 1 1.1.2 Definition of public open space in Yarra 1 1.1.3 The role of public open space in Yarra 2 1.1.4 The Yarra community and open space 3 1.1.5 How Yarra's open space compares with adjoining inner urban municipalities 3 1.2 Purpose of the Strategy 4 1.3 Research undertaken to inform the Strategy direction and recommendations 5 1.3.1 Document-based research 5 1.3.2 Consultation 5 1.3.3 Site assessment 5 1.3.4 Outcomes from the research 5 1.4 Study team 6 1.5 Project methodology 6 2.0 VISION AND PRINCIPLES 9 2.1 Vision 9 2.2 Principles 9 2.3 How the Strategy meets the Principles 10 3.0 EXISTING OPEN SPACE AND INFLUENCES 13 3.1 Relationship of key Council documents to the Strategy 13 3.2 Summary of relevant key strategies 13 3.2.1 Planning documents 13 3.2.2 Other Council documents 18 3.3 Physical and built character of Yarra 19 3.3.1 Topography and geology 19 3.3.2 Overall natural landscape character 19 3.3.3 Yarra River 21 3.3.4 Merri Creek 22 3.3.5 Darebin Creek 23 3.3.6 Urban character 26 FINALYARRAOPENSPACESTRATEGY DECEMBER2006 PREPARED BY TBLD P/L IN ASSOCIATION WITH E&LM P/L TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.3.7 Cultural heritage values 26 3.4 Social and economic character 29 3.4.1 Community profile 29 3.4.2 Recent trends in residential development 29 3.5 The open space network 30 3.5.1 Distribution of open space 30 3.5.2 Standards for open space provision in Yarra 31 3.5.3 Summary gap analysis of existing open space network 32 3.5.4 Summary of the existing open space reserves and their use 35 3.5.5 Links between open space reserves 38 3.5.6 Open space in adjoining municipalities 38 3.5.7 Classification of open space 39 3.6 Community use of open space 43 3.6.1 Summary of consultation process 43 3.6.2 Household survey 43 3.6.3 Comparative business/resident questionnaire 46 3.6.4 Workshops 46 3.6.5 Consultation with young people 47 3.6.6 Consultation with Homeless people 47 3.7 Conclusion of consultation outcomes 48 3.7.1 Key values of open space in Yarra 48 3.7.2 Key issues for open space in Yarra 48 4.0 KEY ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED 50 4.1 Inequity in open space distribution and access 50 4.1.1 Distribution of open space 50 4.1.2 Access 51 4.2 Gaps in the existing open space network 55 4.2.1 Collingwood 55 4.2.2 Richmond 55 4.2.3 Cremorne 56 4.2.4 Gaps in pubic open space along waterway corridors 57 4.3 Open space in adjoining municipalities and regional open space 57 4.3.1 Open space in adjoining municipalities 57 4.3.2 Regional open space in Yarra 58 4.4 Provision, use and management of Local and Small Local open space 60 4.5 Future development and change in land use 61 4.5.1 Strategic directions for residential growth 61 4.5.2 Conversion of business/industrial use to residential 64 4.6 Diversity of needs 65 4.7 Balancing recreation and leisure use of open space 66 4.7.1 Organised sporting needs 66 4.7.2 Recreation activities 67 4.8 Environmental sustainability 69 4.8.1 Ecological corridor links 69 4.8.2 Management and maintenance practices in open space 71 4.8.3 Mode of transport used to reach open space 72 FINALYARRAOPENSPACESTRATEGY DECEMBER2006 PREPARED BY TBLD P/L IN ASSOCIATION WITH E&LM P/L TABLE OF CONTENTS 4.9 Cultural heritage values 72 4.10 Open space funding 73 4.10.1 Open space contributions 73 4.10.2 Council funding 76 4.10.3 External funding 77 4.11 Inadequacies and challenges in the planning system 77 4.11.1 Planning scheme amendment to implement the Strategy 77 4.11.2 Public acquisition overlays 78 5.0 OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS 79 Overview 79 5.1 Establishing a cohesive and linked municipal open space network 80 5.1.1 Classification and use and facility provision for open space reserves 80 5.1.2 Provision of additional open space 81 5.1.3 Links to and between open space reserves 83 5.1.4 Environmental links 85 5.2 Upgrade of existing and development of new open space reserves 87 5.2.1 Access to open space 87 5.2.2 Major built infrastructure in open space 90 5.2.3 Minor infrastructure in open space 93 5.2.4 Environmental sustainability 96 5.2.5 Dog owners 102 5.2.6 Cultural heritage values 103 5.2.7 Community festivals and events in open space 103 5.2.8 Commercial events and use of open space 104 5.2.9 Design of open space reserves 105 5.2.10 Liaison with other open space