Page 1 of 15 ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT Agenda Item 5.2 5 June 2007 EVENTS IN THE PARKS – SUSTAINABILITY GUIDELINES REVIEW UPDATE Division City Design Presenter Ian Harris, Group Manager Parks & Recreation Purpose 1. To submit the Sustainability Guidelines for Holding Events in Parks and Gardens for Committee endorsement addressing a number of issues as requested by Committee at its meeting on 3 April 2007. Recommendation from Management 2. That the Environment Committee endorse the revised Sustainability Guidelines for Holding Events in Parks and Gardens (Attachment 1). Key Issues 3. The Environment Committee at its meeting on 3 April 2007 resolved that it: 3.1. endorse the revised Sustainability Guidelines for Holding Events in Parks and Gardens as interim guidelines; 3.2. notes the importance of taking measures to minimise potential damage to our heritage parks; 3.3. request a further report to next Environment Committee Meeting; 3.3.1. to address the inconsistencies in the Guidelines for Sustainable Management of Parklands in Support of Events staged in Melbourne’s Parks and Gardens; 3.3.2. providing more detail on ‘Other Reserves’ such as Powlett Reserve, Lincoln Square, Darling Square and University Square; 3.3.3. an audit of the application of the guidelines in approving events that have taken place in 2006; 3.3.4. to include reference to the Yarra Park Parking Agreement; 3.3.5. to assess the potential for increased mulching or protection to trees in parks; and 3.3.6. to correctly reflect Council’s decision on 27 March 2007, Item 5.4 Options for Extending the Fenceline at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl; 3.4. note: 3.4.1. that paragraph 5.1 of the management report refers to previous MIFGS events and requests that an update on the recent event be considered by the Environment Committee; 3.4.2. the measures put in place under the licence for MIFGS sought to ensure that the event does not have any long term impact on the Gardens; 3.4.2.1. that soil compaction testing is to be undertaken by independent consultants to monitor impact; Page 2 of 15 3.4.2.2. that full reports are to be provided to the Environment Committee after each MIFGS show; and 3.4.2.3. that MIFGS is to be requested again to move high impact displays to the hard surface areas around the Exhibition buildings. 4. The issues raised by the Committee in relation to the guidelines have been addressed as follows: 4.1. the inconsistency between the committee report of 3 April 2007 and the guidelines in relation to Argyle Square (North) has been resolved in that the crowd capacity figure of 2,500 has been incorporated in the guidelines; 4.2. other reserves, namely Powlett Reserve, Lincoln Square, Darling Square and University Square have now been separately listed in the guidelines, providing specific details for each; 4.3. the audit of the application of guidelines in approving events that took place in 2006, as requested, forms Attachment 2; 4.4. a reference to Yarra Park Parking Agreement is now incorporated in guidelines under the Yarra Park listing; 4.5. assessment of potential for mulching or protection of trees in parks – The key technique available to protect the trees prior to next summer when there almost certainly will be Stage 3 (or above) water restrictions is mulching of the root zones. Mulch helps infiltration of water, reduces evaporation and also retards the growth of grass that can absorb a substantial proportion of the water entering the soil over the root zone. A program to mulch tree root zones is planned to include Fawkner Park, Murchison Square, Argyle Square, Macarthur Square, Yarra Park Elms and Planes, Princes Park Elms, Shrine Reserve Elms, Kings Domain Elms and Victoria Parade, Royal Parade and St Kilda Road Elms and Planes. An update on the progress on achieving sustainable management of the park, gardens and boulevards is subject to a separate report to the Environment Committee; and 4.6. to correctly reflect Council’s decision of 27 March 2007 Item 5.4 Options for extending fence at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the resolution is now included in guidelines under the reference to Kings Domain. 5. In relation to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, this matter is subject to a full separate report is being presented to the Environment Committee as requested. Relation to Council Policy 6. The following strategic directions are listed in City Plan 2010: 6.1. strategic direction 1.7 - Build an integrated and connected park system. … Manage all City parkland to provide a balanced mix of active and passive recreation facilities 6.2. strategic direction 3.3 - Promote, celebrate and further develop the City of Melbourne as a ‘city for the arts’ and as a sporting capital with a rich and vibrant culture life. 6.3. strategic direction 3.9 - Attract and facilitate and maximise benefits of major City events and festivals. … Facilitate the provision of event facilities and encourage the staging of major city events and festivals in a range of public spaces throughout the City. 7. Tree Policy. Council will ensure tree health and sustainability when considering applications for new developments or for events to be staged in parkland. 