management agencies 108 5.2.11 Maintenance 109 5.2.12 Interface between development and open space 110 5.2.13 Council planning 111 5.3 Open space contributions to meet future residents' needs 113 5.3.1 Open space contributions system 113 5.3.2 Decision guidelines for open space contributions - land and facility design 116 6.0 PRECINCT RECOMMENDATIONS 118 Overview 118 6.1 Princes Hill and North Carlton Precinct 3054 119 6.1.1 Summary of precinct open space network 119 6.1.2 Summary of existing open space 119 6.1.3 Summary analysis of findings 120 6.1.4 Summary precinct recommendations 121 6.2 North Fitzroy and Clifton Hill Precinct 3068 124 6.2.1 Summary of precinct open space network 124 6.2.2 Summary of existing open space 125 6.2.3 Summary analysis of findings 126 6.2.4 Summary precinct recommendations 128 6.3 Fairfield and Alphington Precinct 3078 134 6.3.1 Summary of precinct open space network 134 6.3.2 Summary of existing open space 134 6.3.3 Summary analysis of findings 135 6.3.4 Summary precinct recommendations 136 6.4 Fitzroy Precinct 3065 139 6.4.1 Summary of precinct open space network 139 6.4.2 Summary of existing open space 139 FINALYARRAOPENSPACESTRATEGY DECEMBER2006 PREPARED BY TBLD P/L IN ASSOCIATION WITH E&LM P/L TABLE OF CONTENTS 6.4.3 Summary analysis of findings 140 6.4.4 Summary precinct recommendations 141 6.5 Collingwood Precinct 3066 145 6.5.1 Summary of precinct open space network 145 6.5.2 Summary of existing open space 145 6.5.3 Summary analysis of findings 146 6.5.4 Summary precinct recommendations 147 6.6 Abbotsford Precinct 3067 151 6.6.1 Summary of precinct open space network 151 6.6.2 Summary of existing open space 151 6.6.3 Summary analysis of findings 152 6.6.4 Summary precinct recommendations 153 6.7 Richmond, Burnley and Cremorne Precinct 3121 157 6.7.1 Summary of precinct open space network 157 6.7.2 Summary of existing open space 157 6.7.3 Summary analysis of findings 159 6.7.4 Summary precinct recommendations 163 7.0 IMPLEMENTATION 171 7.1 Responsibilities 171 7.2 Priorities 173 BIBLIOGRAPHY 175 APPENDICES A City-wide summary of household survey outcomes B Precinct summary of household survey outcomes C Yarra Planning Scheme - extracts D Summary report of community consultation on the Draft Yarra Open Space Strategy INDEX OF PLANS OVERALL CITY-WIDE PLANS YOSS 01 Existing open space distribution 7 YOSS 02 Precinct Boundaries 8 YOSS 03 Waterways and environmental links 25 YOSS 04 Gap Analysis of Existing Open Space Network 34 YOSS 05 Management of Yarra's open space 42 YOSS 06 Streetscape links between open space 54 PRECINCT PLANS YOSS 07 North Carlton and Princes Hill 123 YOSS 08a North Fitzroy 132 YOSS 08b Clifton Hill 133 YOSS 09 Alphington and Fairfield 138 FINALYARRAOPENSPACESTRATEGY DECEMBER2006 PREPARED BY TBLD P/L IN ASSOCIATION WITH E&LM P/L TABLE OF CONTENTS YOSS 10 Fitzroy 144 YOSS 11 Collingwood 150 YOSS 12 Abbotsford 156 YOSS 13a Richmond West 168 YOSS 13b Richmond East 169 YOSS 13c Cremorne and Burnley 170 INDEX OF TABLES Table 1 Comparative summary of open space in inner urban municipalities 3 Table 2 Quantity of existing open space by postcode 31 Table 3 Standards adopted in this strategy for open space and distance from residents 32 Table 4 Use classification of open space in Yarra 40 Table 5 Character classification of open space in Yarra 40 Table 6 Future dwelling construction from major redevelopment sites - Inner Region - Source Urban Development Program 2004 Report (DSE) 62 Table 7 Priority timeframes 79 Table 8 Facility provision of new open space 80 Table 9 Criteria for the provision of new open space 82 Table 10 Precincts where land contributions will be sought where the specified criteria can be met 114 Table 11 Council units responsibilities for implementing the open space strategy 171 INDEX OF FIGURES Figure 1 Extract from Urban Development Program 2004 - Illustrating Major Development Sites 62 Figure 2 Areas of anticipated residential growth on a precinct basis 64 Figure 3 Open space contributions type required to meet future open space needs 115 Figure 4 Corporate division responsibilities for implementing the Open Space Strategy 171 FINALYARRAOPENSPACESTRATEGY DECEMBER2006 PREPARED BY TBLD P/L IN ASSOCIATION WITH E&LM P/L TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWELDGEMENTS Welcome to the City of Yarra.