2 Page 3 of 15 8. Parks Policy. The landscape, tourism, sport and recreation potential of the parks and gardens shall be optimised, consistent with appropriate conservation planning. Parks are primarily for public use and any commercial activity within parks should enhance the experience of park users. Finance 9. Event organisers are required to cover the cost of any site rehabilitation works needed after their events are held. 10. The increased costs associated with implementing the more stringent guidelines currently being imposed due to the drought and water restrictions are borne by the event organiser. Legal 11. The subject matter and recommendation of this report are within the objectives and functions of Council. Sustainability 12. The key principle underpinning the holding of events in parks and gardens is the requirement that they do not affect the ongoing sustainability of their parkland setting. To achieve this outcome, events are only permitted in accordance with the Sustainability Guidelines for Holding Events in Parks and Gardens (Attachment 1) unless authorised by a specific Council decision. 13. Event organisers are required to comply with a number of other specific guidelines including the Guide to Holding an Event in Parks and Gardens and individual site requirements. During the current drought and water restrictions these include a range of additional requirements required by the City of Melbourne on an event by event basis depending on the venue. Government Relations 14. The Department of Sustainability and Environment representing the Minister responsible for Crown lands (Minister for Planning) is regularly consulted in relation to events in parks and gardens. Background 15. The parks and gardens managed by the City of Melbourne contribute substantially to Melbourne’s liveability and the reputation of Melbourne as a “green city”. Most of the larger parks and gardens are planted with significant trees some of which are over 100 years old and have high heritage significance. The parks provide key recreational areas used by Melbournians and other visitors and are important event venues. 16. The City of Melbourne currently hosts approximately 3,500 events each year in public open spaces including parks, gardens and in the city streets. Melbourne has an ideal geographical arrangement with multiple large capacity venues all within three kilometres of the CBD, surrounded by large public spaces and parks ideal for the staging of significant cultural, community and commercial major events. Hundreds of thousands of local, interstate and international visitors continue to come to the city every year to be a part of these events. 3 Page 4 of 15 17. Council as Committee of Management manages allocated Crown lands – parks and gardens on behalf of all Victorians, Melburnians in particular, and has a responsibility to ensure their long term sustainability. 18. Many of the City’s major parks and gardens have high heritage value, including Carlton Gardens (World Heritage listing), Fitzroy Gardens, Treasury Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens, Speakers Corner and Shrine Reserve (State Heritage listing). Others including the Queen Victoria Gardens, Alexandra Gardens and Domain Parklands are expected to be listed in the future. 19. The key principle underpinning the holding of events in parks and gardens is the requirement that neither the events themselves, nor the associated infrastructure, affects the ongoing sustainability of the parkland setting. To achieve this outcome, events are only been permitted in accordance with the Guidelines for the Sustainable Management of Parklands Supporting Events Staged in Melbourne’s Parks and Gardens unless authorised by a specific Council decision. 20. The Guidelines provide the base level required to ensure sustainability of the parks and gardens. They provide for further constraints should these be required by weather conditions such as drought or wet weather, and also specific site requirements for particular events should local conditions require. 21. As the Guidelines were approved by Council in April 2005 and given the developments that have occurred since then, Committee resolved at its meeting on 6 February that the Guidelines should be reviewed. 22. The revised Guidelines were presented to the meeting of the Environment committee on 3 April 2007. These Guidelines were endorsed as interim guidelines until the Committee could consider a number of outstanding issues, all of which have now been addressed. 23. Council at its meeting on 27 March 2007, when considering possible extensions to the fencing at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl into the Domain Parkland resolved that it: 1.1.